[minto2k]

Anyone seen this meter yet or even got one of these?

I have the Accu-Chek® Compact Plus GT at the moment, and find it very convenient to use. This looks even easier with less waste. Even more discrete! Heres a link if you want a look.

I phoned Accu-chek (UK) today for an upgrade, but they are only selling it through Boots at the moment (£50) and the internal test drum (50 tests) is retailing at about £40.

Out of my budget for now...

[rogerl]

I got this one and I am happy with it. Can even do tests while driving because you just need the one hand to operate it. There is no fuss with test strips and needles. How it compares to the Compact Plus GT I do not know. But it is way better than my old where I had to load single strips and a new needle every time. The bad thing is that because it is so easy to use I test way more now.

[caraline.mcleod]

I was lucky to get this one as a freebie when some trials were being done on it here in Australia. I love it and it is now my meter of choice.

When I first held it, I thought "what a whooper" and did wonder if I'd want to carry such a large unit around after using the Nano. However, when I consider the convenience of not having deal with strips when having a hypo (shaky hands & fuzzy head) and also not having to deal with disposing of strips when out & about, it really is worth it.

[leeard]

Looks like a nice meter, to bad the strips are so expensive. I use a Relion Ultima meter (made exclusively for Wal Mart) and rather than $50+ for 50 strips I pay $20

[ridland]

Phone customer support and tell them you want to upgrade or switch from a competitor. I did this and had it via 1st class signed delivery the next day. I have paid for a meter in the 7 years I've been diagnosed and I always "need" the latest toy.

As for meter itself, it's fabulous. No clinical waste and six tests (number of lancets in drum) is perfect number per day for me. Although if I need to test more and have forgotten to change drum, they don't dull too much if you need to reuse a couple of times. (don't tell my DSN). I'll never go back to test strips again.

[ridland]

Typo. I've never paid for a meter. The companies are happy to give the meters away if you will be using their expensive proprietary strips.

[redrevis]

Here's my mini review compared to my old meter, the Optium Xceed:

I used to use an Optium Xceed, now it's my back-up meter and I now use the accu-chek mobile. I was given this for free at a Diabetes event. The guy who gave me one said they retail for about £50 but actually cost more to produce, so the company loses money on each one. I'm sorry but that's got to be utter bulls%&t. Even 'if' by some strange reality they have people hand making them one by one pushing up massive production costs they must make an absolute fortune on the cassettes. The cassettes cost about £30 for 1, which contains 50 tests.

Out of that 50 you might actually get 40-45 tests due to it sometimes giving error messages, or 'too little blood applied' when quite clearly I applied plenty of blood. I think normal boxes of strips like for the Eceed cost about £20 for 50. So these are a fair bit more expensive.

Even though the mobile has it's flaws, I still use it over my Xceed purely for the fact, everything you need is in one unit. This thing must be the fastest way to test as I can do it stood up, out and about, anywhere so easily, without having to open pots, tear open strip packaging etc. The motor is a little noisey if you are in a silent room, but I'm not fussed about being discreet, i test and inject anytime any place I need to.

I would say the mobile gives readings 'slightly' higher than the Xceed, but this doesn't really bother me as any meter reading is only a guide anyway and should not be thought of as an 'exact' measurement.

The finger pricker, 'fastclix' as super easy to use. Uses the same drum design as the multiclix so is very convenient and has the usual .5 increment depth settings.

Changing the cassette is one of the easiest things ever, so no problems there.

The display is easy to read, it has lots of settings, 'flags' for before meal, after meal etc. Has infra red for transfering data to a computer. Gives averages in 7,14,30 day periods for all tests or before meals, after meals etc. You can set target ranges, and reminders. It lets you know how many tests remain on the cassette after each test so you know when your coming to have to change it.

I've been using this for a few months now and I haven't had to change the battery yet. It is a little heavier and bulkier than other meters, so I disagree with the marketing name of 'mobile' in that sense, but it is on the button for being 'mobile' in the sense of using it on the move. I mean, you could even test using this thing whilst jogging it's so easy.

I value this meters strengths over it's weaknesses but can see why it's not for everyone. It's definitely the most convenient meter i've used so far (used about 4 different ones).

[duckman]

Originally Posted by ridland

Typo. I've never paid for a meter. The companies are happy to give the meters away if you will be using their expensive proprietary strips.

Have you had problems with differences in readings between the different meters? I have two meters, and one consistently reads higher than the other, even if I test at the exact same time.

Also, is there any kind of comparison of meters showing which is more accurate? I know none of them are 100% right on, but I want to know which of the two I have now gives the most accurate result.

[jamala]

"The problems of the Accu-Chek" - report after two days as a student at Roche

I study chemistry in Germany. I had a 'Roche meets' visit for e-fellows (students that could work for Roche - advertising visit) at Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany. There was an visit through the development of diabetes meters. There, the Accu-Chek devices were developed. First there was the standard program with informatio about career at Roche. There were 1000 Power Point slides shown. Boring. It was the business model. Also, the importance of customers and patients. At the time I still believed that and thought it was great!
Then came the visit through the company. Many offices. A lot of logistics. But little technology.
In Mannheim, it is only the development for diabetes. Otherwise there is nothing more. It does not look for innovation.

The visit went into the development for Accu-Chek boodglucose meters. There is a room with lots of blood glucose meters. They let us try different Accu-Chek: Mobile, Compact, Nano. Since there were important models of meters by other companies. We could only view and not use it. When trying out the Accu-Chek has been with me my blood glucose had a very high value. The woman, who looked after us, said the wrong high values with the measured value is known. There is a problem with the technique. This was recognized in studies. It also had people in the clinic.
She has explanation : When the test strip is beeing pressed or moved, then the value change is different. Because the tape is deformed. Then, the light is measured with the wrong reflected. This also happens when the tape is moved by mistake. Then the dark bars are in the signal. This is a problem with the optical assembly.
As I understand it: the band is like a mirror that reflects the light back to the measuring unit (the red lights within the meter) differently, so that the device detects other, wrong values!
Another flaw: when the finger is not washed, then put any dirt on the tape. This mixes with the blood. This can also give false readings. Man, I should always wash your fingers. I was wondering: what if I'm on a trip? I can not always wash my hands. The answer was: you can not tape over the lead?. But old people get the point no. Not even people with low blood sugar. Or on the bus, if it wobbles.

The high values are also known by other users. In many forums it is reported. But the company does not care. The woman was delighted by the mechanical standard in Mobile. But what brings people with diabetes complicated technology, if not the result of sugar right? As developed by false pretenses!
A member of the development says, for admission in the clinical study were were cassettes pre-selected, pre-sorted. To make sure nothing happens! That said!!!

The employees also said that the new system, the successor of Mobile, there should be only better technology. Bluetooth, USB and so on. But to measure the volume and the type remains the same!
The error remains!
It does not get better, and Roche agrees that the wrong people measure.

It went on. In a laboratory. The people of the development in the narrow laboratory looked annoyed when we were out there. The measure thousand strips by hand every day. I asked a woman in a yellow shirt Whether the false with the values often occur? As pushed in between the lab director and said we need to leave the room because of risk of infection.

That was an interesting first day. I was very shocked? About the openness of me? Found was about? HAZARDOUS bug speak!

On days at most a man by the way said, that Roche is developing a whole new system:
Arbeutet it with a new chemistry, which is insensitive to light and humidity. It was measured with UV. It should be as small lancets. Over a small canal, the blood comes automatically to the test area. It takes very little blood volume for 50 or more tests ona disk. It is a technical gimmick, a TOY - too fragile for each day measuring.
After what I've learned the day before this is still found as dangerous: The diabetic has no more influence on the measurement. The lower the blood volume, the sensitive system to dirt! Then again tinkered a technical gimmick. And diabetics, Roche does not matter.
About Facebook, I am in contact with one of the developers. It CONFIRMS my suspicions and says that Roche is no longer Boehringer. It would be saved. There are degraded places. The quality is t low.

The high-bay warehouse was the only technical highlight of the day. There was something to see what was modern times. It has surprised me? How easy everything was for Roche and how dreary and gray.

Known problems as to turn that it is sold is still not great.

Need a FDA warning letter: Accu-Chek Mobile High Values Bloodglucose Wrong Values!