Blog

  • Glucowatch — SUCCESS!

    Test 3 was successful — while it alarmed for a low glucose event, and my glucose wasn’t quite that low, it showed what was going on, and was even accurate at the end.

    My assessment — the device is something that takes getting used to — I am definately going to call about the cream. However, I can sleep with it.

    It is definately NOT for day to day use. It’s too difficult and expensive to use for that. However, it’s what I wanted — something to take the stress out of basal tests. It’s idea for basal tests.

    Things to keep in mind — and true for ALL blood glucose monitoring devices. It is NOT 100% accurate. It shows tends, and that is even true of finger stick devices.

    It doesn’t handle day to day monitoring. I doesn’t handle exercise, food, or even insulin administration well.

    However, it’s ideal for basal tests.

    Is it worth the price? It is certainly NOT worth the original price. At $400, it’s still pricey, especially since the software isn’t included. I also want to be able to export the data and do things with it. That’s my next goal to look into.

    At $4.00, it’s not bad for basal testing. I would definately finger stick more than once though — and be prepared to calibrate several times.

  • Glucowatch — Trial 3

    This one is going MUCH better. Pain from the watch itself isn’t as bad as Trial 2, though I am going to ask about the cream.

    Readings are much more accurate, so far.

  • Glucowatch — Trial 2

    I stopped this round when I started getting funky results and it still itched.

    Going to try again tomorrow.

  • Glucowatch — Trial 2

    Got home from school and put on the watch.

    Now, part of the problem is that I got eaten alive by mesquitos last night and everything itched already, BUT

    I put the watch on my outer arm, and I swear it feels like I’m getting burned. I’ve been able to tolerate it, but it is very uncomfortable.

    Got through the warmup phase and calibration and now am testing and so far the watch has skipped every reading — the first two. If thing doesn’t start giving readings soon, I’m taking it off. This is just too uncomfortable, to get no where.

  • Prilosec

    Health Beat :: America has heartburn

    Back when Prilosec worked for me, and it was a prescription drug, the pharmacy’s would run out of Prilosec back then too. Makes me wonder if the manufacturer does it on purpose.

  • Still don’t know what to think…

    Skin irritation isn’t bad, but you can definately tell where the watch was at.

    I still don’t know about the readings, but I was more comfortable going to bed with the lower blood sugar with it on.

    So I don’t know. I am going to try it again either during the day on Friday, or Friday night.

  • Government website on medications

    DB’s Medical Rants ? Comparing drug pricing

    Interesting, told me that 80 mg of Zocor runs around $100.00 a month, and that mail order it’s around $86.00

    I’m not sure what problems RCentor is having, but I didn’t have any trouble

  • After one night

    I honestly don’t know what to think.

    I’ve stopped the test, because I want to go downstairs and work out.

    I did get a low alarm, I was experiencing low symthoms so I took 20 grams of carbohydrate, since my blood sugar via the meter was 118 at 11:30. Not REAL low, but the lowest my blood sugar has every been at night since I started measuring things.

    I woke up with a meter reading of 98, and several soft alarms. The watch showed several very low readings.

    I’m going to try again several nights before I do anything to affect my treatment. And it’s all very odd.

  • Two entries…

    And I just performed an interesting experiment.

    The watch claims my blood sugar was 100 – 113.
    Freestyle Flash claims it’s 133.
    One Touch Ultra 137
    Accu-Check Compact 156

    So 4 different numbers.

    Does it matter?

    Not really — first remember there is some error inherent in any of these devices.

    While doing this, got my third reading — now at 120.

  • Calibrated!

    After a LONG wait. Okay the advertised 2 hours, I finger stuck and calibrated the watch. It was a successful calibration, so we’ll see how the evening goes.

    The biggest things to remember, is that the reading is 15 minutes off, because it’s sucking up glucose, rather than getting it from blood. Trends are more important. I’ll have my first reading in 10 minutes.