Personal experiences with One Touch Profile BG-meter and software. Last update: April 3, 1999.

Since March 1997 I'm using the One Touch Profile Blood Glucose meter. I also got a connection cable for this meter to bring the data to my PC. The diabetes nurse has asked me to do some research work with this. Because this may be of interest for other people as well, I decided to publish the results over here as well. If you have additional information, I kindly ask you to send me an E-mail.

The following items can be stored in memory:

1. The BG-data; up to 250 measurements can be stored in memory. This data can be stored in mmol/l as well as mg/dl (still used in the USA and Canada).
2. Time and date of measurement.
3. Event (before lunch, after sport activity etc). 15 possibilities in total.
4. Amount of injected insulin and the amount of carbon hydrates. When using a pump it also possible to enter the bolus.

The first two items are stored automatically, the last two have to be entered manually. It's also possible to enter these items at a later time.

It's possible to retrieve the stored data via the meter itself. When more measurements are stored, the more difficult it is to find a specific result. This is caused by the way the data is retrieved, i.e. last entered result first and then back to the first one.

You need a special cable to transfer the data from this meter to your PC. In Holland you can order this cable by LifeScan Benelux, tel. 06-022 24 45, for Belgium 0800-15325 (both are toll free numbers). At the end of May, a Dutch program, special developed for the One Touch Profile, will be available. When you already have this meter and the special serial cable, you can call the above mentioned number and they will send you a copy (free of charges) as soon as it is available.

Via the World Wide Web, different software is available as well. These programs are FreeWare (for free) or shareware (try before you buy). Also there are commercial programs available, but because of the amount of money I've to pay for this (I'm a poor boy! :-) ), I haven't done research on this last category.

I only tried programs using windows (3.1x and/or 95) as operating system.

This program is freeware, although it has copyright. Besides One Touch Profile, you can also use this program with other meters. You can use a maximum of 9 event types. The results can be shown in a logbook, but also in different graphical ways. When clicking the desired picture a greater (and more readable) format will be shown. After viewing a large picture click the "BACK" icon to return to this page.

DISCUSSION:

When you are used to windows related programs, you will get used to it soon.

I've made the following remarks about this program:

1. When starting this program, it's not possible to open a previous data file and add the new results.

2. Despite the amount of information entered when measuring the BG, there are only a few ways to present the results in graphical ways. In my opinion it would be more useful when a graphical presentation would be available where the BG is combined with the amount of insulin, the amount of food and the (fysical and/or mental) activity. When interpreting the results, a traditional log file (with additional information) is most powerful.

3. It's only possible to enter the amount of injected insulin, when measuring a BG. This program lacks the possibility to enter other injections which are of interest as well.

CONCLUSION:

The way results can be stored is easy, but in my opinion I still need an ordinary logbook to keep my results up to date.

A short description of this program:

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**Now with Lifescan Profile support** ** 40 day evaluation ** Popular download and analysis software for OneTouch II, Profile, Accutrend, Accutrend and Reflolux glucose meters. Also supports VERY easy manual data entry.

New features include, recording of Insulin dosages, free format notes, diary search .... etc. Also has been 'tuned' for Win95. To install, run GLUINST.EXE from any directory and follow the instructions. From Windows 95 use the 'Add/Remove Programs' icon from the control panel.

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I'm using Windows 95 and indeed it was very simply to install this program. 40 days evaluation means enough time to do research on this program.

DISCUSSION:

Remarks about this program:

1. Because this programs supports the One Touch Profile, all 15 events are useable.

2. Besides showing graphical presentations this program gives the opportunity to show an ordinary logbook. Data (notes and additional insulin injections) can be entered easily. It is also possible to enter an insulin regime over a longer period of time.

3. Data can be saved (and restored). Additonal results can be added easily.

CONCLUSION:

Complaints I had when using the program Diabetic's Meter Utility, are mostly gone when using this program. This is caused by the possibility to use an old fashioned logbook where additional information can be added easily.

In my opinion also this program lacks facilities to show kinds of graphical presentations I want to see, i.e. a relationship between BG's, amount of taken carbon hydrates and activity. Maybe I'm asking to much!!! :-).