UK glucose meter advice please

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Tania c

Tania c

Member Since 2019
Hi I was just wondering if the UK members could recommend which human glucose meter to get. I’m changing over from the alpha track as it is costing so much in test strips and not really viable the amount of tests I need to do!

I’ve seen on the UK thread / info the Accucheck one is recommended, is it best to get them form a pharmacy or online?and which one do people use please, as there seem quite a few out there to choose from!!

Thank you :)
 
Hi Tania
Hopefully you'll get some helpful replies to your question as mine isn't going to be very informative, sorry! I just happened to see your thread and thought I'd respond... I can't think who is using the Accucheck atm, a couple of newish UKers use Alphatrak although like you they have found the strips ridiculously expensive and have been looking into options. Maybe have a look at the Accucheck website and make a note of the meters' features - you want one that uses the least amount of blood, ideally.

As for where to get supplies - you'll usually find lower prices online. For the meter itself, Amazon and ebay are the obvious but there are other online pharmacies that also offer good prices. Strips are the ongoing expense, as you've found - many people buy strips from ebay which is fine as long as you check the reputation of the seller and ask (if not stated) the expiry date of the strips.

There are other meters as well as the Accucheck that you could also consider. The Code-Free from Amazon is probably the cheapest, and the One Touch range is a good bet.

Sorry I can't be more specific, hopefully you'll get some more replies! Good luck!
 
Hi Diana, no that’s a real help thankyou!! I wish my old freestyle lite worked but one of my dogs managed to chew it ;-) I’ll do some research but it’s a bit confusing as accucheck has various different ones.

Thanks again I’ll keep looking. It’s just I’m nearly out of alphatrax strips again, and what to order in something more affordable, I don’t understand why there so expensive :( the insulin is cheaper!!

Xxx


Diana&Tom said:
Hi Tania
Hopefully you'll get some helpful replies to your question as mine isn't going to be very informative, sorry! I just happened to see your thread and thought I'd respond... I can't think who is using the Accucheck atm, a couple of newish UKers use Alphatrak although like you they have found the strips ridiculously expensive and have been looking into options. Maybe have a look at the Accucheck website and make a note of the meters' features - you want one that uses the least amount of blood, ideally.

As for where to get supplies - you'll usually find lower prices online. For the meter itself, Amazon and ebay are the obvious but there are other online pharmacies that also offer good prices. Strips are the ongoing expense, as you've found - many people buy strips from ebay which is fine as long as you check the reputation of the seller and ask (if not stated) the expiry date of the strips.

There are other meters as well as the Accucheck that you could also consider. The Code-Free from Amazon is probably the cheapest, and the One Touch range is a good bet.

Sorry I can't be more specific, hopefully you'll get some more replies! Good luck!
Click to expand...
s great thankyou!!
 
Tania c said:
Thanks Diana, sounds like your have gone through the same dilemma as me and I’m sure many others! Just looking on Amazon and code free is super cheap or there is another make, sinocare, like you mentioned I’m just worried how much blood they need.
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Hmmm not sure about how much blood any of these need but I was trying to remember the name of the meter that a friend of mine uses and raves about - it's the One Touch Verio (I think). Try researching costs etc for that maybe? You could also message the company and ask them for any info you want - they may send you a meter to start you off! Some of us have got meters that way - it's quite a competitive market and manyfacturers want you to buy their meters so you continue to buy their strips!

https://www.myonetouch.co.uk/products/glucose-meters/onetouch-verio-iq

The Code free has had good reports here, just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's not ok. Sinocare rings a vague bell but I'm not sure why.
 
Great thank you!! Ive ordered one from amazon so hopefully will be ok, my vet not so keen! But I think if I have some alphatrax strips in to check accuracy etc or if I get low / high reading I can double check. Thanks again xxx
 
Diana&Tom said:
Hmmm not sure about how much blood any of these need but I was trying to remember the name of the meter that a friend of mine uses and raves about - it's the One Touch Verio (I think). Try researching costs etc for that maybe? You could also message the company and ask them for any info you want - they may send you a meter to start you off! Some of us have got meters that way - it's quite a competitive market and manyfacturers want you to buy their meters so you continue to buy their strips!

https://www.myonetouch.co.uk/products/glucose-meters/onetouch-verio-iq

The Code free has had good reports here, just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's not ok. Sinocare rings a vague bell but I'm not sure why.
Click to expand...
Human metre arrived yesterday, ‘sinocare’ from Amazon, although a little unergonomic compared to the alpha track I’m really impressed so far! It takes a tiny amount of blood to test, not like the alpha track that seems to need more and sucks loads of blood up! Anyway just thought I’d update. Happy I can test lots now without worrying about the cost all the time - wish I’d got one of these ages ago!!

I’ll keep the alphatraxk to compare if I’m really worried about highs and lows and for vet curves.

Thanks for all your help Diana.
 
Tania c said:
Human metre arrived yesterday, ‘sinocare’ from Amazon, although a little unergonomic compared to the alpha track I’m really impressed so far! It takes a tiny amount of blood to test, not like the alpha track that seems to need more and sucks loads of blood up! Anyway just thought I’d update. Happy I can test lots now without worrying about the cost all the time - wish I’d got one of these ages ago!!

I’ll keep the alphatraxk to compare if I’m really worried about highs and lows and for vet curves.

Thanks for all your help Diana.
Click to expand...
Good news, well done Tania!
 
Diana&Tom said:
Good news, well done Tania!
Click to expand...
Oh no posted too soon!!! All of the readings I’m getting keep saying ‘high’ :-( I did a few that were ok and Roche led on alphatrack and he was high 20’s so not sure how accurate this metre is. Back to the alpha track for now while I need really accurate results I can’t risk using this one :-(
 
Tania c said:
Oh no posted too soon!!! All of the readings I’m getting keep saying ‘high’ :-( I did a few that were ok and Roche led on alphatrack and he was high 20’s so not sure how accurate this metre is. Back to the alpha track for now while I need really accurate results I can’t risk using this one :-(
Click to expand...
Is there a helpline number included in the box that you can ring for advice on this? It doesn't sound right that the meter is saying high all the time if you know that's not the case, although different meters probably have different interpretations of high. Usually it means a number that can't be recorded, so upper 30s and above.
You're right not to use the meter until you can ascertain its accuracy, but you can't compare any human meter to a pet meter exactly, so stick with the Alphatrak for now and try to get some advice on the new one.
 
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