Which BG Monitor is Best for Type 2?

I think you need to be more concerned with the price of the test strips as if you have to finance these yourself they can be very expensive. People have preferences over meters but they all seem to do the same job.
Hope this helps your decision.
Catherine.

If you do decide on the Lifescan Ultra2 there is a store that sells the strips at half price,
http://www.healthdrop.co.uk Put test strips in the search on their website. Sadly, this is the only make they do.
I have used them and delivery usually takes 2 working days.

The LifeScan UltraSmart is good for me in that it has quite comprehensive logging and analysis options and will plot graphs of BG averages over time based on mealtimes.

Makes it very easy to keep an eye on the effects from any changes in diet or medication.

I've been paying over £20 for 50 test strips so the link to http://www.healthdrop.co.uk/search.asp at £13 is great!


One point that is a little odd is in the documentation with the test strips, these are the figures it gives as 'normal' ranges for *non-diabetics*:

Before breakfast : 3.9 - 5.8

Before lunch or dinner : 3.9 - 6.1

1 hour after meal: less than 8.9

2 hour after meals : less than 6.7

Between 2 and 4 am - greater than 3.9

These figures are referenced from a 1989 book by L.P. Krall and R.S. Beaser - Joslin Diabetes Manual.

Anyone know if those numbers are still current? I rather thought that the modern view is towards tighter figues, in particular the 8.9 one hour post prandial?

Mark.

Hi 1066girl,
There is a thread on "Diabetes Discussions" headed, "Where to buy test strips". There is a posting there that might help you to form an argument. (Sorry don't know how to show the thread)
Hope this helps,
Catherine.

Opinion of many people in many places seems to be that the Ultra meters are best, but the Accucheck finger stabber is preferable. The finger stabber has now been replaced and people don't seem to like the new one so much.

Abbott meters have the cheapest strips, available direct from the manufacturer, if you can't get them prescribed. I haven't found a source of Accuchek strips as cheap as the above <jealous>

I was quite fortunate, although my surgery didn't supply a test meter I brought one from the pharmacy next door went back into the surgery and filled in a prescription requests for the strips with no problems.

I use the Accu-Chek Aviva which I find is a great machine. I bought my first one some while ago and was later sent a free one for taking a survey. They also provided me with free software and an infra red device for my computer. This allows me to download all my readings to my computer wirelessly. Before I see my DNS at the hospital I can send her a report which gives her a 'heads up' before she sees me.
I too have no probs getting test strips from my GP (good man). I have recently been sent a free Ascencia Breeze 2 which I am trying out. This too was after taking a survey.
Depends what you want to do with your readings really ?

Ken