Edumacate me on Blood Glucose meters

[scottmandue]

I have been a type II diabetic for about a decade and on oral meds...

I have only tested my self sporadically but when I did things seemed OK.

However I let things slide (testing and diet) for about six months an recent test showed I am a bit high (200).

So I am back on a low carb diet, exercise, testing daily, and made an appointment with the doc to see if they want to change my meds.

Anyway, I'm using an old freestyle meter (over five years old) and as my fellow diabetics know meters are free.

So I'm thinking of updating to a new meter.

Those of you using a meter what are the pros/cons of whatever meter you are using?

As we know the real cost is in the test strips, what about those TV commercials that tout they can get your testing materials for FREE!!! is there any truth to that or are they scams? I do have Medicare.

Thank you and may rainbows and unicorns fly out your butt!

[Joeaksa]

Look to Ebay or Craigs List for the strips.

Keep excercising, stop drinking and keep losing weight. It works.

[Ronbo]

I have both a Freestyle and a Freestyle Flash. I use the Flash mostly and have been happy with it and don't see a compelling reason to change. It does the job quickly and efficiently.

I did look into getting the free test strips. The two places I called said that you have to be on Medicare to qualify, so that ended it for me. I think you should check into it. If it doesn't work out, I've found the lowest cost on test strips & lancets to be from American Diabetes Wholesale.

[Z-man]

I've been using various One-Touch meters for years now. I am very happy with them. Durable, never really needs calibration, and for me it is especially convenient since it wirelessly interfaces with my insulin pump, so all of my info (blood sugars, insulin levels..etc) are all in one location.

My strips are covered under my medical insurance plan - I pay $20 for a three month supply, and I test 6-8 times a day. And I then use my out of pocket medical expenses as a deductable on my tax returns.

-Z-man.

[ChkbookMechanic]

I've used the One-Touch meters and the Freestyle meters. Right now my favorite is the Freestyle meter (mainly because it is built into my insulin pump) but I've found it to be more accurate than the One-Touch meter and the test strips don't seem to have as many problems.

Also, the Freestyle meters just came out with new test strips that take a lot less blood than any other test strip I've had to use.

[pwd72s]

Gotta admit, I've been getting lazy about the testing...just my daily meds and diet. Exercise by chores around the place. Last test at the clinic, my A1C was 6.2.

Joeaska gave a good tip...quit the booze, lots of carbs in that stuff!

(edit) My meter is freestyle.

[scottmandue]

This will be day 5 off the booze... feeling a lot better but a little restless at night... I'm sure that will pass.

I'm on blue cross and Medicare, I have checked online with liberty and diabeticexpress for the free Medicare supplies.

Thanks for the replies,

[porsche4life]

If you have medicare... Go talk to your pharmacist. Some of the strips are free depending on your condition. I know we do lots of free strips and meters for medicare patients. Not all pharmacies are accredited to do them yet but if your pharmacy isn't they can point you in the direction of one that is.

Oh there is a really cool meter out now that can be plugged in via USB and has all kinds of cool logging software associated with it. You would have to buy that one though. I wanna say its made by Bayer.

[scottmandue]

Apparently you have to be retired to use Medicare? In which case I about a decade from retiring

I looking into what Blue Shield can do for me.

Thanks again,

[Tobra]

All you diabetic mugs, check your sugar regularly. I would get one you can stick something other than your finger. Go to the eye guy and the foot guy annually at a minimum. It is like having an old car, you have to do the maint religiously or you are walking.

Booze is a problem, tobacco is just plain fookin' stupid if you are diabetic. If you smoke and are diabetic, you might want to go ahead and shoot yourself in the melon, it is a better way to go out.

[ChkbookMechanic]

Drinking alcohol is not a problem. Drinking too much alcohol is a problem. And if you can't figure out what that limit is, or you don't have enough self-control: don't drink alcohol.

[Tobra]

Lane you are mistaken.

[carambola]

if i'm not mistaken, which i've been known to be, the usb plug in comes with the one touch ultra two.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Tobra

All you diabetic mugs, check your sugar regularly. I would get one you can stick something other than your finger. Go to the eye guy and the foot guy annually at a minimum. It is like having an old car, you have to do the maint religiously or you are walking.

Booze is a problem, tobacco is just plain fookin' stupid if you are diabetic. If you smoke and are diabetic, you might want to go ahead and shoot yourself in the melon, it is a better way to go out.

I'm lucky and found a good eye doc... they work well with my insurance... have all the latest hi-tech gadgets... no hard sell on buying new frames... and schedule my next appointment before I leave the office.

Don't have a foot doc... when I see my MD in two weeks should I ask him about that?

I always test off my forearm... I think all the modern meters will do that, I play guitar and don't like messing with my fingertips.

RE: Alcohol, I have read conflicting reports (for the diabetic)... but I feel so much better when not drinking don't see a reason to go back.

YMMV

[pwd72s]

Actually, my MD is diabetic...he taught me to test on the heel of my hand...the pad below your little finger. Not the "ouch" of the more sensitive finger tips...Wash your hands before testing.

[ChkbookMechanic]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Lane you are mistaken.

I'm sorry you disagree with me. But, I have had no issues drinking the occasional beer or glass of wine as a Type I Diabetic. All it takes is planning and knowing what you're supposed to do to counteract the alcohol in your system.

I make no assumptions as to what you have to do as a T2D.

[Tobra]

I am firmly convinced that all diabetics should have a course in nutrition and something about the physiology of diabetes. It takes a long time to die from your blood glucose being too high. Sugar is what your brain runs on, go to low, your brain stops working and you die.

Diabetes affects a lot of different systems, primarily due to the small vessel disease that is associated with it. Your retina has a network of small vessels, which is convenient, as you can look at them without cutting the person open to do so. It is all the same plumbing, so problems noted at the eye doc can give you a heads up that there are issues elsewhere. If these vessels break, and you get bleeding into your eyeball, which is bad, because blood is not clear and you see by light going into your eye and the image is picked up on the retina. If the retina is damaged, it compromises the ability to pick up the image projected on it. The lens can also get jacked up in diabetics.

Diabetics also tend to have issues with their kidneys, which filter your blood. They do this in small vessels, and the walls of these vessels can become thickened, which compromises there ability to do the job of filtering your blood.

The foot thing is secondary to nerves becoming damaged, both due to high blood glucose levels screwing up the nerves directly, and from the small vessels that supply the nerves becoming blocked up, leading to the nerves not working as they should. Gives tingling and eventually numbness, starting at the fingers and toes. If you can't feel them, you are not as likely to notice problems. This is a gradual process, often the first indication there is a problem is the sore that you don't know how or when it happened. Simple evaluation can tell you if this is going on and to what extent. Diabetics are more likely to have poor peripheral circulation, and an immune system that is not as effective as it otherwise would be. Sets up a potentially very bad situation.

Diabetics have problems with blood glucose control, among other things. Depending on the severity of your disease, which impacts everyone differently, you will have various impacts from different things. You can run around with your BG at two or three times normal and have no symptoms. You drink alcohol, your BG will spike. The more your sugar levels go up and down, the harder it is on you. You can have a few drinks and note no ill effect in the short term. Over time you are doing more damage than if you do not drink booze. Tobacco and alcohol do significantly more damage in a diabetic than they do in someone who is not.

There are consequences to everything you do, sometimes not immediately evident.

The consequences of drinking are more profound for a diabetic. It is that simple.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I am firmly convinced that all diabetics should have a course in nutrition and something about the physiology of diabetes. It takes a long time to die from your blood glucose being too high. Sugar is what your brain runs on, go to low, your brain stops working and you die.

Diabetes affects a lot of different systems, primarily due to the small vessel disease that is associated with it. Your retina has a network of small vessels, which is convenient, as you can look at them without cutting the person open to do so. It is all the same plumbing, so problems noted at the eye doc can give you a heads up that there are issues elsewhere. If these vessels break, and you get bleeding into your eyeball, which is bad, because blood is not clear and you see by light going into your eye and the image is picked up on the retina. If the retina is damaged, it compromises the ability to pick up the image projected on it. The lens can also get jacked up in diabetics.

Diabetics also tend to have issues with their kidneys, which filter your blood. They do this in small vessels, and the walls of these vessels can become thickened, which compromises there ability to do the job of filtering your blood.

The foot thing is secondary to nerves becoming damaged, both due to high blood glucose levels screwing up the nerves directly, and from the small vessels that supply the nerves becoming blocked up, leading to the nerves not working as they should. Gives tingling and eventually numbness, starting at the fingers and toes. If you can't feel them, you are not as likely to notice problems. This is a gradual process, often the first indication there is a problem is the sore that you don't know how or when it happened. Simple evaluation can tell you if this is going on and to what extent. Diabetics are more likely to have poor peripheral circulation, and an immune system that is not as effective as it otherwise would be. Sets up a potentially very bad situation.

Diabetics have problems with blood glucose control, among other things. Depending on the severity of your disease, which impacts everyone differently, you will have various impacts from different things. You can run around with your BG at two or three times normal and have no symptoms. You drink alcohol, your BG will spike. The more your sugar levels go up and down, the harder it is on you. You can have a few drinks and note no ill effect in the short term. Over time you are doing more damage than if you do not drink booze. Tobacco and alcohol do significantly more damage in a diabetic than they do in someone who is not.

There are consequences to everything you do, sometimes not immediately evident.

The consequences of drinking are more profound for a diabetic. It is that simple.

All very true. AND with type 2 turning my life into a list of enjoyable things I USED to do...well, I figure I had a good run.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by ChkbookMechanic

I'm sorry you disagree with me. But, I have had no issues drinking the occasional beer or glass of wine as a Type I Diabetic. All it takes is planning and knowing what you're supposed to do to counteract the alcohol in your system.

I make no assumptions as to what you have to do as a T2D.

You do realize that Tobra is an MD right?

[cantdrv55]

Fairly recent T2 here. I test at least 3X/day especially now that I'm on three meds (Januvia, Metformin and insulin). I can't ride my bike as long as I used to and the heat makes me bonk.