Very inexpensive glucose monitor/strips

[eddiemcm]

Anyone heard of Prestige IQ monitor?
I purchased monitor and 100 strips at www.americandiabeteswholesale.com
for $33.00.I will give my impression when I receive and use.
Eddie

[Korban]

Mendosa has mentioned a new meter from U.S. Diagnostics called the Maxima which uses state of the art bio-sensor technology and according to US Diag. is one of the most accurate meters you can buy. Five second response time, 0.5 microliter blood required etc. Meter does not come with machine uploadable data ability though. Hocks dot com is giving away the meter if you buy 100 strips $16.99US per 50 strips ($33.98/100) but a tad more than your IQ one. Does the IQ have a data port?

Strip price for both meters is much cheaper than WallyMarts even... and from experience I have not had the best luck with that meter (Relion Ultima).

/smile

[eddiemcm]

Korban
I'm not real happy with Relion meter either.
I don't think Prestige iQ has data port.
I will know more when I get it and use it a bit.
Bye for now
Eddie

[Sunflwr1]

Both of these sound very reasonable, since I'm new at this and testing, testing, testing I'm going through strips like crazy! I checked out the Maxima, but I couldn't find any lancets to order for it... are they interchangeable? Perhaps I just missed them...

[MizKitty]

I couldn't get the Hock's website to open.
The website eddie gave does include info that the Prestige has upload capability.
Thanks for the info, and let us know how you like it.

Update: There's video's showing the meter in use at http://www.thesmartchoice.com/products-2.asp
Looks like it takes a lot more blood and would waste a lot more strips than my Freestyle. I also don't like the testing method, or having to calibrate the meter to the strip carton. My freestyle has me spoiled with how easy it is, i guess. Can't beat that price, though.

[Cajunboy47]

Test strips are expensive. Before I got my relion meter, I had another one for free through a promotional deal a couple of years ago, but the test strips were double what the relion strips costs.

Here in China, I found a glucose meter for about the same cost as the Relion meter. The sales person said the test strips are about 6 cents each, but they were out, so I decided not to buy the meter till I can find the strips. That is a cost of about 1/8th of the Relion strips. If I am successful at finding those test strips, I'm going to buy about 5,000 of them to take home with me, if there is not an expiration date on them.... But, this is China and even though things are cheap, it is never simple, so I'll just have to wait and see if I can get my hands on that super savings deal.... :)

[Korban]

I couldn't get the Hock's website to open.

Looks like it takes a lot more blood and would waste a lot more strips than my Freestyle. I also don't like the testing method, or having to calibrate the meter to the strip carton. My freestyle has me spoiled with how easy it is, i guess. Can't beat that price, though.

Hmm I can't get it to open either at the moment. Was looking at it last night (Sunday).

I use the Freestyle too (and like it a lot) but still calibrate for a new lot. Perhaps it is because I am anal. Freestyle didn't recommend it but my One-Touch ultra2 meter does so I figured what the heck. I get good comparison between those two meters.. and the strips are "only" $1.00 each /sigh. That is the one my insurance recommended and they pay for most of the strips, fortunately.

/smile

[Rose1942]

Both of these sound very reasonable, since I'm new at this and testing, testing, testing I'm going through strips like crazy! I checked out the Maxima, but I couldn't find any lancets to order for it... are they interchangeable? Perhaps I just missed them...

Marcia, it doesn't matter what you use for finger sticking - all you get from that is a drop of blood, no matter what meter and strips you are using. So if you have a finger sticker that you are already using that came with another meter - and you have lancets for that - you can just use that forever with any meter.

I have 2 meters but can't get along with the finger sticker that came with the second one I bought, so I just use the one that I like with either meter.

Also, you may not know that you can keep reusing the same lancet for awhile, there is no danger of infection as long as you are the only one using it. (Even Dr. Bernstein says so). I usually keep the same lancet for about a week, sometimes longer, and change it to a fresh one when I start noticing that it hurts. You can get a lot of mileage out of a box of lancets.

[Lottadata]

This IQ meter looks exactly like the one I had about 6 years ago. Same blood-guzzling, hard to use strips, same name.

I don't think it was very accurate. I replaced it with a Relion that I liked better.

[Sunflwr1]

Marcia, it doesn't matter what you use for finger sticking - all you get from that is a drop of blood, no matter what meter and strips you are using. So if you have a finger sticker that you are already using that came with another meter - and you have lancets for that - you can just use that forever with any meter.Hi Rose! :wave: Didn't think about that, but wouldn't you think if it includes a lancing device that it would have lancets available? I must have overlooked them, but when I searched Maxima they don't show up.

This IQ meter looks exactly like the one I had about 6 years ago. Same blood-guzzling, hard to use strips, same name.

I don't think it was very accurate. I replaced it with a Relion that I liked better. I hope you're talking about the Prestige... Hock's is back up and I just ordered the Maxima deal.

[Korban]

I hope you're talking about the Prestige... Hock's is back up and I just ordered the Maxima deal.

She was Sunflwr. The Maxima uses test strips with the capillary that sucks the blood up from the droplet. With the IQ Prestige it looks as though you have to place the droplet on the strip similar to the older generation Relion Meter.

/smile

[RobLL]

When I take my RelyOn and One Touch to the lab, the Relyon is at least as accurate as the One Touch.

[eddiemcm]

I received the Prestige IQ with 100 strips in the mail.
The Prestige is a bit awkward to use but the test strips are
packaged neatly in bottles-better than Relion test strip packaging.Results benchmark within 3 percent
of Relion and Freestyle meters.150 test strips for 51 bucks isn't
a bad price.I'm not sure if I'll continue to use this one after
I'm out of test strips.
Eddie

[Sunflwr1]

Mendosa has mentioned a new meter from U.S. Diagnostics called the Maxima which uses state of the art bio-sensor technology and according to US Diag. is one of the most accurate meters you can buy. Five second response time, 0.5 microliter blood required etc. Meter does not come with machine uploadable data ability though. Hocks dot com is giving away the meter if you buy 100 strips $16.99US per 50 strips ($33.98/100) but a tad more than your IQ one. Does the IQ have a data port?

Strip price for both meters is much cheaper than WallyMarts even... and from experience I have not had the best luck with that meter (Relion Ultima).

/smile

I received my Maxima a few days ago and finally have had time to set it up and give it a try. It does draw very quickly and seems to require less blood. I like it and think it's a bit more accurate than my ReliOn. To answer my own question... it does come with lancets, but I must say they bite a bit more than the ReliOn. The strips come in a vial, which I like. I was already getting a callous on my index finger from tearing the others open.

I find the fluctuations in readings very frustrating... for instance.

I took a nap this afternoon and when I woke up decided to check my blood at 4:54. ReliOn-89(first reading I've ever had that low since I started checking). Then checked the Maxima and it read 96; 4:55, then went back and checked the ReliOn again and it read 102; 4:57! Went back and checked the Maxima again and it read 98; 4:58! As you can see this was within minutes. So how do you know which reading is right? Frustrating... maybe I should have quit while I was ahead! :lol:

BTW... the Maxima Meter with 100 strips (2 at 16.99 each) totaled $42.78 with s&h.

[Korban]

To answer my own question... it does come with lancets, but I must say they bite a bit more than the ReliOn.

The strips come in a vial, which I like. I was already getting a callous on my index finger from tearing the others open.

I find the fluctuations in readings very frustrating... for instance.

BTW... the Maxima Meter with 100 strips (2 at 16.99 each) totaled $42.78 with s&h.

MY favorite Lancing device came with my One-Touch meter. I only use the meter as a check standard and I do prefer my Freestyle Freedom meter (so does my insurance company).

My main problem with the Relion wasn't the accuracy as much as it was ripping those damn strips open (--> see callouses above). Nicely sealed and all, but geez... i.e., I like the vial too.

Coefficient of Variation between meter and strips may leave you as much as plus-or-minus 10 for 100 BG (but usually less) which is a bummer. Reading to reading I would say the variance is much less for a given vial. Bernstein does say to leave the strip on the finger for a couple secs after it registers or beeps. I probably leave it a second maybe, sometimes 2. This assures that the apparatus is appropriately loaded with our glucose filled blood. If you do enough testing it will all work out as an un-biased statistical aberration...

Re: Maxima (and IQ) - I really love the strip price and I like the capillary blood sucking device for the Maxima strips. I also had an older Relion as well as the new one - and the older one required a razor blade usually... well, sorta.

At the price, I should get me one as a verification unit - except I already have two others (Relion Ultima and 1-Touch Ultra2).

/smile

[RobLL]

The four readings average out at 96, all of them are within 7% or so. Another possibility is that your blood sugars went up from 93 to a hundred with the 'trauma' of waking up. Did you confine yourself to the same finger and same hand. That too can make a difference.

[Sunflwr1]

Bernstein does say to leave the strip on the finger for a couple secs after it registers or beeps. I probably leave it a second maybe, sometimes 2. This assures that the apparatus is appropriately loaded with our glucose filled blood. Thanks for that info... I forgot about that. I try not to have it touch my finger, just the blood. Do you think that matters?

The four readings average out at 96, all of them are within 7% or so. Another possibility is that your blood sugars went up from 93 to a hundred with the 'trauma' of waking up. Did you confine yourself to the same finger and same hand. That too can make a difference. I think I did, but I'm not sure. Isn't that terrible. I can't remember didley squat! Grrr! My pinkie looks like i did!!! :lol:

Thanks guys!

[Korban]

Thanks for that info... I forgot about that. I try not to have it touch my finger, just the blood. Do you think that matters?...

...Thanks guys!

I read in a post (this forum, I think) that some company said it mattered (because they didn't want to replace a bad vial of strips for someone) but I don't believe that it matters... does not make sense that it matters, and does not state so in the detailed instructions... In fact, if this were a significant point, I am certain it would state so ian LARGE PRINT on the BOTTLE, IMHO. I always use the surface of my skin to stabilize the strip. Perhaps, that is technically incorrect but I seem to get decent precision.

Others' mileage may vary but I highly doubt it.

Cyaz,
/smile

[Rose1942]

Korban, that was me that called Bayer about the testing strips. They had me run a bunch of things with the meter, and then I had to take a test with a strip. The guy said it is important that only blood touch the strip (not when you are just putting it in the meter, that's ok - but when actually testing). He said not to touch the skin.

As to using the same finger on the same hand, in Dr. Bernstein's book he says to use the same finger stick for all 4 tests. They are run one after the other, so one finger stick should do them all. The only thing I can think of that might affect this method is that if you squeeze too hard to get the blood drop, you run the risk of other fluid being part of the blood, so it's diluted and not accurate.

But I think the idea is to just try and figure out if all 4 tests in a row are within a small range. Nothing is perfectly accurate, even lab tests can be slightly off.

[jem51]

i have a freestyle but recently purchased the reli on (sam's/walmart). the strips are about 1/2 the price and the monitor was $8.88. it reads w/in the same range w only a two point difference. that seems about the same as the difference betw other monitors. it does say to continue to hold the strip in contact w the blood drop after the beep.

[Cajunboy47]

I found but did not buy a monitor and test strips here in China, for several reasons.

A meter can be purchased here for as little as $21.....

Test strips can be purchased for about 18 cents each in boxes of 40...........

The hastle is unbelievable. If you find a meter at a place, they don't have but a hand full of strips and don't know if and when they can get more. The instructions are only in Chinese, of course, but I do have interpreters. The meter reading is in a different system than in the USA, so the number you read has to be multiplied by 18 or something like that. You can't try it in the store and once you walk out with it, there is no return or refund. I don't trust the reliability of it. These shops are all exposed to the weather/elements every day, so depending on how long the meter and strips have been in stock, they've been exposed to a lot of temperature variations, which can't be good. Then I'd be afraid to stock up on test strips to last a couple of years (I might not return for that long when I leave) as the dang meter might break in the first month or so...

I'm going to run out of test strips in a few weeks, but I feel I have such good control now, I won't worry about it till I go home and just buy more strips for my relion meter and live with that.......

Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience at trying to come out cheap on meters an test strips....

[eddiemcm]

I've finished with 100 strips and the Prestige iQ meter.
It works well but I don't like the blood draw method.
You have to put blood into the strip,look at the back of
the strip to see if you collected enough blood and,when
you have enough blood in the strip,shove the strip into the
meter and start the test.The test takes between 8 and 20 seconds.The repeatability of the readings is slightly better
than Relion but I will probably start using Relion again.
And so it goes...
Eddie

[RobLL]

"Test strips can be purchased for about 18 cents each in boxes of 40...........
"
Cajun Boy - this tells me that strip may actually be expensive to produce, more than a penny a strip. I would now guess 5-10 cents. Why aren't our insurance companies on our side, and world source some of these supplies?

[Cajunboy47]

"Test strips can be purchased for about 18 cents each in boxes of 40...........
"
Cajun Boy - this tells me that strip may actually be expensive to produce, more than a penny a strip. I would now guess 5-10 cents. Why aren't our insurance companies on our side, and world source some of these supplies?

good point! Relion cost about 42 cents a test strip... We buy everything else from China, why not meters and test strips that are less expensive...:)