Living with Diabetes

UltraSmart

Written by

kathleen

in

Yeah, I DID hate this meter, and I still am not real happy with it.

The Freestyle Flash is smaller and has the cute little flashlight for the test strip. Also I personally think it is easier to use. For one thing, if you don’t get enough blood on the first try, you can give it more and it will eventually read. Not so the Ultrasmart.

However, the copay on the Ultrasmart is quite a bit cheaper than the Freestyle. Plus I like having the graph in my hand. It makes it easier to see trends, both good and bad. If the Freestyle/Palm combo, I have to wait till I get to the big computer and run EzManager.

I think that the Lifescan tech support sucks, but the last couple of times the Freestyle sucked too. You should not have to wait seven minutes to talk to a tech when you are dealing with blood sugar readings. Yeah, I time these things.

However, they did send me a bottle of 25 test strips, which pretty much takes care of the strips I’ve wasted, and I’ve gone from wasting 3 strips a day to one yesterday and so far, knock on wood, none today. So maybe I’ll have figured it out.

Comments

4 responses to “UltraSmart”

  1. Bryan Price Avatar
    Bryan Price

    I’ve been dealing with my Type 2 for a little over a year now. I use the UltraSmart, and have from the beginning. Mine was an inauspicous beginning, as I got thrown into the hospital soon after I found out for uncontrolled blood pressure. Now, I’ve been taking medicine for my BP for 5 years at that point, and it took them 9 days to get it down to a point where they would release me (it was still high, and is still high, I’m getting more tests done on that area). I liked the Palm model the hospital used, it even scanned my wristband, but, as I was with Medco, I got the UltraSmart.
    The only time I blow a strip is when I don’t bleed enough for it (I’ve developed the eye to know now when I’ve got enough), and I oddly had issues sometimes getting the strip to take blood (I think it had something to do with not enough blood). But I’ve never had the need to call support. I’m taking Glipizide, and that is maintaining my sugar levels pretty darn good. Just as long as I don’t get upset! 🙂 All in all, except for my weight and my blood pressure, I’m in compliance. Lifescan offers the OneTouch Gold, and they sent me 100 free strips. It’s been a year for me now, so I looked at the website to remind myself. Make sure you check it out.
    Hang in there, it will get easier.

    Reply
  2. Bryan Price Avatar
    Bryan Price

    I’ve been dealing with my Type 2 for a little over a year now. I use the UltraSmart, and have from the beginning. Mine was an inauspicous beginning, as I got thrown into the hospital soon after I found out for uncontrolled blood pressure. Now, I’ve been taking medicine for my BP for 5 years at that point, and it took them 9 days to get it down to a point where they would release me (it was still high, and is still high, I’m getting more tests done on that area). I liked the Palm model the hospital used, it even scanned my wristband, but, as I was with Medco, I got the UltraSmart.
    The only time I blow a strip is when I don’t bleed enough for it (I’ve developed the eye to know now when I’ve got enough), and I oddly had issues sometimes getting the strip to take blood (I think it had something to do with not enough blood). But I’ve never had the need to call support. I’m taking Glipizide, and that is maintaining my sugar levels pretty darn good. Just as long as I don’t get upset! 🙂 All in all, except for my weight and my blood pressure, I’m in compliance. Lifescan offers the OneTouch Gold, and they sent me 100 free strips. It’s been a year for me now, so I looked at the website to remind myself. Make sure you check it out.
    Hang in there, it will get easier.

    Reply
  3. Johnboy Avatar
    Johnboy

    Kathleen, I have underestimated the blood required or my finger shifted slightly off the strip more than one time.
    It is frustrating for me also as I am coming off the Freestyle Flash as well.
    The insurance situation is the same for me as it is for you, so cost is a factor.
    Besides the graph, though, I also find many of the on-meter reports to be helpful tracking averages by daypart (pre and post), insulin usage (if you use and enter it), etc.
    Have you tried the software that comes with the meter? I sprang $30 for the cable and it really is better than the software that came with the Freestyle meter.
    Best Wishes,
    Johnboy

    Reply
  4. Johnboy Avatar
    Johnboy

    Kathleen, I have underestimated the blood required or my finger shifted slightly off the strip more than one time.
    It is frustrating for me also as I am coming off the Freestyle Flash as well.
    The insurance situation is the same for me as it is for you, so cost is a factor.
    Besides the graph, though, I also find many of the on-meter reports to be helpful tracking averages by daypart (pre and post), insulin usage (if you use and enter it), etc.
    Have you tried the software that comes with the meter? I sprang $30 for the cable and it really is better than the software that came with the Freestyle meter.
    Best Wishes,
    Johnboy

    Reply

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