FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter

The FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter is a small discreet glucose monitoring system requiring the worlds smallest blood sample size (shared by other meters). This meter has a backlight for evening or early morning viewing along with a test strip port light that also helps if you have eye-sight complications. Use only FreeStyle Lite blood glucose test strips.

• Learn more at the FreeStyle Lite Meter website
• Buy FreeStyle Lite Test Strips

The FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter uses the newly redesign FreeStyle Lite Test Strips to improve on their strip technology. The use the GDH-FAD enzyme that has proven to be more efficient when it comes to differentiating from non-glucose sugars. The strip absorption tabs have been improved considerably with a unique dual port, tapered "Zip-Wik Tabs".

These tabs give you an easy to see application site  in an easy, comfortable position. This not only helps to make blood glucose testing easy, it prevents accidental jabbing of an already sensitive area that has just received a lancing.

For lancing, the FreeStyle Lancing Device comes with your FreeStyle Lite Meter, along with a 10 pack of Sterile FreeStyle Lancets. The lancing device has a cap (blue) for regular testing of the finger tips, or the clear cap designed to assist in alternate site testing (AST). With 4 custom depth settings, you can make sure each lancing is performed with your unique skin testing needs. This makes for a virtually pain free blood glucose test. Another great thing about the FreeStyle Lite Meter is it's ability to take AST tests in more places than any other meter. You can sample from the fingertips, palm, forearm, upper arms, thighs and your calves. This is not recommended for specific conditions listed in the manual.

FreeStyle Lite Meter Manual English/Spanish

More Details on Diabetes Management with the FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter

Aside from all the conveniences of testing in alternate site testing AST, it is recommended to test on the finger tip if convenient. This area has blood glucose levels that have been the primary source of testing, therefore all testing glucose meters are optimized for that area more so than the newer AST features. This is especially true for those with hypoglycemia, low blood glucose levels. If you do choose to go with alternate site testing, you are able to test on your palms, forearm, upper arm, thigh and your calf. Another AST area not always talked about is the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger. Your FreeStyle Lite Meter Manual should have a human figure diagram of all AST locations.

The FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter is intended for use with the the FreeStyle Lite Test Strips and the FreeStyle Lite Solution only. This is because of the unique design and enzymes that make testing with FreeStyle Lite so accurate. Any aftermarket test strips would not be capable of matching the reliability you would expect of this product and could be a risk to false readings detrimental to your diabetes management.

The FreeStyle Lite System along with any other glucose meter is not recommended to keep around children, as the kit contains small parts that could be dangerous if swallowed.

Monitoring your hydration levels are very important to accurate results as dehydration will alter your tests giving you false low test results. If you have results below 60 mg/dL, those are too low and mean you have hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. In this case you should consider retesting, if you are dehydrated and if having any symptoms of low blood sugar. If after retesting results are still low and considering all options including any information given to you by your health care professional have been exhausted, you should call them immediately. The FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter is a very accurate blood glucose device, but you always should take a proactive approach to your diabetes management and learn when your body is not feeling right and you are showing symptoms of low or high blood sugar levels. Anything above 240 mg/dL should be cause for alarm and the same procedure of retesting, considering your symptoms, advice from your health care professional and contacting them if all other options considered. Another important consideration is to remember any recent food or drinks that might have consumed or if you have not had any food for a long period of time.

For better diabetes management, the FreeStyle Lite has a data port for connecting to your personal computer. With a compatible diabetes management software, you can load all data to your computer and manage all your test results and notes on this software in charts and graphs. This can be helpful to lay out your long term blood glucose management and see if you have any unique trends that are good or bad for your diabetes management.

You FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter has an operating range of 40° to 104° F (4º to 40° C). A unique feature so you never test out of this range is that the glucose meter has a built in thermometer that if out of range will prompt this to your screen. That way you can find a more suitable testing location. These conditions are are reduced for the storage of test strips, requiring a range of between 40° and 86° F (4° to 30° C) and avoiding hot spots or storing in direct sun. This can alter the test strips and in turn your blood glucose readings. Also avoid storing the meter or strips in damp or wet areas.

The FreeStyle Control Solution is good to use in the beginning and any time you believe your FreeStyle Lite Meter to be inaccurate. Testing just like a regular test, you add the solution to the strip, following instruction given with your FreeStyle Lite System. Control solution results should match the range written on your test strip vial label. This way you can confirm that your glucose meter and test strips are working properly. Just remember to check the date on the bottle, or if bottle opened prior, within three months of that date, whichever comes first. Control solution tests are specified to be accurate only when used between 59° to 104° F (15° to 40° C). If this test is ever out of range, take another test to be sure before considering replacing your glucose meter or contacting manufacture.

Testing With Your FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter

The first thing to do is wash your hands and test site if different from your hands. Make sure you have no chemicals including left over soap, cream or lotions at the test site. Fruit (from eating before test) residuals on the test site is a common occurrence that can really throw off your test results. After washing, make sure hands and test area have been dried completely as even water can offset a test by diluting it. 

To start the test, insert a test strip into your FreeStyle Lite Meter, this should power the meter up. The glucose meter will standby for two (2) minutes for you to perform your next action and should display a blood drop and test strip symbol. Using your FreeStyle Lancing device or other lancing device of your choice, obtain a sample from your preferred test site. Double check that your meter is still in the standby and apply sample to side edge of FreeStyle Lite Test Strip. Either side is okay to use. Make sure you gently allow normal absorption of the sample without scraping or pressing strip into the skin. Before pulling away from sample, wait for the FreeStyle Lite Meter to beep and/or the screen shows a clockwise line rotating around screen as it is counting down the test results. This should take around 5 seconds. Once complete, the glucose meter will beep twice and display your results with date and time stamp. You blood glucose testing with the FreeStyle Lite Meter is complete.

Additional FreeStyle Lite Blood Glucose Management Options

A brand new diabetic management app was released in late 2011 that is a free -to-download logbook available at iTunes. The cable is available through Diabetes Health Supplies and is compatible with your FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter or the FreeStyle Freedom Lite Meter. The transfer of information to the app is automatic and has added features not on your glucose meter for additional notes and blood glucose management features.