Re: Re: Glucose meters

[Guest guest]

I use the AccuCheck Advantage with the comfort curve strips

Meenie

Re: Glucose meters

>From: Nonnalyn@...

>

>I have been researching them. My drug store let me use two last weekend I

>felt we couldn't do without one. What ones do you all use?

>Donna

>

>

[Guest guest]

At 07:53 PM 10/22/99 -0400,Nonnalyn@... you wrote:

>I have been researching them. My drug store let me use two last weekend I

>felt we couldn't do without one. What ones do you all use?

Accu-Check Advance. In November is Diabetes awareness month, so check

with your Pharmarcy to find out about special deal with Glucose meter.

[Guest guest]

METERING. You cannot tell what your sugars are without a blood glucose

monitor. Your medical service may have adopted a particular meter, and

supply a matching tape. There is also the question of what do you do

with readings after taking them. I use a meter with a 250 reading

memory, along with time and date that can record not only sugars, but

other events as well. It has a stereo socket in the side and using a

special connector and software it may be read into your computer for

graphing and calculations. It should be part of your BG control process,

the information used to correct your care and behavior. I use the One

Touch Profile meter which I encouraged my service to adopt (Kaiser). The

cable is available from Lifescan for $5, certainly a bargain as others

cost much more. I find them reliable, and the readings may be set

correctly using a control test solution that comes with the meter.

WHAT DO I DO WITH THE READINGS?

The meter reads your BG, you must correct your behavior to bring your

sugars nearer 100. You may feel comfortable with a lower reading, I

don’t start to feel low until 80, I start to feel sugar shock at 64. You

should not let your sugar fall low, if you are on medication, you risk

the danger of falling unconscious, unable to correct your sugars. If I

have a high sugar at mealtime, I put off the meal, I like to be about 90

before meals. My morning (fasting) sugar is around 90-95,. It will come

up to 100 just by activity, such as driving to the hospital for test

with an empty bowel. In 2 more hours it is down to 95. I am not a

brittle diabetic, I still have some ability to control my sugar, and

thus I am able to use diet only for control. If I take the slightest

amount of oral medication, it drives my sugar down fast, I call it a

crash, or near sugar shock. I read my sugars 90 minutes after eating

new foods, to find what amounts were suitable, and how they raised my

sugar. I eat small meals, leave room for snacks during the day, I call

it grazing. Diabetes means you have lost the ability to eat big meals,

and use the reserve sugars between meals. Eating large meals your sugar

goes high, and you run out of sugar between meals. Rather than

experience highs and lows, I eat through the day. I have small meals

and add dishes of mixed fruit. I don’t eat it all at once. They are

prepared with a plastic wrap cover, and I eat half at a time. There is

dietary room for a bite of sweets or a small sandwich with meat and

cheese, one slice of black bread. Maybe a croissant, or even a tiny

candy. The principle is not to have big meals you can’t handle, but to

smooth your intake through the day. Eat part of a sandwich, and wrap it

back up if you brown bag.

To make a blood sugar test wash your hands, any residual sugar can throw

your reading off. The moisture softens your skin, the better to separate

the tapes. I put a tape partly into the meter (it checks 2 tapes aren’t

stuck together), and start the meter. I pick up the lancet and cock it,

and when told to insert the tape push it all the way in. I place the

lance against a finger and when it says apply, I trigger the lance and

lay it aside. I use the thumb of the same hand and the thumb and index

finger of the other hand to surround the lanced finger and squeeze it,

and force a small drop of blood on top of my finger, about half the size

of the tape spot. I lay the finger on the strip holder to one side, and

rotate it to place the drop on the test spot. I make sure it fills the

spot, or move my finger to aid it, do not press the spot. I have a paper

towel at hand, and grab the towel with my finger to stanch the flow. If

there is any blood spilled I absorb it with the towel. I reuse lancets

several months, I find the B & D ultrafine III lancets hurt less, draw

blood easier, heal faster. Do not share lancets with anyone, always use

a new one. Some practice sticking the sides of their fingers toward the

nail, fewer nerves, not used for typing etc. I leave my used tapes in

the meter where they dry harmlessly, don’t bleed on things.

I see the latest lances have dial controls to set the depth of the

penetration. I encourage you to write me and discuss your questions and

problems.

SOFTWARE and charting. Why use software to graph your sugars? It

enables you to see what times of day you have problems, and what

problems. Unless meter readings are presented systematically, you have

not extracted the information from them. I have software from Lifescan.

Go to their site, click the right hand button, click on Profile, look at

software under the Profile. I also use DIABASS, diabetic assistant. See

http://www.diabtrends.com/scrshot2.htm

The screens expand, they said the trial software works for 15 days. It

takes some learning, and they are not pushing it here in the US, most

are sold in Europe. It is fast, small in size, in color, but prints B & W.

It is the best! Boehringer-Mannheim (Roche now) has a download cable and

software, call their 800 number.

What sorts of presentations are available? They all show readings on a

calendar graph, just connect the dots, with some limits shown that you

can set. An important one is the standard day, where the readings are

shown on a 24 hour scale for the time period you set. It quickly shows

what times of day you have trouble, highs or lows. The statistics has a

standard deviation that rates how steady your readings are. Diabass

creates an HbA1C reading from your data. It explores the relation

between insulin shots and carbohydrate intake, useful for type 1.

Feel free to write and discuss diabetic subjects, Sam in San Diego

sing the control solution with the meter set to numbers 6 digits apart,

using one number of tape, the readings were 127% apart, the sixth root

of 1.27 is 1.04. Each number change causes the meter reading to differ

by 4 counts at 100. The illustration in the instruction book shows the

control solution reading 100. The control solution paper formerly said

the solution was exactly 0.1% now it is worded more vaguely. I had a

Profile for 2 years, it read 4% high at that age. I sent a control

solution to a lady with an old One Touch II, her meter had to be set up

one number for the control solution to read 100. I have had 6 meters,

and came by this knowledge over time. The new meter always read higher

than the old. The company has a standard answer they are required to say

over the phone. As an electrical engineer I know light-emitting diodes

run down over time, it seems the pre-reading calibration has not fully

corrected this. In our metering class one new meter read 115, and my two

read 112

I had more than one meter at once, both old and new, they read high when

new, and run down with time. When you purchase a new meter it comes

with a bottle of control solution, and a permanent test tape. I write

my meter serial number and the reading I get with that tape, on the

tape. The control solution is made to read 100 when your meter and tape

are correct. I had 2 new meters, and 3 bottles of control solution, from

different sources, and when the tape number set in the meter is 7 with a

10 tape, it reads 100 with the control solution.. Each number changes

the readings by 4%, higher numbers raise the reading. You can purchase

the control solution where diabetic supplies are sold, 2 small vials

together. When a vial is opened, you should write the date 3 months

ahead, which is the life once opened. It is good beyond that date, it is

still better than not calibrating your meter.

WHAT DO I DO WITH THE READINGS?

The meter reads your BG, you must correct your behavior to bring your

sugars nearer 100. You may feel comfortable with a lower reading, I

don’t start to feel low until 80, I start to feel sugar shock at 64. You

should not let your sugar fall low, if you are on medication, you risk

the danger of falling unconscious, unable to correct your sugars. If I

have a high sugar at mealtime, I put off the meal, I like to be about 90

before meals. My morning (fasting) sugar is around 90-95,. It will come

up to 100 just by activity, such as driving to the hospital for test

with an empty bowel. In 2 more hours it is down to 95. I am not a

brittle diabetic, I still have some ability to control my sugar, and

thus I am able to use diet only for control. If I take the slightest

amount of oral medication, it drives my sugar down fast, I call it a

crash, or near sugar shock. I read my sugars 90 minutes after eating

new foods, to find what amounts were suitable, and how they raised my

sugar. I eat small meals, leave room for snacks during the day, I call

it grazing. Diabetes means you have lost the ability to eat big meals,

and use the reserve sugars between meals. Eating large meals your sugar

goes high, and you run out of sugar between meals. Rather than

experience highs and lows, I eat through the day. I have small meals

and add dishes of mixed fruit. I don’t eat it all at once. They are

prepared with a plastic wrap cover, and I eat half at a time. There is

dietary room for a bite of sweets or a small sandwich with meat and

cheese, one slice of black bread. Maybe a croissant, or even a tiny

candy. The principle is not to have big meals you can’t handle, but to

smooth your intake through the day. Eat part of a sandwich, and wrap it

back up if you brown bag.

To make a blood sugar test wash your hands, any residual sugar can throw

your reading off. The moisture softens your skin, the better to separate

the tapes. I put a tape partly into the meter (it checks 2 tapes aren’t

stuck together), and start the meter. I pick up the lancet and cock it,

and when told to insert the tape push it all the way in. I place the

lance against a finger and when it says apply, I trigger the lance and

lay it aside. I use the thumb of the same hand and the thumb and index

finger of the other hand to surround the lanced finger and squeeze it,

and force a small drop of blood on top of my finger, about half the size

of the tape spot. I lay the finger on the strip holder to one side, and

rotate it to place the drop on the test spot. I make sure it fills the

spot, or move my finger to aid it, do not press the spot. I have a paper

towel at hand, and grab the towel with my finger to stanch the flow. If

there is any blood spilled I absorb it with the towel. I reuse lancets

several months, I find the B & D ultrafine II lancets hurt less, draw

blood easier, heal faster. Do not share lancets with anyone, always use

a new one. Some practice sticking the sides of their fingers toward the

nail, fewer nerves, not used for typing etc. I leave my used tapes in

the meter where they dry harmlessly, don’t bleed on things.

I made a test using the control solution with the meter set to numbers 6

digits apart, using one number of tape, the readings were 127% apart,

the sixth root of 1.27 is 1.04. Each number change causes the meter

reading to differ by 4 counts at 100. The illustration in the

instruction book shows the control solution reading 100. The control

solution paper formerly said the solution was exactly 0.1% now it is

worded more vaguely. I had a Profile for 2 years, it read 4% high at

that age. I sent a control solution to a lady with an old One Touch II,

her meter had to be set up one number for the control solution to read

100. I have had 6 meters, and came by this knowledge over time. The new

meter always read higher than the old. The company has a standard answer

they are required to say over the phone. As an electrical engineer I

know light-emitting diodes run down over time, it seems the pre-reading

calibration has not fully corrected this. In our metering class one new

meter read 115, and my two read 112. I encourage you to write me and

discuss your questions and problems.

THE TAPE READINGS I took a number of tape bottles and read the range

they were to read with the control solution. I multiply the 2 numbers

together and take the square root, they all gave 100, very close. This

means the tape readings are an equal ratio above and below 100. The

tapes are read after manufacture and their sensitivity to blood

chemistry determined. The manufacturer states that the chemicals are not

absorbed uniformly. Tapes are given numbers to match the tape

sensitivity. The meter is said to be accurate to +/-15%. That accuracy

didn’t thrill me, so I found the principal cause of error with this

meter to be aging. Each tape number changes the meter 4%, it corrects

tape variations in increments.

I had more than one meter at once, both old and new, they read high when

new, and run down with time. When you purchase a new meter it comes

with a bottle of control solution, and a permanent test tape. I write

my meter serial number and the reading I get with that tape, on the

tape. The control solution is made to read 100 when your meter and tape

are correct. I had 2 new meters, and 3 bottles of control solution, from

different sources, and when the tape number set in the meter is 7 with a

10 tape, it reads 100 with the control solution.. Each number changes

the readings by 4%, higher numbers raise the reading. You can purchase

the control solution where diabetic supplies are sold, 2 small vials

together. When a vial is opened, you should write the date 3 months

ahead, which is the life once opened. It is good beyond that date, it is

still better than not calibrating your meter.

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

I use the Precision QID because that is what my plan covers. It is

relatively easy to use. Lynn Baker

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tom, I had so much conflict over how everybody is affected by

foods differently i was ready to pull out.

I got the software from Lifescan, but they had to send a Y2K update, and

it has a fixed sugar scale of 600, poor for people in close control. The

diabtrends puts lots of data on a printed page if you go that way, has

autoscale for people with close control.

The 24 hour scale where data from many days can be superposed with

averages and connections puts it one up on the Lifescan one.

Regards, Sam

[Guest guest]

>

>

>Thanks Tom, I had so much conflict over how everybody is affected by

>foods differently i was ready to pull out.

C'mon, Sam, you made a quick comment like we all do sometimes and heard

about it. You're a valuable member of this list, don't think we don't know

that

Meenie

[Guest guest]

Tom, the reaction of some to aspartame is because they can't handle a

product of the sweetener, it is phenyl keton?urea. The approval in the

US was a paid political choice from a corrupt system, Cyclamate was

chosen in Canada, made illegal here by order of Monsanto. I use them

all. I get a mixed liquid from Brazil with cyclamate stevia and

saccharine, it is intense and tastes great.

Sam

[Guest guest]

Meenie, I didn't make a personal or quick comment, I repeated what I

read on a glycemic index test, granted it was 12 people with type 1 and

2 diabetes, but their responces were very similar.

I;m talking about the difference between scientific tests, and offhand

comments without real backup.

Now I have reaD ABOUT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AFFECTED BY PASTA OR WHATEVER.

fOR ME IT IS THE CROISSANT,

sorry about the caps. It must be all the fat in it, I don't peak.

This fellow had an off curve when he tested white bread, it had corn

syrup sweetener in it, peaked just like glucose. Except for yogurt the

curves had much the same shape, the milk sugar was a little slower to

come up, but in 45 min all looked alike. They were all mostly done in 2

hours. Sam the engineer, show me the data!

[Guest guest]

Meenie, I didn't make a personal or quick comment, I repeated what I

read on a glycemic index test, granted it was 12 people with type 1 and

2 diabetes, but their responces were very similar.

I;m talking about the difference between scientific tests, and offhand

comments without real backup.

Now I have reaD ABOUT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AFFECTED BY PASTA OR WHATEVER.

fOR ME IT IS THE CROISSANT,

sorry about the caps. It must be all the fat in it, I don't peak.

This fellow had an off curve when he tested white bread, it had corn

syrup sweetener in it, peaked just like glucose. Except for yogurt the

curves had much the same shape, the milk sugar was a little slower to

come up, but in 45 min all looked alike. They were all mostly done in 2

hours. Sam the engineer, show me the data!

[Guest guest]

For Sam on the list.......

Sam, thanks a lot for detailed postings. I get more from your stuff than I

do from any other source. I use the same Profile meter and I am going after

the cable. Now that I know how to test it and what everything means I will

be able to follow BS better. Your tips on grazing were just what I needed

too. I adopted that method of eating a month ago after reading your advice

and I felt better in two days!....I feel good now three weeks later and am

loosing weight.

Troubles me to hear that Aspartame may affect some folks. Any more info of

that??

Tom in Michigan, lurking and learning.

[Guest guest]

Sam, ever try Splenda? (sweetener)

fp

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>

>

>Tom, the reaction of some to aspartame is because they can't handle a

>product of the sweetener, it is phenyl keton?urea. The approval in the

>US was a paid political choice from a corrupt system, Cyclamate was

>chosen in Canada, made illegal here by order of Monsanto. I use them

>all. I get a mixed liquid from Brazil with cyclamate stevia and

>saccharine, it is intense and tastes great.

>Sam

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have not needed Splenda, as I bake nothing. I use the liquid stevil

from Brazil. Sam I trade test tapes for it, I get free.

[Guest guest]

Sam, Splenda is not just for baking it works in and thing you

cook/heat...hot stuff ya know this is where Equal breaks down in the heat.

fp

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>

>

>I have not needed Splenda, as I bake nothing. I use the liquid stevil

>from Brazil. Sam I trade test tapes for it, I get free.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've never tried that one, Sam, is it good? I've heard that it tastes a lot

like licorice - don't know that I'd like that

Meenie

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>

>

>I have not needed Splenda, as I bake nothing. I use the liquid stevil

>from Brazil. Sam I trade test tapes for it, I get free.

>

>

[Guest guest]

>Meenie, I didn't make a personal or quick comment, I repeated what I

>read on a glycemic index test, granted it was 12 people with type 1 and

>2 diabetes, but their responces were very similar.

>I;m talking about the difference between scientific tests, and offhand

>comments without real backup.

guess that just proves you can't believe everything you read, eh?

Obviously people's bodies react differently or we'd have no need of meters,

now would we?

Meenie

>Now I have reaD ABOUT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AFFECTED BY PASTA OR WHATEVER.

>fOR ME IT IS THE CROISSANT,

Well, there ya go... you are a case yourself ! I couldn't eat a croissant

without my bg going off like a skyrocket. (sure wish I could)

>sorry about the caps. It must be all the fat in it, I don't peak.

>This fellow had an off curve when he tested white bread, it had corn

>syrup sweetener in it, peaked just like glucose.

corn syrup is the sugar from corn (one of the high-on-the-glycemic-list

veggies because it is full of sugar) so that shouldn't surprise you.

Except for yogurt the

>curves had much the same shape, the milk sugar was a little slower to

>come up, but in 45 min all looked alike. They were all mostly done in 2

>hours. Sam the engineer, show me the data!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Donna -

Sorry for the late reply, I have been pulling a long stretch at work which

makes it difficult to get laundry done, much less email!

I currently use the Accu-Check Complete, my mother uses the Accu-Check

Advantage. We both love our meters. Very easy to use, not much blood

needed, either. I used to use the One Touch Basic, it is good too, it just

doesn't have a memory. If you have health insurance, check with them, they

will probably buy one for you.

in Cincinnati

<< I have been researching them. My drug store let me use two last weekend I

felt we couldn't do without one. What ones do you all use?

Donna >

[Guest guest]

And if you don't have insurance, go directly to the manufacturer they will

give ya one free, if ya beg a little and offer 'em yer old one as a trade

in.

fp

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>From: DeeBent@...

>

>Donna -

>

>Sorry for the late reply, I have been pulling a long stretch at work which

>makes it difficult to get laundry done, much less email!

>

>I currently use the Accu-Check Complete, my mother uses the Accu-Check

>Advantage. We both love our meters. Very easy to use, not much blood

>needed, either. I used to use the One Touch Basic, it is good too, it just

>doesn't have a memory. If you have health insurance, check with them, they

>will probably buy one for you.

>

> in Cincinnati

><< I have been researching them. My drug store let me use two last weekend

I

> felt we couldn't do without one. What ones do you all use?

> Donna >

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's a great meter isn't it, ??

fp

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>

>

>I use the Bayer Glucometer Elite XL.....love it and it only takes a

> " smidgen " of blood which it slurps up quickly. Insurance paid for it when

>I attended class at Welmont Diabetes Center.

>

>At 08:51 AM 11/7/99 EST, you wrote:

>>From: DeeBent@...

>>

>>Donna -

>>

>>Sorry for the late reply, I have been pulling a long stretch at work which

>>makes it difficult to get laundry done, much less email!

>>

>>I currently use the Accu-Check Complete, my mother uses the Accu-Check

>>Advantage. We both love our meters. Very easy to use, not much blood

>>needed, either. I used to use the One Touch Basic, it is good too, it

just

>>doesn't have a memory. If you have health insurance, check with them,

they

>>will probably buy one for you.

>>

>> in Cincinnati

>><< I have been researching them. My drug store let me use two last

>weekend I

>> felt we couldn't do without one. What ones do you all use?

>> Donna >

>>

>>>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I use the Bayer Glucometer Elite XL.....love it and it only takes a

" smidgen " of blood which it slurps up quickly. Insurance paid for it when

I attended class at Welmont Diabetes Center.

At 08:51 AM 11/7/99 EST, you wrote:

>From: DeeBent@...

>

>Donna -

>

>Sorry for the late reply, I have been pulling a long stretch at work which

>makes it difficult to get laundry done, much less email!

>

>I currently use the Accu-Check Complete, my mother uses the Accu-Check

>Advantage. We both love our meters. Very easy to use, not much blood

>needed, either. I used to use the One Touch Basic, it is good too, it just

>doesn't have a memory. If you have health insurance, check with them, they

>will probably buy one for you.

>

> in Cincinnati

><< I have been researching them. My drug store let me use two last

weekend I

> felt we couldn't do without one. What ones do you all use?

> Donna >

>

>>

[Guest guest]

I also bought the Bayer Glucometer Elite XL. It was one of the ones I tried

out.

I think the honeymoon is over, DH has had " normal " BS in the morning for over

a week and decided this week end that he is either cured or never had

diabetes. He is " too Busy " to go get a fasting BS done.

He wouldn't let me check his sugar all weekend. This morning I insisted and

it was only 147. His dr. is happy with anything under 150.

Looks like if he just avoids copious amounts of pure sugar he 'Might ' get

along on diet alone. I am just going to have to hide the diet, low cal and

low fat stuff in with the regular food and hope it works----while NOT buying

the goodies he usually ate. He tasted my real pop and said it tasted weird.

I'm keeping fingers crossed,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna - your DH is lucky to have your support and encouragement - way to

go!!! Keep it up - that will help! Rebekah

[Guest guest]

Donna, I think that number should come down with time. I hope you know

that starches are long chain sugars, and digest quickly to blood

glucose, just making sure, Sam

[Guest guest]

Donna, DH?=designated Hitter??

fp

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>From: Nonnalyn@...

>

>I also bought the Bayer Glucometer Elite XL. It was one of the ones I tried

>out.

>

>I think the honeymoon is over, DH has had " normal " BS in the morning for

over

>a week and decided this week end that he is either cured or never had

>diabetes. He is " too Busy " to go get a fasting BS done.

>He wouldn't let me check his sugar all weekend. This morning I insisted

and

>it was only 147. His dr. is happy with anything under 150.

>Looks like if he just avoids copious amounts of pure sugar he 'Might ' get

>along on diet alone. I am just going to have to hide the diet, low cal and

>low fat stuff in with the regular food and hope it works----while NOT

buying

>the goodies he usually ate. He tasted my real pop and said it tasted

weird.

>

>I'm keeping fingers crossed,

>Donna

>

>

[Guest guest]

>Donna, DH?=designated Hitter??

{{Pssst.... 'dear hubby'....}} <G>

Meenie

[Guest guest]

OIC, that's nice..... )

fp

Re: Re: Glucose meters

>

>

>

>>Donna, DH?=designated Hitter??

>

>{{Pssst.... 'dear hubby'....}} <G>

> Meenie

>

>