Blood glucose meters How to find the right one for you

They’re all designed to help you monitor your blood glucose levels, but different meters have different features. Here’s what you need to consider to find your ideal fit.

With so many different makes and models of blood glucose meters available, many of which you can access for free if you’re registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), it can be confusing working out which one you should choose and use. Before you make a decision, it’s important to talk to your doctor or credentialled diabetes educator (CDE) for their advice about which one will suit your particular needs best, and they’ll also be able to show you how to use it properly, because technique is important to ensure an accurate reading. However, there are also a few features to consider from the outset. Asking yourself the following questions can be a good place to start.

What’s ‘easy’ varies from person to person, but a few features to look out for include no coding technology (so you don’t have to manually input a code into the meter every time you start using a new pack of test strips to calibrate it); a shorter rather than longer test-time wait (5 seconds or less is ideal); and a strip ejector or release button. Testing reminder alarms may also be useful.

Meters – and their display

screens – come in a few different shapes and sizes, which means some are easier

to read results from than others. If visibility is a key consideration, choose a meter

that has a larger display screen. One or two meters also have a ‘talking’ function

so they can speak your reading to you. CareSens N

Voice is one example.

While larger meters can be easier to hold, smaller meters can be easier to carry around and use on-the-go. It’s a matter of personal preference, but if small and slimline suits you best, a couple of options include the Contour Next One meter or the CareSens N POP meter. If your hands suit a larger design, other meter models might work better for you.

A fair few of the most recently released meter models have apps that

they pair with via Bluetooth. As well as being nifty, this can also be a really handy feature.

Different apps have different features, bells and whistles, but they typically allow you to view patterns and spot trends in your readings, get alerts and advice when readings are too high or low depending on your target range, and it also makes sharing your readings and reports with your doctor or CDE really simple. App-equipped meters include some of the Contour, True Metrix and Accu-Chek models.

As well as giving you an instant read so you’ll know immediately if your blood glucose levels are in the target range, another reason for monitoring your blood glucose levels regularly is to help you identify patterns and changes over time. And for that, you need to keep a record of your readings, for yourself and for your doctor or CDE. Most meters have some storage or memory capacity, but this can range from being able to store 99 to 2000 results. If you prefer to rely on your meter keeping your readings rather than writing them down, it might

pay to choose one with a larger capacity.