I have a habit of losing anything wallet-size, including my wallet. So it was with trepidation that I recently paid $100 for a tinier version of the blood-glucose meter that I so often misplace.
I’m quite certain that the old glucometer is in one of our cars, but frequent purges of fast-food wrappers, my son’s teething toys, and Diet Coke cans have failed to reveal it.
Glucometers have come a long way
When I was diagnosed with diabetes nine years ago, my first monitor—about the size of a vintage Texas Instruments calculator—was free. (Manufacturers give monitors away because they know they will make up the loss by selling the very expensive testing strips that go in them to diabetics.)
That first glucometer required a vial of messy solution to calibrate it and ample blood-letting to register a score. My fingers throb just thinking about it. But I was lucky: In the 1960s there were no blood-glucose monitors. The first version—large enough that even I wouldn’t have lost it—was invented in 1971.
Today’s monitors require just a drop of blood. They’re tiny: My newest device is small enough to squeeze into a coin pocket in my jeans—well, if I weren’t bursting at the seams, that is.
Now, pure function gives way to stylish design
Recently, Johnson & Johnson subsidiary LifeScan released four models of its OneTouch Mini. They come in four smashing colors.
Now diabetics can accessorize. Cotton candy pumps? Check. Raspberry Louis Vuitton handbag? Got it. “Pink Glow” glucometer? Let the color party begin. (Editor’s Note: No, Sean isn’t a cross-dresser. He’s just speculating.)
There’s also “Limelight,” “Jet Black,” and “Silver Moon.” Or, you can help choose the next color on LifeScan’s site.
I definitely see one clear benefit to the arrival of cute, Apple-effect design in the diabetes world: small, brightly colored objects are a bit harder to lose.
Comments (20)
They’re pretty and functional; that’s great!
Why are pharmaceutical companies wasting their time and our money on funky-colored blood glucose meters? It’s the silliest marketing ploy I’ve ever seen. A glucose monitor isn’t a fashion accessory; you don’t flaunt it like an iPod or Coach bag. It’s a tool to keep you alive, and people who use it generally don’t want other people to see them using it. And the other silly thing: Many of those colored meters can’t be downloaded to computers at doctors’ offices, so they’re useless for monitoring trends in blood sugar.
Sean,
Why did you pay $100 for an OneTouch UltraMini? The standard retail price for this item is $19.99, even in your hometown of Birmingham, AL. Did you buy 5 of them?
The new version of the product has a data port to allow data downloads, so JF’s comment is moot.
Unfortunately, I really needed one and I was on the road–I was having some funky events. Also, I had about $200 worth of strips on that model. It’s very frustrating, but I have only myself and my proclivities for losing objects to blame!
Sean
Actually, my comment is not moot: At my recent doctor’s appointment, when I handed over my One Touch monitor to the receptionist for downloading, she said with a grimace on her face, “Oh, when did you get that?” I said, “August.” She said, “Those One Touch versions that were purchased before October don’t have downloading capabilities. We can’t get any of your data from that.” I bought it because I’d inadvertently left my old monitor in an airport bathroom stall. It was midnight when I realized I had no monitor, so a late-night trip to the drug store forced me to buy the cheapest one there because insurance wouldn’t cover the monitor or strips–it wasn’t my covered pharmacy. Why does a pharmaceutical company think it’s important to put snazzy colors on a device that’s not made for one’s entertainment? And the marketing wizards decided to do away with a functional feature (i.e., downloadability) on those early models of the colored meters without clearly expressing that on the box.
I understand the “funky events”, but was it had delivered by courier? Or did you pay $100 for the meter AND strips (which makes more sense).
I have never seen ANY meter at $100 retail and if you did pay that, you paid 5X the normal price and that pharmacy should be put to shame. I’ve even seen the UltraMini on sale for $10.00 on occasion in drug stores.
It wasn’t my best bargain. I bought a similar model for $10. But I bought this one at Target in Atlanta. I think it was $99 or so with tax. It had 25 strips (I think) as part of the kit.
But had I waited, or had time to shop around, I’m pretty certain I could have gotten it for less. The FreeStyle Lite, the model in question, current retails at CVS for $74.99.
I used its predecessor for years.I bought it on sale for $10, even though it routinely cost $60 or so retail.
Again, not my best buying strategy.
Do you have a favorite model?
Sean
JF: I don’t mind that the companies are enhancing the products they sell with features like data transfer. (I’m a nerd, so all my sugars go in a spreadsheet.) Or that they’re making them attractive. Sounds like an especially neat feature for Type 1s and younger Type 2s. But my main wish is they would bring down the overall cost of strips.
I have half a dozen meters in my office I’m testing out (will share the results in a later post!). Not a one of them is affordable if you consider the cost of testing is more than $1 a poke at retail—hardly an incentive to test frequently.
My insurance company covers a certain brand of glucometer and it’s strips. But I can’t stand the model (not naming names here!) b/c it only works with copious amounts blood.
Still, I’m very happy I don’t have to boil urine—as my grandfather did—just to get a nebulous score like “High” or “Very High.”
Best,
Sean
I would like to start off by thanking you for choosing to write your blog on such an important topic like diabetes, as well as for stating that you have lived with type II diabetes for ten years. It is apparent that you feel strongly about raising awareness about diabetes. It is also refreshing to see that you it with a sense of humor. Although I enjoyed your post on the new line of ipod-esque glucometers by Life Scan on the market, I am curious as to your thoughts on a recent study published by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. I am not sure if you have aware of the study or not, but it states that Hispanics have a harder time controlling their diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. Just wondering if innovative, yet pricey, gadgets like the one mentioned in your post attribute to the problem rather than the solution. It is interesting to see that a product that is meant to facilitate a healthy lifestyle for all people suffering from diabetes would be marketed to a younger and more modern consumer. The study chose to focus on diabetics between the ages of 18 and 79, which could essentially benefit from a product like the One Touch Mini. You stated that you paid close to $100 for your glucometer, but apparently they can be purchased for around $20 now. Although the price of the actual monitor is reasonable, test strip prices are still expensive. Even you stated that manufacturers make money off of diabetics by giving away glucometers but charging a high price for the testing strips. Sure, this new product can appeal to a younger diabetic, but with elevated prices for test strips, is it even plausible that a low income minority would use it as often as is expected?
Although I found your post interesting and informative, I would have liked to have read your insights on products like these in terms of their practicality when living with diabetes. Is a glucometer a product that you believe all diabetics should own (the One Touch Mini or other)? If so, how do you feel about the prices the manufacturers choose to place on products that are essential to promote a healthy lifestyle?
Sean,
From your description about buying this at Target in Atlanta as a combo strip and meter kit, you did NOT buy a OneTouch UltraMini for $100 (in any color). The Ultra meters do not carry strips in the box and require you to buy them separately. That’s why their meters can go on sale for such a price and the particular the regular price for the Mini is no more than $20.
You may have purchased the top of the line Ultrasmart which looks like a Palm PDA with 4 buttons, has a blue backlight, built in logbook and graphs and can be priced at about $89. After Atlanta’s 8% sales tax, then yes you’re talking close to $100, but again still no strips in the box.
I’m not sure what you really bought.
Hey LE:
What I bought was a FreeStyle Lite, which is more expensive than the OneTouch and comes with a small thing of strips. Sorry for the confustion.
Sean
You should join the Diabetes Rockstar social network, you can get a colorful new One Touch mini for free!
And then you can carry it in one of our stylish glucose meter carrying cases, and ditch that ugly black nylon one they come with* :)
Hey ER:
Lots of great questions. First, I’m not sure what would motivate someone to check their blood sugar more often, beyond wanting to be healthier. There are three barriers (that I see) to checking blood sugars:
1. Pain. Never underestimate the fact that nobody (in their right mind) likes drawing blood from their body. Fortunately, it’s not as bad as it used to be. Most modern glucometer models allow you to prick less sensitive parts of your body and use less blood.
2. Cost. Let’s face it, strips are expensive. Mine cost more than $1 a strip. What incentive is that to check my blood sugar four or five times a day? As the glucometers get better, the strips seem to get more expensive. They could do a much better job making these affordable.
3. Inconvenience. Manufacturers have come a long way towards making smaller, easier to use blood sugar monitors. The model above is a prime example. This effort is to be applauded. You can actually carry these around in a pocket, as I often do, ditching the black bag that they usually come in.
There are strategies to lower costs, but diabetes is an expensive disease. I figure my monthly retail costs for supplies and medications easily tops $1,000. I have insurance, so I don’t pay that much. But my blood sugar checking costs are over $100 a month–and that’s out of pocket. For low income diabetics, that’s a lot of money to spend on supplies. Monitors with cheaper strips tend to require you to prick your finger (more pain, more blood) and aren’t as small, shiny or feature-rich as newer monitors.
I’ll write more about managing costs in an upcoming post. Thanks for your comments and questions.
–Sean
Hey Stick Me Designs,
Great stuff. Got to go over well with the Juvenile Diabetes crowd. I’m still looking to hide my gear….Still, would love to be a rock star!
Sean
Hey Sean,
Thanks for replying to my comment, I really appreciate your feedback. I am glad to hear that you will be addressing cost management associated with diabetes in a future post. As a new member of the blogosphere, I would like to direct you to my new blog. I would greatly appreciate any comments you might have in order for me to put forth a blog the public will find useful. It is obvious that you have quite a strong fan base, based on the comments you receive. If you get a chance, check it out. Thanks again.
http://www.the-er.blogspot.com
go to onetouchdiabetes.com …..I got an ultra mini glucometer for free!
hey I ordered one of those cute thingys months ago still haven’t got mine, I lug around the cheap painful pharmacy models.I am a welder and CNC machinist, I work with all guys, pink, small( it can stay in my pocket and be clean)not on top of my machines that usually fry the micro circuit boards. After several infections on my fingers I said dirty words about checking my blood sugar. I quit my doctor told me about this free style, and it would fit my life style perfect, so once again I reordered it, I hope it fits the high exspetations of my doctor and me. THe older I get the harder it is for me to stay in control, so I hope I can get better control with this.
Those newest glucometer modelsare given to the kids from the pediatric endocrinologists…and they are good for a second glucometer by anyone…easy to store in purses and pockets…I think they are trying to decrease the stigma with type 1 diabetes with the kids. I am a registered nurse and relief diabetes educator at one of the hospitals.
I just being diagnostisted with Type 2. Y do not have a monitor. Reading about your comments is interesting and educacional for me. Thanks a lot. I’m going to get one of those One Touch Mini glucometers.Also my doctor prescribed Metformin 500 mg pills. What’s your opinion about this medicine? I really appreciate your comments on anything that can be helpfull and give me some orientation. I’m really scare, this is so new to me. Thanks a lot.
Dear Sean,
Thank you for your blog. I am not diabetic, but today I asked my uncle, who lives in Peru, what he wanted for his birthday. He told me, if you can, get me a glucometer. So, here I am researching about what, where and pros vs. cons of glucometers.
The cost of the strips is a big concern for me because he lives out of his Peruvian retirement pension -so buying a fancy glucometer, for which he would not be able to buy replacement strips,would not make much sense.
The size and inconvenience of pricking his figer may not be a major issue for him. Anyway, your blog has made me realize the many things I need to take into consideration before buying one. If you dd post something about managing cost, I would appreciate if you can direct me to it.
Thank you