TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker

Juan Antonio said:

Does anyone have an opinion on the TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker? I was offered one today and I'm
wondering if I should take it. Right now I'm using an UltraSmart and I was going to get another one
of those. One of

my

Quoted message said:

concerns is that I was told that the Tracker takes 15 seconds for a result, but my UltraSmart only
takes 5. I realize it's only 10 seconds, but when I've gone to slower meters, I always found myself
looking at the meter and waiting for it to finish.

--
Antonio Age 37, Type 1 for 10 years On Insulin Pump

concatenated

Juan Antonio said:

Does anyone have an opinion on the TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker? I was offered one today and I'm
wondering if I should take it. Right now I'm using an UltraSmart and I was going to get another one
of those. One of my concerns is that I was told that the Tracker takes 15 seconds for a result, but
my UltraSmart only takes 5. I realize it's only 10 seconds, but when I've gone to slower meters, I
always found myself looking at the meter and waiting for it to finish.

Then why change? Ten seconds is not the end of life. The only advantage of Freestyle over Lifescan
is price of sticks. At hocks.com hocks.comteststrips02.htmOpen ↗ 100 Freestyle
sticks costs $49.00 and 100 one touch ultra sticks cost $71.50 at hocks.com
hocks.comteststrips03.htmOpen ↗

hocks.com is the cheapest place I know of to get sticks.

_____________________________________________
tcainternet.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

Antonio,

Just to be clear, by Tracker, do you mean the version that plugs into a Handspring Visor PDA ?

I have one for demo purposes. It works as well as a regular Freestyle meter, as you would expect. I
carried it around for a while to test it out.

Here are the plusses and minuses , IMHO

1) If you normally carry around a Handspring Visor for your PDA a huge plus.
2) Bigger touchscreen display also a plus.
3) Data gets synced when you sync the Visor to your computer.
4) You can use the PDA for other relevant programs, such as a carb counter like EZ Manager
from Animas.

5) It's oversized for the slot, meaning your Visor is now longer and thicker than before....so mine
no longer fit in its case. It also meant that the Visor on my hip case jabbed me in the love
handle area whenever I bent over. Therasense offers a bigger case as an option.

6) Handspring Visors are near the end of their life cycle. This could actually be good, since they
are now incredibly inexpensive. However I have moved on to a newer model that doesn't have the
"springboard module" port. Similarly you will be locked into an older PDA with no upgrade option.

7) I'm not sure I would like getting blood drops onto my PDA, which happens to all meters at
some point.

8) The built-in features of the Tracker are similar to the Ultra Smart....so this one is neutral.

Hope this helps.... William C Biggs MD

"Juan Antonio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have an opinion on the TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker? I was offered one today and I'm
wondering if I should take it. Right now I'm using an UltraSmart and I was going to get another
one of those. One of

my

Quoted message said:

concerns is that I was told that the Tracker takes 15 seconds for a

result,

Quoted message said:

but my UltraSmart only takes 5. I realize it's only 10 seconds, but when I've gone to slower
meters, I always found myself looking at the meter and waiting for it to finish.

--
Antonio Age 37, Type 1 for 10 years On Insulin Pump

Juan Antonio said:

Does anyone have an opinion on the TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker? I was offered one today and I'm
wondering if I should take it. Right now I'm using an UltraSmart and I was going to get another one
of those. One of my concerns is that I was told that the Tracker takes 15 seconds for a result, but
my UltraSmart only takes 5. I realize it's only 10 seconds, but when I've gone to slower meters, I
always found myself looking at the meter and waiting for it to finish.

I've used the Freestyle meter, the Tracker, and Ultra meters.

The Freestyle meter (the one not associated with Handspring) is a bit larger, and for my taste, a
bit "clunkier" than the Ultra. The fact that you can test from either side of the strip, and the
very minute blood sample, are points in its favor. On the negative side, trying to find AAAA
batteries!!!

I have used the Tracker, plugged into my Handspring (but lost the device when I left it behind in a
taxi in Munich). I loved how the PDA program kept all records, had a listing of carbs, etc., for
calculating boluses, and in general, was very helpful. Now that the Tracker is gone, I have returned
to the Ultra Meter, and am happy with that decision.

Dr. Biggs' comments on how the Handspring platform is on its way out is well taken--though I look
forward to future developments in this area.

Dr. Biggs,

That was very helpful and insightful information. Thank you.

--
Antonio Age 37, Type 1 for 10 years On MiniMed insulin pump "William C Biggs, MD"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:M_wkb.1081$d87.389@okepread05...

Quoted message said:

Antonio,

Just to be clear, by Tracker, do you mean the version that plugs into a Handspring Visor PDA ?

I have one for demo purposes. It works as well as a regular Freestyle

meter,

Quoted message said:

as you would expect. I carried it around for a while to test it out.

Here are the plusses and minuses , IMHO

1) If you normally carry around a Handspring Visor for your PDA a huge

plus.

Quoted message said:

2) Bigger touchscreen display also a plus.
3) Data gets synced when you sync the Visor to your computer.
4) You can use the PDA for other relevant programs, such as a carb counter like EZ Manager from
Animas.

5) It's oversized for the slot, meaning your Visor is now longer and

thicker

Quoted message said:

than before....so mine no longer fit in its case. It also meant that the Visor on my hip case
jabbed me in the love handle area whenever I bent

over.

Quoted message said:

Therasense offers a bigger case as an option.

6) Handspring Visors are near the end of their life cycle. This could actually be good, since they
are now incredibly inexpensive. However I

have

Quoted message said:

moved on to a newer model that doesn't have the "springboard module" port. Similarly you will be
locked into an older PDA with no upgrade option.

7) I'm not sure I would like getting blood drops onto my PDA, which

happens

Quoted message said:

to all meters at some point.

8) The built-in features of the Tracker are similar to the Ultra

Smart....so

Quoted message said:

this one is neutral.

Hope this helps.... William C Biggs MD

"Juan Antonio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have an opinion on the TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker? I was offered one today and I'm
wondering if I should take it. Right now I'm using an UltraSmart and I was going to get another
one of those. One of

my

Quoted message said:

concerns is that I was told that the Tracker takes 15 seconds for a

result,

Quoted message said:

but my UltraSmart only takes 5. I realize it's only 10 seconds, but

when

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've gone to slower meters, I always found myself looking at the meter

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

waiting for it to finish.

--
Antonio Age 37, Type 1 for 10 years On Insulin Pump

John Lindberg said:

On the negative side, trying to find AAAA batteries!!!

Radio Shack.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Kent
Newsgroups: misc.health.diabetes,alt.support.diabetes
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: TheraSense FreeStyle Tracker

John Lindberg said:

On the negative side, trying to find AAAA batteries!!!

Radio Shack.

Tear apart any 9 volt battery and you will find 6 AAAA cells inside and it's much cheaper than
buying them individually. All you need is a pair of dikes or needle nose pliers. Voila!, I have 6
batteries for a buck fifty. JL

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On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 01:26:04 -0600, "Fred" <two [email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Tear apart any 9 volt battery and you will find 6 AAAA cells inside

DANG!!! 8-)

You are one clever son of a gun!

This bears repeating now and then, maybe ought to be added to a FAQ somewhere.