Accu-chek FAQs

Accu-Chek Spirit Pump

To help ensure safe insulin pump therapy, the battery cover should be replaced every 4th battery change, and a new adapter should be used with every 10th insulin cartridge change.

Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Pump

To help ensure safe insulin pump therapy, the battery cover and adapter should be replaced every 2 months.

For more information, please review your product’s user manual:

Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Insulin Pump User's Manual (English)

Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Insulin Pump User's Manual (Español)

Battery ingestion

If you suspect your child has swallowed a battery, seek medical attention immediately – prompt action is critical. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop.

Battery ingestion or insertion into the body may cause chemical burns, perforation of soft tissues, and death. Batteries, as small parts, are a choking hazard. Keep them away from children under the age of 3 years.

If the battery compartment does not close securely, stop using the product and keep it away from children. Contact Accu-Chek Customer Care.

Accu-Chek Spirit Pump

To help ensure safe insulin pump therapy, the battery cover should be replaced every 4th battery change, and a new adapter should be used with every 10th insulin cartridge change.

Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Pump

To help ensure safe insulin pump therapy, the battery cover and adapter should be replaced every 2 months.

For more information, please review your product’s user manual:

Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Insulin Pump User's Manual (English)

Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Insulin Pump User's Manual (Español)

Battery ingestion

If you suspect your child has swallowed a battery, seek medical attention immediately – prompt action is critical. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop.

Battery ingestion or insertion into the body may cause chemical burns, perforation of soft tissues, and death. Batteries, as small parts, are a choking hazard. Keep them away from children under the age of 3 years.

If the battery compartment does not close securely, stop using the product and keep it away from children. Contact Accu-Chek Customer Care.

This article contains instructions on how to replace your Accu-Chek meter batteries. Look for the name of your product to find the relevant instructions or videos below.

Please note that your data will not be lost when you remove the batteries from your meter.

Table of contents:

1. Accu-Chek Guide Meter
2. Accu-Chek Guide Me Meter
3. Accu-Chek Guide Link meter
4. Accu-Chek Aviva Meter
5. Accu-Chek Aviva Connect Meter
6. Accu-Chek Aviva Expert meter
7. Accu-Chek Nano meter
8. What to do in the case of suspected battery ingestion.

Accu-Chek Guide meter

1. Open the child-resistant battery door by inserting a narrow object, such as a pen, into the slot.
2. Push the tab in the direction of the arrow and lift the battery door up.
3. Release the old batteries by pushing the release button.
4. Press and hold the power/set/ok button on the front of the meter for at least 2 seconds. Wait 20 seconds.
5. Slide the new batteries under the black tabs with the (+) side facing up.
6. Put the battery door back in place and snap it closed. In addition, this video shows you how to change the batteries of the Accu-Chek Guide meter.

Accu-Chek Guide Meter: Changing the Batteries

Accu-Chek Guide Me meter

1. Open the child-resistant battery door by inserting a narrow object, such as a pen, into the slot.
2. Push the tab in the direction of the arrow and lift the battery door up.
3. Remove the old batteries.
4. Press and hold the power/set/ok button on the front of the meter for at least 2 seconds. Wait 20 seconds.
5. Slide the new batteries under the black tabs with the (+) side facing up.
6. Put the battery door back in place and snap it closed. In addition, this video shows you how to change the batteries of the Accu-Chek Guide Me meter.

Accu-Chek Guide Me - Changing Batteries

Accu-Chek Guide Link meter

1. Open the battery door on the back of the meter by pushing the tab in the direction of the arrow and pulling the door up.
2. Release the old batteries by pushing the release button.
3. Remove the old batteries.
4. Press and hold the power/set/ok button on the front of the meter for at least 2 seconds. Wait 20 seconds
5. Slide the new batteries under the black tabs with the (+) side facing up.
6. Put the battery door back in place and snap it closed.

Accu-Chek Aviva meter

1. Open the battery door on the back of the meter, remove the old battery, press any button on the meter for 2 seconds, wait 20 seconds.
2. Insert the new battery with the (+) facing outwards.
3. Snap the battery door back into place.
4. Press the on/off button and the meter will beep.
5. The setup and hour should be flashing on the display. If the date and time are correct, press and hold the on/off button for at least 4 seconds until the test strip icon appears.

Accu-Chek Aviva Connect meter

1. Use your thumb to slide the battery drawer out of the meter.
2. Remove the old batteries.
3. Replace the new ones in the battery drawer, with the (+) side facing down.
4. Slide the battery drawer back into position until it locks into place.
5. Accu-Chek Aviva Expert meter
6. Remove the battery door from the back of the meter by pushing the tab in the direction of the arrow and pulling up the door.
7. Remove the old batteries from the meter.
8. Insert three AAA batteries with the (+) and (-) matching the marks in the battery compartment.
9. Put the battery door back in place and snap it closed.

Accu-Chek Nano meter

1. Open the battery drawer on the back of the meter by sliding it out of the meter.
2. Remove the old batteries for at least 20 seconds.
3. Press any button on the meter, then insert the new batteries with the (+) facing down.
4. Slide the battery drawer back into position until it locks into place.
5. Press the on/off button and the meter will beep. The setup and date should be flashing on display.
6. Your meter will prompt you to confirm the meter’s time and date settings. If correct, press and hold the on/off button for 4 seconds, then release.

If you have persistent issues with your batteries or power, please contact Accu-Chek Customer Care for assistance.

Battery ingestion

If you suspect your child has swallowed a battery, seek medical attention immediately – prompt action is critical. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop.

Battery ingestion or insertion into the body may cause chemical burns, perforation of soft tissues, and death. Batteries, as small parts, are a choking hazard. Keep them away from children under the age of 3 years.

If the battery compartment does not close securely, stop using the product and keep it away from children. Contact Accu-Chek Customer Care.

Choosing the right Comfort Dial setting:

The most comfortable setting of your Accu-Chek SoftClix lancing device will depend on a few things:

1. Whether you're using a fingertip or alternate site.
2. Your skin type – softer, thinner skin requires a shallower setting than thicker skin.
3. The required blood sample – the more blood you require, the higher the setting you'll need.

Start with a low setting, such as penetration depth 2, when using the device for the first time. Dial to a higher setting until the blood volume is right.

Keep in mind, it’s best to always talk with your healthcare professional before deciding if alternate site testing is right for you.

Using your Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device:

1. First, you will need an Accu-Chek Softclix lancet and device.
2. Remove the cap from the lancing device.
3. Insert the lancet into the lancet holder at the bottom of the device – push it all the way in until it clicks in place.
4. Twist and remove the protective cap from the lancet to expose the needle.
5. Place the cap back onto the lancing device, ensuring that the notch of the cap aligns with the mark on the device.
6. Set the penetration depth to match your skin type, by turning the dial on the cap.
7. To use the lancing device, prime it by pressing the plunger all the way down. The release button on the side of the device should turn yellow, indicating that it is ready to use.
8. Place the device up against your finger firmly, and press the release button to release the lancet.
9. Be sure to replace the lancet every time you use your device, as they are not reusable and become unsterile after one use.
10. To remove the used lancet, take off the cap from the lancing device and slide down the ejector over a sharps disposal bin. Then replace the cap.

This video gives visual instructions on how to set up, load and use the Accu-Chek SoftClix lancing device.

Accu-Chek Softclix Lancing Device - Designed to Reduce Pain

Choosing the right Comfort Dial setting:

The most comfortable setting of your Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device will depend on a few things:

1. Whether you're using a fingertip or alternate site.
2. Your skin type – softer, thinner skin requires a shallower setting than thicker skin.
3. The required blood sample – the more blood you require, the higher the setting you'll need.

Start with a low setting, such as penetration depth 2, when using the device for the first time. Dial to a higher setting until the blood volume is right.

Keep in mind, it’s best to always talk with your healthcare professional before deciding if alternate site testing is right for you.

Using your Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device:

1. First, you will need an Accu-Chek FastClix lancet drum and device. Each drum contains 6 pre-set lancets.
2. Remove the cap from the lancing device.
3. Insert the drum, white end first, ensuring to push it all the way in.
4. Do not remove the drum until you’ve used all 6 lancets, as you cannot put it back in once you remove it.
5. Now place the cap back on your lancing device.
6. Set the penetration depth by turning the dial to match your individual skin type.
7. To use the device, simply place the device up against your finger and press the button on top all the way down.
8. After each test, refresh to a new lancet by pushing the white lever back and forth once.
9. The number in the display tells you how many lancets you have left to use before you need to replace the drum.

This video gives visual instructions on how to set up, load and use the Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device.

How to use the Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device

Download the manual below to help you learn how to use your Accu-Chek Aviva Combo meter.

Accu-Chek Aviva Combo Meter User’s Manual (English)

Pairing your Accu-Chek meter to the mySugr app allows you to automatically log your blood sugar readings into the app, saving you tons of time. 

Follow the steps below to pair your Accu-Chek Guide Me, Accu-Chek Guide or Accu-Chek Aviva Connect meter to the mySugr app:

1. If you are using an Apple device, make sure Bluetooth® is turned on.

a. Bluetooth should turn on automatically for Android users at the beginning of the pairing process.

2. Ensure Location Services are turned on for the mySugr app during the pairing process. (You can turn it back off once you're done. Settings > Apps > mySugr > Location Services.)
3. Open the mySugr app and go to the “Connections” tab in the bar menu located at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select your meter — Accu-Chek Guide Me, Accu-Chek Guide or Accu-Chek Aviva Connect — and follow the steps on the screen to activate it.
5. You'll then receive a message that pairing was successful, meaning your meter is now connected to your mobile device.
6. You can return to the mySugr home screen by tapping on "My trend" in the tab menu located at the bottom of the screen

Here are some videos to help provide visual instructions on how to pair your meter with the mySugr app.

How to pair your Accu-Chek Guide meter to the mySugr app:

How to Pair Accu-Chek Guide blood glucose meter with mySugr App

How to pair your Accu-Chek Guide Me meter to the mySugr app:

How to Pair Accu-Chek Guide Me blood glucose meter with mySugr App

There’s no need to manually code any of our meters. You can discover more detailed information below.

Accu-Chek Guide Me, Accu-Chek Guide, Accu-Chek Guide Link, Accu-Chek Aviva Connect, Accu-Chek Nano and Accu-Chek Compact Plus meters

There’s no need to code any of these meters, so you have fewer steps in testing.

Accu-Chek Aviva meter

The black Accu-Chek Aviva meter does not need to be coded. If you have a silver Accu-Chek Aviva meter, learn more about how to upgrade to a new Accu-Chek Guide Me meter by contacting Accu-Chek Customer Care

Accu-Chek Aviva Expert and Accu-Chek Aviva Combo meters

These meters come precoded with a black code key that remains in place for the life of the meter. There's no need to manually code the meter.

If you do not have a black code key, please

contact Accu-Chek Customer Care.

No – you should never use your insulin pump near electromagnetic fields such as x-ray, computer tomography or MRI. Always make sure you disconnect and remove your pump and leave it outside of these areas.

The Accu-Chek Spirit insulin pump can withstand brief accidental water contact such as rain, water splashes or accidental immersion. Ensure that before taking a bath or going into a whirlpool, shower or swimming pool, you disconnect and remove your pump.

However, your Accu-Chek Aviva Combo meter is not waterproof and must be kept dry at all times.

You can use U100 rapid-acting insulin with your Accu-Chek Spirit Combo or Accu-Chek Spirit insulin pump.

All information is saved when you change the batteries of any Accu-Chek meter, including the memory, your logbook data, test results, diary information and settings, however you should check that the time and date are correct when you’ve inserted new batteries.

Explore the different ways you can simply handle Accu-Chek® Guide test strips when removing them from the SmartPack® test strip vial:

1. Front slide
2. Side pinch
3. Pinch and pull
4. Back slide

Remember to follow all instructions in the package insert (wash and dry hands, do not bend or get dirt on the test strip, and close the cap tightly when finished).

Here are some visual instructions on how to handle Accu-Chek Guide test stips.

How to Handle Accu-Chek Guide Test Strips 

Use this guide to determine which test strips will work with your Accu-Chek device. Select your device from the list to navigate to the appropriate section.  

Table of contents:

• Accu-Chek Guide Me
• Accu-Chek Guide
• Accu-Chek Guide Link
• Accu-Chek Aviva
• Accu-Chek Aviva Connect
• Accu-Chek Aviva Expert
• Accu-Chek Nano

Accu-Chek Guide Me, Accu-Chek Guide, and Accu-Chek Guide Link meters

The Guide System meters mentioned above use Accu-Chek Guide test strips.

Accu-Chek Aviva, Accu-Chek Aviva Connect, and Accu-Chek Aviva Expert meters

The Aviva System meters mentioned above use Accu-Chek Aviva Plus test strips.

Accu-Chek Nano meter

The Accu-Chek Nano meter uses Accu-Chek SmartView test strips.

The system in your meter automatically detects when enough blood has been applied to the strip and begins the test, even if some yellow is still visible.

The only time you need to apply more blood is when the blood drop symbol continues to flash in the display.

Using test strips that have expired can cause your results to be inaccurate. If your test strips have expired, throw them away and begin using a new vial of strips. The expiration date is printed on every vial of test strips.

Your meter comes with the batteries already installed and a preset time and date. You may need to change the time to match your time zone, or if you live in a state that observes daylight saving time, to reflect the time change.

Table of contents:

1. Accu-Chek Guide Meter
2. Accu-Chek Guide Me Meter
3. Accu-Chek Aviva Combo Meter
4. Accu-Chek Spirit Combo Meter

How do I turn Bluetooth® off on my Accu-Chek Guide meter

1. Go into the Settings menu, then Wireless, then Flight Mode. Press OK to disable Bluetooth communication.

How do I turn Bluetooth® off on my Accu-Chek Guide Me meter

1. Press and hold the power button located on the right side of the meter until the Bluetooth® symbol disappears.

How do I turn Bluetooth® off on my Accu-Chek Aviva Combo meter

1. Go into the Settings menu, then Meter, then Bluetooth®. Follow the instructions given on the screen.

How do I turn Bluetooth® off on my Accu-Chek Spirit Combo insulin pump

1. To turn Bluetooth® service off on the Accu-Chek Spirit Combo insulin pump, go to the Bluetooth® Settings menu.