Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loke on March 1, 2013 at 12:52pm

I just talked to Medtronic a couple of weeks ago in regards to this. Had a broken meter and needed a replacement.

According to Medtronic the Link products are only available for purchase through them and cannot be purchased through a pharmacy. A call to a couple of pharmacies confirmed this.

They have also said in the past that Bayer makes the Link meters custom for Medtronic so Medtronic is responsible for getting it approved and sold in Canada. Bayer has no involvement.

Medtronic also said that the Next Link is not available in Canada at this time and did not say when or if it will be available. Remember, it has to go through separate testing in Canada.

There is a good chance that Pharmasave is confused. Most of the pharmacies I have talked to don't know the difference between a meter and a Link meter unless you say specifically it is for a pump. I say Contour Next Link and they say they have it on their shelf, then I say for pump and they say they don't carry those.

Permalink Reply by nel on March 4, 2013 at 2:21pm

To add to the confusion : a MM pump buddy of mine here in Salmon Arm , BC was incorrectly told by his Pharmacist ( Pharmasave ) that he has to change strips , because of Bayer's Contour Next EZ meter ...Buddy eventually told Pharmasave that they erred .As far as I know , the new Next Link is not available in Canada ...and I will be looking forward to the new meter !!

Permalink Reply by Steve Lancaster on March 4, 2013 at 3:27pm

yes the next strips are different to the regular contour strips i just tried to put a regular strip into my contour next meter and it tells me to insert a contour next strip

Permalink Reply by Marfem on March 1, 2013 at 12:52pm

I heard was that we are not getting the new Link meter. It takes different strips than the Contour Link, are those available in Vancouver. The only new thing in Canada is medtronics has released the new Enlite sensor, can't wait to get my hands on those!!

Permalink Reply by Bill on March 1, 2013 at 6:09pm

Shucks! I was hoping they'd take the same strips!
I just started using the new enlite sensors, they are truly worth the wait! I am Canadian , but have recently been posted to India for a couple of years....and to my delight, the Indians no longer sell the soft sensor, just the elite, which is compatible to my transmitter! Much easier to insert and much more accurate, even though my second insertion last night was a little bloody, it still seems to be working ok...

Permalink Reply by Marfem on March 1, 2013 at 9:56pm

I'm glad to hear you like the Enlite Sensors! My Medtronics rep said it'll be about 6 weeks before they start shipping them out.

Permalink Reply by Theo Pella on March 1, 2013 at 9:51pm

I believe I have seen them in London Drugs here in Surrey, BC.

Permalink Reply by Theo Pella on March 1, 2013 at 9:59pm

We are talking about the Contour Next EZ meter? I was told that it also comes in the link for the pump by our Pharmacist. New strips yes but the +- BG reading was a HUGE jump from the 20% that we have now. I think.... think it was a +- 5-10% I just walked by the stand a few days ago. Of course we have 2-3 months worth of stock pile to go through before we could switch types.

Permalink Reply by Marfem on March 2, 2013 at 11:09am

No, I think the OP is looking for the new Contour Next Link. It looks like the Contour USB, but it links up to our Medtronic Insulin Pumps. It's not listed on the Bayerdiabetes.ca site, so I imagine its not available here. I hope it gets approved for us I like the size, new accuracy and easy read colour screen.

Permalink Reply by Theo Pella on March 2, 2013 at 11:32am

Here is the Bayer Contour Next... as I saw it at London Drugs. I was told by the Pharmacist (Who is my son's hockey team manager) that the link is also available. I'm sure if you talked to the Pharmacy and they called their Bayer Rep, they would get you the information.

http://www.londondrugs.com/Bayer%20Contour%20Next%20Blood%20Glucose...

Permalink Reply by Steve Lancaster on March 2, 2013 at 11:57am

http://www.bayercontour.com/Blood-Glucose-Monitoring/NEXTProducts/C... this is the link for the contour link its looks like the contour usb except the usb is black and the link is grey. According to Bayer Health Canada still say that the link wont be available in Canada, looks like we might have to go south to get the link