Abbott Global provides the FreeStyle Lite glucose meter. Users appreciate the large displays and compact design offered by FreeStyle. Enhanced features make this a solid choice for some diabetics.
Statistics
• The blood sample size for the Freedom Lite is the smallest we have ever reviewed.
• Backlit and also provides a light for testing portal for easy use in low-light situations. This meter even provides a small light to illuminate test area in low-light scenarios.
• Alternate testing sites can be used with this meter except in cases of low blood sugar (finger is suggested in all such cases).
• Four daily reminder alarms are available.
• Is interactive with an Abbot developed computer program to track diabetes. Connects to you computer via cable.
• Meter storage allows for a significant variable in acceptable temperature (-4 to104 F)
• Features a lifetime warranty.
• Can hold up to 400 tests.
• The battery can produce up to 500 test results.
• Coding is not required.
Pros
The FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter is a more feature rich edition of the FreeStyle Freedom Lite from Abbott Global. It’s lightweight design and its ability to adapt to multiple environments makes it a choice many are comfortable with. The backlighting and test strip portal illumination are a favorite feature for many diabetics.
Cons
While the backlighting can be a benefit it also consumes up to twice the available energy reserves. This means that batteries will need replacing more often. Where the FreeStyle Lite can produce up to 500 test results the FreeStyle Freedom Lite can produce up to 1,000 test results (this model features no backlighting).
Bottom Line
The FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter works in conjuction with the Abbot developed Co-Pilot software. Company information states, “The CoPilot™ Health Management System is a versatile tool that allows people with diabetes, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals to take a more informed role in
managing diabetes by acting as a data management tool. The CoPilot system tracks diabetes related health information, and provides graphs, charts and reports that can help both patients and healthcare professionals evaluate needs and options for a diabetes health management program.
“The CoPilot Health Management System (“the CoPilot system”) allows you to upload recorded test results from supported Abbott Diabetes Care blood glucose monitoring systems. The CoPilot system also allows you to record information about insulin, ketones, medications, meals, exercise, state of health, medical exams, lab results, as well as general notes.
“The CoPilot system displays trends and patterns in glucose readings, carbohydrate intake, insulin dosage, and other diabetes-related factors.”
You can also join the FreeStyle Promise program that offers a $600 annual savings on testing supplies along with, “Live access to… Certified Diabetes Educators, Registered Nurses and Registered Dietitians, plus other valuable resources to make ongoing diabetes monitoring and management easy.”
There are certain legal restrictions that you will need to consider. For instance if your blood testing equipment is paid for in whole or in part by insurance (private or federal) you will not qualify for testing supply savings when you enroll in the program.