The blood glucose meter has been around now for more than three decades, helping people with diabetes monitor blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. A glucose meter will help you to keep track of your glucose levels and help your doctor determine which types of medications would be the most beneficial for you in managing your diabetes.
Glucose Meters: Who Benefits?Although all people with diabetes can benefit from using a glucose meter, the American Diabetes Association recommends that you regularly monitor blood sugarif:You take diabetes pills or insulin.You are on an intensive insulin program.You are pregnant.You have a difficult time controlling your blood sugar levels.You have experienced extreme low blood sugar levels or ketones from high blood sugar levels.You have a low blood glucose level, but don't have the typical symptoms.Glucose Meters: Available TypesThere are various types of blood glucose meters:Traditional meters give you a one-time snapshot of your blood glucose. Most people use a traditional glucose meter. These can include data management software that allows you to keep track of your blood glucose levels over time. The information can be charted and graphed and will help you and your physician to spot patterns, possibly making changes to your therapy or diet. But this added technology can also increase the price of a glucose meter. A well-kept log in a notebook can do the same job.Continuous glucose monitors provide readings every few minutes, 24 hours per day. This type of monitor does not involve pricking your finger, but instead uses a hair-thin probe inserted just under the skin in the upper arm area. Depending on the model, the probe works continuously for up to 5 to 7 days and is then changed. It reads the glucose level in the fluids under the skin (not the glucose in the blood) and wirelessly transmits the results to a small monitor, which can be up to 10 feet away."">Readings from continuous glucose monitors by themselves are not considered accurate enough to base insulin dosages on, but it may be used as a monitoring tool, in addition to traditional finger-stick testing, for people with hard-to-manage blood sugar. One model, however, is designed for use with an insulin pump, which can adjust the flow of insulin automatically, depending on your blood glucose level.Your doctor will advise you on whether you need a continuous glucose monitor to measure blood sugar. These devices are relatively new to the market, and there are just a few manufacturers.Multiple blood chemistry test systems are a third, less common type of meter that allow you to check for more than blood glucose. You can get readings on cholesterol, ketones, and lipids, too.Glucose Meter: How to Choose a ModelThere are literally dozens of traditional glucose meters on the market to help you monitor blood sugar, and choosing one out of the array may seem a bit daunting. The right one for you often depends on your health needs and the recommendations of your physicians. Some are designed for people with poor eyesight, while others include memory capable of storing your results. Here are general guidelines for picking a glucose meter:Ask your diabetes educator and doctor what they suggest. The American Diabetes Association recommends consulting with your doctor or diabetes educator before purchasing a glucose meter. Your diabetes care team probably will know which models would work best for you, and should be able to offer you decision tools that can help guide you through the process of finding the exact meter that best matches your needs to your budget.Research the cost and insurance coverage. Your insurance company may only support payment for certain kinds of meters. Check before you start shopping. Also be sure to ask about coverage for supplies needed along with the meter.Shop around. If your insurance company won't cover the cost of glucose meters to monitor blood sugar, it pays to look at different models, because some offer rebates. Don't forget to budget for the supplies, too, which include lancets and test strips.Check for ease of use. Some glucose meters are simpler to use than others. They all aim to do the same job, but each has slightly different capabilities, such as testing times that vary between five seconds and a minute or the amount of blood required. Each one may require use of a different test strip, so be sure to read the instructions before you make your selection; this way, you’ll know what’s involved in using the meter and the correct supplies to purchase for it as well.Compare maintenance procedures. You'll need to clean and calibrate the meter, which means making sure it's set correctly for the kind of test strips you use. Read about the meter in advance to make sure it will be easy enough for you to maintain.Having a lot of options may seem confusing at first, but ultimately enables you to find just the right glucose meter for your specific needs.Last Updated: 11/3/2009
