Accu-Chek Aviva Expert Meters

Does anyone have one of these BG meters? The seem to have lots of features built into them - what do you think of them?

I've made enquiries about them at my GP surgery and they seem very difficult to get hold of. Evidently, you have to go on a course to use them - is this true?

Its probably because it has some insulin dose calculator on board that you will need to familiarize with and with the consent of your HCP so that you don't go away, give yourself the wrong dose and then blame the company/HCP...

I ve tried three different machines in the last two years and the one that I use every day is the One Touch Verio Pro. It is easy to use and gives you 7, 14, 30 and 90 day averages. The only problem is that to use their software you must agree to them being able to export your personel information. This I will not do.
If you have problems getting strips and or machines ask your Diabetic nurse.

I've just got one a few days ago. I have been using different meters for 15 years and this one is by far the best I've ever used. Once you programme it correctly it will calculate your dosage when you take your bloods and input the carb count.

Ray
That sounds great. What sort of instructions were you given when you got it?

The nurse in my clinic went through it with me in details for about a half an hour. She set up my preferences for me.

The Expert meter was handed out free at the end of my DAFNE course. The company rep said only people who have done DAFNE can have one. Its good but the only problem is you have to input your carbs at the same time as taking your blood reading. As I prefer to inject as soon as I've eaten (so I know how much I actually had to eat) it isn't that much use.

You could still input the carb amount even if your injecting after you eat........I use the insulinX but getting into that routine isn't hard and is useful in the future....

Injecting after you eat could be doing some damage as you likely won't be matching up the insulin and digestion profiles which will be giving you or could be giving you large spikes 1-2 hours post meal. Not covered in the basic DAFNE syllabus but definitely an important issue.....

Do you inject post meal because you find you don't always finish the entire meal.....?

NRB, there is no 'basic' DAFNE syllabus there is A DAFNE syllabus. I have seen lots of debate about digestion profiles and post meal spikes on other sites, however most of the discussions seem to revolve around peoples personnal beliefs rather than detailed medical research. I therefore don't believe its fair to say 'you could be doing damage' since there is no evidence to back up this claim. As we often repeat ( or favourite mantra) everyone is different and no two people will respond the same to insulin/food or any other number of factors. If someone wants to inject post meal there is no problem with this as far as DAFNE is concerned.
Its interesting that the 'expert' meter is limited to people who have had some training in does adjustment and calculation. There is discussion in other forums on the site about adding dose calculation to the DAFNEOnline App and this backs up my point that it is NOT a trivial thing and even meter companies are wary of providing the functionality. Personally I wouldn't do it but I'm not the one developing the app.

Hi,

I often do post meal injections (not breakfast as its mostly the same cereal or toast) as I'm a pig and often go back for seconds or have dessert

I thought this was the point of DAFNE?

Just my 2p

Phil