batteries for the accu-chek

I seem to be replacing the batteries for my monitor every couple of weeks. Is this normal?

Mine last 2 or 3 months, but I don't use alarms any more as they seem to increase use. I would contact the makers and ask for a new meter. Have your readings changed as it might indicate a fault? I use normal (not rechargeable) batteries supplied by Aviva on request every few months

Thanks for the speedy reply. I will do that.

Interesting that Aviva will provide batteries. One Touch used to do this, but when I contacted them recently to request batteries for my One Touch Ultra they told me they no longer provide free batteries. Not sure how I feel about this - I assumed that providing free batteries was an incentive to encourage us to stay loyal to their meters. I must say that if Aviva are still providing them I'll have to have a think...

I gave up on my Accu-Chek meter as I found it bulky, heavy and temperamental. My Bayer meter is rechargable, so no batteries at all. My Optium Freestyle Lite I have been using now for well over a year and have never needed to change batteries. Interesting to hear different experiences with different meters. So often a meter can seem like a good design but turn out to be disappointing in practise.

Interesting to read your comments on the accu chek. I've just changed my meter to an accu chek mobile. Anyone had any bad experiences with it?

I haven't had any trouble with the Accu Chek Mobile, but my Accu Chek Expert needs new batteries (3 x AAA) every 2-3 months. The Optium Exceed lasts around a year for me. Optium Freestyle Lite also seems to last about a year, but I think the amount of time they spend in the cold affects battery life too.

Abbott - manufacturers of the Optium Xceed, will send you out a replacement battery, here in the UK, usually within 2 days. I am very pleased with my 2 meters. One is in everyday use and the other a spare which only gets used for the occasional overnight test.
Current battery has been in daily service for 10 months.
Odd use meter battery must be 14 or 15 months old now.
Regards
Garry

I have never had to change batteries on any of my Optium meters. My latest is well over a year old.

The Accu Chek mobile I was given on my Dafne course. I thought it was a brilliant idea and immediately shelved my Optium. However, as I said above it proved to be bulky and heavy and difficult to use one-handed with small hands. I found the lancing device difficult to span with my hand making lancing awkward and very painful. The meter proved to have a very restricted temperature range and stopped working well within the range of other meters, so it couldn't be left in the car. It didn't like sunshine either. If too much blood was applied to the tape, it thought it hadn't received enough. I couldn't find a way to reset it without switching the meter off and on again. By which time the process had become very messy in the restricted space behind a steering wheel. Hence I abandoned my Accu-Chek Mobile and went for a lighter meter more suitable for a woman's build and lifestyle.

Hey Numo,

I know what you mean about the Accu Check Mobile. It can be very temperamental about the blood sample. I found it was best just to shove it's nose in my pool of blood and that usually worked. Compared to the amount of blood it needs versus a meter like a Freestyle Lite though, it was like a vampire. However, one of the women on my DAFNE course loves the Mobile and won't try any other meter, so horses for courses I guess.