Freestyle Monitor Experience
Written: Jun 27 '02 (Updated Jun 28 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast, small sample, small monitor size and relatively consistent.
Cons: Strips more expensive, unit "times out" too quickly (waste of strip).
The Bottom Line: Excellent choice if you don't mind the typical extra cost for strips. It is my current first choice of those used.
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| sandiegobrass's Full Review: Therasense Freestyle Blood Glucose Monitoring Syst... |
After being warned of my risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, I took it upon myself to monitor my Blood Glucose levels. What little research I did (the Internet and talking to the pharmacy), I decided to try the Thereasense Freestyle monitor. It, also, had a very good price at the time (including the rebate). But, I didn't do my homework well enough as I soon discovered the real cost of monitoring is in the cost of the strips. The best deal for Freestyle strips was on the Internet, but that required waiting, so I returned to the drugstore to buy a few more strips until my Internet purchase arrived. Amazingly, I found that "another-brand" had a manufacturer's special and would give me their monitor free if I bought 100 strips. That seemed like a great deal since I was going to buy strips anyway and on top of that I could satisfy my techno-geek obsessive/compulsive addiction and do "a few comparative tests" after the Freestyle strips arrived. I purchased 100 of these "another-brand" strips (and got the free meter on the spot at the time of the sale). In fact, I went back the next day and bought 100 more strips of another model and got another free meter. I then got my three monitors ready and began to poke a lot of holes (in me) and make this monitoring a psuedo-science project!
After several weeks, hundreds of holes in my aching fingers and arms, I made a few observations and conclusions about the Therasense Freestyle monitor:
The Therasense Freestyle is small, fast and relatively consistent:
Small: Well, not as small as some new pen sized units, but small enough. Any smaller, and the screen would be difficult to read.
Fast: Typically, the test result is displayed in about 5 to 10 seconds. This is much less than others compared. This is not really a big deal, but sometimes 30 seconds seems like a long time when you are watching and waiting.
Consistent: The comparative readings between strip lots using many different blood samples and the supplied control solution were very consistent, typically better than observed with the other meters. Note: no absolute values (lab results) were compared, only relative readings with blood and control solutions.
The blood sample size is very small, about the size of a pinhead, but again, not a big issue as far as I am concerned. This is probably a bigger issue with those around you that might be watching, but after you have poked a hole (which is the irritating part), you can usually get enough blood for any brand/model of monitor.
With the Freestyle, you can use your arm or other fleshy parts (instead of your fingers) for the sample and there is actually much less discomfort (just as they advertise) but I have found that the fingers give the most repeatable and consistent results. The arm readings tend to lag (in time) the finger readings and both (arm and fingers) are only the same during stable periods (unchanging BG over an hour or so with little or no exercise). Also, I tend to bruise when poking holes in the arm leaving a bunch of purple dots for several days. This may be typical, at least the pregnant sales lady at the drug store had an arm full of "tracks" just like mine from the Freestyle monitoring.
After playing with different brands of monitors and many different "lots" of strips side by side (and spending much money on strips), I have concluded that this (and essentially all of the brands I've compared) scatter the results + or - 10% to 15%, sometimes greater. This is not compared to any standard (like a lab result), but to itself and each other, and/or different strip "lots". The published test results by the manufacturer (under controlled conditions) indicates better than this. Like previously noted, I have no way of knowing which meter/lot of my comparisons is giving the most correct result. Only the differences and the repeatability are significant in these comparisons. I probably will be comparing the monitors to a lab result in the future.
The Freestyle does requires you to input a "code" number for each different lot of strips that you use. (It is found on the strip container.) Other brands sometimes do the code differently as a plug-in or it is automatic. I don't know the full range of possible codes, but the range I have observed so far has been 13-16. The effect of the code is some sort of scaling of the result to make it display the most accurate result for that lot of strips. I observe that in the range 12, 13, 14 each change by plus or minus "1" changes the reading by about 9%. For example, using a strip with the correct code of 13 and a BG reading of 100 mg/dl, by changing to an incorrect code of 12 would give a reading of about 109 and using a code of 14 would produce a reading of about 91. Therefore, it is very important to make sure you are using the correct code or you could have results significantly in error.
A slightly annoying feature is that the Freestyle monitor turns itself off after about 90 seconds after inserting a strip if no blood is supplied. For most people, this will probably not be a problem, but I have ruined numerous strips by inserting the strip first, then waiting too long (washing the hands, tending a pot, using another meter or whatever). The freestyle goes silently to sleep without a peep and only after applying the sample do I notice that it is not responding. "Dummy me" but it still ruins the strip (Others don't have this problem).
The Freestyle stores a large number (250? don't remember exactly) of the most recent measurements and also provides an average of the last 14 days. It also has a very convenient feature where you can "check" mark a suspiciously bad or control solution reading. A marked reading is not included in the average and can be identified later. (For example, when you log the results or download to software.) Again, this is not a big deal. And as far as data downloading, the data cable and software seem greatly over priced at about $75.
The carrying "pouch" that comes with it is OK, not great, a little lumpy. One good part is that it has no plastic or elastic to deteriorate with time; the bad part is that everything is in net pockets that are a little bit inconvenient (compared to the elastic retainers of some others). it does have a small pencil strap, but you must supply the pencil. The pouch lifetime is probably not a big issue as new and better monitors come out all the time that are practically free anyway (to get you to buy the strips).
Personally, I don't like the lance that comes with the Freestyle; it is too big and bulky and I use another, although the supplied lance does seem to provide the required sample with little or no "squeezing". Maybe it just pokes a bigger hole?
The required quadruple A (AAAA) batteries are supplied, and I don't know how hard they are to find; the originals are still working.
I purchased the first unit at the drug store ($75) with $40 rebate (that I still haven't received yet) but I have since purchased two more Freestyle units (for more comparative testing, then to give to relatives) on an Internet auction for about 20 bucks each including shipping.
Strips are about $40 for 50 (80 cents each) at the drug store but I found some for about half that (40 cents each) on the Internet. With no insurance, that makes a big difference.
After quite a bit of comparative testing, the Therasense Freestyle is still my current first choice but I do use the other brands as well to take advantage of "special offers" and "good deals" on strips as well as the continuation of my selective testing.
In my rating, I called it a "5" for "Ease of Use" but this is hardly "a pleasure" as the choice suggests.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sandiegobrass
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Reviews written: 1
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