WEBSITES
American Diabetes Association…… WWW.DIABETES.ORG
7 How to choose a blood glucose meter
Not everyone with diabetes needs to check his or her blood glucose multiple times throughout the day. In fact, depending on the advice of your health care team, you may not need to check all that often. Then again, if you’re on an insulin pump, you may need to check your glucose several times a day. No matter what your regimen, though, it still makes sense for almost everyone with diabetes to have a blood glucose meter. Even if you check only occasionally, knowing your blood glucose level gives you vital information to make appropriate decisions and take actions, if necessary.
There are many types of blood glucose meters available on the market. Just like everything else, there are a variety of options and features. Choosing the right one for you can take a little preparation and homework.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
With all of the choices available, there are a few things you should keep in mind once you begin shopping for a meter.
FIND OUT WHAT METER IS COVERED ON YOUR PLAN
Generally home meter costs are at least partially covered by health insurance plans, if not in full. Some insurance plans have contracts with only certain meter companies and consider devices from these companies “preferred” choices. If your insurance policy has a contract such as this and you don’t pick the “preferred” brand, you may be in for a higher co-payment—not just for the meter, but for the strips as well. If you expect you will pay some of the cost of the meter, ask your health care providers for rebate coupons or about discounts the company may be offering. Check out diabetes-related magazines for special offers in the advertising pages. Compare costs between hometown pharmacies as well; there can be a sizable difference.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT STRIPS
Remember you will also be purchasing strips on a regular basis, so if you are given a choice of products, compare costs of the strips, as well as what stores carries what strips. Most of the larger pharmacies stock a variety of test-strip brands, but some smaller pharmacies do not. Save yourself driving across town for strips; check into availability first.
WARRANTY
Pick a device that has a warranty, preferably for at least 3 years. This information should be printed on the box, or a pharmacist/health care provider should be able to find out for you. Meters have a life expectancy of about 3–5 years, but use and abuse over that period of time can shorten its lifespan. Frequent testers and travelers may want to consider a change every few years due to the wear and tear. A lifetime warranty is not usually a high priority, however, since meters continue to improve and chances are you will want to upgrade in the future.
CARRYING CASES
If you’re going to be testing frequently, you’re going to have your meter with you much of the time. Pick a size that will allow you to comfortably carry the meter and the necessary testing supplies (lancet, strips, etc.). Some of the cases will only hold the meter, and will require a second case or container for testing supplies.
FEATURES
All meters will give you a blood glucose result—but is that all you need or want? Some diabetes magazines and websites offer product guides each year and will compare products. Manufacturer websites will offer information about their product and, often, online demonstrations so you can check out a meter before buying. Keep in mind that, overall, most blood glucose meters generally have similar steps and provide quick results, but have some different features and looks. These features are discussed below.
A WORD ABOUT FREE GIVEAWAY METERS
When offered a free glucose meter, a person generally thinks three things: Free! Free! Free! While there is no denying that the price is right, there are other things to consider.
BLOOD GLUCOSE METER FEATURE COMPARISONS—PROS AND CONS
There are many features offered by today’s advanced technology meters. Following is a summary of some things to consider.
FEATURE: AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION
How does it benefit me? Every batch of blood glucose test strips produced at the factory comes out a bit different. Before using a strip from a new package, most meters require you to perform step(s) so your meter can properly recognize the new batch of strips. This is called “calibration” or “coding,” and it is often done using code numbers or letters, or code chips. If your meter requires calibration, you need to perform these steps with every new package of strips, which is an obvious inconvenience. A meter with automatic calibration takes care of this for you.
Any drawbacks? You probably won’t be able to use generic strips, otherwise, there aren’t many drawbacks. Automatic calibration is a good thing.
FEATURE: ALTERNATIVE-SITE TESTING ABILITY
How does it benefit me? Alternative-site testing means you can test (stick) yourself at areas other than your fingertips. If you often use the computer, do needlecraft work, play a musical instrument, or work in a health care profession, you may welcome the opportunity to give your fingertips a rest. Areas for alternative-site testing usually include the palm, forearm, and thigh.
Any drawbacks? Because of differences in skin thickness, blood flow, and sensitivity, alternative-site testing does not work for everyone. For low blood glucose levels or extremely high blood glucose levels, some health care professionals recommended using finger-stick testing to confirm readings, as there can be differences in the results due to how blood flows throughout the body.
FEATURE: MEMORY
How does it benefit me? The memory feature in most blood glucose monitors saves previous readings to an internal drive. If you write down your blood glucose in your glucose diary every single time, you are a rare individual. Having a memory is great as a backup for those times when you don’t or can’t write down a reading.
