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Which BG Monitor is Best for Type 2?

1

1066girl

Member
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Hello everyone. I'd like to purchase a bg monitor, but as I'm newly diagnosed, I really don't know what I should be looking for. Is there an 'uber' unit that people woud purchase if finances allowed, or are they all very much the same regards accuracy and ease of use? Boots are offering an ultra 2 for sale at around 8.00, but no point buying it if it's not that great.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks so much. 1066girl :)
 
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.
 
Thank you all for your replies. I don't understand though that if my GP agrees to a BG monitor, why not approve the strips. I'm very nw to all this, but it seems to me that this is an integral part of monitoring my health, even though I'm only Type 2, and not insulin dependent. Is there any information I could present to my GP to sway her, where she might hav to back down? Thanks again for you all taking the time to reply. 1066 girl :)
 
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) :oops:
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
 
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