The latest freestyle glucose meter from Abbott Laboratories is the Freestyle Lite Blood Glucose Monitoring System. The Lite has some of the most advanced and sought after features of any diabetes glucose meter available on the market today.
Abbott also produces four other glucose monitors. Overall, the product family is one of the most popular on the market today.
Let’s take a look at how this meter fits into the equation and what makes it a popular choice.
Key Advantages
- Small and Fast. The meter is only 1.57 x 2.9 x 0.65 inches. This is super tiny. The device should fit wherever you want to carry it.
It also won’t seem like you are pulling out a television set when you have to test somewhere! The Lite also test very fast, only 5 seconds. - No Coding. Just put in a test strip and go. While many people do not mind coding a meter, if you don’t have to, this is just “one less thing,” as Forest Gump would say.
- Small Blood Sample. Abbott claims that the 0.3 microliter sample size is the smallest in the world. Despite looking, we have not been able to find any other meter with a smaller listed sample size.
- Lighting. Incredibly, most meters do not have a back light to help read the display results. The freestyle Lite not only has a back light, but also a test strip port light as well. Perfect for checking your glucose at night, or when you are at the movies, the opera, a romantic dinner, etc.
- Alternative Site Testing. Again, Abbott claims the record on the most areas it can do AST. The list is: finger, palm, forearm, upper arm, thigh, and calf.
Obviously, these benefits, and more, are what make this Freestyle blood glucose meter a popular choice for many people. However, is it all good??
Disadvantages
There’s not a product in the world that gets an “A” grade from everyone. The Freestyle Lite is no different.
- Complaints from the field are that the Lancet is too painful.
- Correspondingly, the meter may only require a 0.3 microliter sample size, but the Lancet extracts a far greater amount.
- Additional complaints include that the device comes with a poor carrying case.
Test Strips
This Freestyle glucose meter only uses Freestyle Lite test strips. Some users complain that the test strips are too small. If gripping small objects is challenging for you, you may want to inspect the strips prior to purchasing the meter to see if they work for you.
To Compare the BEST prices on strips, check out our Diabetic Test Strip Price Comparison page.
Bottom Line
For people on the go, the Freestyle Lite is a top choice. The meter is fast, small and delivers quick testing results. The back light and testing strip light feature is great if you are out and about at night. This feature is also great if you have a child who needs night testing and you don’t want to turn on the room light. Overall, one of the better meters on the market today.
Other Considerations
We found the owner’s manual and company website to be better than average for glucose meter manufacturers. We also liked the call center operators knowledge and willingness to take extra time to find the answers to questions we had about their products.
That being said, when calling the company we did find it extremely annoying to be asked for detailed contact information prior to asking simple questions about their meters. Don’t be afraid to say no to their inquiries. Ask your questions anyway.
Like many large glucose meter companies, Abbott has a 24/7 staff on board to answer your questions. They also have an “Ask the Expert” program that has Certified Diabetes Educators on staff to answer your diabetes related questions. Their online diabetes knowledge center is also good.
The company also offers free data management software, called Co-Pilot, to help you download and track your glucose test results. The data cable is an additional charge (approximately $30).
You can check out discount pricing at Amazon.com
Technical Information
| Model | FreeStyle Lite |
|---|---|
| Auto. Shut Off | 2 minutes |
| Battery Type | One CR2032 |
| Battery Life | 500 Tests |
| Alternative Site Testing | Yes |
| Memory Capacity | 400 Tests |
| Storage Temp. | -4 to 140 F |
| Operating Temp. | 40 to 104 F |
| Result Range | 20 to 500 mg/dL |
| Sample Size | 0.3 microliter |
| Test Time | 5 seconds |
| Weight (battery) | 1.4 oz. (yes) |
| Size (Inches) | 1.57 x 2.9 x 0.65 |
| Backlit Display | Yes |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Coding Required | No |
| Software Available | Yes |