Best Meter Out There

smartone86's Full Review: TheraSense FreeStyle Flash Blood Glucose Meter
I first read about Therasense’s newest meter, the Freestyle Flash, online before it was available. I couldn’t wait to try it out. It looked so cool.

Finally, last November, I was able to get one for free by purchasing 100 strips. It looked even neater in person that it did in every article. The meter is silver, and so small I could place it is my palm, wrap my fingers around it, and totally hide it. Besides the meter, the starter kit also includes a $40 rebate, which I obviously didn’t need, and lancing device with a cap for alternative site testing and one for finger testing, a very small, sleek carrying case, 10 strips, 10 lancets, control solution, batteries, user manuals, a log book, and an offer for a free data cable to connect it to your computer. I was disappointed that I couldn’t use this, again, because I got it for free. Oh well.

The meter resembles a cell phone. I actually had someone ask me if it was a cell phone. But it only has 3 buttons. One is in the middle. It powers lighting features the meter has. When it is waiting for blood to be applied, a light lights the area where the strips goes in. When I am doing something that involves the screen, the light button will back light the screen. This feature is extremely useful and means I can test in total darkness. Anyone who knows about infamous 3 AM checks will appreciate this, I guarantee it. The only thing I suggest is not to plan on being able to load a lancet into the lancing device in darkness. Pre-load it, because that does not work. The other 2 buttons are the M and C buttons typical on meters used for accessing the memory and settings.

Many features are the same as with the first Freestyle. The strip still takes .3 microliters of blood- an extremely small drop. Alternative site testing is still an option. There is still a 250 result memory, but you can upload results to your computer if you get the free data cable (just $4.99 for shipping) and download the free software.

The differences are a faster test time, with an average being 7 seconds, the lights, the small size, and new smaller lancing device (that surprisingly has only 4 depth settings, not 5), different batteries (watch batteries instead of the hard to find AAAA size), and alarms. There are 4 alarms that can be set to remind you to test. They are kind of hard to set, though, and not necessarily loud enough to wake someone up. Also, the Flash never goes totally off. The date and time always display. I figured this would drain my batteries quickly, but really hasn’t so far. I tried so hard to get it to go totally off, but it doesn’t. My doctor also tried to turn it off when she was flipping through my results, but she was as unsuccessful as I was. It’s not broken, it’s not meant to go off. I now find always having the date and time there very convenient. The case for the meter is also smaller than that of the Freestyle, but it works.

The user guide is very good with color photos and clear instructions.

The meter is extremly accurate. It was one mg/dL different than the lab when I compared results.

I truly think meter companies will have a hard time making a better meter than this one.




****UPDATE*****

I recently put in a phone call to customer service because, a year and a half after starting to use the meter, it started to seem inaccurate. A new meter and strips were overnighted to me, remedying the problem. I am thoroughly impressed with the service I recieve, especially since this was the second time they replaced the meter for me this year (the first time I dropped it on concrete and the screen cracked). The 800 number was answered right away. With my new meter, they also sent me the data cable for free. I downloaded the software for free off the website, and have been using it. I love it!

The software allows me to upload my results to the computer, and then creates charts showing averages, standard deviation, results by time of day, and allowing me to use a large food database to track which foods I eat and monitor carbs. If you use a Cozmore insulin pump (all pump companies seem to have their partnerships now: Animas and Lifescan, Disetronic and Accu-chek, Freestyle and Deltec Cozmore, and Medtronic and BD), you can upload your insulin totals also. All with a very simple click. By using your doctor's e-mail address you can instantly send in all your info to your clinic or office.

Freestyle continues to amaze me with their great products, outstanding customer service, and cutting edge technology.

Recommended:
Yes