Some of the most commonly asked questions are listed below with answers. While we have been as comprehensive as possible we appreciate that there may be other questions and if this is the case please contact us by email support@pharmacodiabetes.co.nz and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
If you are on insulin or sulphonylurea (eg glicazide) therapy, you have the choice of any of the three funded meters (ie CareSens N, CareSens II or CareSens N POP).
Please note,if you manage your diabetes with diet or metformin, CareSens are not funded through your pharmacy. Please contact your doctor for advice regarding access to a meter in this circumstance.
Pharmaco is distributing a range of three fully funded meters and two types of testing strips from the CareSens range.
The meters are the CareSens II, the CareSens N and CareSens N POP, each providing different features for differing needs. Additionally, Pharmaco also offers CareSens N Voice meter- meter with talking function. This meter is particularly useful for people with diabetes who have visual impairment. CareSens N Voice meter requires CareSens N test strips. Please contact Pharmaco Diabetes Shop or your local pharmacy to purchase CareSens N Voice meter.
Caring for your System
Use a soft cloth or tissue to wipe the meter exterior. If necessary, the soft cloth or tissue may be dipped in a small amount of alcohol.
Do not use organic solvents such as benzene, acetone or household and industrial cleaners that may cause irreparable damage to the meter.
Caution:
Two types of strips are fully funded; CareSens and CareSens N Test Strips. The CareSens Test Strips are used with the CareSens II, while the CareSens N no coding strips will be used with the CareSens N, CareSens N POP and CareSens N meters.
It is important to use the correct strips for each meter.
Detailed product specifications for each meter can be seen under the product section of this website – a summary is provided below:
Yes. SmartLog Software for Windows and Mac versions can be downloaded to your computer. Please click here to download SmartLog.
SmartLog software works with CareSens II, CareSens N , CareSens N POP and CareSens N Voice meters. You can download this software free of charge.
For download information on SmartLog click here
You will need a CareSens USB cable to connect your CareSens meter to your computer (Windows / Apple Mac). You can buy one by phoning 0800 GLUCOSE (0800 458 2673) or from our shop..
Directions on using SmartLog can be found here.
Batteries are provided with all meters and a free replacement battery service is available as required for all CareSens meters. Free batteries are available through community pharmacies and the CareSens website. A packaging and courier fee applies if batteries are ordered through the website.
All CareSens meters supplied in NZ come with logbooks for patients to record their blood glucose readings. If you require extra logbooks, you can order them by calling our toll- free number 0800 GLUCOSE (0800 458267). They are also available from our shop.
Pharmaco is a leading sales, marketing and distribution healthcare organisation.
Pharmaco provides professional sales and marketing services for a wide range of business partners from all over the world. These services are backed by best-practice warehousing, distribution, regulatory, compliance, quality assurance, customer support, finance and administration services.
We pride ourselves on bringing life-changing and life-enhancing products, from around the globe, to New Zealanders and Australians: including a wide range of pharmaceutical, diagnostic, scientific and medical products. View our website www.pharmaco.co.nz
Our philosophy: always from the heart
Our company was founded on the principles of honesty, honour, empathy, professionalism and strong family values, and those principles still hold true today.
We are proud of our culture and we aim to reflect our values every day in the way we interact with each other, our business partners, customers and our suppliers. We strive to be vital, dynamic, supportive, caring and creative. We embrace change and we celebrate our differences.
We like to think of ourselves as quiet achievers of better healthcare. By bringing exceptional healthcare products from around the world to our shores, and by working together as ‘one family’, we can create better health outcomes and better lives.
Always from the heart
Pharmaco is here to improve lives.
To deliver exceptional healthcare products which make a profound difference to people’s health and wellbeing.
We strive to be vital, dynamic, supportive, caring and creative.
Together, we will make a real difference.
Today and every day.
Pharmaco has been implementing a full and comprehensive implementation plan since 2012 to support the changeover to CareSens blood glucose meters and strips.
Quick guides for CareSens N, CareSens N POP and CareSens II meters are available in these languages:
The CareSens range of blood glucose meters are produced by i-SENS, a South Korean biosensor and electrochemistry Technology Company that develops, produces and distributes products around the world.
Since its beginnings, i-SENS has successfully developed blood glucose monitoring systems, including meters, strips and lancing devices, and has launched these products internationally, including Australia, America, Japan and Europe, while operating a world class production line. i- SENS has supplied several hundred million strips into the US Medicare market and the products are known for their high quality and accuracy.
The CareSens N range of meters available in NZ, are compliant to the required ISO standards.
The unit of use with CareSens and other brands of blood glucose meters in New Zealand is mmol/L. This is the concentration of glucose in venous blood plasma that is calculated from the measurement of glucose in capillary blood from the sample taken, usually from your fingers. This is a measurement of plasma glucose in mmol/L at a specific moment in time.
When you visit your doctor, it is likely that you will have your HbA1c measured by your local medical laboratory. This measures the average of your venous blood glucose concentration over the previous 90 days. This is now recorded as mmol/mol; previously it was measured as %. So HbA1c measures the average of all the varying plasma glucose levels over the previous 90 days and averages out all the lower and higher plasma glucose levels.
The measurement of HbA1c is a different measurement from a blood glucose measurement performed at the same time with your meter. They are measuring different things.
For further information see www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/h/hba1c-testing/
Like any medical device proper practice and care needs to be taken when handling the CareSens test strips. Washing and drying your hands before testing is recommended to avoid contamination on the electrode end of the strips.
Should your strip become contaminated, wet, or damaged, your CareSens meter will show an ‘Er1’ message on the screen, which means the meter, is identifying the strip as used.
It is also important to replace the lid of the vial after removing your test strips. If the vial is left open, the strips may become susceptible to humidity and blood glucose readings will be affected.
Additionally, if there is poor contact between the electronic sensors on the strip and the meter contacts, the error message will show.
Should an error message appear on your meter, please see your owner's booklet.
The device has an internal spring and mechanism that allows the insulin to be delivered without a needle.
The device requires a certain amount of counter-pressure before it will deliver insulin; this is to ensure optimal insulin delivery.
The noise is the sound of the spring releasing.
No, you need to draw up your insulin dose each time. This is because all of the insulin in the nozzle is administered.
You can use the same sites that you would normally use for a needle. Choose an area with some fatty tissue, avoid areas with a low fat content or high muscle content. Refer to the instruction manual for more information.
InsuJet is suitable for use with all brands and types of insulin.
InsuJet has a dose range of 4–40 international units of U100 insulin. Doses greater than this will require more than one administration. You cannot administer ½ units with InsuJet.
It is recommended you have an InsuJet device for each insulin type. If you would like to purchase more than one device, please contact us so we can supply you with two different coloured devices.
It is important that you read the instruction manual and watch the videos to ensure you use InsuJet correctly. You must never ‘dry fire’ InsuJet. There must always be insulin in the nozzle and air must be removed before use. Dry firing will damage the device, and void the warranty.
Yes, it has a one year warranty.
We do not claim it is pain free; as insulin administration with InsuJet is still penetrating the skin, there can be discomfort. If you bruise with needle injection you may bruise with InsuJet. If you take a large dose of insulin, splitting the dose may assist with this.
Please contact us to discuss on 0800 458 267.
Smart device displays: ‘pump not paired‘ or ‘Your pump is not linked. Your pump is not permitted for use as part of CamAPS’
Important Note:
Before you start with detailed trouble shooting, make sure to turn off your smartphone, wait 15 seconds and turn back on your smartphone. See if the issue is resolved.
Data cannot be shared with Companion for remote monitoring.
Important Note:
Before you start with detailed trouble shooting, make sure to turn off your smartphone, wait 15 seconds and turn back on your smartphone. See if the issue is resolved.
Smart device displays: “Unable to link account. Please try again”
Important Note:
Before you start with detailed trouble shooting, make sure to turn off your smartphone, wait 15 seconds and turn back on your smartphone. See if the issue is resolved.
Smart device displays: “Your transmitter was not found”
Important Note:
Before you start with detailed trouble shooting, make sure to turn off your smartphone, wait 15 seconds and turn back on your smartphone. See if the issue is resolved.
Smart device displays: ‘No Restarts‘ or ‘Sensor Error. Wait up to 3 hours’
Important Note:
Before you start with detailed trouble shooting, make sure to turn off your smartphone, wait 15 seconds and turn back on your smartphone. See if the issue is resolved.
Smart device displays:
“Unable to start sensor. Please try again“, “Sensor start processing error”
“Incompatible sensor. This sensor cannot be used with this version of the app“
“Sensor already in use. The sensor you just scanned was started by another device and cannot be used“
“Unable to proceed to link with Freestyle Libre 3 sensor. Please connect to the internet and restart the mylife CamAPS app. You can also try later but you should maintain connectivity to the internet.”
"Error LBR004"
Important Note:
Before you start with detailed trouble shooting, make sure to turn off your smartphone, wait 15 seconds and turn back on your smartphone. See if the issue is resolved.