Four generations of blood glucose meter, c. 1993-2005. Sample sizes
vary from 30 to 0.3 μl. Test times vary from 5 seconds to 2 minutes
(modern meters typically provide results in 5 seconds).
I was not going to include the 1990’s BUT I realized that the early 1990’s are TWENTY years ago…so in my opinion it is worth sharing these memories.
That meter on the top right was my first meter when I was diagnosed in 1991. It had a 45 second countdown time, 10-test memory (with no date or time stamp), and test strips that could not be touched without ruining them (and had the whole “hanging drop of blood” that you had to get exactly in the square – no smearing – for it to work!). Still, I’m glad I started with something like that than some of the meters I’ve heard about in the '80s.
And here is a picture I took of the lancet that came with that meter, circa 1991:
The white lancet is a OneTouch one from about 2006. The blue one (who knows what gauge that is!) is the older one. I actually still have some of those sitting around today!
Here is a picture of my first glucometer I bought in 1992. The Accutrend from Boehringer Mannheim (Later bought by Roche) It was the only glucometer I paid for !
That One touch series are the most reliable glucometer I ever had. Period.
My first glucometer, the Accutrend, had a problem with the automatic shutoff. It won’t restart after an automatic shutoff. They change it maybe twice but I decided to replace it for the one touch basic. Best decision ever ! I still miss it. Unfortunately, Minimed in Canada provide the Bayer Contour link with the pump.
I used this meter (called the “DEX” in Canada) from about 1997 to 2003 when they replaced them with the “Breeze” brand. To this day it’s my favourite meter of the ones I’ve used.
I remember this! It was the first meter I used when I was diagnosed.
My dad had that One Touch Basic, and later the One Touch II. I remember them well… My dad would sometimes use us, instead of a control solution. lol Crazy as it may seem, but my sister and I used to test regularly on these things, I guess to make sure we weren’t sick, too… I really had some low blood sugars, then… 70s after eating… if you can imagine that.
Maverick Colt Roe born July, 2000. Physicians at Arkansas Children’s Hospital used an insulin pump to control diabetes in a 10-day-old boy, believed to be the youngest-ever to utilize the device.
Before I was dx’d with type 1 diabetes, I always remember my mom sitting down right before dinner with this big black pouch. Little did I know, in 2009 she was still testing her blood sugar with a One Touch Profile. LOL.
I believe the One Touch II was my third meter in the early 1990s. I don’t think I ever used the Dex. Not sure what happened to my very first meter from the 1980s. I still have the original box and meter somewhere. I think it was called Home Diagnostics and I had to order it through the insurance company.
This is a meter from the early 90’s. I remember using it in pre-school : )
Minimed 507, my first pump
The insulin I was on when I was diagnosed
found this post-it note the other day - got it from my endo's office in the mid-1990s
I was diagnosed in 1990 and I don’t remember what meter I used but i remember my mom had to wipe the strip and I remember when it was like a peachy color she wouldn’t even wait for the results on the meter we would rush to the hospital I think that meant I was hypo I was only 4yrs old so some things I remember like it was yesterday and others are a blurr… thanks for sharing 