Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Eileen,

Thanks for the link, but I still don't understand why there is a code on the new vials of strips. There was not a code on the old ones.

Hugs,
Heidi and Chloe

Here you go Linda...

http://www.myfreestyle.com/fs/d/en_U...:110/no-coding

[Ladybug]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

I don't understand it either. I'm still doing my comparisons with Ladybug today and the new strips are still reading a consistent 25% lower than the AlphaTrak and the old FS Lite strips.

Example - her reading this AM with the NEW FS Lite strip was 144, I added 36 (25% of 144) which totaled to 180.
Her AlphaTrak reading was 182, her reading on the OLD FS Lite strip was 176.

Close enough for me, but I would prefer the old strips back where I don't have to calculate. But I guess like anything, it will become second nature to automatically add 25% to all her readings.

Guess it's time to go on the "hunt" for the old FS Lite strips and hoard them!

Linda/Ladybug

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi everyone,

I hate to keep bringing this up, but I am still confused about the new Freestyle Lite strips. Why this code on the vial, if there is no coding?

Also, here are the comparisons I have done since I got the new strips:

Old New Difference
156 147 9 points
84 72 12 points
77 75 2 points
94 94 0 points
136 123 13 points

This is an average of 7.2 points

Now, when I took my meter to my Vets office and had her draw blood to check the AlphaTrak Strip against the Old Freestyle Lite Strips, the AlphaTrak Strip was 30 points low from the lab value and the Old Freestyle Lite Strip was 40 points low from the lab value.

Am I wrong or do these new strips seem to be not as consistent as the old ones? There are things I like about them though.....the strip turns the meter on when you insert it and the little barb thing seems to require less blood.

Hugs,
Heidi and Chloe

[Ladybug]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Heidi,

I just sent an email to Abbott about the coding on the vial.

I wish my numbers were as close as yours. The original FS Lite strips and AT strips are within a few points of each other. The NEW FS Lite strips are still consistently 25% lower than the AT and original FS. I asked them about that also.

I will let you know about the coding when Abbott replies.

Linda/Ladybug

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Thanks Linda, I really appreciate it. If they would make the AlphaTrak strips more affordable, maybe we wouldn't have to go through all of this. I hate to change meters at this point. You probably saw on Chloe's tread where I dropped my meter a while back. Well, I ended up buying an new one and now this issue with the new strips has come up. Arghhhhhh!

Hugs,
Heidi and Chloe

Hi Heidi,

I just sent an email to Abbott about the coding on the vial.

I wish my numbers were as close as yours. The original FS Lite strips and AT strips are within a few points of each other. The NEW FS Lite strips are still consistently 25% lower than the AT and original FS. I asked them about that also.

I will let you know about the coding when Abbott replies.

Linda/Ladybug

[Ladybug]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Heidi,

Well, they sort of skirted the issue.

Here's my original email:

Just a quick question on the test strips. The "new and improved" Freestyle Lite test strips with the ZipWik have a "Code 16" on the bottle. I thought these strips were "no coding required" like the original strips? Also my readings on the "new" strips are consistently 25% lower than on the old original strips. Can you let me know what's going on? Thanks.

Brian from Abbott replied:

Thank you for contacting Abbott Diabetes Care, maker of FreeStyle and Precision products.We understand your concern with the difference seen in your meter readings. It is important to note that there are a number of factors that can contribute to the expected variation between blood glucose readings. We suggest that you contact our toll-free Customer
Care Line at 1-888-522-5226 for assistance in understanding these comparisons. We are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Notice there is no mention of why the new vials of strips are coded? So I sent another email:

My MAIN concern is why are the vials of strips coded 16 when the Freestyle Lite system is "no coding required"? I asked this question in my original email and it was not addressed in your reply. Thanks for answering that particular question for me.

No reply as of yet. I am starting to get a little concerned as to why they didn't even address my first and main question!

I will let you know!

Linda/Ladybug

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Linda,

Well, I'd say they did, LOL. I bet you are not the only one who has e-mailed them and asked that question. Maybe you will get a reply today and we can put this issue to rest and focus on how much to adjust our numbers. Since these strips are clearly different from the old ones, I feel I will need to repeat the process of checking them with the Lab values at the Vet as soon as I can.

Hugs,
Heidi and Chloe


Hi Heidi,

Well, they sort of skirted the issue.

[Ladybug]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Heidi,

Well, I got a reply,

Thank you for contacting Abbott Diabetes Care, maker of FreeStyle and Precision products.

The test strip vial lists a "default" code but no coding required. The code number is for internal purposes only. The code number has no effect since there is no calibration with the meter.

Feel free to contact our customer care line at 1-888-522-5226 anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
Brian
Abbott Diabetes Care

If the code number is just for "internal" purposes only, they shouldn't list it as a code number, something else maybe.

I wouldn't worry if I were you. I think your numbers are perfect, so close to the old strips.

I found AlphaTrak strips on Ebay for a really good price plus she's a Power Seller with 100% feedback. I'm doing OK with adding 25% to the FS Lite readings but I really wished I didn't have to do it that way.

Maybe my meter is off and it's really not the strips. I guess we'll see.

Linda/Ladybug

[Chloe's Mom]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Linda,

I agree with you, the code should not be on there if it is for internal purposes only. Thanks so much for all you did to get an answer out of them. Just to be safe, I am taking the new strips to my Vet as soon as I can to verify them. I have a brand new One Touch Ultra 2 meter that I am taking as well.

I let you know how things come out.

Hugs,
Heidi and Chloe

[CarolW]

Re: Question for using Freestyle Lite Strips in AlphaTrak

Hi Heidi,

Hope you enjoy your Ultra2. Once I started using mine, I never looked back - and never translated numbers, either (my vet ues the same meters).

To me, as I worked to keep Kumbi as well as possible, it was a matter of retaining a good SHAPE (trends, you know) to the curves. Of course, I had trouble, as his cancer advanced and messed things up, though I didn't know that at the time.

If I'd been needing to chase numbers, I might have hoped to get more accurate readings, but turns out, I didn't need to.

As it was, I did some adjusting in Kumbi's last month or sol

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:41:10 (PDT)