you will not want to use the meter for both BGs and ketones because it uses much more blood than the newer/better meters.
Not true. The Precision only uses .3ul for testing blood glucose. The test for ketones uses more (1.5ul).
I have the Precision Xceed (name in Germany) I got my meter for free from Abbott by requesting it on thier website. It came with 10 glucose testsrips, 5 lancets, lancet device. It does not come with the ketone strips but I can order them from a number of online pharmacies. The cost is about 12€ for 10 strips ($16) so they aren't cheap but you don't use them everyday either.
The disadvantages to this meter (why I don't use for everyday BG) I don't like the individually wrapped test strips (hard to open, more trash...)
I could send you a meter, but I don't know if the test strips purchased in the US would be useable in a meter from Germany. Which would mean you have to get test strips ordered from here.
Abbott has a diabetes care hotline, I would call them and mention that you know someone who recieved a free test meter from Abbott and ask if that's something they do. Almost every meter I have I got free, by going to the website and signing up for thier diabetes newsletter (they also send you postcards when new meters come out etc, as well as access to online BG record keeping charts, diet info...) you can also get free replacement batteries for your meter. After signing up and recieving the free meter, there is usually a postcard or and email with a link to fill out a questionarre about the product. The meters are also under warranty or exchange programs (if a newer version comes out, you can normally exchange your old one, as the test strips won't always be available) perhaps I could send a German model and you could say you moved and need to exchange it for a US model? But I'm afraid that would take more time than it's all worth.
