Diabetes Talking

Question:

I am ready to buy a new blood glucose monitor, and I have been looking for information about the best one to purchase.  I am currently using an Ames Glucometer II, circa 1986 — old technology. After doing some preliminary research, I have narrowed the choice down to the One Touch II and the Companion2 Sensor.  Here is a brief feature list for the two machines, taken from information posted by :The following Blood Glucose Monitor Comparison Chart is published by :the Hospital Center Pharmacy, 433 Brookline Ave. Boston MA 02215, and :reprinted here with permission.   : roduct Name/  Range   Time   Ctrl   Trng   Power :Manufacturer   mg/dl   (sec)  Soln   Cass?  Srce   Mem    Wrty : :Companion2     20-      20    Lo/Hi  Video  3V NR  10     4 yr : Sensor/      600                           lith :Medisense                                   :   Largest display of readings.  No wiping, blotting, or timing; auto :   start.  Easy strip insertion.  No cleaning. : :One Touch II/   0-      45    Norm   A,V    6V J   250    3 yr :Lifescan      600                           cell :   No wiping, timing, or blotting.  Signals when meter must be :   cleaned. The advantages of these machines are short test times, wide ranges, and memories that hold previous results.  Both feature no wiping, blotting or timing, simplifying the testing procedure. A quick check through the MedLine medical database provided some help…   One journal article concludes that the One Touch II is a reliable system, and that its function is not dependent on the technical skills of the operator (Journal of Family Practice, 1993 Aug).  Another article discussed the preferences of a nursing staff between the Diascan, Glucometer Q.A, Accucheck, and One Touch meters. 15 of 16 staff members preferred the One Touch (Clinical Nurse Specialist, 1993 Jan). Touch II user (thanks Dave): Finally I moved to the One- Touch II, which to me is meter heaven. It stores the past 250  readings with time and date, the data can easily be moved over to a Mac or IBM for analysis, it is very precise, seemingly very accurate, and ridiculously easy to use. The strips have a special coating that smoothly draws and distributes the blood, and is happy with a wide range of blood droplet volume. Cleaning is absolutely trivial (wipe a q-tip over a smooth plastic surface), and the meter is engineered so well that you rarely even need to do that. Even the stabber that comes with it is better than any I have tried.

The journal articles and feature list have been helpful in narrowing the search, but some more first-hand information would be ideal.  So here is an opportunity for those of you who own either of these machines to express what you love or hate about them… I am interested in hearing from other users of the One Touch II and the Companion2 Sensor (or the Pen2 Sensor).  I am especially interested in hearing how users get along with their machines from day to day.  Are they easy to use, or are they a pain?  Is cleaning difficult or easy?  Is the memory function useful or a waste of time? I am also interested in how easy it is to get strips for these machines, and what the strips cost.  The machine is useless without the strips of course, and I’d hate to end up with an orphan meter. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.  I will be happy to collect and summarize any responses I receive. — Steven Russell Institute of Neuroscience University of Oregon

Response:

From what I’ve seen on the market I’d buy another Companion 2 or a Pen 2 (I love the size of the Pen 2), my next choice would probably be the One Touch II or the Glucometer M+ (or whatever it’s called now). Being a gadget freak I think being able to print out all sorts of needless info by linking the meter to my computer would be fun. However, I did take the time to create a spreadsheet complete with charts and graphs and various analysis of my readings and my doctor was most unimpressed. He wanted to see my log book, scanned a few pages and moved on. So, unless you have time on your hands or like to have statistical information, the computer linking isn’t that useful.

Depends on your doctor. I use my OneTouch II and dump into a Lotus spread- sheet producing a scatter plot of my readings. MY doctor thinks it’s great. He can look at a glance a my readings since my last visit and detect trends one way or another much faster than skimming my log book. I test 4 times a day and use a different symbol for each test (pre-breakfast, pre-lunch, pre-dinner, bedtime). I use date for the x-axis and BG level for the y-axis. I just present the scatter plot to him (with no analysis, that’s his job) and not the spreadsheet. As a matter of fact, I clear the data once I’ve printed the scatter plot. He even suggested that I fax it to him if I ever forgot it. He puts in right in my file with his notes. I’m sorry, but IMHO if my doctor was "most unimpressed" with something I had found that motivated me towards control, he wouldn’t be my doctor. — God put me on Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind, I will never die.

Response:

I am ready to buy a new blood glucose monitor, and I have been looking for information about the best one to purchase.  I am currently using an Ames Glucometer II, circa 1986 — old technology. After doing some preliminary research, I have narrowed the choice down to the One Touch II and the Companion2 Sensor.

I was in a nationwide test group that did some of the initial tests on the Companion 2. We were seen by specialists (endocrinologists, et al) that took samples for both lab workup and meter testing once a week for four months. The results were charted and the Companion 2 proved to be very accurate and simple to use. What I like about the meter is the size (thick credit card) and ease of use (insert a sensor strip–the unit turns itself on, apply small sample and the meter gives you a reading in 20 seconds–nothing else needs to be done, cleaning, no wiping, nothing). What I’m not excited about is the price of the strips. They don’t cost a fortune but other machines strips are somewhat less expensive. I bought a CheckMate meter during a rebate error (meter was erroneously priced at $25 with a $75 rebate) so I, too, could have cheaper strips. It’s even smaller than the Companion 2, has the lance built-in, and the strips were cheaper. However, the sample size required is at least four times what the Companion 2 needs, it requires more steps, takes more time (nothing like waiting 30 seconds only to find out the sample wasn’t good enough and you have to start over–so much for cheaper strips), and the battery life is terrible. I went back to the Companion 2. From what I’ve seen on the market I’d buy another Companion 2 or a Pen 2 (I love the size of the Pen 2), my next choice would probably be the One Touch II or the Glucometer M+ (or whatever it’s called now). Being a gadget freak I think being able to print out all sorts of needless info by linking the meter to my computer would be fun. However, I did take the time to create a spreadsheet complete with charts and graphs and various analysis of my readings and my doctor was most unimpressed. He wanted to see my log book, scanned a few pages and moved on. So, unless you have time on your hands or like to have statistical information, the computer linking isn’t that useful. Hope this helps.             Practice Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty

Response:

I just happen to own both a One Touch II and a companion 2, although I’ve only used the original 25 strips with the latter.  Which is best may be mostly personal preference. My perception of the major advantages of each: One Touch II has more memory, and saves the time and date.  I take advantage of this to record my readings on paper later.  And, for gadget freaks, you can connect it to your computer.

Not necessarily gadget freaks. I find the ability to derive a scatter plot of my readings quite helpful (my doctor loves it, he doesn’t have to sift thru my logbook). The computer interface was the reason I switched from a Glucometer III. The Companion 2 is smaller, and faster (20 sec. vs. 40 sec.), the battery lasts longer (guaranteed four years, I think), and is simpler to use (only one button which you rarely need to press).

The One Touch II is just as simple for tests (only one button for testing) and its battery is replaceable (as I recall, the other one is not). I have used, in order, ExacTech Pen, Glucometer III, and now, a One Touch II. Of the three, I would rate the One Touch II the highest, but your preference depends upon your needs (as is just about everything with diabetes). — God put me on Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind, I will never die.

Response:

I just happen to own both a One Touch II and a companion 2, although I’ve only used the original 25 strips with the latter.  Which is best may be mostly personal preference. My perception of the major advantages of each: One Touch II has more memory, and saves the time and date.  I take advantage of this to record my readings on paper later.  And, for gadget freaks, you can connect it to your computer.  In general, it has more bells and whistles.  I think the strips are a little cheaper (especially considering the availability of clone strips). The Companion 2 is smaller, and faster (20 sec. vs. 40 sec.), the battery lasts longer (guaranteed four years, I think), and is simpler to use (only one button which you rarely need to press). Lake Stevens Instrument Division                        Phone: 206-335-2245                 This message is umop apisdn.  (Thanks, Don)

Response:

One Touch II has more memory, and saves the time and date.  I take advantage of this to record my readings on paper later.  And, for gadget freaks, you can connect it to your computer.  In general, it has more bells and whistles.  I think the strips are a little cheaper (especially considering the availability of clone strips). The Companion 2 is smaller, and faster (20 sec. vs. 40 sec.), the battery lasts longer (guaranteed four years, I think), and is simpler to use (only one button which you rarely need to press).

I asked a similar question a couple of months ago (mine was on meters that can plug into PCs), and I will post a summary at some point, honest! Eventually, I gave up on the idea of having one that plugged into a PC, and chose the Accutrend Mini, which is small, easy to use, and reads out in 12 seconds, but has only one memory.  I also carry around a Psion 3 (palmtop computer), and I’ve written a simple program to let me stick the results in. — Bruce                    Institute of Advanced Scientific Computation

Response:

Russell) writes:

Steven, You can add to the One Touch II column a very supportive and extremely helpful staff at Lifescan. Once we lost ours and my husband called them late on a Sat night, they had a free replacement awaiting us at the drugstore of our choice first thing Sunday morning. Great employees – they even sent us 50 free strips along with a follow-up letter. Laurie

Response:

You can add to the One Touch II column a very supportive and extremely helpful staff at Lifescan. Once we lost ours and my husband called them late on a Sat night, they had a free replacement awaiting us at the drugstore of our choice first thing Sunday morning. Great employees – they even sent us 50 free strips along with a follow-up letter.

I hate to sound cynical but this is something to be expected.  Meter manufacturers don’t make money of the meters, they make it from the strips.  Loosing your meter allows you to reconsider what meter you want to use and perhaps replace the lost one with a different brand. Lance

Response:

=I am ready to buy a new blood glucose monitor, and I have been looking =for information about the best one to purchase.  I am currently using =an Ames Glucometer II, circa 1986 — old technology. = =After doing some preliminary research, I have narrowed the choice =down to the One Touch II and the Companion2 Sensor.  Here is a brief =feature list for the two machines, taken from information posted by                                 … =The advantages of these machines are short test times, wide ranges, =and memories that hold previous results.  Both feature no wiping, =blotting or timing, simplifying the testing procedure.                                 … =The journal articles and feature list have been helpful in narrowing =the search, but some more first-hand information would be ideal.  So =here is an opportunity for those of you who own either of these =machines to express what you love or hate about them…                         … =I am also interested in how easy it is to get strips for these =machines, and what the strips cost.  The machine is useless without =the strips of course, and I’d hate to end up with an orphan meter. Ah, now you’ve come to the crux of the matter (in my opinion).  For me, strip prices are considerably more important than ease of use (ALL the meters I’ve seen are easy to use; the difference in difficulty is, in my opinion, rather trivial).  But the cost of strips can vary enormously.  In my case, I belong to a membership discount department store, which carries only a couple of models of meters and strips for use with them.  Turns out that, given that, strips for the AMES Glucometer III are far and away the cheapest for me.  Your mileage may vary.  Shop around, price strips at various pharmacies; see if you can get strips through discount mail-order outlets.  Then make your decision. I try very hard to say exactly what I mean.  I’d appreciate  it  if  you’d  bear that  in  mind  and not try to "interpret" my posts to fit your own preconceived notions if I’m posting in a serious thread.  Remember:  If you throw a  strawman into a heated debate, flames are likely to be the result.

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