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Blood glucose meter: How to choose

Many types of blood glucose meters are available. Here's how to choose one that fits your needs and lifestyle.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

If you have diabetes, you'll likely need a blood glucose meter to measure and display the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Exercise, food, medications, stress and other factors affect your blood glucose level. Using a blood glucose meter can help you better manage your diabetes by tracking any fluctuations in your blood glucose level.

Many types of blood glucose meters are available, from basic models to more-advanced meters with multiple features and options. The cost of blood glucose meters and test strips varies, as does insurance coverage. Study your options before deciding which model to buy.

Choosing the right meter

When selecting a blood glucose meter, it can help to know the basics of how they work. To use most blood glucose meters, you first insert a test strip into the device. Then with a special needle, you poke a clean fingertip to get a drop of blood. You carefully touch the test strip to the blood and wait for a blood glucose reading to appear on the screen.

When used and stored properly, blood glucose meters are generally accurate in how they measure glucose. They differ in the type and number of features they offer. Here are several factors to consider when choosing a blood glucose meter:

• Insurance coverage. Check with your insurance provider for coverage details. Some insurance providers limit coverage to specific models or limit the total number of test strips allowed.
• Cost. Meters vary in price. Be sure to factor in the cost of the test strips, as these will represent the majority of the cost in the long term.
• Ease of use. Some meters are easier to use than others. Are both the meter and test strips comfortable and easy to hold? Can you easily see the numbers on the screen? How easy is it to get blood onto the strips? How much blood is required?
• Special features. Ask about the features to see what meets your specific needs. Special features may include large, easy-to-handle buttons and test strips, illuminated screens, and audio, which may be useful for people with impaired vision.
• Information storage and retrieval. Consider how the meter stores and retrieves information. Some can track time and date of a test, the result, and trends over time. Some meters offer the ability to share your readings in real time with your healthcare provider with a smartphone app. Or some may offer the option to download your blood glucose readings to a computer, then the test results to your doctor.
• Support. Most meter manufacturers include a toll-free number that you can call for help. Look for a meter that includes clear instructions that demonstrate the correct way to use the meter. Some manufacturers offer users manuals on their websites.

Advances in monitoring tools

Although finger pokes remain the gold standard for blood sugar monitoring, researchers have developed products designed to take the pain out of the process and continue to develop new products. Ask your healthcare provider about these alternatives.

Device How it works Considerations Alternative site monitor Allows blood samples to be taken from areas likely to be less painful than your finger, such as your arm, the palm of your hand or your thigh Not as accurate as fingertip samples when blood sugar level is rising or falling quickly Continuous glucose monitor Uses a sensor placed under the skin to measure blood sugar level; transmits each reading to a smartphone, smartwatch or small recording device worn on your body; gives an alert when blood sugar levels are too low or too high Expensive; requires sensor to be replaced every 7 to 14 days, depending on the brand; may need to check blood sugar level with a traditional monitor to confirm readings and to program the device

If you've looked at the costs, features and other considerations and are still unsure which blood glucose meter to buy, ask your doctor or certified diabetes care and education specialist for a recommendation.

 

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1. Blood glucose monitoring devices. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/blood-glucose-monitoring-devices. Accessed Aug. 31, .
2. How to safely use glucose meters and test strips for diabetes. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-safely-use-glucose-meters-and-test-strips-diabetes. Accessed Aug. 31, .
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See more In-depth

If you have diabetes, checking your blood glucose level is probably a big part of your health care routine. After all, keeping your blood glucose levels in your target range is an important step in managing your diabetes. Checking your glucose levels generally still means jabbing a fingertip to get a blood sample. But a lot has changed, and devices have become more user-friendly and high-tech.

Although there are many different brands and models, the devices available to check your glucose generally fall into two categories. The first is a called a glucometer. The second is called a CGM, or continuous glucose monitor. Which one you choose is a matter of cost, comfort, and your health care team&#;s recommendation. Here&#;s what you need to know if you are considering a switch or are new to glucose monitoring. Remember, glucose monitoring is one of the most important parts of self-care when it comes to managing your diabetes.

Glucometer and CGM Basics

DID YOU KNOW?

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device takes glucose readings about every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Many people with diabetes regularly check their glucose levels with a fingerstick blood check and a trusty blood glucose meter. This fingerstick reading will give you a measurement of your glucose level at the moment when you checked it. But many people also check many times a day. Those combined readings will give you a much bigger picture of how well you are managing your glucose levels.

CGMs take the process of tracking your blood glucose to a whole new level. Instead of measuring glucose levels in your blood, they measure them in the fluid underneath your skin. You use an applicator to place a tiny sensor under the skin of your belly or arm. It stays in place with a piece of tape.

Although there are differences among models, most of them send the data from your readings to a receiver that&#;s similar to a cellphone. Some can send it to a smartphone app or directly to an insulin pump if you wear one. You can even download your data to your computer.

How Accurate Is a CGM Compared to a Blood Glucose Meter?

If you&#;re testing your blood glucose levels, accuracy is no doubt one of your main concerns.  Blood glucose meters made in the U.S. must meet strict standards set by the FDA. According to the FDA, glucose meter readings are 95% accurate within 15% for all readings within the &#;usable&#; blood glucose range and 99% accurate within 20% for all readings within that usable range. The word &#;usable&#; means the range of blood glucose values where the meter has proven to be accurate. The bottom line is that fingerstick testing still gives the most accurate results of your glucose level.

Many things can affect the accuracy of your CGM reading, including how your device is calibrated, its sensor chemistry, and your own body chemistry. Confirm your reading with a fingerstick before making changes to your diabetes treatment plan.

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