If you're someone with diabetes, you know monitoring your blood glucose levels is essential for your health.
Choosing the right glucose meter is vital to keeping track of your glucose levels and making sure your health is under control.
In this article, we'll cover how to choose the best glucose meter for your needs. This will enable you to take care of yourself in the best way possible.
What Is a Blood Glucose Meter?
A blood glucose meter is a small device that helps monitor your blood glucose levels. It measures and displays that information and many people with diabetes have them.
These devices are helpful because they can be used to determine how things like food, medication, and exercise can impact your blood glucose levels.
There are many types of at-home use blood glucose meters available. There are more affordable basic models that will measure and display your blood glucose levels. But there are also more advanced models that can let you store information about your blood glucose levels.
How Do Blood Glucose Meters Work?
Blood glucose meters work in different ways depending on the model. Most have the same basic functionality.
You usually insert a test strip into the device and then prick your fingertip with a special needle to get a drop of blood. After you do this, you touch the test strip to the blood and then wait for your blood glucose reading to appear.
How to Pick the Best Glucose Meter
As mentioned above, there are a variety of blood glucose meters available. Finding the right one for you is essential to staying healthy.
Here are some tips on how to choose the best glucose meter for your needs.
Talk to Your Doctor
With so many options available, it can be hard to pick the best glucose meter for you.
That's why you should ask your doctor if they have any suggestions for you. They have first-hand knowledge about the many types of meters, so they can help pick an option.
Check with Your Insurance Provider
Not every glucose meter will be covered by your insurance, and the cost of blood glucose monitors can vary. Some can even cost $100 a month.
The more advanced glucose meters are not always fully covered by insurance, so you may have to pay the difference if the cost exceeds your insurance company's coverage.
You should check with your insurance to see if they have a list of meters they'll cover. You should also check to see what's covered beyond that, and figure out if things like testing strips and supplies are included in that coverage.
So before you buy, check to see what your insurance covers. Then figure out both up-front costs and long-term costs to determine if that's the best glucose meter option and price for you.
Consider Ease of Use
The testing procedures for glucose meters differ depending on the model. You should buy a model that's easy and comfortable for you to use, especially since you may not always be checking your blood sugar under the most convenient conditions.
Some models require you to feed strips into an internal drum. Others may require you to insert it into a small slot, which can prove more challenging to some people.
To determine the best glucose meter, figure out what's easiest for you. Look for options that are comfortable, easy to hold, and display your levels in a way that's easy to read and understand.
Also look at how much blood the meter requires and how easy it is to get that blood onto the strips.
Think About Any Special Features You May Need
Not all blood glucose meters are created equal. Some offer special features that can make them better for certain people.
When reviewing blood glucose meter options, look up or ask about special features, like easy-to-handle buttons and test strips, and any visual or audio elements. Special features can make using these meters much easier, especially if you have any visual or auditory impairments.
Here are just a few special features some of the best glucose meters offer:
- Audio capability
- Backlit screens
- Advanced memory storage
- Blood ketone level tests
- Carbohydrate and insulin recordings
If you often feel rushed when testing your blood glucose levels, you can get a meter that syncs your data wirelessly so you don't have to spend time entering results.
If you're sensitive to pain, you can get a system with a lancing device that's designed to lessen pain. And if you're tech-savvy, you can get a meter option that will transfer its data right to your smartphone or computer.
Before you buy your blood glucose meter, review the special features to determine which option is best for you and your needs.
Consider Information Storage
If you're not sure you need you need special features, you should still review how each blood glucose meter stores and retrieves information. If you're someone who likes to write things down, you may want an option that only takes readings.
If you have a hard time keeping track of your records, you may want a meter that offers memory options. And each meter will offer different kinds of memory options, so you should consider how important storage is to you.
Some meters will let you create logs that you can review at a later time. Other ones will let you create downloadable files that you can easily sync with your phone or email.
The most advanced options will let you store reading levels for things like insulin and blood ketone.
Final Thoughts on the Best Glucose Meters
When it comes to your health, you're allowed to be picky.
By following the tips in this article, you'll be able to pick the best glucose meter for you. This guarantees you'll be healthy (and happy) going forward.
Do you have diabetes? Are you currently looking for a new glucose meter?
Contact us to learn more about glucose meter options!
Further Reading
How Your Body Uses Glucose and Insulin
Exercise, Glucose Transport, and Insulin Sensitivity
Glucose Metabolism and Regulation
On to you
With the options listed above to help support medicine delivery, we hope you found this information valuable. What additional questions do you have for us? Please leave us a comment below or call us directly and we’d be happy to assist you with any questions you have.
-Marc Kaplan
CEO, Save Rite Medical
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Marc Kaplan is Founder and CEO of Save Rite Medical, the leading online provider of medical supplies. While Marc supplies the greatest service and deals, he also provides a wealth of educational information for his customers.
