# 1980s Glucose meters **URL:** \ **Category:** C/GM\ **Created:** [August 15, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657 "2017-08-15T19:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/1 "2017-08-15T19:41:44Z")
Well that was the 1980’s… Infusion sets were bigger and so were BG meters 🙂 I was looking for a picture of the Glucoscan 2000, my first meter, but couldn’t find one - so here is a contemporary meter. The One Touch. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/1/199c08845d9f0856bde67018970e6f3d7d8b190e.jpg) …and apologies for hijacking this tread. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/thomas/32/1719_2.png) [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/2 "2017-08-15T19:50:33Z")
> [@Tandem t:slim - PLGS trial enrollment started](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/tandem-t-slim-plgs-trial-enrollment-started/1592/24): > > apologies for hijacking this No worries. If we get enrolled in the trial you can believe I will hijack it right back!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/3 "2017-08-15T19:59:55Z")
The first one I had was about the size of a pen. It was awesome. Still, to this day, it is the smallest meter made. Because back then, we didn’t worry about uploading the data anywhere, or any of that stuff! I can’t find mine, but here is a generic web picture of it: ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/8/878a2ac1097d28eed52733f3302466c9e0ab39ba.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/4 "2017-08-20T18:49:45Z")
This was also my first meter, except I had the one shaped like a credit card! And I agree, it’s smaller than most meters available today. (I think this company eventually turned into Abbott, and they do still make some of the best and smallest meters, like the Freestyle Lite and Precision Neo.) If I recall, it had a 45 or 60 second countdown and had a 10 test memory (but with no time stamp), and the lancing device allowed you to “change depths” by using a bigger or smaller hole in the cap… I got Type 1 in 1991, so don’t feel as experienced as some of you, but still used some remnants of 1980s-era technology when I was diagnosed. ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/5 "2017-08-15T20:04:33Z")
I had the “Credit Card” version of that, which could fit in my back pocket like a wallet - It was the smallest meter I ever owned. Probably early 1990s. For some reason, (I think it was probably the increasing number of Type 2’s doing SMBG) the meters have grown in size since then. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/d/daecce46753ddc13ef57eb3a37311efa555fba39.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/6 "2017-08-15T20:09:10Z")
Yep, I also had the credit card version too, but I broke them too easily, and so I stuck with the pen version. Eyesight maybe was an issue. And then the data collection, where everything needed a port to download data, or the ability to transmit BG logs… ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/7 "2017-08-20T14:04:55Z")
> [@Tandem t:slim - PLGS trial enrollment started](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/tandem-t-slim-plgs-trial-enrollment-started/1592/26): > > The first one I had was about the size of a pen @Eric I remember that one! Loved it for the short time I had it. But like with most pens, I lost it pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![MM2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/mm2/32/3032_2.png) [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/8 "2017-08-20T20:27:49Z")
I definitely used and liked the medsense. ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/9 "2017-08-20T20:39:22Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > Eyesight maybe was an issue. And then the data collection, where everything needed a port to download data, or the ability to transmit BG logs… Also, the credit card version of that meter had a battery that couldn’t be changed. Once it died, you just got a new meter. So that may have added some bulk. But I think larger screens, more buttons, backlights and strip lights, memory features, logging features, and so on all added up to increase size. The two meters I use today (Cotour Next USB and Precision Neo) are both pretty small. I think the big meters were a trend of the 1990s and early 2000s, and may be reversing now that people want to carry that sort of stuff in their pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/10 "2017-08-20T20:49:34Z")
> [@Jen](#): > > Also, the credit card version of that meter had a battery that couldn’t be changed. I remember the non-replaceable battery. The pen version had the same thing. But it was cool they gave you new meters for free, and smart of them since they made their money on the strips. ---
**Author:** ![Aaron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/aaron/32/1454_2.png) [@Aaron](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Aaron)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/11 "2017-08-21T01:05:36Z")
I would like to point out that I have not paid for a meter since the Glucoscan 2000. (And actually my Dad paid for that so technically I have never paid for meter.) I keep getting these “free meter with 100 test strips” deals at the local phamacy. ---
**Author:** ![ricardoasencio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@ricardoasencio](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ricardoasencio)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/12 "2026-01-03T11:57:27Z")
Did you manage to find a picture? From what I recall the strip was entered on the bottom right side, you needed to push like a lever so it opened the place where the strip was entered (i think excess blood needed to be removed with paper or cotton) ---
**Author:** ![CarlosLuis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/carlosluis/32/11389_2.png) [@CarlosLuis](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CarlosLuis)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 12:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/13 "2026-01-03T12:11:35Z")
> [@Aaron](#): > > I was looking for a picture of the Glucoscan 2000 ![IMG_0141](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/0/079a01a16f0633529d38a918cc73a156116f6646.jpeg) BTW this is a really interesting site. I wish I could read German 🎓 > **[Inhalte - Diabetesmuseum München](https://www.diabetesmuseum.de/inhalte/)** > > \[et\_pb\_section fb\_built=“1″ fullwidth=“on“ admin\_label=“Hero“ \_builder\_version=“4.10.6″ background\_image=“https://www.diabetesmuseum.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/stage-1.jpg“ parallax=“on“ custom\_padding=“0px|0|0px|0px|false|false“... We should have a diabetes museum in North America. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/14 "2026-01-03T18:04:18Z")
> [@CarlosLuis](#): > > We should have a diabetes museum in North America. We do. It’s in my basement. 😜 ---
**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1980s-glucose-meters/1657/15 "2026-01-03T19:20:41Z")
> [@CarlosLuis](#): > > We should have a diabetes museum in North America. I don’t know where exactly this one is, but it’s somewhere in NA. Cool video that shows my first pump (not, as the narrator says, “the very first” pump) at 0:30. > **[Diabetes Museum Tour: Part 2 In this true walk through history, we're taking...](https://www.facebook.com/100063774781083/videos/3916484021905652? __so__ =permalink)** > > Diabetes Museum Tour: Part 2 > > In this true walk through history, we're taking you back to the 1960s to manage diabetes! Sure, living with diabetes in 2025 comes with its challenges, but we're glad we...