Blood sugar test kit?

[dennis in se pa]

Every now and then my bi annual test spikes. So I test regularly in between. Have been using SideKick complete system, but have found it to be often inaccurate. Can someone recommend a good home test kit?

[asphaltgambler]

I use one from Target, sorry but I don't recall the name / brand. As long as you test 1st thing in the am before eating / drinking they are fairly accurate daily measure

[masraum]

I was curious about my BS and like to measure things, so a few years ago, I got a kit from Walgreens or maybe CVS. I think it was the store brand. It seemed to work well. My measurements seemed consistent (up after eating, then going down to normal levels).

Going to the Walgreens website, I think it was a "True Focus" but I'm not sure and it's packed away in a box somewhere. I think in the time that I used it (I went through a bunch of strips, 200? sometimes testing 10-15 times per day, watching levels fall after eating, etc...) I had 4-5 readings that seemed off. The first time or two that I got a weird reading, I'd test 2 more times, and assume that if I had 2 readings like what I'd been seeing and one outlier, that the outlier was a mistake.

[Evans, Marv]

My impression is that most kits aren't all that accurate. I have two from Kaiser, & they are ten points apart if I test with both at the same time. According to Kaiser, my BS level was 6.4 (prediabetic), now down with 6.1 (still prediabetic) after modifying and eliminating some of my eating habits. The kits say my blood sugar is in the normal range with after meal measurements being higher but declining normally. When I get an A1c test at Kaiser, it always shows my 3-month average slightly above 6. My opinion is the test kits are mostly good for just getting an idea how some foods and eating habits tent to raise you BS.

One kit is the OneTouchVerioIQ, & the other is a OneTouchVerio Flex. Both the same brand but show different results if I do one after the other.

[stevej37]

My sister is diabetic. I emailed her and she said this one from Walmart works great for her.

[Tobra]

Where they get you is the test strips.

Machine and first pack of test strips free, after rebate, restrictions may apply, yada, yada

[jhynesrockmtn]

Type 1 diabetic here. I used one from OneTouch for a few years. I now use the Abbott Freestyle Libre which is the cheapest of the continuous glucose monitors. If you really want to track frequently and see what food and exercise do to your glucose levels, get your Doc to write a script. 14 days will cost you roughly $35 at Costco or similar. I'll be in a clinical trial for a new RFID technology wearable device which doesn't pierce the skin from a company called Know Labs coming up soon in Seattle. The tech is changing rapidly in this space.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Where they get you is the test strips.

Machine and first pack of test strips free, after rebate, restrictions may apply, yada, yada

Yup, just like inkjet printers.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

Type 1 diabetic here. I used one from OneTouch for a few years. I now use the Abbott Freestyle Libre which is the cheapest of the continuous glucose monitors. If you really want to track frequently and see what food and exercise do to your glucose levels, get your Doc to write a script. 14 days will cost you roughly $35 at Costco or similar. I'll be in a clinical trial for a new RFID technology wearable device which doesn't pierce the skin from a company called Know Labs coming up soon in Seattle. The tech is changing rapidly in this space.

Not trying to be a dick, but a some insurances now cover them as preventative. Haven’t paid for one in 3-4 years, before they were running me $40 a pop.
If you can choose carriers it’s worth a look..

[WPOZZZ]

I asked my doc about those CGMs and was told my diabetes need to be Type 1 or pretty bad to qualify for it.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I asked my doc about those CGMs and was told my diabetes need to be Type 1 or pretty bad to qualify for it.

Had the exact opposite experience. Again ymmv - this is purely for info. My endo was happy to prescribe - but I paid for them out of pocket until they were fully covered in a change of carrier.

If you didn’t try one and never have they are really quite something. They sync with my phone, so no meter. The only thing I’ve found is they are placement sensitive.

[Instrument 41]

Type 1 for 34 years. First - the meter. The cost is the test strips, not the meter. I have 4 meters one for each car and the house. By far the cheapest and easily obtained is the Relion 1 from Walmart. The advantage to this meter is the availability of strips, there is a Walmart everywhere.
The CGM- you do not have to be severe diabetic to get on these. However unless you are a brittle diabetic or type 1, you don't need these. I have been on the Dexcom and then the Libre. Both brands failed terribly, with my upper range being off by 100 points, and even if you use theses, you still have to use the meter to check you glucose to make sure the CGM's are working ok. Diabetes is something to be on top of, however Diabetes is a huge cash cow and a lot of equipment is sold by the use of fear.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Where they get you is the test strips.

Machine and first pack of test strips free, after rebate, restrictions may apply, yada, yada

I have a meter from Livongo that I got through my insurance at no charge. Their program also includes all future lancets and test strips at no charge to the user.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I asked my doc about those CGMs and was told my diabetes need to be Type 1 or pretty bad to qualify for it.

I believe CGM's have been approved for T2 diabetics as well now. Check with your insurance company, as that is the deciding factor, not your doc.

T1 and I have the Dexcom G6 CGM system. Incredibly accurate system. No finger sticks needed. Connects to your phone / smart watch via bluetooth.

Worth looking into if you are a T1 or T2 diabetic.

[dennis in se pa]

Thanks all

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Z-man

I believe CGM's have been approved for T2 diabetics as well now. Check with your insurance company, as that is the deciding factor, not your doc.

They are.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Not trying to be a dick, but a some insurances now cover them as preventative. Haven’t paid for one in 3-4 years, before they were running me $40 a pop.
If you can choose carriers it’s worth a look..

Good point. I was assuming the PO was not diagnosed diabetic. Like you, I had to pay out of pocket even as a type 1 for a few years. Now my insurance covers them, with a copay of course. My endo said they were covering for more and more folks and I think medicare now pays for the Libre.

It has been incredibly accurate for me. I haven't done a finger stick more than a few times a year in the last 4-5 years.