Freestyle InsuLinx Meter

I use a Freestyle InsuLinx Blood Monitoring Meter that functions well enough, although why it needs a secret code (only available from Health Care Professionals) to set it up seems a little unnecessary.

Last month the manufacturer, Abbott Diabetes Care, wrote to say they have determined that at extremely high levels of 56.8 mmol/L +plus the meter will display and store in memory an inaccurate low result - not what I wanted to hear, although at 56.8 mmol/L I think being in A&E semi-comatose attached to a drip looking for the toilet would tell me something was wrong. Ok, using 56.8 mmol/L had the desired effect and I took notice.

I telephoned Abbott DC and was told the upper range was the concern and lower levels less so, maybe not to you chum but I want to know a reading of 8.5 is not 3.5 and so did a quick check. A reading of 8.3 was 7.4 only 40 seconds later.
To resolve this Abbott have a software update available on the web-site that maintains settings and historical data, what is copied I leave to the imagination.
However to update you need a computer and connecting cable, I need to find mine?? but if I cannot they offered to send me a new meter.

This morning a copy of a newspaper dropped on my desk and a finger pointed to the article 'Meter fears for diabetics' that ends in the sentence 'Manufacturers Abbott Diabetes Care will provide patients with new meters'. Ugh! and I thought I was special.

I don't think my old one touch meter would register anything above a 30mmol/L would just say "hi". I don't know if there are some special features on you Abbott meter that mean your happy to stick with it but when I wanted to change to a bayer conrtour USB for no other reason than I liked that it was more compact than the one touch I just phoned them up and said "post me one now" and they did. Actually they sent me 3 meters!

Not to make you feel even less special though but someone posted something similar about a recall on 2 specific models that lifescan make, I don't recall the models but one touch wasn't one of them.

I was alerted to this yesterday at my DAFNE 12-month review, although as you say, values of 50+ don't affect many of us.

I have the alternative smart meter from Aviva, and it is a replacement because the first one I had read values that were 2 units higher then my other 4 meters that I already owned. The replacement seems much better behaved. Manufacturers only have to provide a result that is with 20% of the true value. This is why you can get quite different readings within 40 seconds of taking the first reading.

I don't tend to stress much about it. All it does is give you a guide to where you are at. It does seem a little ridiculous that they read to point values when the accuracy is obviously not that good, but the reading should be within 1 or 2 units of the true result.

Thank you for your responses. I assumed the default range of meters was between 5 - 10%. What attracted me to the InsuLix was having a suggested dose but now I'm looking at alternatives, such as the Bayer Contour USB, as I maybe coming to rely on a machine suggestion. Thank you again.

I use a Bayer Contour USB (although it has been replaced by the contour next USB) it's great for logging, viewing trends etc but it has never suggested an insulin dose to me, this may be a new feature in the next though I've not bothered to check though as the only issues for me are is it reliable and is it compact and in this regard the next offers no change.

If you would like something to suggest a dose to you though then if you have a compatible smart phone I would get the DAFNE online app which when supplied with your ratios and your carb estimates will suggest the insulin dose you require.

I've had problems when trying to change to new / different meters, where the new meter reads higher than my trusty One Touch Ultra. I agree that most of the time variation isn't a problem, and being within one or two units is OK. My problem is the confusion when I get early hypo symptoms, do a test and find the meter is giving me a reading of 4.5 - 5.5+. It's difficult when your body says one thing and your meter another! (Also, presumably a potential problem for trying to keep to the new driving "rules"?).

Stew

I always listen to my body! If it says "eat", I eat, even though my meter is saying I am fine. Better to be a bit high than way too low.
I use a OneTouch Ultra 2 meter but am thinking of changing because there are smaller meters and this meter takes more blood than other ones. Have you ever used the GlucoMen LX? I was given it a few years ago. I know nothing about it, though.
Carol

This is useful information. Apparently Freestyle InsuLinx is not the only meter with a problem, Lifescan One-Touch Verio IQ meters in UK/Ireland are also being recalled. Until deciding I will use my old Freestyle Freedom and continue to be higher than some recommend when driving. Thank you.
Frank