|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

What Is a Freestyle Meter?

The FreeStyle brand of meters is used to measure the amount of blood glucose present. This line of meters was developed to provide a convenient system for monitoring blood glucose and to reduce the amount of pain and discomfort associated with testing by offering alternate site testing and a smaller sample size than other meters.

  1. Manufacturer

    • FreeStyle meters are designed and manufactured by Abbott Diabetes Care, located in Alameda, California. Abbott Diabetes Care is a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories, which is based in Abbott Park, Illinois. Abbott began designing and manufacturing blood glucose meters after it acquired MediSense in 1996. It bought TheraSense, the creators of the FreeStyle brand, in 2004. Since that time, Abbott has introduced several new meters under the FreeStyle brand name.

    Test Strips

    • Abbott manufactures test strips designed exclusively for use with the FreeStyle brand of meters. As of 2010, the FreeStyle test strips are slightly more expensive than other brands. A well-known pharmacy sells a box of 50 FreeStyle test strips for $63.44, but offers a box of 50 OneTouch Ultra test strips for $49.05.

    Benefits of Use

    • FreeStyle blood glucose meters can provide accurate test results with smaller blood samples. Attaining a smaller blood sample reduces the amount of discomfort involved in testing and can encourage more frequent testing. The Freestyle meters only require a 0.3 microliter blood sample. In comparison, the OneTouch Ultra 2 and OneTouch UltraSmart require a 1 microliter blood sample. The FreeStyle meters also allow alternate site testing. Test results are delivered in 5 seconds. The OneTouch Ultra 2 and OneTouch UltraSmart also deliver results in 5 seconds.

    Self-monitoring Meters

    • The FreeStyle Lite blood glucose meter is small meter designed for discreet testing. The FreeStyle Freedom Lite is slightly larger and has a large, easy-to-read display. FreeStyle meters require 0.3 microliters of blood compared to the average 1 microliter blood sample required by other meters. Both have a test strip port light, backlight, programmable alarms and results can be uploaded into a data management system. They also provide weekly, biweekly and monthly test result averages. As of 2010, the FreeStyle Lite and FreeStyle Freedom Lite can both be purchased for under $20 and are covered by most major insurance companies.

    Continuous Monitoring

    • The FreeStyle Navigator is a type of meter that continuously monitors the level of glucose present in the blood. A sensor is placed on the skin that checks glucose levels every 60 seconds and sends the results to a receiver that sounds an alarm if glucose levels are too low or too high. The FreeStyle Navigator is not covered by most insurance companies and retails for over $1,000.

    Choosing a FreeStyle Meter

    • Consult a physician to determine whether a self-monitoring or continuous monitoring meter is right for you. The FreeStyle Freedom Lite is larger and may be more comfortable to someone with arthritis or impaired vision. The Freestyle Lite is small and may be more convenient for someone who is constantly on-the-go. The FreeStyle Navigator offers continuous monitoring, but it is expensive and is not covered by many insurance companies.

Diabetes - Related Articles