Meters
Ghomerzgirl
Posts: 67 Member
So I was finally able to start using my new Freestyle Insulinks meter yesterday. It's funny how when I get a new meter it's like being a kid with a new toy. Not really just enjoyment but more amazement at how far meters have come since I was diagnosed T1D in Jan of 91. It got me thinking about the meter I used when I was first diagnosed. It was an Accu-Chek II. The one that had the strips you had to put a huge amount of blood on, then wipe it off after a full minute, then put it in the machine, and wait yet another minute for the actual reading. We only had the one meter so when I was at school (I was 8 when I was diagnosed) we just used the strips because the color would change and then you checked the color against the bottle to get a general idea of where your reading was at. I wish I still had the meter itself to show my kids how much things have changed in the time I have been diabetic, and show my boyfriend. Now it's only a 10th of the blood needed and only 5 seconds or less. It's amazing!
What kind of meter did you first use when you all were diagnosed?
Jenn
What kind of meter did you first use when you all were diagnosed?
Jenn
0
Replies
-
When I was first diagnosed, home glucose monitoring wasn't even imaginable. I got my first meter from my grandma after her death. I don't remember what it was, but I do remember that large drop of blood. I'm with you on the new meter. I started using the Contour Next Link meter a few weeks ago and am still amazed. It has a rechargeable battery and can be charged on the wall or your computer. Love it!!! And it has a color light up screen, which is a real help, with my poor vision.0
-
Yeah I have a Verio IQ meter that came with my T:Slim that is full color and computer chargable as well, however Iowa Medicaid won't pay for One Touch strips, so that is why I have to use the Insulink meter. It is touch screen and completely customizable but not a color display which is better for my vision (the whole reason I got the T:Slim) but it is back lit and when you put the strip in it illuminates the strip which is nice since I won't be waking Josh up during the night to test anymore with turning on the light. I can't wait till I move to Nebraska where their insurance pays for one touch so I can use the Verio, which will be nice too because the verio can be uploaded to my T:slim software online, whereas the Insulink can't be yet. I couldn't imagine not being able to test my blood sugar like before the meters came out. It would drive me batty!
Jenn0 -
Wow...this is bringing back memories! I don't recall what my first meter was. I've been T1 for almost 40 years. I clearly remember Diastix and using the Clinistest. So what that means is I either peed on a test strip or I peed in a cup, used a dropper to drop pee in a test tube, and then dropped a tablet in and watched it change colors! Here are a few pictures that I found...
http://www.tudiabetes.org/forum/topics/1960s-1970s-diabetes-photos?groupUrl=diabetesphotomusuem&groupId=583967:Group:1073290&id=583967:Topic:1073683&page=6#comments
We sure have come a long way. It makes me kind of excited to see what the future holds.0 -
Thanks for the memories. I remember the Diastix and the Clinitest. When I first used the Clinitest, I love the whole chemistry thing. A test tube, tablets and pee that turned colors, I was a young chemist in the making!!! Thank God for modern times!!!0
-
I remember now using those a few times! I thought the reaction was so neat! I just looked up the page and this comment just cracked me up!
"The liquid would change color. If it was blue, you were negative. If it
was green, you were spilling a small amount of glucose into your urine.
If it turned bright orange, you were most likely peeing honey." Yup that about sums it up! It is kinda nice going down memory lane and remember how difficult it was to control and even do glucose readings, and now it's just a snap!
Jenn0
