LawsuitGuru asked:

FDA is alerting healthcare professionals and patients about counterfeit blood glucose test strips which are being sold for use with various models of LifeScan’s One Touch blood glucose monitors. LifeScan says that its testing of the counterfeit strips shows erratic test results. These strips could give incorrect blood glucose values, either too high or too low, which might result in a patient taking either too much or too little insulin. This could lead to serious injury or death.

The counterfeit test strips have been identified as certain lots labeled as “One Touch Ultra” or “One Touch Basic/Profile”. To date, the counterfeit product has been limited to 50-count packages for both products.

For the 50-count packages of One Touch Ultra test strips, the counterfeit version will have all three of the following characteristics:

• Lot Numbers 2691191 or 2691261
• Multiple languages - the outer carton is in both English and French.
• No NDC number (normally located on the bottom of the outer carton for US product)

For the 50-count packages of One Touch Basic/Profile test strips with lot numbers 272894A, 2619932 or 2606340, the counterfeit version will have the following characteristics:

• Multiple languages - the outer carton is in English, Greek and Portuguese.
• No NDC number (normally located on the bottom of the outer carton for US product)

For the 50-count packages of One Touch Basic/Profile test strips with lot numbers 2615211 or 227078A, the counterfeit version will have the following characteristics:

• Only English appears on the outer carton.
• Counterfeit vial is labeled “plasma calibrated.”

The counterfeit test strips were distributed to pharmacies and stores nationwide, but primarily in Ohio, New York, Florida, Maryland and Missouri. Consumers who have the counterfeit test strips should stop using them, replace them immediately and contact their physician. Health care professionals should alert patients who use these test strips about the possibility of counterfeiting. Pharmacists and retailers should check their inventories routinely. For additional information, contact LifeScan at 1-866-621-4855.

MARDELL

Perry asked:


Maybe I’m not doing it right?
It’s a blood glucose reading kit — it comes with needle device, strips and electronic reading device.
So, I prick the finger to bring blood, then I take a strip…..put it into the slot in the end of the reader, and put the blood on the part of the strip that’s sticking out. Then I wait for a reading, but either I don’t get a reading or the numbers (characters) are unreadable. Please, what am I doing wrong? Can someone spell out step by step what I should do…am I putting in the strips wrong,…..thanks

LAMAR

=D asked:


OBJECTIVE To find out whether diabetics can use their blood glucose monitor to help them determine sugar content in their drink

RESEARCH Diabetics have strict diets because too much or too little sugar is dangerous. Even too much fruits are bad. Diet drinks with artificial sugar are preferred over regular drinks with sugar.

PROCEDURE Test 11 different types of drinks twice by adding a drop of each drink on a test strip and inserting it into the blood glucose monitor.

RESULTS Total of 22 trials was experimented. Water has 0g/240mL of sugar (read “less than 20 mg/dL” both times); Propel has 2 g/240mL of sugar (reads 111mg/dL and 107 mg/dL); Gatorade contains 14g/240mL of sugar (reads 228mg/dL and 279 mg/dL); Apple Juice has 26g/240mL of sugar (reads “HI” which means it is over 600mg/dL); Iced tea has 17g/240mL of sugar (reads 461mg/dL and 484mg/dL);Diet iced tea has 0g/mL of sugar (reads 27mg/dL and “less than 20mg/dL”);
Low fat milk has 12g/240mL of sugar (reads 104mg/dL and 113mg/dL); Coke has 27m/240mL (reads “HI” both times); Diet Coke has 0g/240mL of sugar (reads 41mg/dL and “less than 20mg/dL”); Coke Zero has 0g/mL of sugar (reads 90mg/dL, then “Error”) and of sugar

CONCLUSION Diabetics can use a Blood Glucose Monitor to read sugar content, however it is not accurate. It can only read a range. Drinks with lactose are not as accurate as those containing added sugar.

VAREN

kJ asked:


does not use testing strips…does anyone know what the name of this kit is?? I have heard that they make one but can’t seem to find any information on it. I am curently using freestyle flash and I just can’t afford the strips. I don’t qualitfy for any programs, at least the ones that I have seen because I do have heath insurance, but it is still 80$$$ a month. Anyone have any idea

MARNIN

Autumn Leaves asked:


My family has a history of diabetes so I test my blood glucose often. Everything has been normal. I can no longer afford the test strips so I started using my late father’s old ones. His monitor too as his strips don’t fit mine. The strips are expired. I’m starting to get readings in the 600’s. However I’m not passing ketones (those strips are new and unexpired). Could the old strips be causing these high readings? Thanks for any help.

KYNA

Jess asked:


I know that closed-loop feedback control would be so much better (tighter control on blood sugars) than what I am doing now. It would give me increased flexability for when and how much I eat, would automatically adjust for variation in exercise and just make living with diabetes a little less burdensome.

I’ve seriously been considering developing my own feedback control system (I have an electronics engineering background) if I could find a good glucose sensor. The real shame is that you don’t need a really accurate sensor to obtain significantly better glucose control than is possible with an open-loop system. I don’t know if the medical community doesn’t realize this, or if the test-strip manufactures are buying up all the glucose sensor patents and sitting on them or what is going on.

If anyone knows of a longterm continuous glucose sensor please let me know.

SVEIN

Pythoness asked:


Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamsters (Phodopus campbelli) are prone to diabetes. It is thought to be a genetically inherited disorder, although one hamster autopsied by a vet the UK thought it was possibly secondary to a virus that destroyed pancreatic cells. But since it is thought to be genetic, all responsible dwarf hamster breeders test their stock for diabetes. Most of us test using home urine test strips for ketones and glucose. My question is: How accurate are urine test strips meant for humans going to be in hamster urine? Hamsters concentrate their urine much more than people do - wouldn’t this affect the reading (giving a falsely high result)? If not, why not? If so, what are some other methods to test for diabetic hamsters? Most vets don’t deal with pocket pets, and even when they consent to treat them, many don’t even know the healthy blood glucose level for a dwarf hamster. What are our options?

MORGANA

vixen2388 asked:


I was wondering if anyone who has diabetes or anyone in general knows if urine test strips that test for ketones and glucose in urine are pretty accurate in “ruling out” diabetes. I know the fasting blood test is the most accurate in “diagnosing” diabetes, but if I just want to rule it out do you think these urine test strips are pretty accurate? The only real symptom I have is I cannot seem to gain weight no matter how much I eat. Thyroid problem has already been ruled out and my appetite is good.

SIENNA

Volkova asked:


I am looking at buying an Accu-chek Advantage glucose monitor and matching test strips. The monitor I plan to buy here in Australia and the strips and lancets from Amazon.com because they are cheaper than here (Australia) Are they exactly the same as Australian lancets and test strips? thanks for any help

NYAKO