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Got my new SD Codefree but the setup instructions are very confusing

V

vit90

Well-Known Member
Messages
843
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I am lost regarding the instructions for the section on setting up referring to control solutions (which I haven't been supplied as far as I can see) and the check strip (which I have). Is the meter usable as is or does it need to be calibrated? This is my first meter and so apologies if this question is an old one - I had a quick search but could not find anything.
 
As far as I'm aware it doesn't need calibrating. Just set it up with date and time and so on, then off you go. I haven't got any control solution, and the solution I did get with my Accu Chek I never used. I think it's only for if you think the meter is consistently playing up.
 
Thanks Bluetit. What needed calibration was the lancing device which failed to reveal any blood to start with. The first attempt (with blood!) produced a figure of 5.8, but I thought I'd test again for consistency. Once again couldn't get enough blood onto the strip and wasted that one. The next was a rather clumsy effort with more blood on the underside and a reading of 4.2. I finally did what I consider a perfect procedure and got 5.2. This is with my breakfast getting cold in the kitchen and not having eaten since the evening before, some 15 hours previously (late Saturday breakfast. Treated myself to two sausages and some mushrooms so very little carbs but will test myself again in an hour and a half as seems to be the recommended interval.
 

I think many of us wasted a few strips at first. I had been using a different meter before, so on the codefree I was trying to get the blood in the yellow bit "on the tip" thinking this was on the top of the strip. It soon clicked it meant the edge rather than the yellow bit. One tip - make sure all 3 segments of the yellow strip have taken up blood. Occasionally I've noticed only the first 2 have taken it up, and this gives a false low reading.

I don't use the Codefree lancets. I use a Fastclix as they are so much easier.
 
The SD Codefree only comes with a 'check' strip that just confirms that the electronics work. It doesn't need any other calibration. Control solutions have to be purchased separately, but don't bother - they don't give you a 'real' value, they just verify that the meter is working within its range of error (anything up to +/- 20%, but mostly within 10%).

As for the lancets, I have mine set around 2.5. You'll get into a routine and soon you'll be doing it in your sleep (well not literally but you know what I mean).
 
1 hour 40 minutes since meal (2 sausages and mushrooms, about 300 calories and 9g carbs), this time very straightforward (although needed two attempts with lancing device which is now on max 5 setting) and reading of 6.6.
 
vit90 said:
1 hour 40 minutes since meal (2 sausages and mushrooms, about 300 calories and 9g carbs), this time very straightforward (although needed two attempts with lancing device which is now on max 5 setting) and reading of 6.6.
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That's excellent. If you buy sausages with a high meat content, they have even fewer (or no) carbs. I buy Black Farmers Premium, 90% pork, nice and spicy and thick, 1 carb and 169 calories per sausage.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
That's excellent. If you buy sausages with a high meat content, they have even fewer (or no) carbs. I buy Black Farmers Premium, 90% pork, nice and spicy and thick, 1 carb and 169 calories per sausage.
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My ones were just Aldi's a-little-better-than-bog-standard 'Oakhurst' frozen pork sausages - actually not bad for a frozen sausage. I doubt I will exceed 25g carbs for all meals today. This was sort of brunch and this evening will be cooking a Chinese-style pork with egg noodles and green beans (with soy sauce, fish sauce, onions, mushrooms, carrots, garlic and ginger) for the family but no noodles for me and only a small portion of the rest! If there are any pangs otherwise I will treat myself to a carrot and/or some raw broccoli.
 
Bluetit - meant to say how impressed I am with your stats; excellent BMI and weight loss. Low dose aspirin is interesting because I have read that insulin resistance is the result of a condition which can be compared to inflammation and of course aspirin reduces inflammation - which is what its advocates promote in relation to cancer prevention.
 

Thank you. My weight just dropped off on my lowish carb/higher fat/calorie controlled diet, so much so that when I reached my target weight I could not stop losing. It has taken me almost 2 months to stabilise without increasing my BS levels. The low dose aspirin is because I refused statins as my cholesterol/trigs and BP are normal. One way the aspirin seems to help is that I can get better blood drops when I test!!!!
 


Just a tip for you, handed to me from my DN. Do not prick the thumb or index finger and do not prick the top of your fingers. Prick around the sides of the top part of your middle, ring or little finger. Make sure your fingers are room temperature (cold stops me bleeding) and rotate the fingerpricks from finger to finger to prevent bruising or soreness.
 
I tried in 3 different fingers the other morning and couldn't get enough blood so gave up! Unfortunately it's the same when I have a blood test - they often have to try in both arms
 
Try massaging your fingers and gently squeezing them (as if you were milking a cow ). This may encourage blood flow so you get some blood when you prick a finger shortly after.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

Out of curiosity did you increase exercise on top of the change in diet and what was your calorie target?
 
vit90 said:
Out of curiosity did you increase exercise on top of the change in diet and what was your calorie target?
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No additional exercise. Just 2 walks a day.
I restricted my calories to 1200 a day including 60g of carbs.
 
OK, what I'm doing is a bit more extreme; 700 calories a day and about half the carbs you did and I have increased my exercise quite a lot but maybe from a lower baseline than you - I hardly did any walks and no supplementary exercise although I didn't stay sat down all day. Now I'm doing at least three brisk one hour or more walks (with some up hill sections) per week and daily fitness exercise to get the heart going and out of breath 5-6 times a day (weekends less so), so legs/thighs getting plenty of workout. Today started with dumbbells brought out of storage to address upper body muscle (or lack of!) tone. It's kinda getting addictive and while I do get some between meal pangs I just make some tea or a Bovril and I'm fine again. The more I read more I think a reduction in body fat in general (not just the visceral stuff I have initially targeted) and an increase in muscle should help reduce some insulin resistance, although it does seem that it's unlikely that can be completely reversed. But hey, whatever happens at the end of this experiment I will be fitter and healthier and I already feel a lot better when I didn't actually feel much was wrong originally.
 
I have just got the Codefree meter but am having problems with the lancet thingy as cannot get it to prick my finger! The picker bit just does not come out! So am just using the actual lancet and that is quite painful. Not sure what is wrong with the thing.
So wasted two strips before breakfast and the dog was wanting out so gave up at that time.
Anyhow, my mid morning reading(11.30am) was 7.6 and I had a slice of toast and cup of tea at 830am, so will have to see how it goes.
 

It doesn't stick out the end; it's on a spring-loaded base do when you prick your finger it does shoot beyond the end of the pen but it instantly retracts safely inside. That said mine is on the maximum setting of 5.
 
Well it did not work even when I set it at 5! Felt nothing on finger. Will try again though with it!
 
To load the Codefree lancer, you pull the bottom out. The button under the dial turns red. Position the lancer on your finger and press the red button. You will hear it launch (and probably feel it stab you). If it still will not work I would try it with a piece of thin paper over the top instead of skin, to check whether it is working correctly. If it is faulty you should be able to exchange it with the retailer. My fingers are not exactly delicate, but I can draw blood with this lancer on 1 or 1.5.
 
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