Livongo In Touch Blood Glucose Meter In-Depth Review

Last week I (FINALLY) received my In Touch meter by Livongo health that I had been very anxious for. i posted an unboxing/Initial review video which you can watch here. This video is about the meter & all the goodies that came with it. I will leave no stone unturned! I will be giving my review (opinion) on every  undividual item & the pros/cons & a 1 (worst) to 5 (best) rating. So let us begin! I will not include the control solution or lancets.

packaging impressions

The packaging of the meter was nicely done. It felt like I was opening an Apple product. No Pros/cons here.

RATING: 5/5

Carrying Case

The carrying case is the standard black case. It has a lot of room in it [for me anyway]. I could even fit an insulin vial in it! I'm not one who likes designed cases, so I like this case. I liked the compartments where the lancing device, strips & meter goes. However, the place where the lancing device goes had to be stretched before it would fit. It took 5 days to get that darn pricker in there!

PROS:
~ Roomy

~ Easy to maneuver. 

CONS:

~ Lancing device place.

RATING: 4.7/5

Lancing Device

The worst component of this meter was its lancing device (AKA pricker). This this was rubbish! The pricker is designed to auto-eject lancets to avoid accidental puncture. I tested it out & it ejected nicely, but got stuck & would not go back in so I had to throw it away :,(. So now I have 3 boxes of lancets I cannot use.  I got the Fastclix so I am happy. I LOVE the Fastclix. Very well designed device.

RATING: 0/5 (5/5 for Fastclix)

TEST STRIPS

BOTTLE:

I like the bottle the strips come in. Very sturdy. 

STRIPS:
I love the strips size. I always have trouble grabbing strips out of tiny bottles. So the extra room in the bottle & bigger (length wise) strips makes it easier to obtain them. My only (minor) complaint is that they came in a better sorted variety of colors.  The strips come in different colors. I would like to see a cyan or red strip. & I tend to get the same 2-3 colors in every vial of strips.  I have had very few strip errors (Knock on wood!)

RATING (Bottle): 5/5

RATING (Strips): 4.9/5

MYLIVONGO SOFTWARE

I love the customer service! Always nice & helpful. The software is easy to use.
RATING: Customer Service: 5/5
Software: 4.8/5

Livongo Health has pretty decent customer service reps. All the ons I've dealt with were nice & considerate. 

RATING: 5/5

 

UPDATE 2 (4/27/16): I found out that Livongo is no longer offering the $25/month deal. Their statement can be found HERE. The statement says:
"Thanks for your interest in our Early Access Program. We are no longer accepting new applicants to our program at this time.". 
Sorry for the hype on this & the other article. I suggest if you are really interested in this meter to put your e-mail address down.

 

The Mother of All Meters: Livongo In Touch Meter--Initial Impressions

Over the past 9 years being a type 1 diabetic (T1D), I have used every name brand BG meter. I started out in 2006 (year diagnosed) using the One Touch Ultra. Here I am 9 years later using the One Touch Verio. I didn't expect to switch meters anytime soon, but then this was introduced to me & I couldn't say no to this AMAZING Meter/System. Livongo's (short for Living on the Go) In Touch Meter was too good to pass up! Here is why it is awesome & my initial impressions (while I anxiously await its arrival :) ). Let me dive right in & blow your minds with unbelievable awesomeness!

The Livongo Meter (as seen in the picture) is a full color touchscreen that is said to feel like a screen on your typical smartphone. Speaking of smartphones, the meter come with its own cellular signal (believed to be through AT&T). This signal is provided because you are able to add contacts to your "Care Team". You can add your endocrinologist, CDE or family/friends, & they will be alerted if your BG is very low (<50 mg/dl) or very high (400+ mg/dl). This meter is great for parents of a diabetic who travels to band camp or on Senior break trip. This keeps parents in the know.

When you order your In Touch Meter you will get:
- An In Touch BG Meter
- Lancing device (that ejects used lancets to avoid accidental pricking)
- 300 Lancets
- 300 test strips per month.
- charger
- manuals

The best parts about this is you get an UNLIMITED amount of strips every month. No additional cost & free shipping (7-10 business days)
If you have No insurance coverage then this is the meter for you because it does NOT contact your insurance! If you aren't sold yet you will be by the price. So how much does all the mentioned above cost you wonder? Only $25 (for 2 years). Livongo is doing a limited time offer that allows diabetics to only pay $25 a month for 2 years. After the 2 years it will be $75 a month. AND you get your first month FREE!

This deal is too good to pass up!
If you want to own your own Livongo In Touch Meter, go to www.livongo.com to sign up.
If you have any comments or questions just comment below or hit me up on Twitter (@Insulin_Junkie9)

Also, there's an awesome Facebook group for current users of this meter & those inquiring about it. Click here to join the group
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UPDATE 1 (10/13/15): I got the e-mail today with the tracking number & I will be getting the meter tomorrow!!

UPDATE 2 (4/27/16): I found out that Livongo is no longer offering the $25/month deal. Their statement can be found HERE. The statement says:
"Thanks for your interest in our Early Access Program. We are no longer accepting new applicants to our program at this time.". 
Sorry for the hype on this & the other article. I suggest if you are really interested in this meter to put your e-mail address down.