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Diabetic Meter & Strips = Cost

R

rt567

Well-Known Member
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Hi

There is so much on the market. I guess you guy's knew that anyway. :)

I need advice as follows:

A good, easy to read, set up/use meter.

Strips must be readily available at a good price.

Btw, how often do you guys test yourselves, every meal?

Many thanks in advance.
 
The SD Codefree seems to be the cheapest for test strips, how reliable and accurate it is I couldn't say as I've never used this meter before.

I (type 1) test 6-8 times a day.
 
The cheapest meter and strips is the SD Codefree, it's available from Amazon and ebay. I've not tried it myself but there are quite a few on here that do use it.

When I was first diagnosed I tested a lot, when I got up, just before a meal and 2 hours after to find out how different foods affected me. Now I don't test much, only if I have something new or maybe to check that something is still okay for me. I'm type 2.

Ann
 
"Codefree" meter around £10 and strips £4.99 for 50 plus P&P ebay.

Test in the early days before and 2 hours after a meal. Keep a chart of the food you eat and the readings you get.

Test you fasting (rising) BGs maybe twice a month.

When you know you can eat a particular food without problems then you dont need to test around that food any more.

Eventually you won't need to test much at all. I know what to eat and how much. I can even have a good guess at what my BGs will be.
I test to check new foods and if I think I need to.

About 4 times a week now.

H
 
Hi

Quick read of all three - many thanks - will read again later and digest but seriously good help

The meter itself has to be easy to use and know to be very accurate but strips need to be cheap

thanks agin will look at the meter and note the advice given - many thanks again!
 
Ann19 said:
The cheapest meter and strips is the SD Codefree, it's available from Amazon and ebay. I've not tried it myself but there are quite a few on here that do use it.

When I was first diagnosed I tested a lot, when I got up, just before a meal and 2 hours after to find out how different foods affected me. Now I don't test much, only if I have something new or maybe to check that something is still okay for me. I'm type 2.

Ann
Click to expand...

I invested in an SD codefree and it was fine. It was only after I was prescribed another meter, I saw the SD did read slightly high, but nothing major if you are not an insulin user. The strips for the code free are available at £4.99 on e-bay opposed to £20 odd for many other meters, so the codefree is far and away the cheapest, it is also a really easy meter to use, and I still use the SD lancet pen as I prefer it to others.

Testing; I did test as soon as I woke up (FBG) before each meal, the +2 postprandial and at bed time. Now I rarely test, as I have foods I know how they will effect my BG so don't need to test. I do test with new foods, before the new food and +2 postprandial, but that's all. I do "spot checks" now and again, just to make sure my BG is around what I expect it to be, but I really have cut down a lot now. You will be able to as well, once you know which foods you can and can't tolerate.
 
Another SD Codefree user here. It is very easy to set up and use and although the screen has no back light, unlike a few of the other makes, I have never had a problem reading the results.

It keeps a viewable record of my last 500 or so tests and will give a 7, 14, and 30 day averages plus averages for pre-meal/ post meal if you activate the meters date and time settings. It is possible to get a usb cable in order to download all the readings you collect using the SD Codefree app but the cable is very overpriced so if, like me, you would rather just keep paper records this isn't an issue.

At the moment the current batch of strips being provided are reading slightly higher than some other meters but the difference is within the industry standard and no meter on sale to the public claims to be 100% accurate so paying only £4.99 for 50 strips makes the codefree an attractive option. All I want is a meter that allows me to see, the difference between post and +2 meal readings, and whether my overall readings are heading in the right direction.

Finally, ordering supplies is easy and delivery is usually within a couple of days.
 
thanks to all again, been looking at these sd meters and the info you have provided re how often/etc you check, priceless
 
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