Glucose meter reviews

FreeStyle Lite Review - 08/08/10

I have used the FreeStyle Lite meter for the past two years, it was recommended to me by my Diabetes specialist at my local clinic for its compact size, simplicity and sleek look. The meter is by far the smallest and by a long way the lightest I've had in over twenty years of being an insulin dependant diabetic, which i was delighted to see and it's well presented in a small yet hard-waring pouch which has been fantastically designed to carry the meter, finger pricker, test strips and spare lancets; ideal for throwing in a sports bag and never too much of an inconvenience for the girlfriends handbag on an evening out! The test strips are simple and only require a very tiny blood sample to the side of the strip which is great news for any diabetic who tests regularly and knows how frustrating it is trying to get a decent drop out of a freezing cold finger!

The FreeStyle Lite can be plugged into a PC or Laptop to view various graphs and charts to show averages and any 'problem' areas can be identified which is great information to take into an appointment with doctors or specialists in order to help them help you.

As a diabetic who occasionally suffers from low blood sugars during the night, i was very impressed with the meters LED that lights up not only the meters screen but also the test strip itself. Such a simple idea and a feature I've not had on previous meters but having the ability to see what your doing in the middle of the night with minimal fuss is a real bonus! The testing time for the FreeStyle Lite is five seconds, i believe there are faster meters on the market (maybe three seconds?) but when you think back to meters of the past... It's pretty good.

I would strongly recommend the FreeStyle Lite meter for any diabetic with an 'on-the-go' lifestyle for a combination of the reasons listed above. If I'm being picky I think the option of a black or a red colour would look smarter but this is nevertheless a great meter; Abbott have clearly thought this through and the result is a cool, robust, user friendly meter that is perfect for day-to-day glucose testing.

Gareth Woodward