Customer Reviews

Home Diagnostics True Track Smart System Blood Glucose Monitor

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

 

 

I received the Walgreens branded version of this meter (it's exactly the same) as my first meter when I was diagnosed last week. Setup is needlessly complex, and the meter will give radically different readings - even on different fingers of the same hand within three minutes of each other.

Last week, I washed, rinsed and dried my hands thoroughly before handling the strips and lance, then rewashed, rinsed and dried my left ring finger and inserted the strip with my right hand (being overly careful not to touch anything with my left hand. I lanced my left ring finger and it read 499. Panicking, I repeated my prep, and tested my right ring finger for a reading of 150. okay, I thought, bad strip. It has to happen, right?

Over the next week, the readings fluctuated radically, so I tested myself using my wife's meter. Rock solid, repeatable results on multiple fingers over multiple times. Thinking maybe my strips were bad, I opened a new pack tonight and properly set up the meter with the new strips, according to the instructions. I properly cleaned and dried my hands and tested my left thumb with a reading of 299, then my right middle finger for a reading of 222. Now my left middle finger for a reading of 153, all in the space of three minutes, max.

I did a Google search on this thing, and several other people have had similar problems. Consumer Reports rated it LAST in their Sept. 08 ratings of 13 blood-glucose self-test kits. I'm throwing this thing away and getting the OneTouch UltraMini, which CR rated highest, for only $2 more than this horrible, cursed thing.

I chose this meter specifically because it was the cheapest in Walgreens, back when I was first diagnosed and before I knew that meters vary so much in quality. I started to get nervous about the TrueTrack later on after reading all the poor reviews.

I decided to bring the meter to my doctor's appointments to compare my results. On three separate occasions, the TrueTrack was within at least two points of the doctor's office. I even brought my TrueTrack with me when I had lab work done at a separate facility and my meter had me one point off from the lab's reading.

My readings always reflect how I feel. I have another discount meter (not a TrueTrack, but that's supposedly of higher quality) that reads me 14-41 points higher than the TrueTrack. I thought the TrueTrack was deceiving me, but I trust the doctor's office laboratory more than I do this other meter.

The test strips are relatively expensive. They almost always include coupons inside the box, which is helpful. I don't think the meter is all that complicated, but if you've never used one before, then you should watch the instructional videos online. I had to do that when it came time to calibrate the meter.

P.S. If you are getting weird results on your meter, then calibrate the meter to ensure accuracy. Remember that testing yourself several times in a row within a few minutes is going to mess up your results. Wait at least half an hour between testings on the same meter. If none of these tips works, call the manufacturer of ANY broken meter and demand a new one.

To all the reviewers who cite inaccuracies when
taking multiple tests within a 3-5 minute or so window...

THIS IS NOT A BLOOD PRESSURE METER!!!


ACCURACY IS MESSED UP - NOT IMPROVED,

ON THE MOST ACCURATE, HOME USE(not made to be used in an office setting)
MONITORS BY TAKING MULTIPLE TESTS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES!!!!!

These meters have components that are biologically sensitive
and every time you test your blood the components are
affected for a period of time after it's processed the reading.

Most people haven't educated themselves on these meters well.

Also, many people think that because testing your blood pressure
three or so times in a row is more accurate

THEN, OF COURSE, testing your blood multiple times must be better then ONCE!

WRONG!!!

If your readings don't make sense check the calibration!

EVERY METER ON THE MARKET(Yes, even the no-codes) needs to be calibrated.

If you can't be bothered to do test the calibration of your meter,
at least wait several munutes to a half hour before testing again.

But realize that testing multiple times within minutes will CAUSE just
as much inaccuracy as if your meter is miscalibrated or damaged.


I've got a Freedom meter that uses $60/per 50 test strips and occassionally test the two at the same time against one another and they have never been more then 3 points apart in readings(and once, before I got the TrueTrack, got a weird reading on the Freedom meter - no product is perfect).

The Freedom meter doesn't require coding(big deal, coding, takes a few seconds for every box of 50 strips - how lazy are people who find that a big deal?) but the strips are a couple of bucks over $60/per 50.

I didn't mind the expense, though being overly Catholic I think it's wrong to outright just WASTE money,

but even though I could afford the strips, my doctor recommended the TrueTrack meter over it because he believes the "four lead" technology they use is more accurate.


I'm willing to deal with sticking a chip in the meter once every 50 strips for a few seconds(coding)

as well as 10 seconds vs. 5 seconds for more accurate results.

Plus, hello! The test strips are less then $20/per 50.


A few seconds coding per 50 strips and 5 extra seconds gets you MORE ACCURATE readings.

Those two ridiculously petty sacrificies are worth the added accuracy.

AND the supplies are ridiculously cheaper!!!


People, please read up on these issues before you trash things that you aren't using properly!

I've seen this syndrome with computer and other tech produsts when I sold computers so many times it's maddening.

People imagine how the equipment will work before they educate themselves on it's use.

Then when the real, actual, physical tech item doesn't act in a way that in their heads they think it should,

THEY ASSUME IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT!

It NEVER EVEN OCCURS TO THEM that just because THEY IMAGINED the tech product(real object) works a certain way

DOESN'T MEAN THE PRODUCT ACTUALLY WORK THE WAY they IMAGINED.

IMAGINING something functions a certain way doesn't mean you really know how that hardware works.

If imagination made us knowledgable,
anybody with an imagination would be able to Engineer, build, repair and fix anything.

That's just not the way the real world works. :(


P.S. To help the gentleman who wrote the following in his review:

"Also, TrueTrack's meter reads low (LLL) at 20 and high (HHH) at 600. With those blood sugar results it would be really unsafe to drive, or you might not be able to call for help before you blacked out."

You are misunderstanding what you read.

The meter is not saying a blood sugar level gets low only when you go below 20 or is high only over 600.

A quick glance at the owner's manual explains this in the instructions on the page immediately after the instructions on how to take your test.

All they are saying is that the meter's range is 20-600.

The LO warning is to let you know the meter can't read the Blood Glucose level because the level is LOWER then it is able to read.

The HIGH warning is to let you know that the meter can't read the Blood Glucose level because the level is HIGHER then it is able to read.

The warning telling you whether or not the meter can't read it because it is either too LOW or whether because it is too HIGH

is an important FEATURE, not a flaw.

Why you may ask?

When I first developed diabetes my doctor sent me to the emergency room because my blood sugar level read 550 on his meter. (Actually at the time it was as much because I was presenting the symptoms of a gallbladder attack as much as the crazy sugar reading).

His meter gave no warning that my blood sugar level was really out of its 550 max range, so he assumed my blood sugar level was actually 550,
cab(no driving) to the emergency room high,

but nowhere near as high as it actually was.

When I got to the emergency room and got the laboratory blood test results
it wasn't 550, it was 1020!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




A HIGH out of range alarm on my doctor's handheld would have let us know that it was higher then the range the device could range.

LO just means your sugar is lower then the device can read,
HIGH just means your sugar is higher then the device can read.

They are not making any statement that anything in between is necessarilly okay in any way.

They are only warning you the results are either too low or if it is too high for the device to read.

It has nothing to do with telling you that between 20-600 you are okay.

I hope this makes you feel a little more at ease, good luck!


To help the guy who wrote:

"I have this testing machine. It worked well with the first ten strips it came with. Then I spent $$$ on additional strips & it never worked again."

Coding? A new box of strips will NEVER work unless you take a few seconds to use the unique coding chip that comes with every new box of strips.

Did you use the new coding chip that comes in every box? The strips on coding meters will never work unless you use the new coding chip that comes in every new box.

Maybe this wasn't the problem, you might have also gotten a box with a damaged coding chip. That happened to me once and I was able to exchange the strips for a new box.

Not coding or a bad chip seems to explain your problem pretty exactly.

But regardless, if you find coding to be too difficult, and/or you suddenly seem to have the problem again after running out of strips and you can't figure it out,

or if it's simply too a big a hassle and you don't want to be bothered with it,

try buying an accurate no-code meter like the Freedom meter, but be prepared to pay more for the strips guy. :(

Like many people, I have the Walgreens branded version of this meter - and overall I was (key word here) pleased with it. Sure the lancet is cheap, and the meter is basic - but this meter is one of the most affordable systems on the market once the cost of strips is figured in. Add the bonus that this meter requires a smaller blood sample than some, and there is no coding to mess with, and in theory this system should be a winner.

But there is a major issue I've run into with this system. My meter reads very low, and it is consistant at doing so. My diabetes caught up with me one day, and I became type 2 seemingly overnight. Yet this meter didn't "express the urgency of the situation" so to speak. It was when I checked my glucose with another meter (WalMarts ReliOn system) that I about fell out of my chair, and drove to the hospital... with a glucose level of over 400!

After the dust settled, turns out my ReliOn meter is very accurate. The real rub is that I wrote customer service, and received a reply that this is normal... meters can be expected to have a +/- 20% variation (a quote).

I am throwing my meter away. The manufacturer does not stand behind it, I rely on my meter to keep tabs on how my diabetic meds are doing, and this isn't worth it.

I am giving this 2 stars - one for the low cost and one for the simple design. But if you have or buy one of these, have it compared to a lab grade unit before trusting it.

I really liked this monitor when I got it. It's easy to use, and the strips cost way less than other meters. My diabetes is type 2, and I've been on metformin and diet control for about 15 years. I keep a very close watch; when I can afford it I test 4 times a day.

Suddenly my blood glucose was reading 130's to 150's before meals. I put it down to stress and maybe less tight diet. I tightened up my diet control, made sure I was getting enough sleep. Sugars began reading 160's to 300 before meals. I don't have health insurance and I had no way to get in to a doctor over the weekend. Before we went to the ER my husband said "Don't you get nauseated and sleepy when your sugar goes high? If you just feel a little tired, are you sure the meter is right?" He's not diabetic, and he did a pre-meal test at 124 (he's normally 80 or less).

I went and bought a bottle of One Touch strips for an old meter I had, and it read 125. I got 165 on the TrueTrack.

I found out I have to send the meter back to be recalibrated and wait for it to return. No suggestions on how I monitor in the meantime. They consider 20% variability to be acceptable. My readings were anywhere from 20-40 points off. Now, most sliding scale insulin based on how high your blood sugar goes over a certain number, in increments of 10. I think 20 to 40 off could be a real problem for anyone taking insulin.

Fortunately I'm on oral medication and increased that according to my doctor's directions, which just made me feel rather nasty. If I had been taking insulin to correct I could have gotten into serious trouble. Also, TrueTrack's meter reads low (LLL) at 20 and high (HHH) at 600. With those blood sugar results it would be really unsafe to drive, or you might not be able to call for help before you blacked out. My current meter reads LLL for low at 40, giving me time to get some carbs in and/or get help. Since you're not always the brightest thing on the planet when you're having a critical low, it helps when the meter practically screams "Do something now!" in time.

This is a great low cost meter for someone who wants to casually monitor and is willing and able to verify on another meter or at their doctor's office if they start getting strange results. If you're trying to go it on your own with only minimal doctor visits and no health insurance, save yourself from diabetic complications and spend the money for a more expensive meter and strips.

There's a discount card program called Together Rx Access you can find on the Web. You can watch for strip sales, and some internet sites have almost-expired strips you might be able to use before the expiry date. Ask your doctor how infrequently you can get away with testing to make the expensive strips last, and if they have any samples from the reps. I've learned my lesson. I would rather test once a week and when I have symptoms and have it be accurate, than test more often on a less accurate meter and get into trouble.

I am not diabetic, and, my last fasting glucose from the lab was 98 (a month ago), so I wanted to start checking my blood sugar so I didn't start going into the pre-diabetic range. I have been watching my diet (low glycemic eating) and exercising and losing weight. I bought the Walgreens version of the True Track. My fasting glucose on the True Track was around 130 (Diabetic range) on separate occasions. I checked to make sure the codes were accurate and used the test solution to make sure the meter was reading within range. I was alarmed at my readings and bought another brand of meter. My fasting glucose ranges between 83-99 on the new meter. I also used a friend's meter that matched the same result range 83-99 (Fasting). Also, my HA1C in March was 4.8% and 4.6% in July, so I know that I am not running fasting sugars that high. I understand glucose meters aren't exact, but to put me from non-diabetic to diabetic is absurd. If I could give the True Track 0 stars I would. Very disappointed.

This product is "not better than nothing", it is worse than nothing. I began to question the results based on the way I feel as all of us pretty much know when our sugar is unusually high or low. I did back to back test (within 30 seconds) and found the spread between the results as much as 60 points one time. No persons blood sugar can change 60pts in 30 seconds. Picked up another exact model meter at the local drug store (they give them away for free) and tested the two meters side by side and received results that differed by 30 points. I'm quite sure I can find a free program on the internet that will generate random numbers which does not require me to bleed before it gives me a number. Since I would like to know my actual blood sugar level, I'll be shopping for another meter.

Based on my experience and in my opinion, this product should be removed from the market.

Get any other meter but the True Track if you can help it. The True Track is the cheapest, and it is probably OK for someone who does not need consistently accurate results, but if you are pregnant or need to have tight blood glucose control you should get something better. I work with pregnant women and some of them had insurance that would not cover any other meter except True Track. We often compared them to other meters. The True Track meters usually (but not always) read 10-20% higher than the other meters, and occasionally read 30-40% higher. Occasionally they agreed with the other meters, but not nearly often enough!

I just received this monitor and I'm afraid to use it.
The box it came in was kinda rough looking but I figured that was from shipping. imagine my surprise to find out it was a USED item!!
How do I know this? Well the manual that came with it has a BLOOD STAIN in it!!!!

I have emailed the company and I am waiting to see what happens.

Now I'm possibly stuck with 50 test strips that I'm not going to use. :(

I was given this meter by my pharmacy when I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I can understand that since I would only be using it for a few months, the pharmacy would assume I'd prefer to spend as little money as possible on it. Well, when you have GD, you don't really have a large range to work with, and numbers falling within the range that the makers of this meter consider an acceptable accuracy range were totally unacceptable for my needs.

My numbers had to be under 120 an hour after eating. So if my true reading was a 115, that would be fine, but if it was 10% off and showed up as a 126, I'd have to do some adjusting. I constantly found myself wondering if the meter was accurate or not, especially since I frequently saw that the meter would exactly repeat my last reading, but then be wildly different on a re-test. To the previous reviewer who ranted that you need to wait at least a half hour to retest... if you're on a very strict testing schedule, waiting a half hour is unacceptable, since your numbers might have dropped considerably in that time period.

I woke up one morning and was shocked to find out that my fasting level was 137. I waited about five minutes and re-tested... and it showed a 103. I had a doctor's appointment that morning, so I took my meter and strips to the office and did a simultaneous test with my meter and one at the office. My TrueTrack showed a 140, while the doc's showed an 83. I was given a new meter that day. Unfortunately it was another TrueTrack. I still get inconsistent readings.

Because of the super-tight range Gestational Diabetes patients are on, I would consider this meter pretty much useless for that purpose. I would have much rather spent a few extra dollars for a more accurate meter and considered the money well spent for the peace of mind. The test strips are so incredibly cheap though that I'll throw it in a drawer instead of the dumpster; I'd trust it enough to keep around and sporadically check my husband's and my blood sugar to make sure we're not progressing toward any pre-diabetic/diabetic levels, but that's about it. If I ever have another GD pregnancy, I'm running out and buying something more accurate.