TrueTrack Blood Glucose Monitor keeps going like the bunny.

Over the past 20 years Len has had several different kinds of blood glucose monitoring systems. He bought the cheapest ones before he became 65 and received free ones on medicare. Over the next few years, changing H.M.O.'s etc., he used several different systems. With all of these the cost of the test strips were expensive.

Two years ago, and just a couple of months after receiving the Accu-Check Aviva monitoring system, his H.M.O. wanted him to use the TrueTrack Blood Glucose Diabetic Monitoring System. We initially thought what a waste of money, but Humana were on the ball as TrueTrack have the cheapest test strips around.

We were given the test strips, 3 boxes of 100 strips and no monitor. I told the lady at the drug store I don't think these will go with his Accu-Check system. She agreed with us and we were given the TrueTrack Monitoring System. He still has 5 or 6 different meters in his bathroom.

The monitor is blue and silver in color. On the front it has a large display screen with TrueTrack above and below it.

On the top of the monitor, in the middle is the S button for selecting settings, viewing blood sugar averages and checking results in the memory. Either side of this is the decrease and increase button, that allow you to check back on previous readings and then to forward them.

At the bottom of the machine is the slit to insert the test strip. The right side has the data port, the left side has the code chip port to insert the code chip. The back has the battery compartment, meter label, and the serial number of the individual machine.

The initial set up of blood glucose monitoring systems is very similar and this will be explained in the owner's manual. The one thing to make certain of is that the code on the test strip and the monitor are the same. It is also suggested that a quality control test be done before you use the machine on yourself.

Taking a reading is extremely easy. Just remove a test strip and insert it into the bottom of the monitor. Make sure you wash your hands and dry them well before proceeding. Then prick your finger with a lancing device. Give your finger a squeeze so one drop of blood forms and then touch the edge of the test strip. The blood will go into the strip. You will hear a beep. If done correctly the machine will give you your sugar reading with the date and time. Upon removing the used test strip the monitor will turn itself off and the results will remain stored in the memory for you.

Len will use the machine as many times as needed during the day and at night. He often gets a sugar low in the night and it will wake him up. He does a sugar check and often finds it to be in the 50's or 60's. He them has a snack and some orange juice to get him through to the morning.

I have blood work done once a year so every 3 or 4 months I ask Len if I can use the machine to do a blood glucose reading. I hate the sight of blood so he will get the test strip ready, draw a little blood from my finger, and 5 seconds later I have my reading. Mine used to be low but the last couple of readings have been at the lower end of the 70 - 125, which is great.

The TrueTrack Owner's Booklet has 30 pages of instructions and diagrams to make every step straight forward. On the next page it has a 5 year limited warranty. Then there are several pages for any notes you may wish to enter. The back half of the booklet is in Spanish.

The TrueTrack Smart System Blood Glucose Monitor can be obtained for free or almost free. Walgreen's drug store have advertised it free when you purchase a box of 100 test strips. They retailed at $49 which is almost half of the cost of their competitors. Other times they have it on sale for $19.99.

You may think that this machine is cheap and inferior to other makes of meters. I disagree with this as Len has been really happy with it for two years. That is the longest he has ever used a system. It is still working great and I can see that it may in fact last the full 5 years of the warranty.

If you have to pay for your monitors and test strips then I think you will agree that this is a great buy. Over several years you will save a great deal of money.

Len keeps a record of all his blood sugar readings for his G.P. and this machine makes it really easy for him. In the 2 years he has never had a problem with it.