Diabetic Live

Abbott Global provides the FreeStyle Freedom Lite glucose meter. Users appreciate the large displays and compact design offered by FreeStyle. Programs offered by FreeStyle may make the choice even easier for some.

Statistics

•    The blood sample size for the Freedom Lite is the smallest we have ever reviewed.
•    Meter storage allows for a significant variable in acceptable temperature (-4 to 104 F)
•    Features a lifetime warranty.
•    Can hold up to 400 tests.
•    The battery can produce up to 1,000 test results.
•    Coding is not required.

Pros
As you may have detected from the statistics list above one of the key benefits to the FreeStyle Freedom Lite glucose meter is that it is currently the world best meter for the least amount of blood required for the testing process. The storage capacity for tests is not the best in the world, but surpasses many other meters. Battery life is very good although there are some that can provide up to 2,000 tests. The value of no required coding is worth a lot to many diabetics as well. This is also a very light meter making it easy to carry and store.

Cons
It is possible the FreeStyle Freedom Lite exceeds your need. There are many other meters that can offer similar results if you don’t need extensive storage of testing data or if temperature isn’t an issue for unit storage (i.e. a mild climate). If you don’t mind coding then you may not need the Freestyle Freedom Lite. On the other hand it may not provide enough of these options for your needs either. It all depends on what you see as important in your testing equipment.

Bottom Line
Like other manufacturers Abbott Global has created a website specifically for users of the FreeStyle Freedom Lite. This includes benefits such as articles related to diabetes. You can “Ask the Expert” to gain better understanding of issues related to diabetes. There is a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator to help you with weight management goals. You will also find a diabetes dictionary featuring a glossary of terms related to the disease. The site also offers ways to increase the level of activity you engage in on a daily basis in an effort to lower your weight and provide a better glucose balance within your body.

You can also join the FreeStyle Promise program that claims to offer 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.”

Unless you live in an area where the offer is prohibited by law you can also receive a FreeStyle Freedom Lite glucose meter at no cost when you become a member of this free program. 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.

The Freedom Lite does not have a backlight so you will need to test in a well-lit area. The design is compact and the results seem consistent. The buttons are larger than some meters and a color-coded port makes it easier to see where to place testing strips.

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.

The Ascensia Breeze Glucose Meter is very similar to the Dex 2, but provides a design style that may prove more favorable for those looking for comfort in a hand held blood glucose monitor.

If coding is an issue then the Bayer developed Breeze provides a no-coding way to get the testing results you need.

Statistics

• Operation made easy for virtually all patients regardless of age, dexterity or vision capabilities
• Designed to provide stability in tabletop testing
• Error detection is automatic ensuring greater accuracy
• Display is easy to read
• Accurate results with small blood sample
• Stores up to 100 tests.
• Each button performs a single function making it easy for patients to use
• Instructions provided with clear illustration for easy start up.
• Compatible with the Ascensia WinGlucofacts PC software encouraging comprehensive diabetes management
• Multiple site testing including the finger, forearm, palm, abdomen and thigh. Consult your healthcare professional for appropriate sites

Pros
Some patients simply enjoy the act of reloading the test strips. They find it very convenient to use the testing wheel of ten strips as opposed to reloading every time they need to retest. The lancet used generally provides as positive an experience as can be had with glucose testing. The size and shape of the Ascensia Breeze Glucose Meter is both appealing and functional.

Cons
The opening for the testing wheel can be problematic for individuals with vision problems or arthritis. This issue can be overcome, but it may mar your initial use of the glucose meter. Alternate testing sites require a separate lancet that will need to be purchased separately from the original Ascensia Breeze Glucose Meter kit. While this is considered by many to be one of the better meters on the market today the extra lancet purchase and slightly complex method of installing the testing wheel may cause disappointment or frustration in some users.

Bottom Line
If you are an individual who loves to visit gadget websites and enjoys figuring out how to make new purchases work to the best of their ability you will likely be highly satisfied with a Ascensia Breeze Glucose Meter. This meter does provide comprehensive and trusted results while offering convenience in the long-term.

On the other hand if you are seeking something very simple that will provide results without an extended learning curve you may want to look at the Ascensia Dex 2 or Elite XL. Bayer products have a solid history of quality so any review that may seem negative is likely linked to issues related to presentation or design preferences.

About Bayer: Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care is a leader in diabetes monitoring systems and other products and services that simplify life for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

In the U.S., only Bayer makes available a complete line of single and multi-testing blood glucose meters (BGM) including the BREEZE®2 and CONTOUR® systems, both with No Coding™ technology, and no interference with common substances such as maltose. Minimizing the impact from many external variants helps to ensure accuracy of test results. Bayer is the only leading diabetes care company to offer hand-held, portable monitoring of A1C (glycated hemoglobin), an important indicator of long-term blood sugar control. Products include the A1CNow+® for healthcare professionals and the A1CNow™® SELFCHECK monitor for home use. (Source: Bayer)

The Ascensia DEX 2 Glucose Meter provides a sense of convenience with a 10-strip cartridge for systematic blood testing without the need to continually change strips. It is manufactured by Bayer and is often offered at no cost by companies who tie the freebie to testing supplies.

Unlike the Ascensia Elite XL this meter provides more features, buttons and averages to help you gauge your diabetic management.

Statistics

•    Cover slide for display protection
•    Codes automatically
•    100 blood sugar readings can be stored
•    A test strip that draws the blood into the strip automatically
•    Compatible with specific diabetic tracking software
•    Test results available in 30 seconds
•    10-strip cartridge located inside the meter
•    Blood volume between 2.5 and 3.5 microliters
•    Each test strip cartridge is automatic calibrated.
•    Five-year warranty
•    14-day average, plus average at 6:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM
•    Uses two standard watch batteries for power offering approximately 1,000 tests between battery changes
•    Is rated for testing in sites other than the finger
•    Will let you know if it didn’t get enough blood for a sample

Pros
This unit combines both cost effectiveness with a feature rich interface. The end result is a well-developed meter that provides significant data along with the convenience most diabetics want in their testing equipment. The use of the 10-strip cartridge that automatically draws blood into the strip for testing are features that many diabetics will like and adds to the convenience of using this blood glucose meter.

Cons
Beyond the fact that it looks a little like the Tricorder from Star Trek this product seems a little bulky for the preferred hand-held models currently available. The unit will fit in your hand, but the bulge on either side created by the testing wheel may not be personally preferred. The amount of blood (2.5 microliters or more) is more than five times what the best meters require for testing and it may prove difficult for some diabetics to draw the larger sample. Secondarily there are many new meters on the market that offer testing times that are much shorter than the 30 seconds offered by the Ascensia DEX 2 Glucose Meter.

Bottom Line
The Ascensia DEX 2 Glucose Meter seems to be viewed as a solid choice, but not perhaps ranked among the most preferred blood glucose meters. Many users enjoy the benefits of this meter, but may wish for a model that requires less blood per sample. They may like the alternate site testing capabilities, but may wish the unit were more compact.

There is nothing wrong with the Ascensia DEX 2 Glucose Meter and many patients are entirely satisfied with the testing process. However, if a user migrates from a meter that requires a smaller blood sample they may not be happy with this unit. If you have trouble drawing a large sample then this unit may not be a good match.

Perhaps the trouble with this unit is it is not an entry-level device and it is not a high-end unit. It may be perfect as a graduated step, but less acceptable for diabetics who have experienced a top-end meter.

This product can be confusing to some patients because while Bayer manufactures this meter you cannot buy it from the Bayer site. In most cases the actual unit is offered free of charge or at low-cost to diabetic patients while Bayer concentrates on selling models through their website that are uniquely separated from the Elite XL.

It would be unfair to call the Ascensia Elite XL Glucose Meter an inferior product simply because it is offered at no or little cost. This glucose meter is stylish, lightweight and offers a few benefits that have garnered it many fans.

Statistics

•    Requires a smaller blood sample than many other brands of glucose meters.
•    Testing strips are less expensive than competitors resulting in lower overall costs for testing.
•    Allows for multiple testing sites.
•    The testing strips actually draw blood into the strip creating a sense of convenience and anxiety relief to the patient.
•    The unit holds up to 100 readings.
•    Provides a 14 and 30-day average for comparison.
•    The unit is activated when the test strip is inserted.
•    Contains no buttons.
•    Compatible with Glucofacts PC software.

Pros
This unit has become popular with many simply because it appears ‘no-frilled’. There are no menu options to sort through and no complicated procedures to endure prior to testing. You simply insert the testing strip and the unit turns on. You administer the lance and allow the testing strip to sip up the exact amount of blood needed for the test. The low cost of testing supplies makes this a popular model and the potential no-cost access to the meter is also a pleasing aspect to the Ascensia Elite XL Glucose Meter. Many users also like the fact that this meter is approved for multiple site testing. This can be important to those who may have issues related to sensitive hands. Results generally take 30 seconds.

Cons
The very things that make this meter a positive alternative for some diabetics makes it less advantageous to others. The Ascensia Elite XL Glucose Meter cannot hold a large number of tests and the unit may not appear to be comprehensive as other meters on the market today.

Bottom Line
The idea of an entry-level meter generally has the end user feeling as if the product is somehow interior. It is true there are other units that provide additional tools that can prove helpful to diabetics, but the Ascensia Elite XL Glucose Meter has proven remarkably dependable with a good track record for accuracy in testing. The low cost of operation make this an option worth looking at especially if money is a primary consideration.

If you have a child who is a diabetic the Ascensia Elite XL Glucose Meter may be a solid choice simply because it may be less expensive to replace if needed and the meter allows for multiple site locations for testing so the hands will not always be required for accurate testing and the sip-in sample testing procedure makes it virtually error-proof to take accurate blood testing.

This is a fairly basic unit offered by LifeScan. It required coding, but supplies test results within 5 seconds with a minimal blood sample. It is highly regarded by physicians and often recommended for its accuracy and ease of use.

The role of a blood glucose meter is to not simply track test results, but provide information that can alter the immediate way you manage your diabetes. The OneTouch Select Glucose Meter makes this extremely possible.

• Statistics
  Three buttons (up, down and OK) allow you to access all menu items
• Set up is made simple through a highly illustrative set up guide that comes with the unit and can also be accessed online
• Easy battery replacement
• Unit can be tested for accuracy
• Uses just a speck of blood
• Accurate results in 5 seconds
• 350-test memory
• Automatic 30-, 14- and 7-day averages
• Alternate site testing includes fingertip, forearm or palm
• Test strips are covered at the lowest co-pay by more health plans than any other test strip
• Three year warranty
• English or Spanish language options (Source: Lifescan.com)

Pros
A simple interface allows users to enjoy the benefits of a comprehensive diabetic glucose meter in a basic handheld design. Nothing looks of acts overly complicated here. Simple blue, white and black make up the color scheme of a somewhat unassuming device. In fact it may look a little bit like a cell phone. The testing is easy using one of the least invasive and easy to use lancets available. Many health insurance companies readily accept the purchase of a OneTouch Select Glucose Meter as part of their health insurance plan. A low co-pay for test strips makes it possible to see extensive savings in relation to ongoing testing.

Cons
Honestly there isn’t a lot to complain about in relation to this device. The battery door is easy to remove for battery replacement. Perhaps the biggest concern might be in relation to what you need the device to do. If it is simply providing your most current data this may be more meter than you need. If you require complex graphing and tracking of data it might not be enough.

Bottom Line
The LifeScan site suggests, “OneTouch® Blood Glucose Meters are accurate, convenient and can make blood glucose testing less painful. That’s because we listen to customers and use this information to improve our products so people with diabetes can live a life without limits. In fact, OneTouch is the number one recommended brand by health care professionals. Whether you just need a test result, or you need more information to help you manage your diabetes, there’s a OneTouch Blood Glucose Monitoring System that’s right for you.”

While the above is obviously written in a tone that suggests advertising the OneTouch Select Glucose Meter remains one of the preferred meters of physicians who work with diabetics. There are many choices in meters, but the One Touch Select Glucose Meter blends style with comfort and accuracy to provide a combination that is satisfying to most users.

The OneTouch UltraLink Glucose Meter is designed specifically for those who use the MiniMed Paradigm insulin pump. The blood testing sends results wirelessly to the insulin pump and automatically adjusts the insulin dosage level.

This meter also provides multiple diagnostic capabilities that can allow the user to develop comprehensive strategies for managing their diabetes.

Statistics

•    While you can turn the unit off manually it will shut off on its own in two minutes of final use
•    Simple to replace AAA batteries in an easy open compartment on the back of the unit
•    Because of its wireless technology this unit will need battery replacement in just over 200 tests
•    Offers alternate site testing with one of the most comfortable to use lancets available
•    The memory capacity is 500 tests
•    The testing sample is 1.0 microliters
•    Test results available within 5 seconds
•    Three-year warranty
•    Coding is required
•    Operates with specific diabetic software for tracking

Pros
The company that makes OneTouch is LifeScan. Johnson and Johnson own this company and their commitment to diabetes management is well regarded in the diabetic community. The flexibility of the lancet for this monitor has a growing list of fans that appreciate its ability to test without tearing the skin and allows for multiple depth points. For the simple act of freedom this meter is a positive choice, especially for those who require adjustments to an insulin pump. This monitor speaks to the pump and readjusts your insulin dose following each test. The blood sample is slightly larger than some, but up to 70% less than others. Test results are significantly less than many meters.

Cons
Batteries will need replacing more often than other units. The unit is not backlit for low light conditions. Would not make a suitable monitor for a diabetic who does not use an insulin pump. May provide more bells and whistles than you need in a glucose meter.

Bottom Line
The OneTouch UltraLink Glucose Meter is designed very specifically to interact with a companion insulin pump. The unit will still take blood glucose tests without a pump, but it may be a waste of technology and money to use it without the pump. In other words if you do not use an insulin pump you do not need this glucose meter.

As medical science continues to expand possibilities meters like the UltraLink may be more common. Essentially you may find blood glucose meters that not only test, but also provide additional resources. They may ultimately talk wirelessly to your computer or send data to your primary care physician to aid in long-term care. They might be able to alert a loved one if the blood sugar levels are dangerously high or low to allow someone to check on you.

A recent news report indicates an insulin pump could be embedded under the skin and a blood glucose meter could effectively tell the pump when to send more insulin into the blood system. This ‘artificial pancreas’ would rely heavily on blood glucose testing combined with the on-board insulin pump.

The OneTouch UltraLink Glucose Meter is just one example of where glucose meters are heading in terms of providing better management options to diabetics.

Mendor, a start-up company from Finland, Europe, has developed a revolutionary Mendor glucose meter for all diabetics needing to measure frequently. Mendor meter has been designed together with diabetics and healthcare professionals since day one.

The meter is the size of a cell phone, includes a lancing device and multiple test strips, making it extremely portable and easy to use.

“Our focus was to design a meter that could be discreetly and quickly used in daily life situations” says Industrial designer Mr Jukka Planman, one of the founders of Mendor.

Mendor is also launching a novel software concept for analysis of measurement results in a totally new and concise way. “In our opinion the software products available could be improved to be more user friendly, so we decided to create a new software concept that is easy to use and provides useful information for diabetics on how to adjust the treatment in practice”, says Medical Director Mr Antti Virkamäki.

Mendor is launching the meter and software in Finland and in EU markets during 2010. The US launch is planned to take place during 2011.

For more information, please visit mendor.com or follow them on twitter twitter.com/mendor_com