Almost ten years ago I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2 and have been using a glucometer ever since. I have used Contour, Dario, Prodigy, and CareSens and possibly a few more.
The Dario used the audio port to connect its test unit. I had too many problems with this meter and the test strips were far too expensive.
With Prodigy I had other problems. The glucometer may have fallen a few times and ultimately lost calibration. I took my clucose reading in the morning and it was nearly 200. Afterwards I had a doctors appointment and my wife who is a registered nurse came along. It seemed like I was behaving a bit strangely., The doctor checked my glucose and it was 50. With my behavior and the glucose reading they called an ambulance for me and took me to the hospital where I spent several days until we got my glucose under control. I learned a lot of things from this experience.
- CAIBRATION
It turns out that because of the drop my glucometer was returning a glucose reading that was 3 times my actual reading. This means that while I was actually hypoglycemic (too low blood sugar which is more deadly than hyperglycemia or too much blood suger) the glucose meter essentially told me that my blood sugar was too high and I should cut my sugar related intake while the truth was that I did not have enough blood sugar. The exact opposite of my condition. This could have kjlled me.
2. I learned that there are test solutions and some glucometers even come with test solution so that the patient can use a control solution to test the glucometer reading. I also learned that the doctor’s glucometer must be tested every month. So it is a really good idea for a patient to bring their glucometer to the doctor’s office and also check their glucose again the doctor’s professionally calibrated glucometer or the lab test which is even better and not to blindly trust the glucometer. And now i have several glucometers so I can check my glucose readings against any of them any time they are suspicious.
3. In the end for numerous reasons I stopped using the Prodigy glucometer and switched to CareSens which is far better. For example the Prodigy meter has the test strip hole on the top of the meter right next to the test strip container. This means that the patient must take the meter out of the case to insert the strip which results in a higher probability that one could drop it or my cats could knock it off the table., The CareSens meter has the test strip insertion hold on the bottom of the meter so the meter can remain in the case with the case fully opened for maximum stability through a larger surface area on the table. And it turned out that the CareSens were extremely economical to the point that the complete unit with the case, meter, lances, 100 test strips, and even control solution was just a few dollars more that just the test strips. So essential the meter was free. So instead of buying just the test strips I bought complete units so I have spares to test against if ever in doubt. All in all I found the CareSens to be very good, well engineered in subtle ways that most people do not think about, and more economical.
TIP
When using the CareSens I recommend after removing the test strip from the container beginning to lift the case so that the bottom of the container is towards the center of the case. This will result in any loose strips first decending to the bottom of the container so you will not damage any of the test strips like happens if you close the cap on the container while it is lyiung flat on the table.
