Some of today’s newer glucose monitors for diabetics make keeping your sugar under control simple for you and your doctor. The One Touch Ultrasmart is one of these new styles of glucose monitors, with features such as the ability to program it with your prescriptions (both pills and insulin), dosages, and the times of those doses. Also, the monitor allows you to factor in exercise and if you were under any stress at the time of the sugar reading, if you felt low or high, or if you were on vacation. You can also program into the machine how many calories you ate at your meal, as well as how many carbohydrates you ate, how much fat, and how much protein intake your meal had. The machine uses 2 AAA batteries, which is much simpler than the older machines that use the harder to find and often very expensive lithium batteries, it also gives you the ability to use rechargeable ones. This new machine virtually eliminates the need for a paper log book as it stores all the information you and your doctor could need right in it. Think of it as, more or less, a diabetic PDA. There is a Data port on the machine so that you can plug it into your computer and print out a paper log to take to your doctor every visit.
So with all the good in this machine, you may ask yourself. “Well why shouldn’t I go buy one right now” well the good news is if you already have a One Touch Ultra or Ultra 2, the One Touch Ultrasmart will use the same test strips. On the bad side the new machine is more expensive than other monitors on the market. I also have found that the menu in the Ultrasmart is particularly hard to navigate if you’re not so technologically advanced. Somebody who’s is more “techno savvy” may enjoy this monitor very much. But my best friend who is a diabetic prefers the simpler One Touch Ultra 2 to the One Touch Ultrasmart. Why? Your doctor wants you to bring him your insulin intake and glucose numbers on paper for him and the Ultrasmart is supposed to eliminate that need. But it doesn’t because the company doesn’t supply you with the proper cable to plug it into your PC so that you are able print out the data in the machine, nor do they tell you where to get it. So it does eliminate the need, but you’ve got to figure out where to get a data cable for it first. He has both and prefers his One Touch Ultra 2; but says that those who don’t mind higher tech equipment may prefer the Ultrasmart. He doesn’t mind the paper log technique, so he likes it more than the PDA style.
Out of the Box:
OneTouch Ultra2 Meter (batteries included)
Owner’s Booklet/Quick Reference Guide
Warranty Registration Card
OneTouch® Ultra® Control Solution and Insert
OneTouch® UltraSoft® Blood Sampler
OneTouch® UltraClear® Cap
OneTouch® UltraSoft® Sterile Lancets
Carrying Case
OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Meter
OneTouch Ultra® Control Solution
OneTouch® UltraSoft® Adjustable Blood Sampler
OneTouch® UltraClear™ Cap
OneTouch® UltraSoft® Sterile Lancets
Owner’s Booklet/Quick Reference Guide/Quick Start Guide
Warranty registration card
Two AAA alkaline batteries (installed)
Carrying case
OneTouch Diabetes Management Software Brochure
The Price Matchup:
One Touch Ultrasmart Kit $115 on Amazon
50 Ultrasmart Test Strips $30 on Amazon
One Touch Ultra 2 Kit $75 on Amazon
50 Ultra 2 Test Strips $30 on Amazon
Final Thoughts:
The One Touch Ultrasmart is higher priced, techy, but a great machine
The One Touch Ultra 2 is cheaper, less bells and whistles, and still gets the job done.
