OneTouch is one of the highest rated manufacturers of glucometers in the US. All of their models offer a unique set of features, which makes it easy for consumers to pick the best OneTouch blood glucose monitor for their lifestyle and diabetic needs.
One of the best features of the OneTouch Verio IQ is its large screen. It glows in the dark and has an illuminated test strip area, which makes readings a cinch at any time of day. Unlike many of its competitors, the OneTouch Verio IQ, which retails for about $29.99, has a color LCD screen with patented ColorSure technology. This feature makes results really stand out on the screen so users are less likely to misinterpret their reading.
We also like this unit because it has:
ForeCare is an innovative firm that specializes in TeleHealth, hypertension and diabetic products. They operate on the belief that data has a critical role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases and health problems.
The FORA Pro Voice has a ton of great features, which is especially awesome considering that it retails for about $30. Our favorite aspects of this glucometer are the fact that it uses a very small amount of blood, is praised throughout the industry for its accuracy and that it syncs with ForaCare’s FORA TeleHealth System, a Mac and PC-friendly, online platform that makes it easy to store and share results.
Other benefits include:
ACCU-CHEK is owned and operated by Roche Diabetes Care, a major US corporation that’s been specializing in diabetes diagnostics and monitoring tools for more than 40 years. ACCU-CHEK is famous throughout the industry for its accurate, reliable products and competitive prices.
We tapped the ACCU-CHEK Compact Plus for our Top Choice Product category because it’s all-in-one-design makes it extremely easy to use. Unlike most competitors, the ACCU-CHEK Compact Plus contains a patented drum that holds test strips and a lancet. Its unique design streamlines the testing process, bolsters accuracy and makes it easy for virtually anyone to test their blood glucose levels.
Some of the other awesome features found in this model include:
The FreeStyle Lite is the smallest and most popular of FreeStyle’s four glucometers. Designed for individuals with active lifestyles, it offers accurate readings in 5 seconds or less, is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse and retails for about $22.00.
FreeStyle offers a few unique features that set their product line apart from other glucometers in the industry. The company’s devices, for example, are compatible with two different software programs that facilitate logging results and sharing them with medical professionals. FreeStyle CoPilot Health Management System is a PC program that makes it easy for users to upload, share and interpret their results. FreeStyle Auto-Assist, meanwhile, can be used on Mac or PC systems to provide consumers with a platform to log their results and other information, such as how much insulin they take and when.
The FreeStyle Lite also boasts:
Contour Next, a trademark of Ascensia Diabetes Care and parent company Bayer, is a well-reputed brand known for its line of diabetic products, including the Contour Next EZ. We chose this unit for our Best Value category because at $19.99, it’s a relatively affordable machine that is also known for being reliable. We also saw it available for a significantly lower price on Amazon, so you may be able to find it for less than $19.99, depending on the retailer.
Designed with the consumer in mind, this easy-to-use blood glucose monitoring device features Second-Chance Sampling, a patented system that allows consumers to apply more blood to test strips that don’t have enough, rather than having to use a whole new strip. This saves money and makes it fast and easy for users to take an accurate reading.
You’ll also love these great features:
When shopping for a glucometer, the main things you should consider are accuracy, test strip coding, storage capacity, price, and special features. Glucometers, like stethoscopes and catheters, are medical devices. You should, first and foremost, be looking for a device that’s accurate. We’ll get into this more later, but looking for FDA-approved devices is a good start.
The next major consideration is the actual testing process. A basic device consists of a lancet, a test strip area, and a screen that displays your reading. Some glucometers require less blood than others, which is nice if you have to check your glucose levels ten times a day.
It’s also important to consider how you replace the lancets for drawing blood and glucose testing strips, as this can impact ease of use and sanitation. In a best case scenario, you should look for a glucometer that comes with lancets, has an easy-to-use mechanism for changing lancets and test strips, technology to automatically read test strip codes, and uses as little blood as possible. You probably won’t find all of these features in basic, cheap glucometers, so be prepared to spend more if these aspects are important to you.
The only other considerations for glucometers are what extra features it has to offer. Does it have an easy-to-read back-lit LCD screen? Does it have an alarm system to alert users of high glucose levels? Does it have the ability to store readings, and if so, how many? Does it have a light near the test strip area to make changing strips easy? How many test strips can it hold at a time? Is it Bluetooth-compatible?
The purpose of this review is to help you pick the best glucometer for your health and lifestyle, but before we get to our top 5 picks, let’s take a closer look at what factors are important to look for.
Purchasing a glucometer is a long-term investment in your health. The pricing of glucometers is primarily influenced by technology, which translates to the features it offers. You can buy a cheap glucometer for about twenty dollars. It won’t have many bells and whistles, but it should be accurate and easy to use. However, since this is a product that affects your health and general wellbeing, you may appreciate the added features pricier models have to offer – especially if you use it several times a day. We included models ranging from $19.99 to $74.99 so that you can compare the different features usually found at different price points.
Some insurance companies may offer coverage for certain glucometer brands and test strips, so be sure to check before purchasing either. Also, it’s important to know that test strips are the real expense when it comes to testing your blood glucose levels. Some people have to test their glucose levels 10 times per day. Strips can range from $8 to $50 for a box of 50, which can obviously add up really fast if you have to use several each day.
Whether you buy a $10 glucometer or a $100 glucometer, the absolute most important thing is accuracy. More expensive models are going to have extra features that may make them easier to use, such as lighted testing areas and alerts to check ketone levels, but accuracy is never something you should have to sacrifice. The FDA regulates glucometer accuracy in the US because they are medical devices. When shopping for a glucometer, make sure the model you’re looking at has been FDA-approved for accuracy.
Aside from accuracy, every other feature found in glucometers is really a matter of convenience and luxury. Their primary duty is to check your blood glucose levels. As long as it can accurately do that, then it’s doing its job. That being said, there are some neat features you might want to be on the lookout for.
Depending on how much you want to spend, we recommend looking for these features:
As we mentioned, you don’t really need every one of these features. All that matters is that your glucometer accurately reads your blood glucose levels. As you can see from this list though, modern glucometers have some really great features that have the potential to improve your quality of life. Now let’s take a look at the design and construction aspects of glucometers.
Glucometers vary dramatically in size, ranging from about 2” x 3” to tiny travel-size versions that measure 1” x 2”. If you plan on using your glucometer several times a day, you’ll need one that you can travel with. Another factor that affects portability is the power source it uses. Most models use AA, AAA, or CR2032 batteries, but some newer glucometers are rechargeable using a USB port. If you have an active lifestyle and are always on-the-go, you may appreciate a rechargeable glucometer than you can charge from your vehicle or while you’re out and about.
To use a glucometer, you first use the lancet to prick yourself. Then, you apply a sample of your blood to a test strip and the machine reads it. The average reading time is 5 seconds or less. Some modern glucometers claim to require less blood than their predecessors, but we found the amount of blood required for each test to range from 0.3 μl to 1.5μl. Some units have the ability to check a single blood sample up to 500 times in as little as several seconds! This is a great feature because it ensures your reading is as accurate as possible.
Most glucometers hold a certain number of test strips inside them. Some even include mechanisms to easily eject test strips, which encourages sanitation. Also, it’s important to note that some test strips require the user to enter coding information. To do this, you check the code on the test strip and enter it into the machine. Newer models have the ability to automatically read test strip codes, making them easier to use, especially for people that have poor eyesight or coordination.
As we mentioned, most glucometers have built-in memory that can store several hundred readings at a time. This is an unnecessary but nice feature because it makes it easy to track your glucose levels over an extended period of time and recognize patterns indicating your health. Some new models can even sync with your phone or computer via Bluetooth to upload your results, which you can then share with your doctor.
Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy! That’s what glucometers are all about. It’s extremely important that your glucometer is accurate because an incorrect reading could seriously jeopardize your health. Look for models that are FDA-approved. As long as it’s accurate, its performance is up to par. Most meters come with a small tube of glucose so that you can check its accuracy before using it for the first time. Compare the results to the range listed on the tube of test strips it comes with to ensure it’s accurate.
Most glucometers are pretty easy to use and offer readings in 5 seconds or less. The most complicated part is usually changing the test strips and coding, but modern technology is simplifying the process all the time. Glucometers that have large back-lit LCD screens and lights near the test strip area may be even easier to use than their counterparts since they’re easier to read. It’s amazing to see the advances technology has made in glucometers over the last decade. We can’t wait to see what the next one brings!