Quick Picks: Best Blood Glucose Meters
To test blood glucose meters’ accuracy and consistency, CR contracted with an outside laboratory to test 13 devices against a standard laboratory test using blood samples from diabetic volunteers. To test the meters’ ease of use, CR engaged lay and expert panelists with diabetes to use and score each glucose monitor for size, speed, memory, and whether test strips required users to enter codes before testing.
OneTouch UltraMini ($20, $1.14 per strip)
Ascensia Contour ($80, $1.10 per strip)
ReliOn Ultima (Wal-Mart), a CR Best Buy ($9, $0.44 per strip)
Accu-Chek Compact Plus ($73, $1.10 per strip)
While the OneTouch was the only blood glucose meter receiving an excellent rating overall, the Ascensia and Accu-Chek were rated very good choices as was the ReliOn. All four models delivered readings in about 5 seconds. The Ascensia and the ReliOn can store hundreds more glucose readings than the OneTouch and upload them to a computer. (A newer version of the OneTouch that is just being introduced to the market is said to have additional memory and uploading capability.) The Ascensia and Accu-Chek models automatically code test strips.
How to Choose a Self-Test Kit
Use our Ratings. Pick a top-scoring model that has features that will make testing easier, such as a blood pressure monitor’s ability for more than one user to store readings.
Consider cost. Sometimes blood pressure and blood glucose monitors can be purchased at a discount. Glucose test strips can cost as much as $1,400 a year if testing three times a day, so be sure to consider their cost when buying a meter. Insurance does not usually cover blood pressure monitors, but might cover the cost of blood glucose meters and supplies.
Check the fit. Make sure the blood pressure monitor has a cuff that fits your upper arm.
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