Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 I was reading as issue of Diabetes Forecast today and saw an ad for the Duo-Care. It is a glucose monitor and a blood pressure monitor combined into one. Has anyone used of these? Or have any opinions/comments? Thanks! -- - http://www.myspace.com/38000044 Check Out My FurBabies Nala http://www.catster.com/?214598 Eva http://www.catster.com/?214601 PC http://www.catster.com/?214605 TJ http://www.catster.com/?214607 Kiara http://www.catster.com/?274544 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 > > I was reading as issue of Diabetes Forecast today and saw an ad for > the Duo-Care. It is a glucose monitor and a blood pressure monitor > combined into one. Has anyone used of these? Or have any > opinions/comments? Thanks! Unless someone is giving them away for free..... ;-) You can usually get a glucometer for free from someone, so I would never pay for one... unless you had a really specific need or it was just about free (like under $10). Where I live, all of the pharmacies (which means Walgreens, Wal-mart and even the major grocery stores) have blood pressure monitors available to use for free. Unless you have been told you need to monitor your blood pressure on an extremely regular basis, between going to the pharmacy, grocery store and doctors office should give you an adequate sampling of blood pressure readings. Personally, I wouldn't waste the money. If you have a strong desire to monitor your blood pressure more closely, or have been instructed to... compare the price of the Duo-Care with a simple blood pressure monitor at Walgreens or Wal-mart. In the long run it might be a better option to get separate devices... especially depending on the cost of strips etc. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Where I live, all of the pharmacies (which means Walgreens, Wal-mart and even the major grocery stores) have blood pressure monitors available to use for free. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ------------------------------------ I can't remember off hand but I was told or read some where from a good source that the blood pressure monitors in stores...like snyder's/wlagreens, etc....are not as accurate than one you can buy or is used at a medical clinic. I think the reasoning is behind the cuff size and where it squeezes you. You can also stop in at your local fire station I believe and have your blood pressure taken. Check with your local FS about this though first. I have my own blood pressure monitor since I've had to monitor it since age 11. You can check with your insurance to see if they will cover it. ~Marisa --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Some urgent care facilities will also check your blood pressure for free. My dad has had to do that before. > > Where I live, all of the pharmacies (which means Walgreens, Wal- mart and > even the major grocery stores) have blood pressure monitors available to use > for free. > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- > I can't remember off hand but I was told or read some where from a good source that the blood pressure monitors in stores...like snyder's/wlagreens, etc....are not as accurate than one you can buy or is used at a medical clinic. I think the reasoning is behind the cuff size and where it squeezes you. > You can also stop in at your local fire station I believe and have your blood pressure taken. Check with your local FS about this though first. > I have my own blood pressure monitor since I've had to monitor it since age 11. You can check with your insurance to see if they will cover it. > > ~Marisa > > > > > --------------------------------- > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 > > I can't remember off hand but I was told or read some where from a good > source that the blood pressure monitors in stores...like snyder's/wlagreens, > etc....are not as accurate than one you can buy or is used at a medical > clinic. I think the reasoning is behind the cuff size and where it squeezes > you. Marisa... that could be if you have a larger than normal or smaller than normal arm. After all there is no such thing as 'one size fits all' when you are on the extreme! :-) Probably a good way to tell is write down your blood pressure when it's taken in the doctors office and see how it compares when you take it at a pharmacy at one of those machines. If it's close I'd say it's accurate. Your blood pressure can change drastically depending on what you are doing, so try it a couple of times. Write them all down and see how they compare with your next doctors visit... If you have one reading that's really different, don't stress about it, try again (or at your next stop)... But, buy all means, if you want to buy your own blood pressure kit, go for it! I wonder how accurate home units are that are digital vs. the manual pump and stethoscope method... or for that matter how well the cuffs fit since the one's I've looked at aren't labeled 'small, medium or large.' Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 When I purchase a new blood pressure machine, I always take it to my doctors office so that it could be compared to their machine. This way I know that my reading is close or the same as the doctors. Dale Begin forwarded message: > > Date: July 19, 2006 10:12:34 PM EDT > To: diabetes > Subject: Re: Re: Duo-Care > Reply-To: diabetes > > > > > > I can't remember off hand but I was told or read some where from a > good > > source that the blood pressure monitors in stores...like > snyder's/wlagreens, > > etc....are not as accurate than one you can buy or is used at a > medical > > clinic. I think the reasoning is behind the cuff size and where it > squeezes > > you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 I have had a digital for several years and it has been reliable. I have taken it with me to a doctor visit and tested it against the manual pump and stethascope. Before I purchase mine, I checked with my boss, an exercise cardio-physiologist, and his only recommendation was not to get one that took measurements from the wrist. Mike schappaugh@...> wrote: I wonder how accurate home units are that are digital vs. the manual pump and stethoscope method... or for that matter how well the cuffs fit since the one's I've looked at aren't labeled 'small, medium or large.' Mike --------------------------------- See the all-new, redesigned Yahoo.com. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Just to clairfy I was talking about the ones you can use for free at the stores, not the ones you buy. I have a super skinny arm and got mine as a child and the cuff was fine but I do know little babies and very small children need a child's cuff and those are harder to find to purchase I believe. ~Marisa > > > > > > > > > > I can't remember off hand but I was told or read some where from a > > good > > > source that the blood pressure monitors in stores...like > > snyder's/wlagreens, > > > etc....are not as accurate than one you can buy or is used at a > > medical > > > clinic. I think the reasoning is behind the cuff size and where it > > squeezes > > > you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Mike, I have had my own digital BP machine since 1988 at age 11. I was not able to be discharged from the hospital without it. So, I don't have a choice about owning one or not really. This is becuase of a seperate medical issue, not diabetes. ~Marisa > But, buy all means, if you want to buy your own blood pressure kit, go for > it! > > Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Marie I didn't know that. That is nice if you can go there to get checked. ~Marisa > > Some urgent care facilities will also check your blood pressure for > free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 I understand. If this (or any other medical device or medication) is required by your doctor... then by all means, you need to abide by their recomendations. I'm speaking from the point of someone who doesn't have high blood pressure or other condition requiring the purchase of one... or even (for that matter) someone who may have high blood pressure but has not been advised by their physician to monitor it on a regular basis. My physician told me that I should monitor my blood pressure, but the occasional reading (maybe weekly) between visits was adequate, and he specifically advised me that there was no need to purchase a blood pressure monitor and to simply use the machines (the free ones available for public use) at Walgreens or other pharmacies. This whole thread started with someone asking about the Duo-Care (combined glucometer/blood pressure monitor) and what opinions there were. I stand on my original statement... most glucometers can be obtained for free, and unless there is a compelling reason (i.e., instruction to monitor your blood pressure frequently based upon physician instruction), it's probably not worth it. Your physician has instructed differently... please abide by those instructions. Mike > > Mike, I have had my own digital BP machine since 1988 at age 11. I was > not able to be discharged from the hospital without it. So, I don't > have a choice about owning one or not really. This is becuase of a > seperate medical issue, not diabetes. > > ~Marisa > > > > But, buy all means, if you want to buy your own blood pressure kit, > go for > > it! > > > > Mike > > > > > > > Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ > > To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: > diabetes-unsubscribe > Hope you come back soon! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Or in my case, my doctor said to monitor 3x week - sounds do-able without my own meter, right? Hah, I'm without transportation of my own, our bus system stinks where I am (at the end of the route, 3/4 mile to the stop with no sidewalks, just ditches on each side of a semi-busy road, with a steep incline at both ends) I don't mind the walk, but the whole bus thing causes my bp to rise, and if it is hot, then I have those issues as well. Add to this the cost of $1.50 each way.....it was cheaper & so much easier to scrimp and juggle a few things & buy a monitor. beth > Re: Re: Duo-Care > > > I understand. If this (or any other medical device or medication) is > required by your doctor... then by all means, you need to abide by their > recomendations. > > I'm speaking from the point of someone who doesn't have high > blood pressure > or other condition requiring the purchase of one... or even (for that > matter) someone who may have high blood pressure but has not been > advised by > their physician to monitor it on a regular basis. > > My physician told me that I should monitor my blood pressure, but the > occasional reading (maybe weekly) between visits was adequate, and he > specifically advised me that there was no need to purchase a > blood pressure > monitor and to simply use the machines (the free ones available for public > use) at Walgreens or other pharmacies. > > This whole thread started with someone asking about the Duo-Care (combined > glucometer/blood pressure monitor) and what opinions there were. > I stand on > my original statement... most glucometers can be obtained for free, and > unless there is a compelling reason (i.e., instruction to monitor > your blood > pressure frequently based upon physician instruction), it's probably not > worth it. > > Your physician has instructed differently... please abide by those > instructions. > > Mike > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Mike, I have had a digital blood pressure monitor for about 10 years....I'm on my 2nd one. I take it with me once a year when I have my physical, and we check it against the one the doc uses. They've been virtually identical in the readings. I guess the best thing to do to be sure it's working correctly is get it checked out occasionally when you visit the doc. Gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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