Which glucose meter

[JaseyJas]

Hi All,

Can anyone recommend a good meter to buy, I have been told by my surgery that they will put the strips on prescription but I need to buy the meter. The Acu-check Aviva looks like quite a nice one, has anyone got this?

Thanks

JaseyJas🙂

 

[Mark T]

You can get a free one from Abbott if you don't fancy paying: https://www.abbottdiabetescare.co.uk/free-meter-signup

 

[JaseyJas]

Thanks Mark, I am off travelling next week Wednesday so may not be on time but I will give them a call for sure.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I've had a few Roche meters (including the Aviva) and have always got on well with them.

There are others that allow you to mark readings as before/after meals and allow you to get a bit more info on averages etc (Aviva is fairly limited in that respect) but you may not want to bother with that sort of number-crunching.

M

 

[Northerner]

I've used An Accuchek Aviva since I was diagnosed as my main meter and I've always been happy with it. You can get some free software called 360 for it as well if you give the helpline a call. You might be able to blag a free meter off them, although I tried in the past and failed.

0800 701 000

 

[JaseyJas]

Thanks very much Northener and Everydayupsanddowns, much appreciated

 

[Northerner]

Thanks very much Northener and Everydayupsanddowns, much appreciated

If you are going to buy a meter ask for the VAT to be removed - you do not need to pay it. 🙂

 

[Caroline]

I have a one touch ultra 2 which I like. See if you can blag a free meter from the firms. They come with enough test strips to know if you'll like it or not.

 

[Marc]

You may want to go to the Accu Chek website as they have a questionairre with 10 questions and it gives you its recomendation. I did it and it went for the Aviva Nano as the one they recomended for me which is close as I have used one but now use an Accu Chek Aviva Expert which is the Iphone of compact glucose meters and eats batteries like one too just wish it would do blood Ketones. 😡

Marc

 

[JaseyJas]

Thanks Caroline

 

[JaseyJas]

Thanks Marc I will check it out the Acccheck ones do look to be very good

 

[Northerner]

I have a Nano as well, but I'm afraid I lost trust in it when it stopped working even when I put new batteries in. I think this is a known fault, obviously not affecting all, but some of the Nanos.

 

[trophywench]

I have 2 Nano's and now my Combo one which comes with the pump. (like the 'Expert' but with knobs on LOL) I like the Nano actually, it's about the smallest I've ever had. Which is important in terms of handbags!

Prior to pumping, I had a very long standing love affair with my Ultra 2. The case was so much better - more substantial somehow? than the Accu-Chek ones and also plenty of room to hold lancets and test solution and several spare pen needles (though you won't need that if not on insulin) - I still prefer the thingy that holds the Ultra 2 meter to the case - far, far superior to the elasticated thingies that other brands use.

Batteries last forever, when they go you just ring up for new ones, but meanwhile you swap them round because the one battery only operates the backlight. There will be enough oomph left in the worn out battery that does all the other things to operate the light anyway, and shedloads in the one that formerly only operated the light - so panic not, should you happen to be in the Maldives at the time!

 

[grahams mum]

glucomen lx plus from menarini is good with no coding and ketones strips as well

 

[GlucoseGary]

I've had an Accu-chek Compact Plus for a few weeks now (first and only one I've used). It's fine and the memory function is good, no bells & whistles, cheap to buy and the strips are not too bad (?7/17 @ Boots).

My only complaint is that so far 3 strips out of 50-some so have given a no-reading (2 insufficient sample, 1 too cold - left my meter in the car overnight!). However, that may be par for the course, as I say, I'm new to this too.

 

[Copepod]

Gary - you've probably worked this out for yourself, but to avoid a meter giving a "too cold" error, then if it's been left somewhere cold (in my case, more likely in a rucksack or tent on the fells) then it and the strips needs to be warmed up before trying to use - between a T shirt and midlayer in the armpit is ideal - not right next to skin, as that's very cold and uncomfortable! Leaving a meter in a car isn't a good idea, as on sunny days it can get too hot.

With some meters eg Optium Xceed, an error message appears as soon as you put a strip into a too cold meter, but before you add blood, so no strip is wasted.

 

[GlucoseGary]

Thanks Copepod, but my meter's a bit too fancy for it's own good: turn it on and it automatically shoves a strip out of its drum - then decides it's too cold and won't let you use it! 😱