Best meters?
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Nicole & Baby
Very Active Member
"Best" meters are ones that meet your needs. Your budget for strips, how much stress you want to put kitties ear under (some meters require a larger blood sample) etc.
Regardless of what meter you choose, I cannot suggest enough the idea that makes most sense.. please stick with one.
Comparing #s on different meters is comparing apples to oranges & not accurate data.
I choose to use the Relion Micro, less stress on Baby's ear & inexpensive meter & strips and am very happy with it.
We all have our individual reasons... good luck in picking what works best for you!
Regardless of what meter you choose, I cannot suggest enough the idea that makes most sense.. please stick with one.
Comparing #s on different meters is comparing apples to oranges & not accurate data.
I choose to use the Relion Micro, less stress on Baby's ear & inexpensive meter & strips and am very happy with it.
We all have our individual reasons... good luck in picking what works best for you!
A
Anonymous
Guest
How do you pick what works best for you if you don't know what works best for you? I can't understand most of what I read about glucometers. Some need coding, others don't, but there's nothing about what the pros and cons are. Some don't need as much blood, so why would you pick one that needs more--what are the benefits?
Hope + (((Baby)))GA
Very Active Member
ReliOn from Walmart is fairly cheap as are the test strips. Others, like the One Touch Ultra, are a little more as are the test strips. Some like the AccuChek Aviva I believe it is. I have no idea on the price. I still order my supplies from Hocks.com even though it was sold and no commission is being given back to FDMB.
MommaOfMuse
Very Active Member
Finding the right meter is let finding the right car.
Is it affordable? Love my Relion micro ($12)
Are the test strips affordable?
Are the strips readily available ( as in if you run out on a holiday or after office hours can they be found)
How big of a blood sample does it take?
And probably the big one since we have members all over the world...Is it available where you live.
They all are going to read about the same with a +/- 20% but as long as you stick to the same meter it will work just fine.
But just like cars, they all get you from point A to point B, just depends on how you want to get there.
Mel, Max & The Fur Gang
Is it affordable? Love my Relion micro ($12)
Are the test strips affordable?
Are the strips readily available ( as in if you run out on a holiday or after office hours can they be found)
How big of a blood sample does it take?
And probably the big one since we have members all over the world...Is it available where you live.
They all are going to read about the same with a +/- 20% but as long as you stick to the same meter it will work just fine.
But just like cars, they all get you from point A to point B, just depends on how you want to get there.
Mel, Max & The Fur Gang
I like the One Touch meters, and they have always read fairly close to what the BG was tested to be by the vets. They have a good reputation, and are easy to use.
But really, they all have to meet requirements to make them safe, accurate, and user friendly for human diabetics, so get one that as affordable strips (you use a LOT), and uses the smallest drop of blood possible (makes your life easier).
But really, they all have to meet requirements to make them safe, accurate, and user friendly for human diabetics, so get one that as affordable strips (you use a LOT), and uses the smallest drop of blood possible (makes your life easier).
tuckers mom
Very Active Member
I've changed meters so many times over the years, probably 8 different types in all.
Coding, sometimes I forget, I did that with the One Touch Ultra and Freestyle, forgot to match the code on the meter to the code on the box, realized a few blood tests later. They are great meters, but if you're forgetful sometimes, then avoid those.
Accu Check Aviva, that comes with a key code that you place in the meter. LOVE the meter, really love it, but if I didn't use the strips fast enough and the keycode expired, I lost money. But still love how fast that meter sips blood, I think it's the easiest to use as far as getting blood.
Relion by Walmart, excellent meter, sips very well, no coding required and you can't beat the cost. The only reason I'm not using it now is because a freebie Contour USB I got when there was a free offer which you sometimes see on line. Also no coding, strips sip blood easily.
If cost is an issue and you're close to WalMart go with that, the Relion. If you are good at eBay and can buy strips cheaply and confident with the seller, get an AccuCheck or Contour. If you'll remember to code the meter when you open a new vial of test strips, which really isn't hard to remember, I just forgot a few times, Freestyle is nice and also can be found cheap enough on eBay.
Coding, sometimes I forget, I did that with the One Touch Ultra and Freestyle, forgot to match the code on the meter to the code on the box, realized a few blood tests later. They are great meters, but if you're forgetful sometimes, then avoid those.
Accu Check Aviva, that comes with a key code that you place in the meter. LOVE the meter, really love it, but if I didn't use the strips fast enough and the keycode expired, I lost money. But still love how fast that meter sips blood, I think it's the easiest to use as far as getting blood.
Relion by Walmart, excellent meter, sips very well, no coding required and you can't beat the cost. The only reason I'm not using it now is because a freebie Contour USB I got when there was a free offer which you sometimes see on line. Also no coding, strips sip blood easily.
If cost is an issue and you're close to WalMart go with that, the Relion. If you are good at eBay and can buy strips cheaply and confident with the seller, get an AccuCheck or Contour. If you'll remember to code the meter when you open a new vial of test strips, which really isn't hard to remember, I just forgot a few times, Freestyle is nice and also can be found cheap enough on eBay.
Jean and Megan
Active Member
The Freestyle Lite and Freestyle Freedom Lite both are "no coding required" meters. Note the word Lite in the names.
I use the Freestyle Lite and love it. The new strips sip far more easily than the old strips did, and the sample size (amount of blood) required is very small (.3ul - same as the ReliOn Micro). But everybody else is right, that the best meter for you is apt to be different from the best meter for another person.
Do you need to watch pennies? Go for a meter with inexpensive strips.
Are you worried about testing, or do you know that your cat doesn't give up blood easily? Go for small sample size.
Availability of strips is important. Some are more readily available than others if you run out at an inconvenient time.
Also remember that what you choose at first is not what you have to use forever. Human meters are almost all fairly inexpensive (refuse to buy one with a high price tag! - stores do sometimes mark them up ridiculously). If you just don't like the one you get first, nothing prevents you from getting a different one later.
I use the Freestyle Lite and love it. The new strips sip far more easily than the old strips did, and the sample size (amount of blood) required is very small (.3ul - same as the ReliOn Micro). But everybody else is right, that the best meter for you is apt to be different from the best meter for another person.
Do you need to watch pennies? Go for a meter with inexpensive strips.
Are you worried about testing, or do you know that your cat doesn't give up blood easily? Go for small sample size.
Availability of strips is important. Some are more readily available than others if you run out at an inconvenient time.
Also remember that what you choose at first is not what you have to use forever. Human meters are almost all fairly inexpensive (refuse to buy one with a high price tag! - stores do sometimes mark them up ridiculously). If you just don't like the one you get first, nothing prevents you from getting a different one later.
Julia & Bandit (GA)
Very Active Member
tuckers mom said:
Just a note...someone here mentioned a while back that if you set the date back in the Aviva, you can use expired strips.
Darlene & Jack
Active Member
I have the ReliOn micro from WalMart, $9 and love it. Took it to the vet a few weeks ago when we went in for a visit. Checked the accuracy against the vets expensive pet meter, and it was extremely accurate. Requires only a tiny amount of blood.
Good luck to you!
Good luck to you!
Amanda
Active Member
I have a Freestyle Lite and a Relion Confirm as a backup. I much prefer the Freestyle- just seems to be a better quality meter and case. I HATED the Relion case - didn't hold what I needed it to and when my only requirement is that it hold my lancets so that I am not always hunting them down its a big deal!
The Relion is nice because its convienent - I can run to Walmart and get strips 24 hours a day no problem.The freestyle requires me keeping up with how many strips I have and looking for good deals on ebay.
The Relion is nice because its convienent - I can run to Walmart and get strips 24 hours a day no problem.The freestyle requires me keeping up with how many strips I have and looking for good deals on ebay.
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