Product Review: The One Touch Ultra2 - A Glucometer for Diabetics

I'm a diabetic and have been since, 1984. When I was first diagnosed we had blood lab work done about every three months or so to find out what our AC1 levels were; this was the only way to monitor our blood sugar levels. It was highly ineffective in helping the diabetic control his/her blood sugar levels. Sometime in the 1990s, the doctors had a glucometer in the office and they would check our sugar levels every time we came in. This was better, but still didn't help with the day to day control that a diabetic needs to have.

Eventually, someone had the bright idea of getting the diabetic a glucometer to take home so they could monitor their blood sugar levels several times a day. This has become a major tool for someone with diabetes to have personal control over what was happening to their bodies. If you felt something go wonky you could check right away to see if it was your blood sugar levels and adjust your day according, whether it would be more insulin or eating more or less carbs or an unplanned emergency room visit. Before we had glucometers at home we would have to wait weeks or months to know if we needed to make changes in our food, exercise program or dosages of medication.

My endocrinologist gave me the One Touch Ultra2™ glucometer, because he has the software on his computer to download the data from it. This is how I first came to use the One Touch Ultra2. This is my fifth or sixth different glucometer, so I have some background experience with other brands to be able judge the One Touch Ultra2.

Recently, I did a dumb thing - I lost my glucometer. That wouldn't be so bad except I lost it 20 minutes after my doctor's office closed for the weekend. If I didn't need to check my blood sugar levels seven times a day, because of some issues I was having, I wouldn't have worried about it. I would have waited until the doctor opened up on Monday and got another one. After I bought it I found that I can get up to $70 rebated if I send my original receipt with the completed warranty card and cut out the serial number off the side panel of the box. Now, if I could only find my receipt I would do this. The disappearing receipt has cost me $68 plus tax.