Meters

[We Hope]

Did any of you know that there's a difference between the GlucoPet and GlucoVet meters?

http://www.animaldiabetes.com/glucopet

GlucoPet

http://www.animaldiabetes.com/glucovet

GlucoVet

"GlucoVet is recommended for Veterinarians and customers with medium and/or large animals. More accurate readings than the GlucoPet, for glucose values of 300 mg/dL or higher."

From what's written on the GlucoVet page, the GlucoPet meter must be less accurate in interpreting higher readings than the GlucoPet meter. The GlucoPet and GlucoVet meters have separate strips also:

http://www.animaldiabetes.com/strips

http://www.animaldiabetes.com/inc/sdetail/227

GlucoPet test strips

http://www.animaldiabetes.com/inc/sdetail/711

GlucoVet test strips.

[We Hope]

Meters

http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/ad...nt_0000266.htm

For those of you using FreeStyle meters, a handy guide to which FreeStyle strips are compatible with which meters. Abbott says using the wrong FreeStyle meter strips won't even turn on the meter. The new FreeStyle Lite strips can't be used in the older FreeStyle meters and vice-versa.

[We Hope]

Blood Glucose Meters and Testing

Abbott/Therasense

http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/en...lash_demo.html

FreeStyle Lite Demo

http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/ad...nt_0000357.htm

FreeStyle Freedom Lite Demos

http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/st...xtra_demo.html

Precision Xtra Demo

Abbott Animal Health

http://www.alphatrakmeter.com/atm/ur...onal_Video.htm

Introduction to AlphaTrak

Control Testing with AlphaTrak

Obtaining a Blood Sample

Reviewing Results

Troubleshooting AlphaTrak

Accu-Chek/Roche

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...tem/index.html

Aviva Demo

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...lus/index.html

Accu-Chek Compact Plus Demo

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...age/index.html

Advantage Demo

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...ive/index.html

Active Demo

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...ete/index.html

Complete Demo

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...igh_quality.rm

Voicemate Demo--high speed internet connection

http://www.accu-chek.com/en_US/multi...mid_quality.rm

Voicemate Demo--dial-up internet connection.

Both demos for Voicemate come as files to be downloaded to your computer, then play with RealPlayer.

Ascensia/Bayer

http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/US/prod...ntour_demo.asp

Contour Demo

http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/us/prod...reeze_demo.asp

Breeze Demo

LifeScan/Johnson & Johnson

http://www.lifescan.com/swfs/u2/home.html

One Touch Ultra 2 Demo

http://www.lifescan.com/swfs/ultrasm...nce/index.html

One Touch Ultra Smart Demo

http://www.lifescan.com/swfs/ultrami...iniPagetoFlash

One Touch Ultra Mini Demo

ReliOn

http://www.relion.com/ultima_demo/index.html

ReliOn Ultima
Made by Abbott/Therasense

True Track

http://www.homediagnosticsinc.com/vi...rack/index.htm

True Track Smart System
This is sold by various chain pharmacies--some as True Track and others with the store brand name on them.

US Diagnostics

http://www.usdiagnostics.net/index.p...teststrips.htm

GlucoPet, GlucoVet, Easy Gluco

There's no demo for Easy Gluco, but their pages show you the right way to fill their test strips.

We now understand that they are now using the US diagnostics Control meter as the GlucoPet meter.

http://www.usdiagnostics.net/movies/index.html

Control Demo

http://www.hocks.com/infopages/metercompare.htm

Meter comparison chart from Hock's which lets you compare various meters and their features on one page.

If we find more online demos for other meters, we'll add them to this list.

[We Hope]

Re: Blood Glucose Meters, Testing, Curves

BD Meter Users--Strips/Solution Still Available

http://www.bddiabetes.com/us/main.aspx?cat=2&id=431

Important Information for BD Logic® and Paradigm Link® Users

"We have some exciting news for you! There is no need to switch from using your BD blood glucose monitoring system. We are pleased to announce that BD has sold the blood glucose monitoring business to a valued business partner, Sanvita, Inc. This means that you will be able to continue to use the quality BD blood glucose monitoring system that you have been using.

"Sanvita has a strong commitment to patient care, and to delivering high quality products and services. Sanvita will continue to supply test strips that work with BD Logic® and Paradigm Link® monitors through pharmacies, mail-order providers, and health plans well into the future.

"Sanvita’s Customer Care is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to answer any questions about the BD® Logic, BD™ Test Strips and control solution at 1-800-681-7390.

"Health Care Professionals can contact Sanvita at 1-800-681-7428.

"Retailers can contact Sanvita at 1-866-668-2629."

http://www.sanvita.com/index.htm

SanVita Home Page

http://www.sanvita.com/novapage.htm

Here you see BD strips and control solution for BD meters offered along with SanVita's Nova Max and Sureflex meters and supplies.

[k9diabetes]

Re: Blood Glucose Meters, Testing, Curves

A recent study of six blood glucose meters reflects favorably on the OneTouch Ultra.

ACVIM 2008 Abstract

Evaluation of Six Portable Blood Glucose Meters in Dogs.
T. Cohen, R. Nelson, P. Kass, E. Feldman
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis


The purpose of this study was to evaluate six portable blood glucose meters (PBGMs) - AlphaTrak, OneTouch, Elite XL, AccuChek, Precision, Contour - for use in dogs. One hundred fifty-eight venous blood samples were asayed for glucose using all PBGMs in randomized order and by a reference hexokinase method. Results from the PBGMs and reference hexokinase method (HM) were compared.


HM blood glucose concentrations ranged from 41 to 639 mg/dl. There was excellent correlation between PBGMs and HM results (table). Results were consistently low for 4 PBGMs compared with HM results. High and low results were common with the AlphaTrak. The difference in results between PBGMs and HM increased as blood glucose concentrations increased. Difference in results between PBGM and HM were significantly (p<0.0001) less for the AlphaTrak and OneTouch and significantly (p<0.01) higher for the Contour compared with other PBGMs. Problems with correct identification of hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dl), normoglycemia (70-120 mg/dl), and hyperglycemia (>200 mg/dl) varied between PBGMs (table).


Percent Incorrect from Reference Range
AlphaTrak -- 18
OneTouch -- 21
EliteXL -- 45
AccuChek -- 45
Precision -- 49
Contour -- 73


Results of this study support use of the AlphaTrak and OneTouch glucose meters based on significantly closer results with HM.

[We Hope]

Re: Niki's story

Just had a look at the owners booklets for both One Touch Ultra Mini (Johnson & Johnson/LifeScan) and FreeStyle Lite (Abbott) to see if there was a standard for "LO". Thought there had to be and that all manufacturers would need to be on the same page regarding such a serious message--it's below 20 mg/dl.

Standard for "LO" is 20 mg/dl.

http://www.lifescan.com/pdf/aw_06397302A_en.pdf

One Touch Ultra Mini-Page 42

http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/st..._Rev-B_web.pdf

FreeStyle Lite-Page 20

The information is in the owners' booklet for your respective meter. Most to all of them can be viewed online at the manufacturer's website for your brand of meter if you've misplaced the booklet.

Looking at the same pages, the FreeStyle Lite says "HI" is over 500 mg/dl, while One Touch Ultra Mini says "HI" is over 600 mg/dl. So there may be some variances at the higher ranges, depending on the meter manufacturer, below 20 mg/dl is a standard definition of "LO" across the board of the human meters.

http://www.abbottanimalhealth.com/st..._PI_050609.pdf

AlphaTrak Package Insert-Page 1

"The Alpha Trak meter displays results between 20 and 750 mg/dl. If the test result is lower than 20 mg/dl, "Low"/"LO" will appear on the meter display. If the test result is over 750 mg/dl, "High"/"HI" will appear on the meter display screen.

AlphaTrak has followed suit with the human standard of below 20 mg/dl corresponding as "LO".

GlucoVet and GlucoPet meters, however are not in keeping with the below 20 mg/dl "LO" standard:

http://www.animaldiabetes.com/troubleshooting

GlucoPet/GlucoVet

"LO Reading: A Lo reading (under 10 mg/dL) is included in the memory."

"HI Reading: A HI reading (over 600 mg/dL) is included in the memory."

Kathy

[We Hope]

Meters

ReliOn (Wal-Mart/Sam's Club) has added a new, smaller meter to its diabetes products line. This is called the ReliOn Micro. It appears to be about the size of the LifeScan One Touch Ultra Mini, is a no strip coding required meter and takes only 0.3 microliters of blood for a test sample.

http://www.relion.com/diabetes/blood...product-89.htm

ReliOn Micro page

http://www.relion.com/content/diabet...cro_Manual.pdf

Price of the Micro is $12, with 50 test strips costing $21.94.

They still have the ReliOn Ultima which is $ 9, with 50 test strip costing $20, 100 cost $39; the Ultima takes 0. microliters of blood for a test.

http://www.relion.com/diabetes/blood...product-24.htm

ReliOn Ultima page

Kathy

[We Hope]

Altitude and Meters

This is probably more than you wanted to know about meters and altitude, but yes, it can affect them just as temperature extremes (hot or cold) can:

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs...ournalCode=dia

Effect of High Altitude on Blood Glucose Meter Performance

"Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. December 2002, 4(5): 627-635
Participation in high-altitude wilderness activities may expose persons to extreme environmental conditions, and for those with diabetes mellitus, euglycemia is important to ensure safe travel. We conducted a field assessment of the precision and accuracy of seven commonly used blood glucose meters while mountaineering on Mount Rainier, located in Washington State (elevation 14,410 ft). At various elevations each climber-subject used the randomly assigned device to measure the glucose level of capillary blood and three different concentrations of standardized control solutions, and a venous sample was also collected for later glucose analysis. Ordinary least squares regression was used to assess the effect of elevation and of other environmental potential covariates on the precision and accuracy of blood glucose meters. Elevation affects glucometer precision (p = 0.08), but becomes less significant (p = 0.21) when adjusted for temperature and relative humidity. The overall effect of elevation was to underestimate glucose levels by approximately 1-2% (unadjusted) for each 1,000 ft gain in elevation. Blood glucose meter accuracy was affected by elevation (p = 0.03), temperature (p < 0.01), and relative humidity (p = 0.04) after adjustment for the other variables. The interaction between elevation and relative humidity had a meaningful but not statistically significant effect on accuracy (p = 0.07). Thus, elevation, temperature, and relative humidity affect blood glucose meter performance, and elevated glucose levels are more greatly underestimated at higher elevations. Further research will help to identify which blood glucose meters are best suited for specific environments."

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/5/1261.full

Performance of Glucose Dehydrogenase–and Glucose Oxidase–Based Blood Glucose Meters at High Altitude and Low Temperature

"Blood glucose meters using the enzyme glucose oxidase (GO) have been proven unreliable at high altitude. A new test strip technology, based on the oxygen-insensitive enzyme glucose dehydrogenase (GD), has been utilized by some manufacturers.

"Five plasma-calibrated blood glucose meters were evaluated in this study, four glucose dehydrogenase based (GD1: Precision Xtra; GD2: Ascensia Contour; GD3: Accu-Chek Compact; and GD4: Freestyle) and one glucose oxidase based (GO1: OneTouch Ultra), with capillary blood samples from one of the investigators.

"First, all meters were tested in a hypobaric chamber at simulated altitudes (at 20°C in chronological order with ∼8-min intervals) of 0, 4,500, 2,500, and again 0 m above sea level, with normal (∼5.8-mmol/l) and high (∼16.5-mmol/l) plasma glucose values (n = 6 at all conditions). At 4,500 and 2,500 m altitude, the glucose oxidase-based meter (GO1) overestimated plasma glucose values by 15 ± 0.1% (mean ± SD) at the normal blood glucose level and 6.5 ± 0.5% at the high blood glucose level, as compared with the readings at 0 m.

"Comparatively, three glucose dehydrogenase–based meters overestimated readings of normal and high blood glucose levels (GD1 by 6.5 ± 0.2 and 1.5 ± 0.7%, GD3 by 3.7 ± 0.1 and 3.5 ± 0.4%, and GD4 by 0.8 ± 0.2 and 0.8 ± 0.4%, respectively). The fourth, GD2, underestimated readings of normal and high blood glucose levels by 1.9 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 0.9%, respectively.

"In addition, three glucose dehydrogenase–based meters (GD1, GD2, and GD3) were tested with blood at up to 5,895 m above sea level during the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In the presence of both high altitude and low temperature, the meters diverged from each other. At the summit, 5,895 m above sea level, the readings of the investigator’s plasma glucose concentration were 2.8, 11.9, and 21.0 mmol/l (GD1, GD2, and GD3, respectively).

"In this study, all four glucose dehydrogenase–based meters performed better than the glucose oxidase–based meter at high altitude, as hypothesized.

"In conclusion, people with diabetes who intend to participate in activities at high altitude or, in particular, at low temperature, should be informed that blood glucose meters may give totally unreliable false low or high readings."

This deals with a change in the chemicals in the test strips which make it possible for the meter to read the blood drop. I believe most to all meters are now using the newer system, glucose dehydrogenase method.

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.co..._the_altitude/

"I lived in Leadville, Colorado (10,000 feet) and worked at the hospital there. We would frequently have companies come in to do tests on new glucose monitoring strips because they had to prove that the strips worked at altitiude. If we would let them poke our fingers several times we would receive a stipend in cash.

"When I moved to that elevation from about 4000 feet, I had to increase my basal insulin a couple of units."

Posted by MR | Mar 14, 2007 at 1:52 pm

http://web.archive.org/web/200702031...-July-2005.pdf

This Diabetes Health Meter Review is 4 years old, but it gives you an idea of the altitude limit on some of the meters on page 2.


Kathy

Adding here-altitude information on ReliOn Micro from the online owners' guide:

http://www.relion.com/content/diabet...cro_Manual.pdf

Page 71

Altitude (up to) 10,000 feet

[We Hope]

Re: Meters

Some common blood glucose testing problems:

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Sa.../ucm109449.htm

Common Problems with the Use of Glucose Meters

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Sa.../ucm109519.htm

Useful Tips to Increase Accuracy and Reduce Errors in Test Results from Glucose Meters

Both links are useful to help you "troubleshoot" problems; interesting fact on both pages is that you can get a false low reading if the test strip is only partly inserted in the meter.