So far I have liked the convenience of “beaming” numbers to my pump. However, I don’t favor the meter in terms of its size, features, etc. I keep it in my kitchen for normal testing, etc. I still use an Ultra2 in my bedroom for night time testing (back light) and I have two Minis… one for work and one as a utility, carry with me when I am going out to dinner, etc. In terms of the “wait” period before I can put a blood sample in, my Mini is much faster than the Link. I actually tested all of them against one another and they were all only a few points between them, pretty consistent for four different meters. The “memory” period before the number disappears, drives me crazy. I constantly have to go back and review my pump status to get my number, from the time I take my test to the time I get carbs counted, etc.
yeah ik right! who cares if you dont have to code it. that saves like ten seconds. woo hoo. and i have the new one too, i used to have a pink and a green mini {how pretty!!} but with the new as to your it doesnt store long enuff problemm. if ita high or w/e just correct then and then do your food later. i have been doing that lately and my numbers are muchh better! =]
Bob,
BC BS has recently started covering the CGMS systems. I was given word from Minimed that Blue Cross Federal Employee was approved as of this past January. I had absolutely no problem getting the approval from them and have been covered for the expenses via the insurance. I have been told that this being approved by my plan bodes well for all covered by BC BS (the F.E.P. traditionally has been the last to approve anything!!!). I got my claim submitted and approved within 24 hours!!!
Good luck to you, the system is awesome!!!
I prefer the BD link as the copay for the strips is $0. It is also smaller and requires less blood. For the first week that I had the One Touch I tested with both everytime and the results were always within 5 points. If anyone wants the One Touch let me know. You can have it.
Dennis,
Only the Freestyle flash is discontinued. The Freestyle Freedom and the Freestyle Lite are still around. The Lite is the same size as the Flash and there is no coding with it or the Freedom. I prefer the Lite and I don’t like that When the One Touch Link communicates with the pump it is an automatic calibration for the sensor. I don’t always want to calibrate when I check my BG so just enter it manually and use my Freestyle. (and it has a great backlite).
Yea, good luck! I appealed and got no where, despite 5 letters of medical necessity from my doctor. BCBS said it was not medically necessary! I went to my company, which is an insurance company! and they said it was not medically necessary! I have been diabetic for 27 years and have had hypoglycemic unawareness for over 8 years. And it is not medically necessary??? Who are they to say?
Only the HMO covers the CGMS, not the PPO according to Medtronic.
I tried it out at camp this summer and that’s what I thought too. I’ve been waiting for someone else to say it first though since I know how hard the engineers worked on this one.
That said, I would have loved to use this meter back when my daughter wasn’t allowed to touch her pump. It would have made things a lot easier back then.
I love my Freestyle Lite and have chosen to continue using it for many reasons. Just because the One Touch Ultra Link radiofrequencies the BGs directly to the pump doesn’t mean we must use it. With the carelink T I am able to download my pump and my Freestyle meter so it really doesn’t matter which meter I use.
I am on the PPO. It depends who you talk to. My friend in Albany on the same insurance was told by his pump vendor that he was not covered for CGMS. You need to find the right person at Medtronic and the right vendor. Medtronic has a specific department that deals with CGMS issues. They are the ones to talk to. As far as vendors are concerned, Pumps It out of Texas got me taken care of with no fight from the insurance company.
Tammy,
I just got off the phone with my supply vendor. BCBS is now covering the full cost of the sensors. I am now receiving my sensors at no cost!!!
Could you email me why they refused yours. I have Anthem BCBS and they covered it 2 days after Medtronic sent the request so maybe I can help. I might not be able to just hoping I can
Be well and be loved
The Freestyle Flash meter is still in production, however abbott is limiting production in attempts to convert patients to their new no coding system called freestyle lite. The freestyle flash/original freestyle strips will always be available since the cozmo pump and omnipod pump use the original strips.
Just wanted to give you the heads up so you are not forced to switch to the Ultra which is significantly less accurate than all of the freestyle machines
I have the One Touch Ultra link as well, and I honestly don’t mind it. I keep it at home and take the ultra mini with me in my purse. I love the plastic piece that holds the strip container (in the ultra link case). Before, I found it so frustrating to fumble with that piece of elastic when my blood sugar was low. Yeah, it’s big, but I like that I can check my blood sugar and pour my juice and then look at my pump to see what my reading is. Having a son who has type one as well, I love that all of our meters use the same strips. Maybe I have low expectations, who knows.
I have always used a One Touch meter and will always love them. I just got my pump, ultra link and USB key. I am a tech junkie anyway and love that it is all wireless now. Cannot wait to get approval for my cgms (BCBS IL - PPO) and be totally wireless and less finger pricks. The size of the new meter is an issue but as you say, the plastic piece for the strip container is waayy better than the elastic thing in my mini. I still keep my mini at work and have another at home. They all use the same strips and if I don’t want to dig out the huge ultra link, I don’t have to. It is all about what level of convenience you want.
I haven’t ever waited to bolus after doing my blood sugars. Mostly, I decide what to eat, make it, check blood sugar and bolus. I make sure to check right before eating and that also helps me remember to wash my hands before eating!
I have the same meter but won’t start using it until the 29th of Jan. when I go on the MiniMed 522. It isn’t a problem for me because I’ve been using a One Touch Select for quite a while and they are almost the same size. In another forum someone was complaining about the Ultra Link requiring too much blood but I guess I’ve gotten used to that.
I first used it when I went on the pump in November - but it’s just TOO BIG to carry around all the time. So I have gone back to the ultra mini - which is soo much easier to carry about.
If the UltraLink at least had a backlight then maybe it would be okay - but the case is laid out silly on the inside - TONS of wasted space - zipped closed it’s soooo large it feels like I am carrying a purse or man-bag around.
Great idea - but poor implimentation. Get me a smaller version and a few tweeks (and a backlight) then maybe.
Hey Katie, I didn’t like the One Touch Ultra either, as it takes more blood than my BD meter that Medtronic sent me years ago, so I still use that along with the Ont Touch Ultra, which is bigger and more cumbersome. I have the sensor with my minimed now, so I can dolwnload electronically the last two weeks and the website called carelink is free, and it maintains log books for you. The doc was impressed with my print outs saying I was her best regulated diabetic, of course it is work. Women have much to do, especially now with one of my adult children marrying in two weeks and the other in October. God is good, I have a pump and can afford it, but I agree, what were they thinking, I guess they are not frequent testers. With a pumpyou have to calibrate, and i wouldn’t eat anything without testing, so there are my thoughts. Thank you, kwlawson
Hi all,
Meter comments… I’m using both the ultralink and the BD because I have strips for both to finish and have the same feeling about both being bulky and am disappointed to not have a backlight on the ultrulink.Though not mentioned in the question, I’d like to refer to the Freestyle Flash. This is my favorite meter yet- it’s tiny (smaller than the mini, maybe 2/3 the size of the ultralink) has a bright backlight easily turned on with 1 touch button, and you can download results to your PC to review readings. The blood sample it needs is also very little, used to be the smallest 2 years ago. My ONLY complaint about this meter has to do with my insurance not being willing to pay for the test strips and requiring me to use an ultra link instead. Thanks, BCBS Anthem. I don’t know that the readings sync up to your pump either. Thanks to all the comments. I thought the ultralink surely had a backlight and I wasn’t finding it, so I came here to research. My hope is that engineers for One Touch and BD catch up with Freestyle’s size and add a light, or BCBS insurance starts covering Freestyle strips.
I don’t think of it as a time-saver. After all, how long does it take to enter a BG? However, what are my chances of fat fingering a wrong number even once in the eight or ten times I test in a day?