What is a good and accurate diabetes test strip?

[Remobz]

My Dad was diagnosed with diabetes. I need a good and reliable one. Any recommendations?

So far....this one looks good

http://www.amazon.com/TRUEtest-Test-...g_bs_3762021_1

 

[lxskllr]

Get the Walmart house brand, I think it's Accucheck or something like that. The meter and (most importantly) the strips are relatively inexpensive. It works well.

Edit:
Looking at the Amazon reviews, the Walmart brand is ReliOn. I have no experience with your linked brand, but it's probably alright.

 

[Phoenix86]

They are pretty much all reliable, good is where it gets tricky. Tracking your numbers can be just as important as knowing your current reading. Some time ago that meant usb outputs on the reader. Now I've seen some smart phone enabled devices, I'd strongly consider those.

 

[ThinClient]

Do not pay for a meter. Most companies will flat out give you a meter for free knowing that they will easily make their money back by you buying the test strips. If you have to pay for a meter, you're over paying all ready.

 

[Printer Bandit]

OneTouch Ultra

 

[lxskllr]

Do not pay for a meter. Most companies will flat out give you a meter for free knowing that they will easily make their money back by you buying the test strips. If you have to pay for a meter, you're over paying all ready.

Not necessarily. A free meter from a big name is *much* worse than buying a second tier meter + strips. You get raped from the big guys, with the strips costing 3x+ more than the smaller brands. They recover the cost of the "free" meter in one or two strip purchases.

 

[BeeBoop]

Type 2 Diabetes is reversible. Lose weight and build muscle.

 

[ThinClient]

Not necessarily. A free meter from a big name is *much* worse than buying a second tier meter + strips. You get raped from the big guys, with the strips costing 3x+ more than the smaller brands. They recover the cost of the "free" meter in one or two strip purchases.

It doesn't matter who you buy from. You can almost always find a free meter offer. If you want to buy cheaper strips which translates to a different meter, in most cases even that cheaper company will give you a free meter.

 

[SheHateMe]

I use the OneTouch Ultra 2 meter. I am not sure what the strips are called...but, I'm sure you can find it on Amazon.

 

[preCRT]

Check with his health insurer, many cover 100% of the costs of glucometer, test strips, and lancets.

 

[z1ggy]

Sorry that he got a case of the diabeetus

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

That is what I use and it's very good and affordable, and I have considerable experience personally and professionally. I highly recommend it.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Type 2 Diabetes is reversible. Lose weight and build muscle.

Sometimes.

 

[BeeBoop]

Sometimes.

Actually, it's a lot more than "sometimes" but to be more specific I posted a link and a quote below. The researchers from that link believe the reversal rates are actually much better than what's in that link because that study wasn't well controlled, it was just a population response to a study that showed Type 2 can be reversed by diet only with no exercise.

Reversal rates according to diabetes duration were: short (< 4 years) = 73%, medium (4-8 years) = 56% and long (> 8 years) = 43%.

.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

When I worked for a mail-order diabetes supply company, we used True Test as our house brand. We had all kinds of studies and data that it was more accurate and reliable than any of the big names. At one point, they gave us all free meters and strips so we could play with them and it was way easy to use.

If you're looking for the smallest blood sample size, you're going to have to look elsewhere. I think Freestyle Lite is the current champion at 0.3 microliters.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I use the OneTouch Ultra 2 meter. I am not sure what the strips are called...but, I'm sure you can find it on Amazon.

I use this too. If he's got insurance, like a few posted already, they usually cover the whole kit with just a copay. And you can always get some sort of free meter anyways.

 

[cabri]

Most insurance will cover the kit and supplies.

We use the WalMart ReliOn; test strips come 50 to a container.
They will also mail you the additional log books free as you needed them.

 

[OutHouse]

Most insurance will cover the kit and supplies.

We use the WalMart ReliOn; test strips come 50 to a container.
They will also mail you the additional log books free as you needed them.

I have blue cross/shield and they will not cover the strips.

 

[dainthomas]

All strips are required to meet strict accuracy standards. The only variations that matter to me are the sample size and how long the test takes. My Accucheck Aviva is something like five seconds.

 

[Remobz]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

My Dad does not live in the USA and he does not have insurance here (long story trust me). All money comes out of his pocket or his kids.

My Dad has a British passport (citizen) but he does not live in England at the moment

Anyway, my sister lives in Ohio and she will send down some strips and meters once we establish a good and reliable brand to obtain.

Thanks to you all I have narrowed it down to a couple choices now

 

[shortylickens]

Who identified his diabetes? A doctor?
Thats who you ask. In fact if his doc said he needed strips then he should have been told which ones.

 

[mikeford]

They all want that drop of blood, check around and find the best, least painful lancets and get the device that uses those lancets, then use any meter and strips you want.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Who identified his diabetes? A doctor?
Thats who you ask. In fact if his doc said he needed strips then he should have been told which ones.

Nope. The only time that happens is when the office has some free coupons or cards to give out or the patient has an insurance with a restricted formulary. In that case they'll pick whatever is covered.

The OP has picked a good product and as someone else has mentioned it has very high accuracy and consistency. There's no need to spend many more times in price for a meter and strips unless there's a question of functionality, such as an illuminated display which the user feels necessary.

 

[JEDIYoda]

also strips and lancets should be covered by you insurance....

 

[JEDIYoda]

Type 2 Diabetes is reversible. Lose weight and build muscle.

not necessarily the case...