The Lifescan blood glucose meter family of products, called the OneTouch, is the company’s sole line of business. LifeScan is completely focused on diabetes testing. In fact, over three million people use OneTouch glucose meters to manage their diabetes daily.
Despite its smaller testing focus, LifeScan is actually part of a much larger corporate umbrella owned by Johnson & Johnson.
The Onetouch meters fill the gamut from small, simple portable models, all the way to hyper sophisticated models that work wirelessly with insulin pumps.
Let’s take a look at the current models being offered.
THE METERS
I like the One Touch glucose meter family of products. The company does a good job explaining the differences of each meter and why one particular meter is different than the other. Interestingly, most companies do not take the time to do this. There are currently four OneTouch Meters.
OneTouch UltraMini. This is one small glucose meter and comes in multiple “hot” colors. It is small, fast, and easy to use.
OneTouch Ultra2. The Ultra2 offers fast testing, approximately 5 seconds. It also allows the user some advanced features, like pre and post meal glucose level averages.
OneTouch UltraSmart. The UltraSmart is aimed at people looking to make insulin adjustments. Incredibly advanced reporting features is also touted as being the only meter which helps reduce your A1C levels.
OneTouch UltraLink. The UltraLink is simply pretty cool. If you are on an insulin pump (MiniMed Paradigm Insulin Pump), this device will wirelessly send a signal to the pump to establish the right dosage based on your glucose test results.
OneTouch Verio IQ. The Verio IQ was introduced in 2012 and offers a brilliant color screen and easy navigation. The other hallmark of the meter is that it has software that monitors your blood sugar patterns so you can more easily discover trouble spots in your diabetes management.
COMPARISON CHARTS
| One Touch UltraMini | One Touch Ultra2 | One Touch UltraSmart | t One Touch UltraLink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto. Shut Off | 2 minutes | 2 minutes | 2 minutes | 2 minutes |
| Battery Type | One CR2032 | Two CR2032 | Two AAA Batt. | Two AAA Batt. |
| Battery Life | 6-12 months | 6-12 months | 6-12 months | 240 Tests |
| Alt. Site Testing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Capacity | 500 Tests | 500 Tests | 3,000 Tests | 500 Tests |
| Storage Temp. | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Operating Temp. | 43 to 111 F | 43 to 111 F | 43 to 111 F | 43 to 111 F |
| Result Range | 20 to 600 mg/dL | 20 to 600 mg/dL | 20 to 600 mg/dL | 20 to 600 mg/dL |
| Sample Size | 1.0 microliter | 1.0 microliter | 1.0 microliter | 1.0 microliter |
| Test Time | 5 seconds | 5 seconds | 5 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Weight (battery) | 1.4 oz. (yes) | 1.5 oz. (yes) | 2.8 oz (yes) | 3.0 oz. (yes) |
| Size (Inches) | 4.25 x 1.26 x 0.67 | 3.12 x 2.25 x 0.9 | 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9 | 3.5 x 2.4 x 1 |
| Backlit Display | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Coding Req. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Software Avail. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years |
| Model | Verio IQ |
|---|---|
| Auto. Shut Off | 2 minute |
| Battery Type | Rechargeable |
| Battery Life | NA |
| Alternative Site Testing | No |
| Memory Capacity | 750 Tests |
| Storage Temp. | NA |
| Operating Temp. | 43° - 111° F |
| Result Range | 20 to 600 mg/dL |
| Sample Size | 0.4 microliter |
| Test Time | 5 seconds |
| Weight (battery) | 1.66 oz. |
| Size (Inches) | 3.46" x 1.85 x 0.47 |
| Backlit Display | Color |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
| Coding Required | No |
| Software Available | Yes |
RECENTLY DISCONTINUED LIFESCAN GLUCOSE METERS
Older models that may still be in service, but not actively marketed include the OneTouch Select, OneTouch Ultra, OneTouch Basic, OneTouch SureStep, OneTouch Fast Talk, InDuo System, and OneTouch Profile.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The company is located in Milpitas, California and employs approximately 2,500. LifeScan offers its own proprietary software for its glucose meters called the OneTouch Diabetes Management Software. The software is free to OneTouch owners (you have to purchase a USB cable) and provides good tools and support. As of February 2012, the software was not MAC compatible.
The company also has an interesting and unique program called OneTouch Gold. This service is free and provides a ton of information and support for diabetics including 1,000’s of recipes, customizable meal and exercise plans and special coupons.
Lifescan’s consumer product website is called OneTouch. To get the Lifescan blood glucose meter owners manuals, you will need to go to the Onetouch site, choose the appropriate product and the appropriate manual will be available for download.