# Accu-Chek
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800
**Category:** Tips, Tech & Gear
**Created:** [December 13, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800 "2018-12-13T01:02:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/1 "2018-12-13T01:02:31Z")
Got a letter from my PBM today that they are switching to Accu-Chek products and offering to send me a free meter of my choice and initiate the strip RX with my doctors office.
The three meters they offer for free are the Guide, the Aviva Plus, or the Nano… it appears that each of these use a different strip. I don’t know which other meters they make have cross compatibility with the same strips… At first glance none of their meters particularly appeal to me— the nano is the smallest, which I like , but it says it will be discontinued in 2019. They seem to be hyping up the Guide model…
How many of you use acku-chek meters and strips? Which ones? What do you think of their stuff? What are the pros and cons?
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### Author:  [@jim26](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jim26)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/2 "2018-12-13T01:08:16Z")
I recieved the same letter. Interested to hear any feedback.
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### Author:  [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/3 "2018-12-13T01:09:08Z")
I suspect a substantial number of diabetics in the USA might be getting the same letter…
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/4 "2018-12-13T01:20:55Z")
We used the Aviva meter for more than a year. It was a good reasonably accurate meter. We like the Contour One Next meter more, but the Accu-Chek was more accurate than the One Touch Ultra 2 that we used for a year as well.
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### Author:  [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/5 "2018-12-13T01:23:00Z")
Is the Aviva the same as the Aviva Plus? At least in terms of which strips they measure?
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/6 "2018-12-13T01:43:11Z")
I think so, and I also think that we may have been using the Aviva Plus, but in any case. It was plenty accurate enough for us, i.e. not a random number generator like the One Touch product. But the Contour One Next seems better overall. If my insurance changed, I would feel fine using the Accu-Check Aviva plus.
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### Author:  [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/7 "2018-12-13T01:49:17Z")
I really wish more manufacturers would get the idea to make small compact meters, some of these things are the size of a deck of cards it looks like… kinda silly when we carry them around 24/7
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### Author:  [@mike\_g](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mike_g)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/8 "2018-12-13T02:02:00Z")
I’ve used the aviva plus meter. Accurate meter, but large as you say. I’m pretty sure it’s designed for the older T2 user, given the size and ease of use.
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### Author:  [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/9 "2018-12-13T03:14:25Z")
Here’s my fairly detailed review of the Guide (be sure to read additonal posts from me in that thread, as I add additional details/impressions).
> [@Accu-Chek Guide (with flat strip container): First Impressions](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek-guide-with-flat-strip-container-first-impressions/4236):
>
> I received my free Accu-Chek Guide today (available to any Canadians through the Roche website), and first impressions are that I quite like it! Enough that, if it’s accurate, I’d seriously consider switching. The strip container is very flat and appears to hold strips in place by pressure, similar to the strip holder @Eric designed. The sample I got only came with ten strips, and unfortunately the container will only hold those ten strips. So I’d buy a full box of strips if I want to use the c…
I ended up moving back to the Contour Next One because I prefer it and can carry 100 strips in its container. But the Accu-Chek Guide was fine as far as accuracy is concerned, and the meter/strips/lancing device were fairly compact.
I used the Nano briefly years ago but can’t remember much about it. I think I mostly got it because at the time it came with the Multiclix lancing device. It has a chip in each vial of strips, and once strips expire, you can no longer use them. My Guide strips haven’t expired yet, but I plan on testing them once they do to see if they work. (I used an Accu-Chek Compact Plus and an Accu-Chek Mobile in the past, too, both of which had the expired strips issue. That’s really my biggest complaint about these meters.)
I liked the Guide enough that, if I was forced to use it, I wouldn’t be too upset.
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### Author:  [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/10 "2018-12-13T03:21:59Z")
Thanks Jen!
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### Author:  [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/11 "2018-12-13T04:07:31Z")
> [@jim26](#):
>
> I recieved the same letter. Interested to hear any feedback.
Me too… another nice letter from Caremark.
I was thinking of choosing Aviva plus. I have used one similar, and thought it was ok.
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### Author:  [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/12 "2018-12-13T13:51:52Z")
> [@MM2](#):
>
> Me too… another nice letter from Caremark.
@MM2 - I just looked up Caremark formulary and it appears that Accu-Check was removed?
Caremark (CVS)
Formulary Drug Removals
October 2018
> Diabetes Supplies, Test Strips and Kits
> Formulary Drug Removals:
> ACCU-CHECK STRIPS AND KITS
> BREEZE 2 STRIPS AND KITS
> CONTOUR NEXT STRIPS AND KITS
> CONTOUR STRIPS AND KITS
> FREESTYLE STRIPS AND KITS
> All other test strips that are not ONETOUCH brand
>
> Formulary Options:
> ONETOUCH ULTRA STRIPS AND KITS
> ONETOUCH VERIO STRIPS AND KITS
We previously used the One Touch Ultra with our Animas Ping as the meter was also a full remote for the pump so it was super convenient and the strips seemed good. We had no complaints.
However I do like the Contour Next One meter and strips better and do not intend to switch back. PBM or no PBM.
Being on the Dexcom G6, our strip usage is fairly low. If the PBM doesn’t want to provide the Contour Next strips anymore then I will just pick them up on Amazon. I see 200 Contour Next strips on Amazon for $42 which is 21 cents per strip.
> **[Formulary\_Exclusion\_Drug\_List.pdf](https://www.caremark.com/portal/asset/Formulary_Exclusion_Drug_List.pdf)**
>
> 376.51 KB
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0106LF0X4](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0106LF0X4)
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### Author:  [@jim26](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/jim26)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/13 "2018-12-13T14:26:46Z")
> [@Thomas](#):
>
> [MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mm2) - I just looked up Caremark formulary and it appears that Accu-Check was removed
It’s new 1/1/2019. Accu-check isn’t covered until that date.
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### Author:  [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/14 "2018-12-13T16:57:46Z")
> [@jim26](#):
>
> It’s new 1/1/2019. Accu-check isn’t covered until that date.
Correct. My letter specifically said to not order strips until 2019, and need new script from doctor.
But the meter would be provided for free, by contacting them now, with choice of meter. In past I have gotten free meter every time they switch.
Anyone impacted, with auto refill scripts will need to cancel 2019 fills of one touch.
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### Author:  [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/accu-chek/5800/15 "2018-12-13T17:03:44Z")
> [@Thomas](#):
>
> However I do like the Contour Next One meter and strips better and do not intend to switch back. PBM or no PBM.
I like contour next also, and occasionally buy from Amazon.