It’s been interesting reading those results. I just finished reading the entire thread and found it mind boggling that there were so many complaints about the One Touch Verio (I use the IQ since it has a port light and I can test in a dark room easily, no light turned on over head). I will soon be trying to fill my One Touch strip Rx with medicare and I’m in for a fight as I hear that only 3 a day is allowed and I test up to 14 since asymptomatic. So, I tried out my old Kroger Wave Sense meter I’d used some yrs ago during another fight with an insurance company and found the numbers to be only 2 pts different(maybe they’re both wrong?). I have tested twice with same drop, same meter and found a 20 pt difference at times however. Your results were interesting Diabetes Oldie.
I see on Amazon that the Kroger’s and the Contour Next strips are near the same price and since so many say the Contour is accurate, I’m wondering if I should try those since I have a new machine here that was sent me. I will be supplementing what my insurance doesn’t cover.
Hi Susan,
I get approximately 7 One Touch strips a day as a type 1 on Medicare. When I first started on Medicare, my doctor wrote the prescription that way and it has been approved since then. I’m not sure what the situation is with Type 2. I still purchase some additional from time to time. When I do, I buy one of the two Walmart brands (ReliOn) listed in my original chart. They seem to track pretty close to the One Touch and they are a lot cheaper.
Without getting into Gaussian distributions and other probability measures, taking a blood test is like shooting at a bulls eye. Assuming you’re a pretty experienced shooter, most of the shots will land on or close to the bulls eye. But occasionally there will be one that is further out. Meters are the same. Most results will be close to spot-on, but occasionally you get one that is off. The probability drops off, the further you get from that spot-on reading. If I had done enough tests, I might well have found the same 20 point difference you did.
From all I hear from others (including my dr) they never were able to get that many. Only 3 so I know I will be fighting and plan to. I’m type 1 since 1976. I just ckd on all three of my meters and they were all close! My A1Cs run in the 5’s so they can’t be too far off! I’m working on transitioning to MDI off pump and it’s a mess right now so ckg alot.
So I just did my own check after reading the entire thread about meters. I forgot I had a meter that was sent to me (Contour) a long time ago. The strips are dated 2016 but never opened. I also have a generic from Kroger’s I’ve used during the gap in insurances a while ago. So, I did a ck with my One Touch Verio IQ(my favorite because of the port lite), the Kroger and Contour(that I’d never opened) and here were my results. I think they are all pretty in sync with each other, which pleases me!
I just checked with my wife and she gets 6 strips a day! She did note that her doctor had to write a special request to get that many. Mine may have also, but that was a long time ago and he is no longer practicing. My current doctor just continues to write the same prescription. Glad to hear you discovered some additional meter options and they are tracking pretty close together.
Thanks! I will be calling my doctor monday and request she do this. Did your dr contact medicare of send it to the pharmacy as I get mine through Kroger Pharmacy?
I’m not sure how Kroger Pharmacy handles it but my supplier (MedEquip) got a prior aurthorization from Medicare to supply 6 strips a day. I supplement to allow 8 test a day by purchasing Contour Next strips on Amazon. There I can get 100 strips for $22, give or take a buck. And I like my Contour Next One and Contour Next USB meters. I too did an exhaustive test between four different meter brands before making my decision to go with Contour Next.
Thank you. I’ll be getting more info tomorrow, hopefully.
