FreeStyle Blood Glucose Monitoring System Review

I have Type 2 Diabetes. I have to test my blood sugar up to 3 times per day. This can be very painful, to the point that I, like many, haven't tested on a regular basis.

For many years, diabetics were forced to test only on the fingertips and needed a substantial amount of blood for the monitor to read it accurately.

With the Freestyle, this has all changed.

This system allows you to test on various parts of your body and only requires a small amount of blood. This is incredible.

The kit includes:
Freestyle monitor
Freestyle lancing device
Owners book and getting started guide
Lancets, 10 count
Freestyle test strips, 10 count
Control solution for testing your monitor
Carrying case
Daily log book
Lithium battery

The first thing that you should do is read the owners book and guide. This will explain everything that you need to know. It provides step by step instructions with photos and makes it all very easy.

The monitor itself is quite small and easy to understand. There are only 2 buttons on the front: Control and Memory. There is no on/off button. The monitor comes on when a test strip is inserted and shuts off when it is removed. You will have to set the monitor to match the code on the strips container. This is very simple to do by pressing the buttons.

The lancing device is very unique. It is not like the lancing pens that we have been used to. It has a new design which is made for testing on various parts of the body, although you can still use the fingertips as well. The device is easy to load with the lancet. There is a dial on the side which lets you select the needle depth from 1-4. I always use 4 because I want to make sure that the needle goes in far enough to allow me to bleed. There is a clear cap which allows you to see the needle pierce the skin and to see the blood as it comes to the surface. This allows you to make sure there is enough to test.

The testing strips are unique as well. Over the years, strips have really changed. These strips pull in the blood from the sides. You can use either side, however, you must only use one side per test. Going in from the edge of the blood, the blood is "sucked" into the strip. This can actually be tricky and is the only thing that I dislike about this system. You have to have the strip angled just right to allow it to grab the blood. The instructions go into detail about how to do this effectively. I still have trouble with it at times.

Once blood is pulled into the strip, the results are shown in about 5 seconds. You will hear a beep indicating that the blood as been applied, then another beep once the results are calculated.

Testing Sites
upper arms
forearms
hands
fingers
thighs
calves

The Meter
4 programmable alarms to remind us when to test
250 test memory with date and time
14 day result average
download results to your computer

Friends For Life
This is a program by the makers of Freestyle to help its customers better manage their diabetes. It is free to join and provides support and many other incentives.
http://www.AbbottDiabetesCare.com

The cost of this monitor and strips can be costly without insurance. The kit is usually about $75. The strips are about $98 for 100. Sometimes you can get the monitor free when you buy the strips. I have also seen rebates on the kits. Check with your local pharmacies or online at the website. Most insurances will help with the costs of diabetic supplies. You would just need to talk with them about it.

My final thoughts...For the most part, I really love this meter. I love not having to use my fingertips or having to gather alot of blood for the test. The strips are very contrary at times and I have to work with them. I have wasted many strips because they didn't work the first time. I have been using this meter for about 6 weeks now and as I use it more often, it is getting much easier.

I recommend this meter for anyone with Diabetes.