Free OneTouch Glucose monitor

[MyJourney]

For those of you who may not have one, need a spare, dont have insurance or might be worried about diabetes and want to monitor your blood sugar.

I got the One Touch Ultra Smart from here for free.
http://onetouch.orderpoints.com/

Step 1: Use "..." for the Insurance Provider Drop Down Box.

Step 2: Choose the monitor of your choice:Ultra 2 or One Touch Ultra Smart.

Step 3: Enter your contact information. Where it asks for the BD Monitor number, use: 1-888-232-2737
Lastly, it gives you a confirmation: "Thank you for selecting a new OneTouch® Blood Glucose Meter. You will receive your new OneTouch® UltraSmart® Meter and Simple Start™ education materials within 3 business days. "

I hope this might help some people.

[Mimya]

MyJourney,

Thanks for the information.
I did it and I received the OneTouch UltraSmart, which I want to give to my daughter because "I" suspect she is diabetic or maybe PRE-diabetic. She refuses to be worried about it at this time. I told her she should be worried about it since she is married with children and her family needs her to be healthy. I think if I get her to start testing she will see it is a cause for concern.

By chance do you know where I can purchase (affordable) strips for this meter? The cheapest online price I found was $73.99/100. I'm a diabetic and use a different meter, which I get a prescription for strips. I'm thinking of switching to the OneTouch UltraSmart for all the detailing it produces. I don't think I have seen a more detailed meter then the OneTouch UltraSmart. :thup: What do you think of your new meter?

Thank you once again for the link.

[eddiemcm]

Give a meter away.
Rip you off for strips.
SOP.
You can buy Relion meter for under 10 bucks.
100 strips at Walmart costs 43 bucks.
Relion is very good basic meter.
Maybe you can use more advanced meter 2
or 3 times per week.
another point:
Don't overtest.Too expensive and too hard on fingers.
Test frequently to find out what works best for you
but slack off after your FG gets consistent.
If you add a supplement or want to test FG caused
by diet changes,you probably want to test more
frequently for awhile.
My opinion FWIW
Eddie

[MyJourney]

Here are 50 strips for 33.95 http://mednet-store.stores.yahoo.net/lionetoululs.html

I love the meter because I can use it on my forearm and its totally painless! It also has a lot of other nice features. I hope she uses it and I hope it helps her.

[Mimya]

MyJourney, Thanks - 50 plus the 10 strips it comes with is enough to get her started. She has no clue about the meter and I didn't want to give it to her without the extra strips. It's kind of like giving a child a toy without batteries. When the extra strips arrive, I will schedule a day of lunch with her and give it to her then. Wish me luck that she doesn't throw it back at me...j/k.

eddiemcm, Thanks for the advice but the new meter is for my daughter who is in denial that she maybe diabetic or pre-diabetic. I got the meter for her so she will realize she needs to grab control of her health - NOW! Good advice but getting her to test at all is the challenge at this time.

I count myself lucky as my insurance pays for my testing supplies. I use to test 10 times a day some years ago and now I only test as needed since my sugar is on an even key ...

Stay tuned and I'll let you know how it goes ....

[RobLL]

Give a meter away.
Rip you off for strips.
SOP.
You can buy Relion meter for under 10 bucks.
100 strips at Walmart costs 43 bucks.
Relion is very good basic meter.
Maybe you can use more advanced meter 2
or 3 times per week.
another point:
Don't overtest.Too expensive and too hard on fingers.
Test frequently to find out what works best for you
but slack off after your FG gets consistent.
If you add a supplement or want to test FG caused
by diet changes,you probably want to test more
frequently for awhile.
My opinion FWIW
Eddie


I am using the Relion. For now I am paying myself, hope to get a prescription. How does its accuracy compare to other brands, and how much difference does it make if you are taking averages? I plan on calling my prescription insurance and finding out what they recommend, and what they will cover. It looks to me at this point that it will take 2 or 3 months to get a really good picture of what my blood sugars are and what affects them. Is that about right?

[eddiemcm]

"Here are 50 strips for 33.95 http://mednet-store.stores.yahoo.net/lionetoululs.html"
I'm not saying price is everything however
100 Relion strips from Walmart cost less than your 50 if you factor in in shipping costs.
No Glucose monitor is extremely accurate(most have 10 percent accuracy) compared to a lab blood test.Relion,like most modern monitors,allows you to measure from anywhere on your body that you can get a small blood bubble.
Live long and prosper
Eddie

[dina1957]

No Glucose monitor is extremely accurate(most have 10 percent accuracy) compared to a lab blood test.
One Touch Ultra is calibrated to +/-20%, I have talked to manufacturer. I believe other meters are approximately same accuracy. The golden rule to find is the meter is accurate, is to take two readings back to back from different sites, and the results should be within 5 points.
HTH

[eddiemcm]

"One Touch Ultra is calibrated to +/-20%, I have talked to manufacturer."
Simple test:
!. Take a reading with meter
2. Go have a real blood test
3. Compare results
I did that with my old meter(Freestyle) and
meter was 6.8 percent high.I havn't performed
that test with Relion meter.I'll do it in the next
couple of weeks.Seems like I read something
a while back about glucose reading(with a
perfect test) being inherently different with a
finger prick versus vein stab.
These posts and little conversations make us think and get smarter-a good thing!
Eddie

[dina1957]

"One Touch Ultra is calibrated to +/-20%, I have talked to manufacturer."
Simple test:
!. Take a reading with meter
2. Go have a real blood test
3. Compare results
I did that with my old meter(Freestyle) and
meter was 6.8 percent high.I havn't performed
that test with Relion meter.I'll do it in the next
couple of weeks.Seems like I read something
a while back about glucose reading(with a
perfect test) being inherently different with a
finger prick versus vein stab.
These posts and little conversations make us think and get smarter-a good thing!
Eddie
My blood test is always around 10% higher than finger prick, and it has nothing to do with meter accuracy. First, it takes time to get to the lab and it can be 30-45 minutes after my finger prick test. Also, venous blood is richer than blood from finger tip, as I was told my dr, hence, the results are always higher when I do for blood test.

[eddiemcm]

"My blood test is always around 10% higher than finger prick, and it has nothing to do with meter accuracy."
Whaat??
Dina,When you compare your meter reading to
another meter/method,your meter's accuracy is
certainly a factor-though certainly not the only
factor.
Eddie

[DerBlumers]

FYI....If you have a Walgreens nearby.....sometimes they have a coupon or sale in their weekly advertisement that offers a free BG meter (Walgreens brand) if you buy a pack of 50 strips...and their brand of strips is usually priced UNDER $30 during this offer.

That's what I did.....I just wait for the "strip" sales, which are usually maybe once a month....

[Armina]

My blood test is always around 10% higher than finger prick, and it has nothing to do with meter accuracy. First, it takes time to get to the lab and it can be 30-45 minutes after my finger prick test. Also, venous blood is richer than blood from finger tip, as I was told my dr, hence, the results are always higher when I do for blood test.

Good heavens, take your meter with you and test at the same time! :) They won't care, they'll think you're smart for wanting to check the accuracy of your meter! Usually they're fighting trying to get people to USE their meters hehe... they'll be proud of you.
'Mina :)

[CNYMom]

I have purchased strips for my one touch on eBay, oddly enough. I just make sure they post the expiration date of the lot, and show a picture of the unopened package. I've done it a couple of times, and haven't had a problem.

[Armina]

I have purchased strips for my one touch on eBay, oddly enough. I just make sure they post the expiration date of the lot, and show a picture of the unopened package. I've done it a couple of times, and haven't had a problem.

Wow, I wonder where they get them cheaply enough to sell at a lower price on eBay?
Well, I have the Reli-on meter also. The strips are much cheaper. I did have an Accu-check, which I liked well also, but the strips were becoming outrageous.
I got a prescription from my doc for the strips, and my insurance co. wouldn't honor it! Boy was I mad. :D
'Mina

[dancinbr]

Give a meter away.
Rip you off for strips.
SOP.
You can buy Relion meter for under 10 bucks.
100 strips at Walmart costs 43 bucks.
Relion is very good basic meter.
Maybe you can use more advanced meter 2
or 3 times per week.
another point:
Don't overtest.Too expensive and too hard on fingers.
Test frequently to find out what works best for you
but slack off after your FG gets consistent.
If you add a supplement or want to test FG caused
by diet changes,you probably want to test more
frequently for awhile.
My opinion FWIW
Eddie


Agreed, my Doctor gave me a meter as well. The freestyle meter. I am sure he gets reimbursed by insurance. The strips are covered on my Rx plan but I end up paying 50%. Got to see if mail order is less expensive.

However, what my Doctor said is so true and it is a great analogy. The computer world gives away printers to be used by consumers; very low prices. But boy do they sock it to you for ink cartridges.

So I learned how to refill the used cartridges. Thank goodness for Walmart. I am now using their $4/month generic Rx plan and it beats my "insured generic Rx plan" by 50%.

I also see strips mentioned for the ultra one touch at $33+ per 100. That sounds like a good price. Need to compare to my mail in.

[dancinbr]

Here are 50 strips for 33.95 http://mednet-store.stores.yahoo.net/lionetoululs.html

I love the meter because I can use it on my forearm and its totally painless! It also has a lot of other nice features. I hope she uses it and I hope it helps her.

That is 33.95 for 50 or $68 for 100.

That is expensive.

But without Rx insurance the going price on my Freestyle strips would be $100 or so.

With Rx I pay half, insurance pays half.

Mail in may be lower. I just started so I have to find out what the mail in price is; generally lower.

[Armina]

I cringe when I think of how much they make off those strips. Think of people who have to test 8 to 10 times a day! OUCH in more ways than one!! :(
'Mina

[eddiemcm]

"I cringe when I think of how much they make off those strips. Think of people who have to test 8 to 10 times a day! OUCH in more ways than one!! "
Mina,you are very correct.Free meter is meaningless when test strips are very expensive.I still think Relion meter/strips are
best financial deal.Meter is $9.00.Strips are
$45.00 for 100 at WalMart.Of course,some
people have other meters that they prefer.
Freedom of choice is a good thing.
Bye for now
Eddie