Blood glucose meter is compact and computerized devices that measure to display blood glucose level. These devices are useful for people with diabetes.
If you have diabetes, monitoring blood glucose level provides you and your doctors with valuable information about how exercise, food, stress, medications, and other factors may affect your blood glucose. The data will help you and your doctor to make a treatment plan tailored to the needs.
The best glucose meter provides an accurate reading and functions with your current routine. Unfortunately, it’s a packed market, both good and bad. It’s good because you’ll find a blood sugar monitoring solution that will suit your needs. It’s terrible because the alternatives can be overwhelming.
Some simple monitors notify your blood glucose level and provide an accurate result without bells and whistles. Still, some options come with some high-tech features like Bluetooth capability so you can send the results from your blood sample straight to your phone. Diabetes technology has evolved! Further, some systems deliver glucose measurements; others report ketone levels.
When purchasing a glucose testing kit, there are other aspects to keep in mind. The cost of a test strip, the quality of the lancing device, how much blood the meter needs for an accurate reading, and whether it produces a fast result.
Contour Next One Blood Glucose Monitor System
The Contour Next One Glucose Monitor is a best seller. It’s also budget-friendly at below $20 for the test kit. The blood sugar monitor is easy to use and provides a 5-second reading, plus it links to the Contour Diabetes app thru Bluetooth to maintain a log of your readings to communicate with your doctor.
Freestyle Libre
The Freestyle Libre is a persistent glucose monitor (CGM) that doesn’t need a finger prick. It carries a thin sensor that you insert underneath the skin (it’s not painful) and sports it all day. You monitor the sensor with the device to acquire your glucose reading. For people who are curious about more profound wisdom in their glucose levels, The Freestyle Libre is recommended for continuous glucose monitoring. By putting a sensor on your arm, you can constantly track your glucose throughout the day. It grows your understanding of what causes your sugar levels to go up and down. For instance, people will often be surprised that foods they assumed were suitable for their glucose levels may be driving spikes in their sugar. Though constant glucose monitors are more expensive, they can assist you in understanding what types of food and exercise are best for you. Even if you employ a CGM, you may still require blood glucose readings with a finger prick monitor.
ReliOn Prime
The ReliOn Prime is the most reasonable for a blood glucose meter at $9. However, you will still need to purchase the strips separately. The ReliOn stocks up to 250 blood sugar readings, so you can go around to see previous readings, but there’s no mobile or app pairing capability. Nevertheless, if you want a simple meter that can help you test multiple times per day, this is a solid option.
Dexcom G6
Medical practitioners recommend the Dexcom G6, a CGM for type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes patients. They find continuous glucose monitoring to be a valuable tool in managing both type 1 and 2 diabetes. In addition, CGM data delivers actionable insight to help patients follow their glycemic response to dietary preferences and activity statuses. The Dexcom G6 is equivalent to the Freestyle Libre in that it constantly monitors glucose levels in the body from a bit of sensor inserted into the skin. Still, you don’t have to scan to obtain a glucose level reading. Instead, your task is sent wirelessly to the Dexcom handheld gadget, or you can pair it with your smartphone or Apple Watch through an app. The price can change based on insurance.
Care Touch Blood Glucose Monitoring System
The Care Touch Glucose Kit is the No. 1 best-selling blood glucose meter. The kit is a great value — for $30, you get everything you need to test your blood sugar. The kit contains the Care Touch meter, lancets, a lancing device, test strips, and a carrying case. Once you check your blood sugar, you get your outcomes in five seconds, and the meter holds up to 300 readings for monitoring over time. If you’ve never utilized a meter before, this kit is significant to get you began at an affordable price.
Rite Aid TrueMetrix Meter
If you’re skimming for an inexpensive traditional blood sample meter, check the Rite Aid TrueMetrix. This specific product allows you to program four reminder alarms, and the outcomes can be processed in as fast as 4 seconds. You can also hold up to 500 test results on the device. The TrueMetrix meter is open at Rite Aid stores and online without a prescription. You will also need to buy lancets and test strips separately, both of which Rite Aid also markets.
Walgreens TrueMetrix Bluetooth Blood Glucose Meter
Walgreens uses blood samples via a traditional finger sticking process. What sets it apart from the original TrueMetrix is its Bluetooth ability to deliver your smartphone results. It works on both Android 4.4 and iPhone 4S models and later. Additionally, this Bluetooth version authorizes you to store twice as many test results: 1,000 at a time. It asserts to process your results in about 4 seconds. In addition to the cost of the meter, you will still need to purchase lancets and test strips from the same brand. Walgreens deals in the meter and accessories without a prescription.
Guardian Connect System
If you’re looking for more complex glucose tracking data, you may think of this CGM by Medtronic. Like the FreeStyle Libre and Eversense, the Guardian Connect sensor is sported on your arm to evaluate glucose through interstitial fluids. But unlike any other CGM currently on the market, the Guardian Connect collects time in range data. This data informs you how long your glucose is in your model range on any given day. The most significant downsides to the Guardian Connect is its age limitation — it’s not open for children under 14 years old. Another is the more substantial price tag you’ll determine for a system with all of these features and individually priced parts. It would help if you also switched out your sensor every week.
Choosing Blood Glucose Meter
There are many questions before you choose a meter:
- Do you have a suggestion from a doctor for a specific meter?
- What does your insurance cover have a list of preapproved meters it covers?
- How much will this meter cost as insurance companies don’t always make allowances for pricier options?
- How many strips per month are needed?
- How easy and user friendly is this meter?
- Are the readings easily readable on the screen?
- How long does the meter take to get a reading?
- Is it easy to maintain?
- Is it simple to clean and maintain?
- Is it easy to calibrate when you get new strips?
Any special features needed for you?
- If you are carrying the glucose meter with you while on the go, you may want a compact option.
- If it is hard time to hold on to small models, prefer a large meter with strips which are easier to use.
- People with impaired vision should get a meter with an easy-to-read screen or verbal commands and prompts.
- Colourful options are available for children.
Other Special Features
- Audio capability, for people with vision impairments.
- Amounts of memory storage
- Different handling capabilities, like strips stored in the meter, or having a USB meter
- Meters recording carbohydrate grams and insulin doses with the glucose reading
- Backlit screens to do reading at night or in low light easier
- Meters testing blood ketone levels with blood glucose levels
Factors affecting Glucose Readings
The accuracy of test results depends on several issues, including the quality of meter and test strips, and how well we have been trained to operate these type of device. Here are some more factors that can affect your glucose readings.
- User technique: User error is the most common reason for errors in glucose readings.
- Dirty testing site: Food, drink, or lotion residue on hands can affect blood glucose reading. Be sure to wash and dry hands before starting the test. While using an alcohol swab, be sure to let the site dry entirely before testing and using the second drop of blood, not the initial one.
- Environment: Humidity, altitude, and room temperature all affect your blood glucose readings by altering your body or the strips you use. Many meters have instructions on how to get proper readings in particular situations.
- Incompatible test strips: Testing strips can be costly, so trying third-party or generic pieces to save money which is not designed to use such strips will affect the readings. Alternative test strips must be compatible with the device.
- Changes in meters or strips: Manufacturers keep on making changes to their devices or test strips. Third-party or generic strip manufacturers aren’t made aware of this, thus, become incompatible with the meter.
Using Blood Glucose Meter correctly
- Carefully read and follow instructions given by the manufacturer to ensure accurate readings.
- Standard blood glucose meter manufacturers provide detailed instructions in the machine’s packaging.
- It will work best to take the meter to the doctor to have them go over the basics of the device with you.
- Check to see how the machine’s results compare with the device at the doctor’s office. This will help you see if the device at home is adequately calibrated.
- Be sure that the doctor observe you doing a test so they can confirm that you’re using the correct techniques.
Conclusion
Blood glucose meters are available in a wide variety of at-home use. These range from basic models that read blood glucose levels to more advanced versions that offer features such as memory for storing information.