Does your blood glucose monitor have funk or is it junk

Well, you ask a lot of questions.

I use a BayerContourXT. Perfect for me. I am not into all the averaging - and kind of wonder what is the use of that? - I see my daily numbers - I know they are not carved in stone - meters are notoriously reputed to be plus/minus 20 % off. So what I work with is to see trends - going up or going down - with the same meter. If I see an upward trend (with the same meter), I will of course take action.

annelise

H

innilus said:

Just wanted to know about the different monitors people use and the good and bad points about them. Does it hook up to your computer or an app which provides you with detailed statistical data, do the batteries last long, do you struggle to get prescriptions for them or is it just too big. Anything you can think of and your rating out of 10.

I have an Accu-Chek Aviva Nano and it's pretty basic.

Good:
It's small
Quick and easy to use
The multiclix finger pricker with 6 lancets in 1
Small amount of blood needed for test strip

Bad:
Battery life (I've bought fresh well known brand of batteries and got the low battery warning or E-9 error code on first use)
Multiclix finger pricker hurts more than others seem to (haven't tried the new Fastclix version)
No detailed results (Can't record detailed info like how long after you've eaten that you did the test. Only does 7, 14, 30 and 90 day averages)
Doesn't connect to a computer (as far as I know)

5/10

Click to expand...

I have a Performa Nano, that sounds very similar.
I managed to get a Accu-Chek Smart Pix "Device" that I can transfer readings to a very basic computer programme on the device( via Infrared) that gives a graph, log book and Trends.
Look on the web site for more details.
The Smart Pix was actually given to me by Roche, as they do not market them in South Africa, but they seem to be available freely in the UK and the States.
Good luck, you may be able to sort your meter out ?

Just swapped my Freestyle ( no strips too expensive ) for a Code Free, readings are higher but stable, but as Annelise said I am more interested in trends not averages, so I will stick with it.

I have accu chek performa. Works fine sometimes get E4 very rarely but does happen. not connected to anything. I find that the meter works well, have been taking quite a few tests each to monitor by bg.
I do not have problem with the lancets, and taking bg everyday. does not hurt and better then the previous meter which was all over the place. Happy with the meter.

I have the accu chek mobile, i think it is a good machine, i do not have to mess around with putting strips in it, i just put a cassette in with 50 strips in it, rolls round like a old cassette player tape, the pen is on the side and holds 6 finger pricks, i can set a flag before and after meals, i also can plug it into any computer holding the software and look at the graphs, the flags come up in different colours, quite a good machine, tried 4 others and did not get on with them as good as i do with this one

Currently using the Accu-Chek Aviva Expert which is a great little meter, its a bolus advisor and you can input things like exercise, stress, illness so that it calculates an accurate insulin dose based on the information given.

The Nano meter is a good little meter too, I had the same problem with the battery's dying and the Acuu-Chek helpline said to remove the battery and reset the meter, I think you either hold down the two arrow buttons at the top of the meter or the on/off button, I'm sure it was the arrow buttons but anyway it resolved the problem and had no problems thereafter.

I have the Accu - chek Aviva Expert. No problems with it. I Iike the Multiclix finger pricker, just take the old drum out and push a new drum in, which contains 6 lancets. No lancet handling. It's tops with me, because my little granddaughter has the same one As long as it works and fits the purpose, that's all I ask for.

I have 4 meters at home:

Glucomen LX Plus
I was given this meter by my DSN on diagnosis. It's bukly, but does the job. No fancy functions, just marking pre/post/activity/check. Battery life is ok (few months, but I test a lot) - and the company will send you replacement batteries.
Pros:
- checks for ketones
- big, easily readable screen
- fairly small amount of blood needed
- for pre-meal readings, can automatically remind you to re-check after an hour or two.
Cons:
- big, bukly, ugly (even the carry case is ugly!),
- no backlight,

Onetouch Verio IQ
I got it from Onetouch for free and I have to say it's the best one I've got. It's fairly small, has backlight and a light from the test strip "port" (so you see the strip in the dark). It's supposed to "look for patters" in readings marked as per/post meal, so it tells you "you're running low around this time" - never been very useful to me as I notice my patterns myself
Pros:
- small, nice design,
- bright, easily readable screen,
- needs small amount of blood,
- the carry case has a lot of places for your needles, lancets, etc,
- easy to use, you can see your log on one screen as a list, so no need to go through each result,
- it's rechargeable
Cons:
- doesn't check for ketones,
- when testing often, battery needs to be re-charged every 1-2 weeks (but it only takes an hour or two and can be done with mini-usb cable attached).
- test strips have those two "legs" at the end (end of the strip is divided into 2 parts) and I sometimes manage to bend one of those "legs". It doesn't break the strip, it's just annoying.

FreeStyle InsuLinx
I only used this meter a few times, and I actually liked it a lot. It has a build-in bolus calculator and a lot of settings for different ratios for different times. I couldn't use it day-to-day because the screen is terribly unreadable (I have cataracts).
Pros:
- great insulin calculator and log book,
- fairly small amount of blood needed,
Cons:
- doesn't check for ketones,
- screen is unreadable if you have problems with eyes,
- touch screen is hard to use
- rather big (especially compared to Onetouch verio iq)

FreeStyle Optimum Neo
I got the neo last weeked and I hoped it's going to be a simpler, better version of InsuLinx. It's a simpler version, but not exactly better. It has a insulin log book, but no carbs calculator. The screen is better, but the touch screen is still weird.
Pros:
- checks for ketones,
- can log insulin doses,
- smaller than InsuLinx
- screen is very readable (but not backlid), similar to Amazon's Kindle e-ink
Cons:
- it needs A LOT OF BLOOD! Much, much more than other meters (that's why I stopped using it).
- no carbs calculator - can only advice you on pre-defined bolus doses,

RSTURBO32 said:

I have the accu chek mobile, i think it is a good machine, i do not have to mess around with putting strips in it, i just put a cassette in with 50 strips in it, rolls round like a old cassette player tape, the pen is on the side and holds 6 finger pricks, i can set a flag before and after meals, i also can plug it into any computer holding the software and look at the graphs, the flags come up in different colours, quite a good machine, tried 4 others and did not get on with them as good as i do with this one

Click to expand...

what do you think of the software? I am thinking of purchasing it

innilus said:

Just wanted to know about the different monitors people use and the good and bad points about them. Does it hook up to your computer or an app which provides you with detailed statistical data, do the batteries last long, do you struggle to get prescriptions for them or is it just too big. Anything you can think of and your rating out of 10.

I have an Accu-Chek Aviva Nano and it's pretty basic.

Good:
It's small
Quick and easy to use
The multiclix finger pricker with 6 lancets in 1
Small amount of blood needed for test strip

Bad:
Battery life (I've bought fresh well known brand of batteries and got the low battery warning or E-9 error code on first use)
Multiclix finger pricker hurts more than others seem to (haven't tried the new Fastclix version)
No detailed results (Can't record detailed info like how long after you've eaten that you did the test. Only does 7, 14, 30 and 90 day averages)
Doesn't connect to a computer (as far as I know)

5/10

Click to expand...

I've been using the Accu-chek Nano since September and am still on the original batteries. I got the FastClix with mine and find that the setting of 2.5 is best. I haven't looked into the averages etc so cannot comment on the IT side of it.

Most accurate system in independent test report - Freestyle Lite strips work in several Abbott meters.
Fastclix lancing device very convenient and no open lancets to dispose of, or find the dog chewing.
Accu-Chek mobile -superior device with sufficient accuracy.
Optium Neo, strips not as accurate as Freestyle LIte, according to manufacturer's own literatue and a need a lot more blood, but will also test for ketones.

Rather surpisingly, the new Abbott lancing device is virtually painless, even on a high setting that you need for Optium Neo strips. The surface of the needle cap has a ring of rounded projections around the hole that seem to distract from the pain when the needle fires.