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Best glucose meters 2021: The top glucometers for blood sugar monitoring
By
Claire Davies
July 09, 2021
This year’s best glucose meters for blood sugar testing at home, including the top glucometers for
sharing readings with
Jump to: your doctor.
Expert
advice
Best smart meter
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
Glossary
Diabetes resources
The best glucose meters are handheld devices used to test your blood sugar levels at home. Glucometers enable you to get
fast readings to see how diet, exercise, medication (such as insulin) and other factors affect your blood glucose. Because
they’re a vital part of managing diabetes, glucose meters must be reliable, easy to use and as painless as possible.
While the cost of a glucometer won’t be covered by Medicare Part D plans, it should be covered by Medicare Part B (as Durable
BACK TO TOP ▲
Medical Equipment). Choosing the best glucose meter for your needs is largely down to you, but your doctor may recommend
which type of glucometer you’d benefit from. Standard glucose meters, for example, use a small lancing device that pricks
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your finger to collect blood for testing. These are the cheapest type of blood sugar monitor and the easiest for beginners to
use.
We have consulted health experts and studied glucometer and blood sugar reading guidelines from health
organizations including the CDC and WHO, as well as advice issued by the American Diabetes Association, and the
American Association of Diabetes Educators. This guide is to aid your research, but we recommend speaking to your
doctor about what type of meter is right for you.
Continous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are far more advanced. They monitor blood glucose levels day and night with little effort
from you. CGMs store a greater amount of readings, but they are expensive and come with a learning curve. All of the best
glucose meters below can store readings (numbers vary), with smart glucometers taking this up a notch. The latter will
produce graphs (like CGMs do), showing you potential trends behind spikes and crashes. You’ll also get 30 to 120-day
averages, plus a chance to add notes on diet, meds and activity.
When choosing the best glucose meter for you, do your research on the cost of compatible test strips. Hands-down, the
ongoing cost of test strips will determine how expensive or cheap your glucometer really is. We’d advise speaking to your
health insurance company to see what it will and won’t cover. Finally, if you have no or low vision, the best glucometer for you
is one designed to speak results aloud, and we have included the top option for that type of monitor below.
Jump to:
Expert advice
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
(Image credit: Getty) Glossary
To ensure you choose the best glucose meter for your needs, the American Association of Diabetes Educators recommends
considering whether the following features are helpful to you:
A high contrast display if you have low vision, or a meter that speaks results
Lancet function and needle removal if you have a dexterity condition
Portability for taking readings multiple times a day
Smartphone app connectivity
A bolus calculator (ability to assist with insulin dosage calculations)
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Susan Stauffer, BSN, RN, CDE, diabetes educator and nurse clinician at UCHealth Diabetes and Medical Nutrition Therapy in
Fort Collins, Colorado, also highlights how insurance and the cost of test strips should factor in your decision: “The most
important factor for people who routinely check their blood sugar is insurance coverage. Whether you use the Walmart Prime,
the Freestyle lite or the Contour Next One, it is insurance coverage that rules. Some strips cost $18 for 100 and some will cost
$150 for 100.”
Jump to:
Expert advice
Best for seniors Instantly shows if your blood glucose is in the target range
Best for basics
SPECIFICATIONS Best for reminders
Result speed: FiveGlucometer
seconds prices
| Memory capacity: 800 readings | Blood $7.95 VIEW AT AMAZON
sample size: 0.6 μL | Warranty: Five years | Cost of test strips: From $11
Top brands
for 35 strips at Amazon $9.25 View at Amazon
Types of meter
One of the most useful features is the smartLIGHT target range indicator. This gives you instant visual (colored light) feedback
by immediately recognizing if you blood glucose reading is above, below or within target range. This is one of the reasons why
it's rated as one of the world's best glucose meters.
The Contour Next One has over 1,300 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. It scores 4.5 out of 5 stars on
Walgreens, and from over 400 reviews on Walmart it has earned an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. The large majority of reviews praise the
high levels of accuracy, ease of use and the wealth of data captured, along with the easy-read display. Critical reviews are in the minority,
with some users saying that the meter they used lost accuracy after a few weeks of use.
If you pair the Contour Next One with the Contour Diabetes app, readings will be stored for you to look through and pick out
any trends. Pre- and post-meal blood sugar level reading results are saved, with Fasting, Before Meal, After Meal, and Overall
results viewable on a daily graph.
The Contour Next One Glucometer presents averages over a 90-day period, and you can add in notes regarding diet, exercise
and medication. This means you can not only see patterns, but the potential causes, enabling you to better manage your
blood glucose day to day.
Another cool feature concerns the test strips, designed to enable Second-Chance sampling. This give you 60 seconds to
reapply more blood, which could help prevent wasted strips if you didn't add enough blood for a reading the first time. The
user manual goes into detail on all of these features, and includes information such as how to use the Contour Next One, and
how to clean your glucometer.
Jump to:
Expert advice
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
(Image credit: ForaCare Inc)
Glossary
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The Fora 6 Connect glucose meter is popular among people who want to capture accurate blood glucose readings to see what
foods and other factors spike their blood sugar, and could therefore help you make more informed nutritional choices to
better manage your blood glucose levels.
An attractive aspect of the Fora 6 Connect is that it doubles as a ketone meter, and is one of few devices to do both types of
monitoring effectively. It does so using two separate strips - one for glucose, one for ketones. A box of 50 Blood Glucose Test
Strips costs $24.99 at the Fora online store.
As a Bluetooth-enabled
Best fordevice,
small the Fora 6 Connect glucose meter saves readings to a companion phone app, iFORA HM (iOS,
samples
Android), so that you can dig into the data and pinpoint trends. Keeping readings is a vital part of diabetes management,
especially if you are taking
Best medication and want to see how effective it is. With the capacity to store 1,000 readings, the Fora 6
for speed
While the Fora 6 Connect supports Alternative Site Testing (AST), so obtaining a blood sample from your palm, forearm or
Types of meter
upper arm, AST is not
CGM vs standardfor everyone and should only be performed at certain times. We'd recommend speaking with
suitable
your doctor first to see if this is suitable for you.
Buying advice
Diabetes resources
BEST GLUCOSE METER FOR SMALL BLOOD SAMPLES
Further health and
wellness guides
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SPECIFICATIONS
Result speed: Six seconds | Memory capacity: Unlimited | Blood sample $25 VIEW AT AMAZON
Helps you analyze trends Some users say the test strips are
Jump to:
tricky to open
Built-in hypoglycemia alert
Expert advice
Lightweight and compact
Best smart meter
Android) and automatically records results in-app, saving you the hassle of inputting data.
Best for speed
Glucometer prices
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Jump to:
SPECIFICATIONS
Result speed: FourExpert advice
seconds | Memory capacity: 720 readings | Blood $40 VIEW AT AMAZON
Top brands
WHAT USERS SAY
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
There are around 370 Accu-Chek Guide reviews on Amazon, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars, with 89% of those being 4 stars and above.
Buying advice
Positive user reviews focus around how simple the glucometer is to use, and how it is ‘almost’ pain-free, thanks to the included FastClix
Glucometer FAQ
lancing device. Some critical reviews mention issues with pairing the meter, while others said early packaging was misleading, as it
suggested strips were included when they have to be purchased separately.
Glossary
Diabetes resources
There’s also a test strip eject button on the right-hand side of the glucose meter to aid usability and accuracy. And because the
compatible test strips are quite light and small, this simple eject function is necessary so that you don’t have to fumble
around. The anti-spill test strip storage pack is a nice touch - no more spilling strips when you take one out.
Roche has designed the test strips with ease of use in mind too, as you can add a small drop of blood for testing anywhere
along the strip, as opposed to just in a specific spot. The suggested retail price for a 50-strip vial is around $30, or $49.99 for
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Buying advice
WHAT USERS SAY
Glucometer FAQ
Glossary
The FreeStyle Libre site features user ‘stories’ rather than reviews, and you can filter these by age range to read testimonials from people
Diabetes resources
of a similar age. The majority of existing customers welcome the freedom and comfort of not having to do so many fingerprick tests, and
Further health and
praise how well the system works with the app. On the ProTherapySupplies store, a 5-star user review said, ‘Really love this and not
wellness guides
needing to stick fingers!’
The Abbott FreeStyle Libre sensor measures the level of glucose in interstitial fluid, a method of measurement often used by
continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Still, experts recommend carrying out some standard blood glucose tests to ensure
CGM-type devices are accurate.
As such, the reader works with FreeStyle Optium blood glucose test strips (the test strip port sits at the bottom of the reader).
The reader measures 95 x 60 x 16mm and weighs 65g, and has a battery life of seven days typical use. The microUSB data port
(for downloading readings) doubles as a charging port.
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The amperometric electrochemical sensor, meanwhile, has an eight-hour memory, with glucose readings stored every 15
minutes. The sensor has a small, flexible tip that is inserted just beneath the skin. The reader will store up to 90 days’ worth of
blood glucose data captured by the sensor, and you can enter notes regarding physical activity, food and insulin to help you
better understand how they affect your blood glucose. Reports are generated in the companion app and can be shared with
your doctor as needed.
To get a blood glucose reading, turn on the reader and hold it within 4cm (1.5 inches) of the sensor to scan it. The sensor then
sends a wireless reading to the reader, with your current glucose level displayed on the reader’s touchscreen. You will see an
arrow indicating whether your blood glucose is going up or down, but there is no hypo(glycaemia) alert here, which is a
shame. If that's a deal-breaker for you, the One Touch Ultra 2 could be the best glucose meter for you.
Jump to:
Expert advice
Top brands A one-stop glucometer kit with cheap yet high-tech testing strips
Types of meter
If you’re new to testing your blood glucose levels, we’d recommend considering a complete kit that gives you everything you
need to begin testing and to get used to what is involved. The Auvon DS-W Blood Sugar Kit is routinely flagged up as being
simple to use, with high quality test strips designed to be more resistant to oxidation. However, as we have said throughout
this guide, the best glucose meter for you is the one covered by your insurance.
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The Auvon DS-W Blood Sugar Kit uses test strips made using an automatic carbon printing technique to reduce interference
and boost accuracy, and there is no coding required. If buying direct from Auvon, 50 test strips costs $8.99, or $21.99 for 150.
Auvon isn't clear about the blood sample size needed, which isn’t helpful, but plenty of user reviews mention that the lancing
device isn’t as painful as others they have used. Auvon says this is because the lancet design should, ‘minimize vibrations and
oscillations of the lancet needle, lessening the wound during collecting the blood, thus reducing the sense of pain.’
Auvon also claims high accuracy with its DS-W glucose meter, and that it functions within ±10%, or ±10 mg/dl of laboratory
values 95% of the time. This handheld blood glucose monitor features a large digital display, with readings displayed in mg/dl.
It will store continuous 7-, 14- and 30-day average results to give you greater insight. The Auvon DS-W Blood Sugar Kit features
in a number of prominent glucometer roundups, and has largely positive user reviews, so could be worth discussing with your
diabetes healthcare provider.
Expert advice
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
Glossary
(Image credit: Prodigy)
Diabetes resources
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SPECIFICATIONS
Memory capacity: 450 readings | Result speed: Six seconds | Blood $14.99 VIEW AT AMAZON
sample size: 0.7 | Warranty: Limited lifetime | Cost of test strips: $13 for
50 at Walmart
The Prodigy Voice is designed for blood glucose testing using fresh capillary whole blood samples, and is the only glucometer
to receive an Access Award from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and an Access Plus Award from the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB). As it reads results aloud, it’s considered the best glucose meter for people with no or low vision.
It’s also a good choice for people with dyslexia or who encounter discomfort when reading digital screens.
Jump to:
When the audio function is activated, the Prodigy Voice will welcome you and state the day and time, then it will tell you to
apply your blood sample to the test strip. After six seconds it will then read aloud your blood glucose (number) milligrams per
Expert advice
deciliter/millimolesBest
persmart
liter.
meter
recommend speaking Best to your doctor about whether this is right for you, and when you should and shouldn’t use AST.
for basics
Top brands
THE BEST GLUCOSE METER FOR EASE OF USE
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
Glossary
Diabetes resources
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SPECIFICATIONS
Result speed: Five seconds | Memory capacity: 480 test results | Blood $7.99 VIEW AT AMAZON
sample size: 0.6 microliters | Warranty: Five years | Cost of test strips:
$32 for 100 $12.29 View at Amazon
The Contour Next EZ Glucose Meter is primarily aimed at beginners or those who don’t want a lot of fuss of high-end features
when testing their Jump
bloodto:sugar levels at home.
Expert advice
As such, it’s very simple in its design and what it offers, and while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does mean that you
Best smart
should look elsewhere meter
in our best glucose meters guide if you want smart connectivity or sensors.
Best for ketones
The Next EZ Glucose Meter requires you a small blood sample in order to read your blood glucose levels, and returns results
Best for small
within five seconds. A lancing device and replaceable lancets are included with this blood sugar monitor kit, as well as test
samples
strips, though you Best
will for
soon need to buy new strips.
speed
Diabetes resources
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SPECIFICATIONS
Memory capacity: 300 | Result speed: Five seconds | Blood sample size: $31.52 VIEW AT AMAZON
0.5 µL | Warranty: Three years | Cost of test strips: $18 for 50 at Amazon
Best
Speaking of fast, the for cheap
Care Touchtests
Blood Glucose Monitoring System delivers a result in five seconds, which is on par with some
of the more premium
Best blood sugar monitors.
talking meter
CGM vs standard
Diabetes resources
The Care Touch Blood Glucose Monitoring System can be purchased as a complete kit, including the meter itself, plus 100 test
Further health and
strips, a lancing device, 30 disposable lancets, and a battery. A carry bag keeps it all together, though it’s quite bulky.
wellness guides
In addition to recommending this glucose meter for seniors, it could be helpful to beginners who don’t want to spend a great
deal on blood sugar monitoring until they are comfortable with it.
The Care Touch Blood Glucose Monitoring System is also well-suited to people who feel swamped by too much data, and
would prefer something basic yet accurate. On that note, there is no companion app for the Care Touch glucometer, but it
does hold 300 readings that you can download to your computer to look through and spot trends.
It also produces a 14-day average, though if you want longer averages, also consider the One Touch Ultra 2 or the Auvon
Glucose Meter. Other benefits with the Touch Blood Glucose Monitoring System include no coding, and an eject button to
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While we are disappointed by the lack of a port light to boost visibility when inserting new test strips, it’s important to note
that this is quite an old model now compared to newer glucometers. So if you want the latest diabetes tech, look elsewhere. If
not, for the low price this is worth considering.
Jump to:
Expert advice
Types of meter
Diabetes resources
The One Touch Ultra 2 Blood Glucose Meter is a popular blood sugar monitor, designed to store 7-, 14- and 30-day average
Further health and
results. It works with OneTouch
wellness guides Ultra test strips that use DoubleSure technology to automatically check your blood sample
twice to boost accuracy.
As with other top glucose meters, you can use a control solution to check that your One Touch meter and test strips are
working properly.
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of test strips. Critical reviews say meter they received became less accurate with time, and that it ran high compared to other meters. At
Walmart, 40+ user reviews generated a lower average of 3.5 out of 5 stars, with some praising its ease of use, while others said the display
was dim.
The One Touch Ultra 2 is cleared for Alternative Site Testing, such as from your palm instead of your finger - always follow
guidelines as to when to use AST and when to avoid it. Each time you use the meter to take a blood sugar reading, you can
label them pre- or post-meal to help you see, at a glance, how food affects your blood glucose. You can also add notes about
exercise, stress and medication.
The One Touch Ultra 2 comes with two lithium batteries (3.0 volt CR 2032), so you can use it straight out of the box. Also
included is a OneTouch Delica Plus lancing device, equipped with 13 depth settings for more precise lancing. The Delica Plus
comes with 30-gauge and 33-gauge (extra fine) heads - 10 sterile lancet heads are included, with everything packaged into a
carry case.
The large digital screen is backlit to aid readability, with the results clearly displayed. As mentioned above, the One Touch Ultra
2 stores up to 500 readings, and measures in mg/dl. You will have to code your new test strip vial before using them with the
meter, which could put some people off.
Importantly, the glucose meter has low glucose and high glucose alerts, and what you should do in each instance. Again, we’d
recommend reading the user manual to ensure this glucometer will do what you need it to, ahead of purchasing.
Expert advice
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
Glossary
(Image credit: Trividia Health)
Diabetes resources
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This self monitoring blood glucose meter requires no coding, making it one of the easiest blood sugar monitors for beginners.
Like the other devices featured in our best glucometers roundup, it produces fast results with minimal fuss.
The Trividia Health True Metrix Blood Glucose Meter stores approximately 500 readings, and these can be downloaded onto
your computer for storage.
Expert advice
The meter offers 7-, 14-, 30-, 60- and 90-day averages to help you determine if your diabetes management routine or
Best smart meter
medication are working or need to be adjusted with your doctor’s guidance.
Best for ketones
You can tag blood sugar results by linking them to specific instances such as pre- or post-meal, when taking medicine, or after
Best for small
exercising. The True Metrix Blood Glucose Meter has four programmable alarms to remind you to test your blood sugar levels
samples
Glucometer prices
Best glucoseTopmeters:
brands The Final Word
Types of meter
Glucose meters wear out over time and should be renewed every two years to ensure accurate and reliable results. Before
CGM vs standard
buying a glucose meter, check with your insurance provider to see what they will cover. That includes test strips compatible
Buying advice
with the glucometer you’re thinking of purchasing, as strips can drive up the overall cost in the long-term.
Glucometer FAQ
Once you know where you stand with your insurer, you can then make a shortlist of the best glucose meters within your
Glossary
budget range. Look for features that will make your life easier, such as a large display, or data storage for multiple readings.
Diabetes resources
Keep the size in mind too, as you’ll be carrying your blood sugar testing kit with you throughout the day.
Further health and
wellness guides
Ultimately, a glucose meter is only good for you if it works for your diagnosis, your lifestyle and your budget. If you’re really
stuck and still don’t know which glucometer to choose, ask your doctor or a diabetes health expert if they can make some
recommendations – even a steer on brands will point you in the right direction.
REDUCED PRICE
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$19.07
Ascensia Contour Next One VIEW
$7.95
See all prices
Jump to:
Ascensia Contour Next EZ
$7.99 VIEW
Expert adviceMeter
Types of meter
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
WHAT ARE THE BEST GLUCOSE METER BRANDS?
Glossary
When you begin researching glucometers, you’ll see certain brand names pop up time and again. Some brands, including One
Diabetes resources
Drop, are relatively new, while others have been established in the blood sugar monitor market for a long time.
Further health and
wellness guides
These are some (but not all) of the brands you’re likely to come across during your research, listed in alphabetical order:
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Dexcom
Diathrive
Foracare
Genesis Health Technologies
iHealth
One Drop
Prodigy Diabetes Care
Roche
Trividia Health
Walmart
The most simple glucometers are handheld devices with a digital screen that displays a reading, and these are the devices
we’re mostly focusing on with our guide to the best glucose meters. These readings are gathered from disposable blood sugar
test strips treated with specific chemicals that react to glucose. A new test strip is inserted into the glucometer for each new
reading.
Standard glucometers are usually battery operated and capable of storing readings, and many can be connected to a
Jump to:
computer so that you can download and store your readings to look back on as needed.
Expert advice
Some basic blood glucose meters are designed with a spring-loaded needle (the lancing device) that pricks the side of your
Best smart meter
fingertip to draw a small drop of blood for testing. Others use an external lancing device.
Best for ketones
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
Glossary
Diabetes resources
Once blood is drawn, you touch it to the test strip, which will absorb your blood sample and display a reading on the
glucometer’s screen. While response times vary between blood sugar monitors, we’re usually talking seconds.
Some glucose meters are approved for Alternate Site Testing (AST). That means they give results within 20% of correct values
when used on alternative sites such as the palm, forearm or thigh. However, Diabetes Self Management advises that, ‘you
should still check alternate site readings on yourself before trusting them too much.’
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Diabetes UK says that, ‘According to reports, routine blood glucose level testing before meals or two or more hours after
meals from alternate sites are equivalent to fingertip testing. However, glucose arrives faster in the fingertips than in the arms.
Therefore, testing when blood glucose is falling rapidly or rising rapidly is likely to be less accurate from alternate sites.'
Continuous glucose monitors use a sensor that is placed under your skin, where it measures your blood sugar levels and
sends frequent readings to a recording device worn on your person. Some CGMs can be programmed to sound an alert if it
senses your blood glucose levels are too low or high.
When we spoke to diabetes educator and nurse clinician Susan Stauffer, BSN, RN, CDE, she explained how, “A Continuous
Glucose Monitor has a sensor that must be inserted into subcutaneous tissue with a needle that then leaves the small sensor
below the skin. CGM devices are wonderful alternatives to routine blood glucose testing, however, not all people need these
devices and they are expensive to use.
“The accuracy of both the Dexcom G6 and the Freestyle Libre have proven to be as good if not better than blood glucose
Jump to:
meters,” continues Stauffer, “and the FDA has approved the BG number to be used for insulin dosing.”
Expert advice
There are four FDA-approved CGMs available to buy, and they are made by Abbot, Dexcom, Senseonics, and Medtronic. These
Best smart meter
devices are more expensive than basic glucose meters and vary from around $300 to several hundred.
Best for ketones
The replaceable sensors, most of which need to be changed every one to two weeks, cost $40-$60 each. You might also need
Best for small
samples
to use a standard glucose meter to confirm the blood sugar level readings and to program the CGM – never use results from
an alternative sampling
Best forsite to calibrate a CGM.
speed
Top brands
When picking a good glucose meter, there are specific features that can make your life easier when taking regular blood sugar
readings at home. Types of meter
According to the Mayo Clinic, accuracy should quite rightly be top of the list. ‘Some meters are known for
giving readings thatCGM
show blood glucose levels up to 15% higher or lower than they actually are. That variance is accepted by
vs standard
Display – Large displays make it easier for you to see and read your test results quickly. Bluetooth-connected smart
glucometers take this a step further by storing your readings in an app that you can view on your phone.
Spoken results – If you have low vision, the best glucose meter for you is the one that speaks your blood sugar reading test
results aloud.
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Data storage – The average glucose meter can store upwards of 50 readings, but smart glucometers can store ten times that.
The more readings you have access to, the easier it will be for you and your doctor to pinpoint trends over time. Again, check
with your insurer first to see if they’ll cover such a device.
Blood sample size – Different glucose meters require different sizes of blood droplets on compatible test strips. Diabetes.org
has produced an excellent guide to blood sample sizes required by mainstream glucose meters for personal use.
Kristen Scheney, a nutritionist for CCS Medical, recommends not using price as an indication of quality. She says, "just because
one glucometer is more expensive than another does not mean that it will be more accurate.
"Moreover, just because a device includes more features than another does not mean that it is the device for you. Sometimes
simple is the best way to go to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need out of your glucometer."
Next, prick your finger with a lancet to draw a drop of blood. Now carefully place that finger against the test strip (in the
correct spot, if stated), which has been treated with chemicals to enable it to react with glucose. In America, glucose meters
report test results in milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dl).
Jump to:
Expert advice
Glucometer prices
Top brands
Types of meter
CGM vs standard
Buying advice
Glucometer FAQ
Diabetes resources
This depends on the glucometer you buy, but Diabetes Forecast says that, "It may be time to replace or upgrade your meter to
a newer model if it’s older than five years and you can get one with a lower monthly cost, increased accuracy, and with
features such as a smartphone app."
Generally speaking, modern glucose meters have better functionality, provide faster readings, and don’t require coding when
you open a new vial of test strips. This will make your life easier, and ensure that whichever of the best glucose meters you
choose, it fits around your lifestyle.
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According to the CDC’s blood sugar management advice, ‘how often you check your blood sugar depends on the type of
diabetes you have and if you take any diabetes medicines’. Your doctor may also want to check your blood sugar more
frequently if you take insulin. Common times to test your blood sugar include:
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so. The 2018 FDA draft guidance for personal use glucose meters will require:
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95% within +/- 15% across the measuring range
CGM vs standard
99% within +/- 20% across the measuring range
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Research conducted by The FAQ
Glucometer Diabetes Technology Society Blood Glucose System Surveillance Program found that accuracy
varied widely between the major home blood glucose meters. At present, they are considered clinically accurate if the reading
Glossary
is within 20% of what a lab test would indicate. The quality of the glucometer and compatible testing strips can impact the
Diabetes resources
overall accuracy of your blood sugar monitoring test.
Further health and
wellness guides
How accurate your glucometer is depends on the quality of the device itself and the quality of compatible test strips. We’d also
recommend checking the instructions for the meter to see what substances (eg, vitamin C) might interfere with blood sugar
reading accuracy.
Finally, store the glucose meter and test strips according to the manufacturers’ instructions, as incorrect storage may also
impact accuracy of readings. Test strip vials, for example, should be closed when stored. This is backed by research, published
by the National Library of Medicine, that showed how ‘test strip stability lasted longer for closed vials than open vials.
For open vials in adverse storage conditions, the refrigerator environment offered the longest stability at 35 to 50 days, and
direct light and humidity offered the shortest periods of stability at 3 to 14 days.’
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Whenever possible, blood glucose meters should be assigned to an individual person and not be shared.
If blood glucose meters have to be shared, clean and disinfect it after every use, per manufacturer’s instructions, to prevent
carry-over of blood and infectious agents. If the manufacturer offers no guidance on how the meter should be cleaned and
disinfected, do not share the device.
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What is hypoglycemia?
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Here are some of the common symptoms of hypoglycemia:
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Severe hypoglycemia results in confusion, abnormal behavior, visual disturbances, seizures and, ultimately, unconsciousness.
Carbohydrate – according to WebMD, carbohydrates are one of the three main classes of foods and an energy source. Carbs
mainly consist of sugars and starches that the body breaks down into glucose.
Certified diabetes educator (CDE) – a health professional certified by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators
to help people with diabetes learn how to manage and live with their condition.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) – a sensor and wearable reader duo that takes very regular glucose level readings.
Dietitian – a registered expert able to help people understand what types of foods to eat and avoid for optimal health.
Glucagon – Medicine.Net describes a glucagon is a hormone that causes the liver to release glucose into the blood.
Glucose – a simple sugar found in blood. It’s the body’s major source of energy
Glucose tolerance test – according to a Patient.Info explainer, a glucose tolerance test identifies how well (or not) your body
handles glucose after a meal.
Injection site – clinically recommended places on the body to inject insulin, such as the abdomen and thighs.
Insulin – a hormone produced in the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood.
Lancet – a fine needle for pricking the skin during blood sugar testing.
Mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) – a measurement indicating how much glucose is in a specific amount of blood.
Self monitoring of blood glucose – measuring how much sugar is in your blood
Type 1 diabetes – the CDC says Type 1 diabetes is a condition where ‘your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little
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insulin. Insulin helps blood sugar enter cells where it can be used for energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can’t get into cells
and builds up in theExpert advice
bloodstream.’
Type 2 diabetes – according to advice published by Diabetes.Org, Type 2 diabetes is when your body doesn't use insulin
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properly.’ As a result, glucose cannot get into the body’s cells for use as energy.
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Beyond Type 1: A community of over 2 million people in over 150 countries. This website features programs, stories and news
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on Type 1 diabetes.Glossary
Diabetes resources
John Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes: One of the most comprehensive online resources for diabetes articles, news,
Further health and
terminology, treatments and tools.
wellness guides
Six Until Me: A popular blog-style website created by Kerri Morrone Sparling where she shares inspiring essays and stories
about her life with diabetes. She includes interviews with experts and advocates for products and diets that work for her.
Diabetes Monitor: A comprehensive collection of articles and information related to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The site
connects you to experts and to a community called the Diabetes Collective.
Diabetes Exercise News & Organization: A resource for exercise-related articles to help with home-monitoring, recognizing
symptoms and managing complications.
Diabetes Daily: A daily home for news, tips, articles, guides and stories about people living with diabetes.
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Diabetes Training Camp: A non-profit foundation devoted to week-long and weekend camps designed to inspire, motivate,
and educate people with diabetes so they can thrive.
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These apps are your ticket to feeling calmer and less stressed, which has proven benefits for your overall physical and mental
health.
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Claire is Health Editor at Top Ten Reviews and covers all aspects of health, wellness and personal care. Claire is passionate
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about the role quality sleep,
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nutrition and exercise plays in our lives, and would love to hear from brands and PRs
regarding products and services that can help the readers of Top Ten Reviews feel healthy, happy and empowered.
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