Tag Archives: Meters

Just Wondering.

September 25, 2012 – 7:03 am

I received an incentive from my prescription plan this weekend. Go ahead and read it… I’ll still be here, humming America the Beautiful.

You’re back? Great.

So nice of the Medco/Express Scripts conglomeration to make this offer to me (by the way, I ordered another Accu-Chek Nano and received it last week– great timing). I’m sure they’re getting incentives of their own from Roche, makers of the Accu-Chek, and Johnson & Johnson, makers of the One Touch. That’s the way business works.

Maybe I’m overly sensitive these days (it’s possible), but I can’t help thinking about the millions out there to whom a free meter and lower-cost test strips might mean the difference between life and… well, you know. Some of those millions are right here in the United States. Others are living in third world squalor, where every day is a struggle for survival in so many ways.

Why are they less deserving than I am?

These companies have their own humanitarian efforts, of course:

Johnson & Johnson
http://www.jnj.com/connect/caring/corporate-giving/

Roche
http://www.roche.com/responsibility/society/humanitarian_aid.htm
For additional fun reading (NOT), click on the Drug Donation Policy link on this page.

I don’t want to be too critical of these companies. It’s always hard to say “Yes, we will give to this, but not to that”. Someone is going to be unhappy. As far as I can tell, both of these companies have resources dedicated to giving in a smart and measurable way to those who need help.

I guess all I’m saying is that if I have to pay 20 or 30 or 50 dollars to get my meter, and a portion of that money can then be used help get meters and test strips, or insulin and syringes, or whatever else to people who desperately need it, what’s wrong with that? And before you say “If you feel that way, why don’t you just donate the money directly”, I’m already doing that. I’m talking about doing something on top of that.

Speaking just for myself: If I have the choice between meter A with an offer like that above, or meter B that comes with a cost, but part of that cost is dedicated to helping others in need, I’m probably going to go with meter B. I’ll even seek out that meter in the vetting process because of the giving. But I’m funny that way.

I’m just wondering… would you make a choice like that? Do you wonder about fairness too?
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Healthcare | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Nano-Not.

September 6, 2012 – 8:45 am

A couple of weeks ago, I did a short post about my new Accu-Chek Nano, and at the bottom of the post, I mentioned how I lost it on the train home.

Well, I got a new one last Saturday (thanks Amazon merchants). And on my way to work today, I lost it again!

Am I not meant to have a new meter? I’ve got almost 90 days worth of test strips, so for practical reasons at least, I should have a new meter. Of course, I could just donate the strips to someone who needs them more than I do. Like maybe the people who found my new meters. Plural.

Sorry… just kicking myself today. I’m not a forgetful person, but the past two weeks have been a new low in absent-mindedness.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes | Also tagged | Comments (0)

The Accu Chek Nano.

August 28, 2012 – 7:20 am

This isn’t quite a product review. The reason why is at the bottom of this post. But I wanted to touch on something I think about every time I change meters or almost anything else.

At my last visit with my endocrinologist, I mentioned that my meter is kind of old and asked if she could recommend a new one. Fortunately, my insurance doesn’t severely limit my choices meter-wise (or strip-wise, which is what they’re really doing). Well, it turned out she had an extra Accu-Chek Nano meter she could let me have, and I gladly accepted.

Obviously, accuracy is of utmost importance in any glucose meter. And the Nano is promoted as 23% more accurate. Actually, that’s not exactly what they’re saying. The meter isn’t supposed to be more accurate, the strips are. In fact, Roche (maker of the Nano) states that their SmartView test strips have been tested against a 23% tighter specification. That’s great, but I’m not sure how stringent the 23 percent lesser specification was. And in the long run, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s consistently in the ballpark.

Here’s what I mean: my first reading of the Nano side-by-side with my old Contour meter was an exact match.

And then I proceeded to test side by side with the Contour over the course of about 3 1/2 weeks. While the readings were close most of the time, the photo above was the only match between the two. But how do I really know which one was more accurate? I kept the Contour for a lot longer than I should have because I was happy with its consistency. And that’s what I want from a new meter.

Honestly, three months after you start using a meter, you’re probably not thinking about accuracy anymore. At that point, what’s on the meter is just the new normal, whatever it says. Now, I know that we don’t want big inaccuracies in our meters. But as long as it’s consistently close to where my BG is at, that’s what matters for me.

I have to admit to really liking the back light feature on this meter. Makes it easy to read wherever you are. Also, I like that the reading stays on the screen for an extra second or so after I pull out the test strip. I can’t tell you how many times, out of habit, I’ve pulled a strip from a meter and proceeded to forget the reading almost immediately. And I’ve liked how small it is… fit in my pocket pretty easily.

That’s about as much as I have on the Accu-Check Nano right now. Unfortunately, even though it fit into my pocket easily, it also slipped out easily while on the train home about a week ago. Never even knew I lost it until the train pulled away at my stop. So I’ve gotta go back to the old standby while I troll Amazon and eBay for a deal on a new one.

Here’s hoping your new normal doesn’t involve getting two new meters in six weeks.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Random Glucose | Also tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Random Glucose.

July 26, 2012 – 7:29 am

I finally got out my brand new Accu-Chek Nano this past weekend. I’ll talk more about it after I’ve used it a bit. And I’m sure that hundreds of others have already reviewed this product. Anyway, I wanted to try it side by side with my old reliable Contour meter for a few days, so that’s what I’m doing. Each test on a different finger, different hand. And guess what the first reading looked like:

Dinner went down really well after this.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Random Glucose | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Flying Blind

April 12, 2012 – 12:34 pm

So the department I work in had a little get-together after work yesterday. Have a drink, socialize, etc. No big deal. I decided to go over, but purposely left my Contour meter (and the book I’m reading) behind at my desk. I was only going across the street… I could go back and get them after I was finished.

Well, you guessed it… I forgot and left it behind. By the time I realized I’d forgotten it, I was on the subway headed home. What’s worse is that it’s my only meter. No backup. After thinking for a minute about going back to get it, I decided to leave it behind. I would be flying blind all night and into the morning.

I thought, “Hey, no big deal– I did this all the time for the first 17-18 years of my diabetes. I mean, I went years without testing. I can handle this”. And I did.

But here’s the thing: I’ve gotten sooo used to testing 4-6 times every day that without the meter, I worried constantly. I don’t know if it was because I needed to know I was okay, or if it means that my meter has become my crutch.

At any rate, we were reunited this morning, and all is right again in the meter-reading world. Fasting BG: 106.
Note to self: Get a backup meter. now.

By StephenS | Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)