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How to Troubleshoot a FreeStyle® Lite Blood Glucose Meter

Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., is the manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring systems. The FreeStyle Lite meter is a small and compact blood glucose meter which offers an easy-to-use reminder alarm feature. While ease of use is one of the unit's main selling points, problems do occasionally arise. In these cases, troubleshooting is often all that is needed. If you are unable to resolve the problem with your FreeStyle Lite meter, Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc., provides friendly and effective consumer support services.

Things You'll Need

  • Freestyle Lite Blood Glucose Meter
  • Freestyle Lite Testing Strips
  • CR2032 "coin cell" battery
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Instructions

  1. Meter Does Not Enter Test Mode After Inserting the FreeStyle Lite Test Strip

    • 1

      Remove the battery cover from the back of the Freestyle Lite meter. Check to see if a battery is installed. If a battery is installed, make sure that the positive (+) sign faces upward. If no battery is installed, install a CR2032 "coin cell" battery. Replace the battery cover.

    • 2

      Remove the battery cover from the back of the Freestyle Lite meter. Check the battery to make sure that the battery is not dead. If the battery is dead, remove the battery and install a new CR2032 "coin cell" battery. Replace the battery cover. Reset the date and time.

    • 3

      Check to see if the test strip was inserted upside down, wrong end in, or was not completely inserted into the meter. Remove the test strip, and then reinsert the test strip with the printed side up and the top of the strip in the meter. If the meter does not go into test mode, remove the test strip and try again with a new test strip.

    • 4

      Call Customer Care if the meter is still not entering the test mode. The meter or test strips may be defective or there may be blood or a foreign object in the test strip port.

    Test Does Not Start After Applying the Blood Sample

    • 5

      Add blood to the sample area of the test strip. You may have used too small a blood sample. You have up to 60 seconds from the time of the first application to add additional blood to the sample area. If more than 60 seconds have elapsed, remove and discard the used test strip, and then repeat the test using a new test strip with a larger sample of blood.

    • 6

      Remove and discard the used test strip. The test strip might have been defective. Repeat the test using a new test strip.

    • 7

      Turn on the meter after the meter times out after two minutes. Repeat the test using a new test strip. Wait until you see the Blood and Test Strip symbols on the display screen before you apply the blood sample.

    • 8

      Call Customer Care if the test is still not starting after applying a blood sample. The meter or test strips may be defective.

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