Anyone using this? How easy is it? I just got one from my doctor.

Hi Julie,
I am glad a diabetes thread started up. I am a type I Diabetic and test mine whenever I think about it. I am sure my Drs' aren't happy with that, but my A1c is pretty good. Last one was 6.1. That's as good as it gets with me. I have also lost 30 pounds on purpose. I am over on the Weightloss forum.I am sure Doc will be pleased with that news.

I am not sure what you mean about the start of this forum, unless you are like me. If I could only think if it, I don't mind testing. We should take time to do something we are told to do. Like diet also. I know how hard it is.
Good Luck on your jorney where ever you go,
Fancylady

I have hypoglycemia and my mother has diabetes. I find that it is pretty easy to use. I like mine because its the small freestyle one that doesn't take up a lot of room. I hate sticking my fingers because no matter how careful you are you bang your sore finger on everything. However, my friend with NIDDM called the mfg. and they say that it has a + - 20% error rate. I think that is kinda scary. I have tested mine against my mother's and we get two separate readings (mine might say 110 hers might be 73). I have used the control solutions for both, so I am not sure what the deal is.

resqgirl911, thank you for posting this. I am currently using OneTouch. I changed from AccuChek only because someone gave me four packs of 100 strips each, which is the equivalent of nearly $400-worth of strips at my pharmacy. That was worth buying a new monitor, I qualified for a rebate, so I paid $20 out of pocket for all this.

I cross checked, and OneTouch gives me readings of about 10 points lower than AccuCheck, but it was consistent, so I just take that into consideration.

But because the AccuCheck and OneTouch strips are so INCREDIBLY expensive (and they keep going up instead of down), I decided I will switch to a low-cost monitor that uses less expensive strips, and Freestyle is on the list of considerations.

I'm Type I diabetic and brittle, which means my blood sugar can plunge in a heartbeat if I do some as simple as walking just half a mile, and there are times it soars with the same foods that I did okay with the day before. As such, I take insulin every time I eat (in addition to long acting insulin), and if my blood sugar is running high I take it also.

So the difference in the readings you describe here would be critical for me.

As an aside, do you know another person with a meter that you could check yours against? The risk in comparing with just one is that it may be your mother's that is off and not yours.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll do some additional homework.

TCC

hi i was wanting to know does it come with a test strip so you can tell if the machine is reading right.the one i have comes with a test strip so you can check it for yourself.

Hi, I just wanted to mention that some of the lancets are NOT painful, I use BD Ultra-Fine 30 gauge now & can hardly feel it at all.

Also, if your fingers are getting sore perhaps prick on the side of the finger rather than the pad (this is helpful for all of us chronic computer typists).

I use the Ultra One Touch & believe it is pretty accurate.

Anyone questioning the accuracy of their tester should take it to a pharmacy or to the doctor & compare with another tester. A difference of 10 points could be a big deal for some of you taking insulin I would think.

I just lost my lousy health insurance & the biggest loss will be the test strips,I've only had to pay $10 month, no way can I afford $100+ for those strips-any idea at all on how to get them cheaper??? Thanks!

Take care everyone,Buttons

I use the freestyle flash! I love it! I test on my forearm(much less painful). This monitor uses less blood which is great! I used the one touch ultra prior to this one! I like the freestyle flash way way better. I test 4 times a day! Hope this helps!
~Ever