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ACCU-CHEK^® Complete Blood Glucose Meter Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of batteries does my meter use?

The ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter uses two AAA alkaline batteries.

How do I turn the ACCU-CHEK Complete blood glucose meter on?

You turn the meter on by pressing any button on the meter or by inserting a test strip.

How do I know if I've inserted the diabetes test strip correctly?

A blood drop symbol will begin flashing on meter's display when test strip is inserted correctly.

How do I best apply a drop of blood to the test strip?

You may pick up the meter, turn the meter, or move the meter to the edge of a table to make it easier to touch the curved target area.

•  With test strip inserted in meter, briefly touch drop of blood to the curved edge of test strip.
•  Be sure the yellow window is completely filled with blood. Overdosing will not interfere with results.
•  If any yellow color is still visible after blood has been applied, a second drop of blood can be applied to edge of same strip within 15 seconds of the first drop. If more than 15 seconds have passed, the test result may be erroneous and the test strip should be discarded and the test repeated.

How do I know if I applied enough blood to the test strip?

The test strip has been adequately dosed if the entire yellow window is filled with blood.

What information does the ACCU-CHEK Complete blood glucose meter store?

The ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter stores: blood sugar, insulin type and dose, carbohydrates, exercise, event markers (such as illness or hypoglycemia), and ketone and HbA1c results. All information is tagged by time and date.

How do I use event markers?

An event marker is a comment that you can store along with your blood sugar test. Event markers can be used to describe certain circumstances under which your blood sugar test was performed.

For instance, you may add a comment if you took your blood sugar before a meal, or if you are sick, under stress, or feel hypoglycemic. Adding an event marker will give you and your doctor additional information to help you understand trends in your blood sugar so that you can manage your diabetes more effectively.

The ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter allows you to store up to four event markers for any particular date and time.

What are glucose control tests?

A glucose control test using ACCU-CHEK Comfort Curve Glucose Control Solutions makes sure you are doing tests correctly and receiving accurate results.

A test with glucose control solution is done in the exact same manner as a test with blood, except you use one drop of solution on the test strip instead of using a drop of blood.

When should I run a glucose control test?

•  Before using your meter for the first time.
•  When you open a new vial of test strips.
•  If you leave the cap off the vial of test strips.
•  If you drop the meter.
•  Whenever your result does not agree with the way you feel.
•  Whenever you want to make sure you are performing your blood sugar test properly.
•  If you have repeated a test, and the blood sugar result is still lower or higher than expected.
•  When you want to check the performance of the meter and test strip.

How do I run a glucose control test?

•  Turn on meter by pressing any button
•  Press ENTER to select "Run Glucose Test."
•  Insert a new test strip.
•  Apply one small drop of control solution to the edge of the strip.
•  The control result will appear.
•  While the control is still showing on the display, and before the test strip is removed from the meter, press EVENT.
•  Press EDIT.
•  Press - or + to select L1 Control (if running an L1 Control Test). Press - or + to select L2 Control (if running an L2 Control Test). Press NEXT four times to bypass Event 2, 3 and 4.
•  Press SAVE.

What happens if I use expired test strips?

Using test strips that are expired can cause your blood test results to be inaccurate. If your test strips have expired, throw them away and begin using a new vial of test strips that is not expired.

The expiration date is printed on the vial of test strips.

Do I need a computer to create trends and graphs of my blood sugar values?

No, the ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter analyzes your blood sugar values for you and displays them on the ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter screen.

What is the memory capacity of the ACCU-CHEK Complete blood glucose meter?

The ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter holds 1,000 values.

How do I clean my meter and how often?

The ACCU-CHEK Complete Meter does not require any internal cleaning. If meter has blood on the outside, you may clean it by wiping with a soft cloth that has been slightly dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water.

Do not get moisture into the code key slot or in the test strip opening.

How should my meter checks compare with lab results?

Because your monitor and lab tests don't measure the same thing, these numbers are likely to vary. Lab tests generally test plasma, but a meter uses whole blood. As a result, even if you take both tests at the exact same time, your meter is likely to show a lower number than the lab results. This is perfectly acceptable, and your doctor will already be factoring this in.

Keep in mind, too, that even a small amount of food or liquid, or performing a fingertip check more than five minutes before or after getting your blood drawn, can change your blood sugar level enough to throw off any comparison.

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For help with your ACCU-CHEK Product, please call the ACCU-CHEK Customer Care Service Center at 1-800-858-8072. For meter support, we're here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Software support is available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. EST.