How Long Do Glucose Meters Last
Glucose meters tend to have a lifespan of anywhere from two to three years, to up to five-plus years depending on the model. Consider replacing older models as newer devices will provide a higher level of accuracy. Keep in mind that some meters require batteries that will need to be replaced more often than the device itself.
Donât Miss:
Best Glucose Meter For Built
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.
This meter has over 190 reviews on Amazon, scoring an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. 89% of those are rated highly, and highlight the meters accuracy and reliability. Value for money is another common motif. Again, like all the other glucometers in this guide, a minority of reviews criticize the accuracy and battery life. From 350 reviews on Walgreens, the meter scores a lower 3.6 out of 5, with 209 being 5-star reviews, and 71 being 1-star reviews. Critical reviews state that the meter is inconsistent, while positive reviews say it has never faltered in its accuracy.
The meter offers 7-, 14-, 30-, 60- and 90-day averages to help you determine if your diabetes management routine or medication are working or need to be adjusted with your doctors guidance.
You can tag blood sugar results by linking them to specific instances such as pre- or post-meal, when taking medicine, or after exercising. The True Metrix Blood Glucose Meter has four programmable alarms to remind you to test your blood sugar levels handy if you often forget to do so and it has a ketone reminder.
- Read our True Metrix review
How Should I Use My Glucometer
Your doctor can always help you learn to use your device. However, here are the basics steps to checking your blood sugar levels.1) Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.2) Insert a test strip into your device.3) Prick the side of your fingertip with the lancet provided with your glucometer.4) Squeeze or gently massage your finger until a drop of blood comes out.5) Touch and hold the edge of the test strip on the blood drop.6) After a few seconds, check the glucometer display to see your glucose levels.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Diabetes Test Called
Best Glucose Meters: The Final Word
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Glucose meters wear out over time and should be renewed every two years to ensure accurate and reliable results. Before buying a glucose meter, check with your insurance provider to see what they will cover. That includes test strips compatible with the glucometer youre thinking of purchasing, as strips can drive up the overall cost in the long-term.
Once you know where you stand with your insurer, you can then make a shortlist of the best glucose meters within your budget range. Look for features that will make your life easier, such as a large display, or data storage for multiple readings. Keep the size in mind too, as youll be carrying your blood sugar testing kit with you throughout the day.
Ultimately, a glucose meter is only good for you if it works for your diagnosis, your lifestyle and your budget. If youre really stuck and still dont 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.
True Metrix Air Blood Glucose Meter
True Metrix blood glucose meter is available in two types, the normal and simple one and the bluetooth version. The Simple glucose meter is cheaper and also makes use of the same test strips which the bluetooth ones does.
True Metrix glucose meter main and special thing is that it is available in every another medical shop and online stored too. The maximum advantage can be obtained when the app is used which helps in tracking almost 90 days of usage easily with the help of your android or iOS smartphone.
Regarding the cost, it is highly affordable and comes in a bunch so that you are never out of stock
What we like
Read Also: Low Blood Sugar When Pregnant
Glucose Meter Reviews: 8 Best Glucose Meters For 2021
Managing your diabetes is never something you should have to do alone. A good support group, an educated doctor, and a trusty glucose meter are all necessary components of showing your diabetes who is boss.
Today, were focusing on the last of those threeglucose meters. Finding the right glucose meter can seem pretty overwhelming at first. After all, there are a lot of companies out there that claim they have the best glucose meter.
So, to help you in your quest for the best glucose meter to help you manage your diabetes, here are some of the best-rated glucose meters on the market today!
Frequently Asked Questions On Glucose Meters
While it ultimately depends on your glucose meter, generally speaking, your meter should be replaced if its older than five years. There will be instances in which your meter may last shorter or longer than that, but that is the average age at which meters should be replaced. Always speak with your doctor about whether or not you should upgrade. Be on the lookout for new meters that have new features and that you can get at a lower monthly cost. Once again, a doctor may be able to provide insight into making the switch to a newer model.
Most glucose monitor kits come with a test solution that will allow you to test for accuracy. The testing procedure will involve squeezing a drop of the solution onto a test strip, inserting it into the monitor. Compare the amount of glucose you see with the amount printed on the solutions bottle. If the numbers align, your glucose meter is working properly. Test your meter each time you open a new box of test strips or as often as the meter supplier suggests. If you ever receive a blood sugar reading that seems off, test your monitor to see if there is an issue.
In some instances, the strips may have been compromised through extreme heat or cold. Try a fresh pack of strips and see if that does the trick. If not, speak with your doctor about potentially finding a new blood glucose meter.
Also Check: Maximum Insulin Dose Per Day
Best For Travel: Freestyle Lite Blood Glucose Monitoring System
Courtesy of FreeStyle
-
Works on multiple testing sites
-
Large, backlit display
-
Small enough to fit pockets
-
Less accurate than non-travel meters
When youre on the move, a compact and minimally invasive glucometer can be the key to successful diabetes management. This pick from FreeStyle is designed with travel in mind. Its small enough to fit easily in your pocket or purse, and it has a large enough LED display to be easy to read. It requires a smaller blood sample size than most monitors to provide an accurate reading in just five seconds, and it works on several testing sites, so you can give your fingertips a rest whenever necessary.
The FreeStyle Lite doesnt require coding, keeping your testing process simple no matter where you are. The monitor can store up to 400 results, noting both the date and time, and it provides 7-, 14-, and 30-day averages, too. It also comes with four alarm reminders to help keep you on track when your daily routine fluctuates.
Price at time of publication: $22
Result Speed: 5 seconds | Included in Kit: Test light, reminder alarms, test strips sold separately
Oops You No Longer Have Digital Access To Ratings And Reviews
Reactivate now to get the information you were looking for!
You will get digital access to reviews and ratings for over 8,500 products and services to help you make better choices for lifes big moments and the everyday ones in between.
If you feel you have received this message in error, please view our customer careFAQs or access youraccount information here.
Modern blood glucose meters are smaller, faster, and more accurate than ever, and can help manage diabetes while maintaining an affordable annual strip cost.
View our ratings and reviews and browse our buying guide to find the best blood glucose meters.
You May Like: How Do You Test For Insulin Resistance
How We Chose Glucose Monitors And Meters
Above all, we included glucose monitors that are reportedly the most accurate. Since home meters are designed to help you monitor your glucose in between laboratory work from your doctors visits, its important that your device provides the most accurate results possible.
While no home test will be as accurate as a lab version, getting as close as possible to the quality of such tests can help provide peace of mind as well as better diabetes management.
Other items we looked at include:
We included glucose meters across a variety of features and price points. The cost of CGMs and blood glucose meters can vary widely based on their features, your insurance coverage, and location. Cost is also subject to change over time based on the type of insurance you have, so be sure to check with your carrier for the most accurate price.
Dont Miss: Low Blood Sugar With Type 2 Diabetes
Diathrive Blood Glucose Monitoring Kit
For those users who are looking forward to having an alternate of rushing to doctors every now and then to check the glucose level in the blood, the Diathrive Blood Glucose monitoring kit can be an excellent buy. With the features that are generally not present in Glucose monitoring kits, this kit provides a great value for money without compromising with the accuracy of the results.
The things that we loved about the Diathrive Blood Glucose Monitoring kit are better usability, reliable and faster results, and handy design. These all points collectively work brilliantly and the exclusive features that you get with the kit make this glucose monitoring kit a great product to have at home.
In other words, if you were looking to have a glucose monitoring kit that you can easily use without any major help, the Diathrive Blood Glucose monitoring kit would be an excellent product to look for.
Pros
For those users who are looking to try their hands on the industryâs best product that can compete with almost every other product available in the market in terms of accuracy and performance, the Metene Diabetes Testing kit would be an excellent choice to go with.
Along with the build quality and reliable test stripes, you can completely rely on this device to get the most accurate and efficient results without consulting any doctor. The device has the industry-leading and most advanced biosensors that make it a worthy product to have at home for the sugar patients.
Pros
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Diabetic Ulcers
Best Glucose Meters: The Different Types
Currently, there are three main types of glucose meter:
- Basic blood glucose meters
- Continuous glucose monitors
- CGM-Insulin Pump Combos
The most simple glucometers are handheld devices with a digital screen that displays a reading, and these are the devices were 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 computer so that you can download and store your readings to look back on as needed.
Some basic blood glucose meters are designed with a spring-loaded needle that pricks the side of your fingertip to draw a small drop of blood for testing. Others use an external lancing device.
Once blood is drawn, you touch it to the test strip, which will absorb your blood sample and display a reading on the glucometers screen. While response times vary between blood sugar monitors, were usually talking seconds.
Some glucose meters are approved for Alternate Site Testing . 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.
Best Glucose Meter For Seniors
The Care Touch glucometer is relatively inexpensive compared to others, and thats because it opts for a basic design with little in the way of fancy frills. But that means its also simple to use, and is ideal for seniors experiencing sight issues as the display is large, uncluttered, and uses big numbers for at-a-glance readings.
Speaking of fast, the Care Touch Blood Glucose Monitoring System delivers a result in five seconds, which is on par with some of the more premium blood sugar monitors.
As an older model, its no surprise to see that the Care Touch glucometer has over 13,000 user reviews on Amazon, generating an average score of 4.6 out of 5 stars. 90% of those reviews are rated 4 stars and above, and focus on the affordability, ease of use, the large and simple display, and how accurate it is for a cheaper meter. Users also praise how compact the meter is. Critical reviews focus on customer service, battery life, and some accuracy concerns, which are echoed in a Walmart user review .
Although its a cheap glucometer, you can still annotate the readings with information such as pre-meal or post-exercise. Your doctor may recommend that you keep consistent notes when taking readings so that you have extra insight into potential causes for spikes and crashes.
In addition to recommending this glucose meter for seniors, it could be helpful to beginners who dont want to spend a great deal on blood sugar monitoring until they are comfortable with it.
You May Like: How Often Should I Test My Blood Sugar
Consumer Reports: Blood Glucose Meter Ratings & Recommendations
Just a reminder to everyone. these rankings change every year. Please refrain from posting opinions based on old information, especially when making suggestions and offering advice about what is the best meter for me to buy? in the threads of new members. This is what Rebecca has said for the past two years after the latest Consumer Reports have released their yearly meter rankings: As far as ALL True meters being bad for cats, well, meters change and it would be helpful if we quit bashing meters for old results. _R Consumer Reports recently listed several meters with true in the name and also a FreeStyle meter as some of the best meters available. Ive posted this before and asked people to keep updated on info they post on this site. Meters change, diabetes care changes, life changes. You will notice that Freestyle and some True meters are ranked highly this year in terms of reliability. Some higher than the most popular meters that we routinely advise people to purchase. If you have experienced recent problems with a specific meter, then feel free to share your experiences. But try not to exclude meters that have been poorly ranked two, three or more years ago. Just like everything else, products can be improved.Continue reading > >
What Is A Glucometer And How Does It Work
Also called a glucose meter, this portable and compact device is designed to monitor your blood sugar levels. It requires a tiny sample of blood to read the amount of sugar present in it.
They range from the most basic to the most advanced models with multiple functionalities and options. Do you wonder why there is such a large variety of glucometers? Unfortunately, a 2012 study in the United States reported that 12 to 14% of American adults had type 2 diabetes, while 37 to 38% were classified as prediabetic.
Read Also: Insulin Pills For Type 2 Diabetes
What Is The Best Price For A Glucose Meter Consumer Reports
A glucose meter consumer reports is supposed to be a lifelong companion. You will enjoy faster opening times, better quality, and a better view by paying more for your product. It would cost between $$$ and $$$ for a new glucose meter consumer reports. The only downside is that you wouldnt have some luxury features.
Best Talking: Prodigy No Coding Blood Glucose Test Strips
Courtesy of Amazon
-
No control solution included
If you’re visually impaired, trying to read a glucometer several times a day can feel really frustrating. Fortunately, this monitor can guide you through the testing process and read your results aloud for you. It communicates in four different languagesEnglish, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
Its one of the best glucose monitors in terms of accuracy, so you feel confident in your reading. It doesnt require you to code new test strips each time, either.
This kit includes the Prodigy Autocode blood glucose monitoring system, 100 test strips, an adjustable depth lancing device, 10 twist-top lancets, two batteries, a carrying case, a data logbook, and a user manual. The device itself can store up to 450 readings in its internal memory, and it has a standard USB port that enables you to download your test data to your computer for easier management.
Price at time of publication: $23
Result Speed: 7 seconds | Included in Kit: 100 test strips, meter, lancing device, lancets, batteries, carrying case
You May Like: Blood Glucose Goals For Type 2 Diabetes