Customer Reviews

FreeStyle Lite Blood Glucose Monitoring System

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I got this meter from my doctor, so it was essentially chosen for me. That aside, I was expecting this difficult to use device with a poorly written instruction manual. My prior experience with glucose meters was limited to one my father had, and setting it up was quite the ordeal, so I was pleasantly surprised that getting the Freestyle Lite meter operational was a quick two minute process.

Also, the lancets for it are very thin and really don't hurt much at all, particularly if you use alternate site testing. The lancing device is very small and discrete, unlike the usual pen-shaped lancing devices.

The included case is compact and has room for a good supply of lancets, a bottle of test trips, the lancing device, the control solution and the meter, of course, so it is very good for taking with you to the office, travel and so on.

The meter itself is very solid and is well built, so I don't expect to have any problems with it any time soon. If I had to buy a meter, this would definitely be it.

My first blood glucose monitor was the old Freestyle monitor which was at the time the only monitor on the market that allowed alternate site testing. The Freestyle was very operator friendly and did require a very small blood sample. I loved this monitor.

The Freestyle Lite is just as good with the added benefit that the test srtips do not have to be coded.

This is a great blod glucose monitor for those of use that prefer to do alternate site testing.

My doctor gave me this meter, and because of that I decided to give it a better try than the free ones I had gotten in the mail from other companies. I tried them all, and I will stay with this one! I also recommend it to my family and friends. There is little, or no pain when I stick my finger, and the amount of blood needed is small compared to the need of the other meters I have. The only problem I have had, is when trying to be thrifty, I tried to use a strip twice (They have a test site on each side, I guess for right and left handed people, so I thought I'd try to save money!), and got the error message. I installed a new strip, and had a good reading.
It is real easy to read with the back light, quick, and has a great memory for past reading when I forget to write them down, or forget my pen at work.

When I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes I thought I would have to use one of the large, complicated blood sugar monitors I had seen other people use. My experience with the Freestyle Lite was nothing like that - it was pretty simple, actually.
My main purse at the time was a very small, stylish bag. The monitor came with a small carrying case that also holds lancets and strips, and fit neatly into my purse. It was a very discreet model that I could use anywhere. I had to check my blood sugar several times a day, and the lancets were small and didn't hurt much at all. The lance is adjustable to allow for different skin thicknesses.
Most notable, this monitor does not require coding. The diabetes counseling office that set me up with my monitor had a few different monitors available. This was the only monitor available to me that didn't require coding.
I really thought checking my blood sugar all the time was going to be horrible. With this little monitor, it really wasn't that bad. The monitor was easy to use. This was a great tool to help me manage my diabetes.

After years of using the Freestyle Flash, my diabetes supply company replaced it with the Freestyle Lite. Since I sometimes test away from home, its small size and soft case make it easy to carry. I particularly like the following: being able to use the meter without removing it from the case; the presence of a port light which lets me test even in places with limited light; the small blood sample it needs along with the strip design that makes such a small sample work. Although I rarely had trouble with coding on my other meter, the automatic coding is reassuring.

I had been introduced to the Multiclix device and lancets before, and have replaced the Freestyle lancing device with the Multiclix device. It fits in the case well enough to close the zipper all the way, but fits only loosely in the elastic strap for the lancing device. The zippered section carries the Multiclix drums as well as it can carry the Freestyle lancets.

All in all, This meter fits my lifestyle and is definitely an aid to keeping my blood sugar under control.

Easy to use. The lance device are virtually pain free and effective. Further Test strips and lancet are relatively cheap to obtain.

Most of this review is a comparison to my current meter, Accu-Chek Aviva, which I have been using for about 4 months (I got the entire Accu-Chek Aviva testing kit). I liked the Accu-Chek Aviva, but was really attracted the FreeStyle Lite because it was A) smaller than my Aviva and B) had backlit display, something my Aviva did not. When I got the FreeStyle Lite, I was immediately disappointed.

The case is flimsy and very cheap looking compared to the case I got with my Aviva. One thing I did like about the FreeStyle Lite case is that the elastic band used to hold the meter in place has a clear plastic section that rests over the face of the meter so you can read the screen without having to remove it from the case, you can use it right there in the case! Neat! That's one of the things that annoyed me about my Accu-Chek Aviva, the actual meter itself has a terrific rubberized grip on the sides that makes it easier to handle and less likely to be dropped, but also makes it a little more difficult to slip it out of its elastic holder without having to excessively stretch the elastic band (and it's a little big for the band), as a result, my band is getting a little tired looking (but still holds the meter just fine). Also, the band that holds the FreeStyle Lite meter isn't very snug, but there's a molded section that I assume holds the meter more securely. Also, I wonder how easy it would be to get the blood sample into the meter while it's in the case, I tend to hold my meter in my hand and bring the meter (with the strip) to my finger rather than lay my meter down and try to get my finger to the strip. It's just easier for me to do it that way, but maybe others prefer the meter to be stationary.

Also, with my Accu-Chek Aviva kit, I got their fabulous Accu-Chek Multiclix Lancet Device. Granted, I don't like pricking my finger at all anyway (who does?), but the Accu-Chek Multiclix Lancet Device is a little pen-shaped device that you load with a "drum" of lancets and then you just push down on the end like a pen and it loads a fresh lancet, then you click on the little button on the side and it pricks your finger. The next time you use it, you just click to load, click to prick. I love it, and it truly made it almost painless! Seriously! The FreeStyle Lite lancet device is in a word, AWFUL! It has individual lancets that you have to load yourself, and they HURT! The device is made of cheap plastic and looks like something you'd throw away (disposable)! The lancets are bulky and take up a LOT of room in the case. It came with 10 lancets in the case, and that's about all you can carry without overstuffing it! You'd have to replenish your supply every 3 days or so (depending on how often you test). What a pain...and what if you forgot?

I also carry little foil packets of single-use alcahol pads in my case (I think most people do). With the bulk of the lancets, there isn't room for much else in the case unless you leave some of the other items out, such as your control solution and your lancet adapter for "alternate site" testing. If you don't need to carry those items with you every day (and you probably don't) and aren't worried that they'll get misplaced if not kept in the case, then you're good to go.

The test strips were very similar to the Accu-Chek Aviva strips, and I have no complaints about the strips themselves. However, it would seem that one of the big selling points on the FreeStyle Lite is that the strips don't require "coding". Whooptidoo. They make it sound like "coding" is this awful, laborious chore. It's not. The only difference I see is that if you use coded strips, which my Aviva does, your bottle of test strips has a number on the side of the bottle and comes with a little microchip insert that you put in your meter when you start a new bottle of test strips. When you load a test strip into the meter, it displays the code that should match the number on the bottle you took the test strip out of. It's a control factor. I suppose the nice thing about uncoded test strips is that you can have partially used bottles of test strips laying around the house, or in your car, or in your desk or at your aunt's house that you can just use any old time without your meter tripping out about it. To me, that's NOT a "feature".

The only drawback I can see to having coded strips is if you lose the chip (which would be difficult to do, but could happen) you would not be able to use the rest of the strips out of the corresponding bottle. The chip for my Aviva is very secure and I can't imagine it falling out, but I suppose it could be removed by a small child or a dog chewing on the meter might dislodge it, if I were stupid enough to leave it laying around where a small child or dog could get it. At that point, I'd be more worried about the choking hazard and wondering what kind of parent would leave their meter just laying around, but seriously, coded or not, don't let that be a selling point because in my opinion, it's irrelevant.

Overall, this isn't a bad meter, and if you've never used one before I doubt you'd complain, but for the money go with something from Accu-Chek. They have several different meters and they're just better quality products. Or if you do go with a FreeStyle Lite, get a better lancet device!

Purchased this for my Father as all the free ones he was receiving would not work. Very pleased with my purchased. Very easy for him to operate.

I got this system to do occasional blood glucose monitoring since my annual blood tests have placed me at the top end of a healthy fasting blood glucose level. 110. I want to do everything I can to not fall into the Type II arena so exercise, a healthy diet and monitoring blood levels occasionally is the ticket to staying on top of it. The FreeStyle monitor is very easy to use and the price was OK.

Product was as advertized; all instructions and basic start up was included in this kit. It was priced right and I would order it again.