Re: What kind of meter should I get

> "Rich" wrote ...

> I am new to this and I have not yet got a meter.
> I do want to get a meter, just not sure what to get.

I want to give you my experience. It's an Oz experience,
not a USA experience. So it may not have any relevance to you.

A couple of months ago I got a new meter. Before long it
started giving me problems transferring the data from the meter
to the computer. The meter people immediately sent me another
cable free of charge. And everything worked well again. But after
a while I got the same problems using the new cable. Then I started
swapping cables, connecting and disconnecting the cable from the
computer, turning the computing on and off, but the problem
continued on an intermittent basis. (I asked if anybody on this
news group had been having problems like mine.)

Then I began having more problems. The meter people told me to
uninstall/reinstall the software. The next time I had a problem I did
a restore, but I still had problems, even new ones.

Then I saw some one on a news group inquiring about a USB
adapter cable for my brand of meter. That started me thinking.

1. The new computer I bought earlier this year connects to the
computer via a USB port.

2, My previous computer connected via a parallel port.

3. When I bought my first printer over ten years ago you had the
choice of serial or parallel cable. Back then nobody chose serial
to transfer the data from the computer to the printer.

4. My computer has two serial ports and nine USB ports.

Therefore I took my computer, meter, serial cable, & USB adapter
cable along to the computer shop to get it set up to use the USB
port because I wasn't certain how to match the Com port with the
USB port. I asked if they could prioritise my job at all because I
because I wanted to start using my meter again and being able to
analyse my meter results on the computer. They said that all jobs
are done strictly in the order in which they come in, but they then
said they would see what they do. They said it would probably be
in about four or five days. It was ready in ten days!

As soon as I left the computer shop I went and bought another
meter so I could continue testing right away. When I got the
computer, cable and old meter back I still continued testing with
the new meter and I haven't had any more probablems with
testing. So I don't know, yet, whether it has been the new meter
or the USB adapter cable or something elsewhich has cured the problems.

So my suggestion would be that you get a meter with a USB
cable rather than a serial cable if that option is available.

I will probably be phoning my meter supplier in the the next few
days to ask if they would like me to send my old meter back to
them for testing.

I have learnt two things from my experience with the computer
shop. Firstly, if my computer is not completely U/S, they should
be able to give me a job number for my computer to let me keep
using it and then give me to bring it in when they are ready to start
working on it. Secondly, if I need to get work done on something
relating to diabetes I will think about getting a letter from my doctor.

Nev.

Nev. <nev@nowhere.org> wrote:

>> "Rich" wrote ...

>> I am new to this and I have not yet got a meter.
>> I do want to get a meter, just not sure what to get.

> I want to give you my experience. It's an Oz experience,
> not a USA experience. So it may not have any relevance to you.

> A couple of months ago I got a new meter. Before long it
> started giving me problems transferring the data from the meter
> to the computer. The meter people immediately sent me another
> cable free of charge. And everything worked well again. But after
> a while I got the same problems using the new cable. Then I started
> swapping cables, connecting and disconnecting the cable from the
> computer, turning the computing on and off, but the problem
> continued on an intermittent basis. (I asked if anybody on this
> news group had been having problems like mine.)

> Then I began having more problems. The meter people told me to
> uninstall/reinstall the software. The next time I had a problem I did
> a restore, but I still had problems, even new ones.

> Then I saw some one on a news group inquiring about a USB
> adapter cable for my brand of meter. That started me thinking.

> 1. The new computer I bought earlier this year connects to the
> computer via a USB port.

> 2, My previous computer connected via a parallel port.

> 3. When I bought my first printer over ten years ago you had the
> choice of serial or parallel cable. Back then nobody chose serial
> to transfer the data from the computer to the printer.

> 4. My computer has two serial ports and nine USB ports.

> Therefore I took my computer, meter, serial cable, & USB adapter
> cable along to the computer shop to get it set up to use the USB
> port because I wasn't certain how to match the Com port with the
> USB port. I asked if they could prioritise my job at all because I
> because I wanted to start using my meter again and being able to
> analyse my meter results on the computer. They said that all jobs
> are done strictly in the order in which they come in, but they then
> said they would see what they do. They said it would probably be
> in about four or five days. It was ready in ten days!

> As soon as I left the computer shop I went and bought another
> meter so I could continue testing right away. When I got the
> computer, cable and old meter back I still continued testing with
> the new meter and I haven't had any more probablems with
> testing. So I don't know, yet, whether it has been the new meter
> or the USB adapter cable or something elsewhich has cured the problems.

> So my suggestion would be that you get a meter with a USB
> cable rather than a serial cable if that option is available.

> I will probably be phoning my meter supplier in the the next few
> days to ask if they would like me to send my old meter back to
> them for testing.

> I have learnt two things from my experience with the computer
> shop. Firstly, if my computer is not completely U/S, they should
> be able to give me a job number for my computer to let me keep
> using it and then give me to bring it in when they are ready to start
> working on it. Secondly, if I need to get work done on something
> relating to diabetes I will think about getting a letter from my doctor.

That's a nasty story!

Having had 40 years of experience with computers the method I use to
transfer my BG readings to my computer is to read the numbers on the
meter and enter them into the computer by means of the keyboard. It's
quite easy, and so far I haven't had any problems with it :-)

--
Chris Malcolm cam@infirmatics.ed.ac.uk DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:05:33 +1000, "Nev." <nev@nowhere.org> wrote:

>
>
>> "Rich" wrote ...
>
>> I am new to this and I have not yet got a meter.
>> I do want to get a meter, just not sure what to get.
>
>I want to give you my experience. It's an Oz experience,
>not a USA experience. So it may not have any relevance to you.
>
>A couple of months ago I got a new meter. Before long it
>started giving me problems transferring the data from the meter
>to the computer. The meter people immediately sent me another
>cable free of charge. And everything worked well again. But after
>a while I got the same problems using the new cable. Then I started
>swapping cables, connecting and disconnecting the cable from the
>computer, turning the computing on and off, but the problem
>continued on an intermittent basis. (I asked if anybody on this
>news group had been having problems like mine.)
>
>Then I began having more problems. The meter people told me to
>uninstall/reinstall the software. The next time I had a problem I did
>a restore, but I still had problems, even new ones.
>
>Then I saw some one on a news group inquiring about a USB
>adapter cable for my brand of meter. That started me thinking.
>
>1. The new computer I bought earlier this year connects to the
>computer via a USB port.
>
>2, My previous computer connected via a parallel port.
>
>3. When I bought my first printer over ten years ago you had the
>choice of serial or parallel cable. Back then nobody chose serial
>to transfer the data from the computer to the printer.
>
>4. My computer has two serial ports and nine USB ports.
>
>Therefore I took my computer, meter, serial cable, & USB adapter
>cable along to the computer shop to get it set up to use the USB
>port because I wasn't certain how to match the Com port with the
>USB port. I asked if they could prioritise my job at all because I
>because I wanted to start using my meter again and being able to
>analyse my meter results on the computer. They said that all jobs
>are done strictly in the order in which they come in, but they then
>said they would see what they do. They said it would probably be
>in about four or five days. It was ready in ten days!
>
>As soon as I left the computer shop I went and bought another
>meter so I could continue testing right away. When I got the
>computer, cable and old meter back I still continued testing with
>the new meter and I haven't had any more probablems with
>testing. So I don't know, yet, whether it has been the new meter
>or the USB adapter cable or something elsewhich has cured the problems.
>
>So my suggestion would be that you get a meter with a USB
>cable rather than a serial cable if that option is available.
>
>I will probably be phoning my meter supplier in the the next few
>days to ask if they would like me to send my old meter back to
>them for testing.
>
>I have learnt two things from my experience with the computer
>shop. Firstly, if my computer is not completely U/S, they should
>be able to give me a job number for my computer to let me keep
>using it and then give me to bring it in when they are ready to start
>working on it. Secondly, if I need to get work done on something
>relating to diabetes I will think about getting a letter from my doctor.
>
>Nev.
>

i suggest you keep your life simple and use a meter that you find easy
and convenient to use (after all, if it's not easy OR convenient you
probably will be less inclined to use it and using it IS the point,
right?). i would worry less about how the meter hooks up to a
computer. in fact, that doesn't even register on my list of
priorities. and yes, i keep track of and chart my readings on a
simple excel chart.

73,
rich, n9dko

On 12 Nov 2006 10:44:52 GMT, Chris Malcolm <cam@holyrood.ed.ac.uk>
wrote:

>Nev. <nev@nowhere.org> wrote:
>
>>> "Rich" wrote ...
>
>>> I am new to this and I have not yet got a meter.
>>> I do want to get a meter, just not sure what to get.
>
>> I want to give you my experience. It's an Oz experience,
>> not a USA experience. So it may not have any relevance to you.
>
>> A couple of months ago I got a new meter. Before long it
>> started giving me problems transferring the data from the meter
>> to the computer. The meter people immediately sent me another
>> cable free of charge. And everything worked well again. But after
>> a while I got the same problems using the new cable. Then I started
>> swapping cables, connecting and disconnecting the cable from the
>> computer, turning the computing on and off, but the problem
>> continued on an intermittent basis. (I asked if anybody on this
>> news group had been having problems like mine.)
>
>> Then I began having more problems. The meter people told me to
>> uninstall/reinstall the software. The next time I had a problem I did
>> a restore, but I still had problems, even new ones.
>
>> Then I saw some one on a news group inquiring about a USB
>> adapter cable for my brand of meter. That started me thinking.
>
>> 1. The new computer I bought earlier this year connects to the
>> computer via a USB port.
>
>> 2, My previous computer connected via a parallel port.
>
>> 3. When I bought my first printer over ten years ago you had the
>> choice of serial or parallel cable. Back then nobody chose serial
>> to transfer the data from the computer to the printer.
>
>> 4. My computer has two serial ports and nine USB ports.
>
>> Therefore I took my computer, meter, serial cable, & USB adapter
>> cable along to the computer shop to get it set up to use the USB
>> port because I wasn't certain how to match the Com port with the
>> USB port. I asked if they could prioritise my job at all because I
>> because I wanted to start using my meter again and being able to
>> analyse my meter results on the computer. They said that all jobs
>> are done strictly in the order in which they come in, but they then
>> said they would see what they do. They said it would probably be
>> in about four or five days. It was ready in ten days!
>
>> As soon as I left the computer shop I went and bought another
>> meter so I could continue testing right away. When I got the
>> computer, cable and old meter back I still continued testing with
>> the new meter and I haven't had any more probablems with
>> testing. So I don't know, yet, whether it has been the new meter
>> or the USB adapter cable or something elsewhich has cured the problems.
>
>> So my suggestion would be that you get a meter with a USB
>> cable rather than a serial cable if that option is available.
>
>> I will probably be phoning my meter supplier in the the next few
>> days to ask if they would like me to send my old meter back to
>> them for testing.
>
>> I have learnt two things from my experience with the computer
>> shop. Firstly, if my computer is not completely U/S, they should
>> be able to give me a job number for my computer to let me keep
>> using it and then give me to bring it in when they are ready to start
>> working on it. Secondly, if I need to get work done on something
>> relating to diabetes I will think about getting a letter from my doctor.
>
>That's a nasty story!
>
>Having had 40 years of experience with computers the method I use to
>transfer my BG readings to my computer is to read the numbers on the
>meter and enter them into the computer by means of the keyboard. It's
>quite easy, and so far I haven't had any problems with it :-)

same here. no stress. good plan.

73,
rich, n9dko

"Rich" <rich@donotsendmeemail.com> wrote in message
news:3uael2pp5n2isdgg4bkjpjmqndtv4jvd9q@4ax.com...
> On 12 Nov 2006 10:44:52 GMT, Chris Malcolm <cam@holyrood.ed.ac.uk>
> wrote:
>>
>>Having had 40 years of experience with computers the method I use to
>>transfer my BG readings to my computer is to read the numbers on the
>>meter and enter them into the computer by means of the keyboard. It's
>>quite easy, and so far I haven't had any problems with it :-)
>
> same here. no stress. good plan.
>
> 73,
> rich, n9dko

I just write things down in a little notebook.
I can page back through to spot trouble-points (usually highlighted with !
or "rats" or whatever notes in the margin), special events noted at the top
of the page (race! or sick! or whatever), exercise noted on one side, food
down the middle, etc.

If necessary, I have all the raw data to construct any kind of summary I
want.

I can look back through the years of notebooks for any "what did I do the
last time I had this kind of event" information for things that I don't do
often (jury duty, cancer scans) but do repeat.

I'm not much into making bg charts but I could if I wanted to.

I too started in computers 40 years ago.
I know better than to trust them completely!
bj

On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 14:12:10 GMT, Rich
<rich@donotsendmeemail.com> wrote:

>i suggest you keep your life simple and use a meter that you find easy
>and convenient to use (after all, if it's not easy OR convenient you
>probably will be less inclined to use it and using it IS the point,
>right?). i would worry less about how the meter hooks up to a
>computer. in fact, that doesn't even register on my list of
>priorities. and yes, i keep track of and chart my readings on a
>simple excel chart.
>
>73,
>rich, n9dko

I must admit, I no longer bother. When I was first diagnosed
I made up an Excel spreadsheet in which I manually entered
every detail. It also helped my doc to see my graphed
post-prandials and helped him to accept the value of "test,
test, test".

It looked marvellous - colour codes for each mmol/L level,
ranging from deep blue for under 4(72) to angry red for over
10(180); graphs of everything, an included weight and A1c
graph etc.

As time went on I found the data entry not worth the time as
I gained control, so I discontinued it after a year or so.
And I no longer have records - it was on my last crashed
hard disc, although a couple of readers have copies.

Nowadays I use the meter as a real-time device; it lets me
review my recent meal or activity and make a mental note if
I need to change something. No need to log "don't eat
another bagel":-)

YMMV

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 1000mg, ezetrol 10mg
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
--
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: The Vatican