What meter? Where's the useful link?

[Antje77]

I'm having my stupid hour and I can't seem to find the link to the useful information about what meter to buy in the UK. And I just promised @Fo I'd find it for her (https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/pre-diabetic-neuropothy.160218/#post-1962215) .
Can someone help her out, as I'm about to go to bed.

Thanks in advance, will try to be smart again tomorrow

 

[Rachox]

Here you are @Fo Here’s some info on meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-dual-blood-glucose-and-ketone-meter/

With the strips here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-pro-blood-glucose-test-strips/


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free which has the cheapest strips available. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go:

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

 

[Fo]

Here you are @Fo Here’s some info on meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-dual-blood-glucose-and-ketone-meter/

With the strips here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-pro-blood-glucose-test-strips/


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free which has the cheapest strips available. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go:

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

Thank you so much I feel better now x

 

[Fo]

Here you are @Fo Here’s some info on meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-dual-blood-glucose-and-ketone-meter/

With the strips here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-pro-blood-glucose-test-strips/


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free which has the cheapest strips available. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go:

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

Good morning
I am going to order the Tee2 monitor. Do I also need to order solution, lancets and strips? Have I missed anything? I really appreciate your help with this x

 

[Rachox]

Good morning
I am going to order the Tee2 monitor. Do I also need to order solution, lancets and strips? Have I missed anything? I really appreciate your help with this x

You definitely need lancets and strips. Lancets are supposed to be single use only, but I just change mine once a day. Some people change them weekly, monthly or even less frequently!
Above is what the Tee2 instructions manual says about testing solution.

 

[Fo]

View attachment 30658

You definitely need lancets and strips. Lancets are supposed to be single use only, but I just change mine once a day. Some people change them weekly, monthly or even less frequently!
Above is what the Tee2 instructions manual says about testing solution.

Thank you very much you have been so helpful. I have just placed my order. Without your advise I would have got myself anxious and probably bought the wrong thing x

 

[Rachox]

Thank you very much you have been so helpful. I have just placed my order. Without your advise I would have got myself anxious and probably bought the wrong thing x

Don’t hesitate to ask if you need help interpreting your results once you get the meter. If you have a smart phone, I suggest you download the app called MySugr to record your readings. After you have input enough data it’ll give you an estimated HbA1c. I emphasise it is an estimate, but it at the very least you will know if it’s heading up or down.

 

[Goonergal]

Good morning
I am going to order the Tee2 monitor. Do I also need to order solution, lancets and strips? Have I missed anything? I really appreciate your help with this x

The Tee2 comes with 10 lancets, the lancing device, control solutions and 10 free strips (I took delivery of one last week).

They also offer a cable to download your results to a pc (software can be downloaded from the Spirit Healthcare website).

When I ordered, I called - because I ordered 10 boxes of strips they threw in the meter for free.

 

[Antje77]

Hello, @Starfish18 , I've asked the question about what meter to buy last week, so if you read the above posts you already have some answers to your question

 

[Starfish18]

Hello, @Starfish18 , I've asked the question about what meter to buy last week, so if you read the above posts you already have some answers to your question

Thank you That's given me something to look at

 

[Fo]

Don’t hesitate to ask if you need help interpreting your results once you get the meter. If you have a smart phone, I suggest you download the app called MySugr to record your readings. After you have input enough data it’ll give you an estimated HbA1c. I emphasise it is an estimate, but it at the very least you will know if it’s heading up or down.

Thank you
I have received my tee2 monitor, lancets, solution and strips. Pretty impressive company; prompt delivery and got the batteries and solution free! Log book provided and a case!
I haven’t tested yet. I need to read some more about how to do it x

 

[Rachox]

Thank you
I have received my tee2 monitor, lancets, solution and strips. Pretty impressive company; prompt delivery and got the batteries and solution free! Log book provided and a case!
I haven’t tested yet. I need to read some more about how to do it x

Ask away if you have questions about testing. Make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly. A lot of people find it less painful to prick the side of their fingertip not the pad. I very quickly abandoned the log book for apps. My Sugr is a great one as if you input enough data it estimates your HbA1c. It’s very inspiring if your numbers go down, but equally educational if they don’t!

 

[Fo]

Ask away if you have questions about testing. Make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly. A lot of people find it less painful to prick the side of their fingertip not the pad. I very quickly abandoned the log book for apps. My Sugr is a great one as if you input enough data it estimates your HbA1c. It’s very inspiring if your numbers go down, but equally educational if they don’t!

Hello
I have just taken my first reading successfully using my 6th test strip! Approx 2 hours after dinner.
My reading was 6.4. How do I convert that please? My test with the doc was 44
Thank you x

 

[Rachox]

Hello
I have just taken my first reading successfully using my 6th test strip! Approx 2 hours after dinner.
My reading was 6.4. How do I convert that please? My test with the doc was 44
Thank you x

Your test from the Dr would have been an HbA1c an average of the last 8-12 weeks. Your finger prick is a snap shot showing your blood sugar level at that very moment, so you can’t really compare them directly, well you can but it won’t be very accurate. Do you have a Smart phone or an iPad, if so download the app MySugr, it’ll do the maths for you converting finger pricks to an estimated HbA1c, once you have put in enough data. If you want to work out your own average of several readings you can then use this converter here:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-to-blood-sugar-level-converter.html

 

[Alison Campbell]

Your test with the doctor was likely a HBA1C which measures how much glucose has stuck to your red blood cells over the last 8-12 weeks.

Your meter reading is a snap shot of your levels in that moment. A HBA1C of 44 roughly equates to an average over 3 months of 7.3 using this converter here https://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-to-blood-sugar-level-converter.html

Your two hour post meal result is normal