I wish blood glucose makers would make something cheaper, durable, bigger and easier to handle for all ages young and old
Too Funny–
Do you prefer large digits on a bigger screen or tiny digits on a small screen?
Hi Kim from beautiful PG ,
I have volunteered at the Loppitt in Salmon Arm , early Jan. ; kept the meter very close to my body and …could not test on the mountain …but then you look much younger than I …warmer body ??? This past December at the Holiday Train event minus 20 C degrees ; I was outside for at least 3 hours ( trying to make money through my Lions Club for the homeless) …same problem …a no go …I realize you are a type 2 from visiting your profile …as a type 1 -er …possibly more finger poking or could I be wrong ??
Cute …Ouch …Ouch , Ouch 
Thanks Albert …have to live with diabetes for a long , long time …to come .
I think it’s helpful to put things into context. It was only less than 30 years ago that we were limited to urine testing. Take a week off from your meter and try understanding what your BG’s are doing using urine testing. Then you’ll have an immeasurable appreciation for the data you get from home blood glucose monitoring systems. Also, I think there are inherent limitations to the technology that can be mass produced and made affordable to consumers. It just isn’t going to be the same as the technology used in medical labs. I think back-lit screens should be standard features, but other than that, having done this back in the darker ages, I really appreciate the tools we have today.
I wish they would release a BG moniter that would read BG by laser.
I use a mini one touch for outside–put it in my inside pocket of my snowmobile suit its good to go- dont poke to much but when going all day sometimes i get very hypo–you stay warm Nel–cheers–Kim
i COMPLETELY agree!!!
What a great idea!
You’re right Lee Ann. There are definitely some inherent limitations due to the technology that is available and feasible for mass production. But then again, I think BGM Developers should be held accountable for implementing the latest technology available if it improves patient safety. Or perhaps, if that technology now exists, for the FDA to improve its standards to push the companies to actually adopt new technology, instead of simply changing meter shells on 15 year old technology and pretending like it’s brand new.
We have come a long way from the old urine tests, but that doesn’t mean companies should be allowed to sleep on it now. =)
My first doctor had that one when I was first diagnosed. It was such a production to do the test, with the cotton balls, the washing, the two plus minute wait.
I so totally agree – I wish there were a way to recycle the test strips and the vials. More strips in the vials would be good, too. When I go on vacation, I pack 100 into a vial for 25. So much wasted space.
- Free meters for everyone (why not – they are cheap to make, and they make so much off the test strips).
- Less packaging
- More strips in the packaging.
- Recyclable/reusable strips and vials (HP has a free service to mail back empty ink cartridges; why can’t lifescan?)
- Cheaper test strips (I pay $1.05 per strip at the local chain drug store).
- Treat us like people with a chronic condition, not like revenue sources to be separated from every penny we ever receive.
- Frequent tester program (like frequent flyer) – for every 1,000 strips used, a reward of some kind.
They might not make quite as much, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be losing any. It’s a great idea, but the ever-present cynic in me thinks the chances of us seeing that are slim. As Jonathan said in #6, we are a revenue source for them, and not much else.
Freestyle has a program that provides, in essence, $50/month towards prescribed strips. Still not as cheap per-strip as store brands without prescription, if you test at a reasonable frequency, but it’s still something.
Then also, some health insurance plans cover diabetes supplies 100%… with my current insurance I don’t pay a red cent, which (at least for now) makes me indifferent to the cost of strips.
I was considering the idea that if the technology is that old (and some of it is, some of it isn’t), shouldn’t it be losing patent protection and bringing down the cost of consumables? The answer to that lies in the preponderance of “offbrand”, “store brand”, and “generic” meters and strips.
The other answer lies in the increasingly sophisticated software inside the meter, that can be accessed by downloading the information to your computer.
The newest technology still has a while to go with patent protection. And, we can be sure that, by the time the patent protection wears off, there will be some great improvement that makes the current technology and strips obsolete, so the manufacturers won’t even make the stuff we are currently using anymore.
Just trying to pass some info along… WaveSense also has a TrialCard program that gives you 1 Free WaveSense Presto Glucose Meter and 6 x $10 Off WaveSense Presto Test Strips.
I’m sure you’re already aware of how affordable their strips are, so this is added on top of any copay. (if your copay = $20, then you pay $10). How’s that for cheap strips?
Yes to No. 7: But for fun, it should be called the frequent stripper program.