Accu-Check Compact Plus Glucose Meter

 

 

Accu-Check Compact Plus glucose meter is another diabetic testing device manufactured by Roche Diagnostics.

Due to its convenient, all-in-one design, I favour this meter for my daily testing.

The two main features that appeal to me most are the no-nonsense strip handling and ease of blood sugar testing.

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Compact Plus User Manual (*requires Adobe Acrobat)

Features:

Pros:

1. Convenient, Safe Strip Handling

Excessive strip handling can cause errors due to contamination of test strips and individual strips can be somewhat tedious to handle. This is particularly true if you are elderly or handicapped which is the case for many diabetics.

The Compact Plus eliminates the fuss and makes readings less error prone by using preloaded, factory-sealed drums of 17 test strips. This means you don't have to handle the strips every single time you use the meter.

Changing drums is as simple as flipping the lid, pressing the release button, dumping the old drum and inserting a new one. Fast and simple.

The only thing I don't like about the arrangement is that the motor that operates the drum is a little noisy. But I'm guessing that it shouldn't be a problem for most people and the automated aspect of the strips more than offsets the minor annoyance.

The meter also keeps track of the strips and indicates how many are left at any given moment and the display tells you when it's time to reload a new drum.

Kudos to Roche for creating a meter that makes life a little easier for people living with diabetes.

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2. Integrated Lancet Device

This is another innovative feature of this meter. The "Softclix Plus" lancet device clips to the side of the meter so it's always there.

To test you simply press the top of the lancet, press the "M" button on the meter to produce a strip, prick your finger by depressing the top of the lancet again and then applying your blood drop to the strip. 5 seconds later, your reading is displayed.

The Softclix lancet device is one of the most gentle units I've ever used and I've never experienced any pain during testing.

 

3. Small blood sample needed

The strips will test with only 1.5 micro-litres of blood. That's about 1 micro-litre more than the Aviva, also by Roche, but I have never had an error due to an insufficient blood sample so it shouldn't be a problem for most people.

4. Speedy results

The meter requires only 5 seconds for the results to appear and also detects if insufficient blood has been applied . This can save unnecessary delays and reduce frustration.

5. Uses Standard Batteries

I'm not a fan of button cells because they can sometimes be hard to find and their life is not that great if you test a lot.

The Compact Plus uses standard "AAA" batteries that power many TV remote controls making them easy to replace and giving you good battery life.

They're cheap too, which is always good.

It's a small point, but really a nice added convenience.

5. Roche Customer Service

Roche customer care has been very attentive and and co-operative during times I've had to use them.

Cons:

1. High Cost of Test Strips

Cost for me is $87 to $97 Canadian for 102 test strips. American prices are comparable. This is a huge negative because the cost of the strips is the "hidden" cost of blood sugar testing. This is why Roche can afford so-called "Free" meter promotions and provide unpaid customer service. You've already paid for it by paying many times what it costs Roche to make test strips.

Expect to pay easily over $120/month when doing 5 or more tests per day with this meter. That's a pretty stiff fee if you don't have medical insurance.

2. Dim LCD Display

Actually, the display is fairly large and easy to read in a well lit room. However, the new Compact Plus now comes with a brighter LED display that makes reading much easier under adverse lighting conditions. If vision is a problem for you, you probably need the updated meter.

3. Skimpy Data Storage

The 300-test memory stores only around 2 months readings (based on 5 tests per day) along with date and time. A minimum amount of readings should be 3 months which is usually the same time period as an HbA1c test. This has been solved in the updated meter.

4. Data Connectivity  and Software Costs Extra 

Data management via infra-red (compatible with Accu-Chek software) which is a separate purchase of $39.95 plus you'll need the $19.95 Infrared cable.

Considering the importance of charts and graphs for a proper diabetic care program, this should be provided either free or at very low cost in my opinion

Bottom Line:

Rating:  8/10

The Accu-Chek Compact Plus is my second favourite meter design at the moment only being outdone by its newer counterpart, the Compact Plus II. I'm constantly looking for products that will work better for me and this meter really delivers on simplified design and operation.

The integrated, removable Softclix finger pricker is convenient to use and helps keep everything in one place.

The display is big and easy to read but has been upgraded to an LED version in the newer meter. The newer meter also has an expanded memory of 500 readings which is a great enhancement.

Accessory-wise, I like the nice leatherette case that comes with it and a free cellular style leather case is currently available on the Roche website.

The price of the test strips is high at around $87 per 100 (at the time of writing) and I feel bad that I can't recommend this great glucose meter for anyone on a tight budget.

If Roche lowered the cost of the strips to a more reasonable price I would give it an 9/10.

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Glucose Meter Basics

 

Before we get into specific glucose meters and their functions, a basic explanation of what they are, their purpose and how they work is in order.

Glucose meters are designed to estimate the amount of glucose in whole blood. If you suffer from diabetes or hypoglycemia, frequent testing MUST be a critical part of your health program. The level of glucose in your blood is crucial to your well being.

The device works by placing a small drop of your blood on a disposable testing strip. The blood is obtained by pricking your finger tip with a sharp lancet designed to be quick and painless. The blood glucose meter uses the sample on the testing strip to record and calculate the level of glucose in the blood.

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The principal health goal for diabetics should be to manage their blood sugar levels themselves on a daily basis. Since your doctor cannot always be available to advise you, you need to be the person on the front lines keeping your blood sugar within targeted limits. This is simply not possible without a portable glucose meter.

Your pancreas usually has this responsibility, but for diabetes sufferers, this is no longer possible. Manual control is required, and blood sugar meters are essential for this purpose.

Flying Blind

Without regular testing you are flying blind and will have no idea whether your medications and therapies are working or not  By maintaining close control over the amount of sugar in your blood you can, reduce the occurrence rate and severity of long-term complications from hyperglycemia and experience a reduction in the short-term, possibly life-threatening complications of hypoglycemia.

Although the operation and functions of blood glucose meters will be very similar from meter to meter, there will be some differences in the models that you are offered.

With some exceptions, glucose meters are pretty much all designed to rest neatly in the palm of your hand. They're most often powered by batteries for portability allowing you to test wherever and whenever which is important to the proper management of your sugars. It's possible that you'll need to test the level of glucose in your blood before or after every meal, or perhaps whenever you abruptly start to feel sickly for no apparent reason.

Testing Strips

Glucose test strips are disposable and can only be used for one test You need to ensure that there's a steady supply of these strips for your consumption. Glucose meters are unusable without them. Testing strips are usually made of plastic and are embedded with chemicals that cause a reaction when they come in contact with the sugar in your blood. The meter measures this reaction and displays the result as a number that represents the amount of sugar in your blood. This number is displayed as either mg/dl (milligrams per decilitre) or mmol/l (millimoles per litre). The standard for the U.S. is mg/dl and most of the rest of the world uses mmol/l.

Some meters use discs or containers instead of individual strips, which permits multiple readings from a single strip holder and results in less frequent handling of test strips. This feature is very handy and can improve the accuracy and storage life of test strips. Handling and contact with air reduces their effectiveness.

Regardless of whether you use individual strips or containers, the over-riding concern is that you have reliable access to a continuous supply for your meter.

How to Test

The amount of blood needed to take an accurate meter reading can vary between brands and models, so check with the manufacturer or supplier before you use the device.If necessary, confer with your physician or diabetes educator to be sure that you're using your meter correctly. False readings will undermine the effectiveness of your treatment.

Blood sugar can be obtained from various parts of your body. However, some parts of the body reflect changes in glucose faster than others and your doctor can help you choose the site that's best for you. Usually the finger tip is used but this is a sensitive area for some people and they may wish to try an alternate testing site . If for any reason you decide to test blood from another part of your body, make certain that you understand how long it will take for that part of the body to reflect fluctuating blood sugar levels. Advice from your doctor should ensure that you're fully informed before you start to use your meter.

Testing times required to produce a result will vary from model to model. They can be as little as 5 seconds and as long as 30 seconds. Most modern units complete the measurement in 10 seconds or less. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully to ensure that you're fully informed about the operation of the meter. Some makes and models also require a numbered code to be entered into the meter, which is obtained from the batch of test strips that you're using. This allows your meter to fine-tune itself with the strips to ensure the accuracy of your results.

Charts and Graphs

A record of your blood sugar tests should be kept in a log book. These usually come with your meter and your doctor will no doubt ask you for it on your appointments. The log will provide a history and can indicate either a rising or falling trend. These trends will show whether your treatment is being effective or not and your physician can then recommend appropriate actions and adjust dosages of insulin of other medications.

  The use of diabetic testing software can enhance these reports even more by providing graphs and charts that will clearly show your blood sugar profile within specific time periods. In addition to regular A1C tests, they will provide a comprehensive and accurate "snap-shot" of your health.

These graphs and charts are so effective, that if you're not getting this kind of reporting, you're simply not getting the best health care that a glucose meter and your physician can provide. The better the information you can supply your doctor with, the better your treatment will be and your complications from diabetes will be greatly reduced and even avoided in many cases.

So use your glucose testing meter often and provide as much useful data as you can to share with your doctor.

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The Importance Of Testing Blood Sugar

 

Before starting out on a search for a glucose testing meter it's important to understand why you need to test.

Your blood sugar is meant to operate within a very narrow range between 4.0 and 6.8 mmol/l (72-122 mg/dl).

When your blood sugar is higher than 6.8, it makes your immune system function as if it were drunk. This is especially true if you test above 10. In this "drunken" state they cannot do their job of maintaining and healing your body's cells. This is causes you to be more susceptible to diseases and infections and can eventually lead to premature death.

If excess sugar remains in your system, tiny crystals of sugar attach themselves to you blood cells and cause cell damage when in contact with other body tissue. This results in the erosion of all body systems including eyes, kidneys, heart, feet and nervous system.

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If your blood sugar goes low due to injections of insulin or excessive activity such as exercise or labour, you can lose consciousness from starving your cells of their vital sugar supplies.

In any case, it's clear that proper levels of blood sugar need to be maintained.

This is where testing as often as possible comes into play.

You need to test at least 3 times and preferably 5 times or more per day.

Without adequate testing, you're flying blind and you have no way of being sure that whatever medications you're on are having the desired effect or not.

Not only that, your physician will not be able to accurately adjust your treatment or medication.

At a minimum, you should get a good glucose testing meter and keep a testing log.

A better way is to get a software program that not only logs your sugars but also produces charts and graphs that you can share with your health care providers.

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