Best Blood Glucose Meter Reviews

The Best Ketone Meters To Monitor Ketosis – Christmas 2017

The goal of a high-fat, low-carb diet is to get into a state called Ketosis where the body burns fat as fuel rather than using glucose as its source of energy. Types of Ketone Meters There are several types of ketone meters available that monitor ketosis in vastly different ways, some more accurate than others and some more convenient others. We’ll discuss 3 types of Ketone Meters available starting with the best on the market today in 2017. Ketonix Breath Ketone Analyzer The Ketonix breath analyser doesn’t use any blood glucose test or test strip, it works by analysing acetone on your breath that your body produces when you’re in a state of ketosis. The Ketonix is slightly less accurate as blood ketone and glucose meters are per test. But they are more convenient With the Ketonix, you can test yourself an unlimited amount of times, hourly if you like. Which is ideal if you want to see how various foods effect ketosis after you’ve eaten them or even the effects exercise has. The Ketonix is affordable when you take into account the price of test strips for blood monitors. (Many companies give away cheap versions of blood monitors but make their money on testing strips). The Ketonix has no test strips and requires no further outlay. Ketonix also comes with software that will keep a log and also calibrates the device to the optimal settings for your goals. If you’re trying to monitor ketones under conditions such as athletic performance, weight loss, diabetes, alzheimer’s or epilepsy. The Ketonix adjusts its settings to test whether you’re in the ideal range for that condition. The Ketonix Breath Ketone Analyzer is a one-off payment you can read more & check them out here. Blood Ketone Meter One of the best & most precise ways of monitoring ketosis is with a Continue reading >>

Bg Meter Accuracy: 10 Meters Put To The Test!

Are blood glucose meters accurate? A few months ago, I read a post on blood glucose meter (in)accuracy that was quite alarming. Chris Hannemann, T1D and OpenAPS’er, tested five popular blood glucose meters for accuracy and found major discrepancies. The overall variability between the meters was roughly ±11 %, and two of the meters — both from the same manufacturer — showed major bias. Chris had been using one of those meters to calibrate his CGM and consistently found that his lab-measured A1C would come in a full percentage point higher than his CGM average would predict (e.g., the meter-calibrated CGM data would correspond to an A1C of 6%, but laboratory-measured A1C would actually be 7%). As someone who wears a CGM and always strives to achieve an A1C of ~6.0% or lower, this post freaked me out. If I’m calibrating my CGM with a meter whose results are always off by that much… how can I be sure about reaching my targets?!? But I was also skeptical when I saw Chris’ post, because my A1C has always matched my predictions (based on my CGM average). So, I decided to run my own test on 10 popular meters from various manufacturers. Much to my relief, all 10 meters produced very similar results for each blood sample, with an overall between-meter variability of just under 6%. Below I describe the test and discuss the results. And, in another post, I explain some reasons why your average BG on your meter might not always correspond with your A1C results. (Key point: It doesn’t necessarily mean your meter is bad!) The Test The Meters Accu-Chek Aviva Connect Contour Next EZ OmniPod PDM FreeStyle Meter FreeStyle Lite Livongo InTouch OneTouch Ultra Mini One Touch Ultra 2 Walgreens True Metrix Air Walgreens True 2 Go Wal-Mart ReliOn Confirm These 10 meters varied i Continue reading >>

Best Blood Glucose Monitors

1. ACCU-CHEK Nano Blood Glucose Monitoring System Why we like it: The ACCU-CHEK Nano blood glucose monitoring system makes it easy to check your blood sugar accurately no matter where you go. There is no denying that ACCU-CHEK is a well-known brand name among blood sugar meters. It is with good reason considering just how accurate the results are with this meter. In fact, you can be quite certain that they will be as close to the proper lab readings as you can get. So, if it is important for you to be able to have near-precise recordings of your blood sugar levels, then this is the monitoring system for you. You can definitely rely on the results that you will be getting. This meter doesn’t require a large blood sample, regardless of how accurate it is. This makes each test a lot less painful for you. Speaking of which, this kit has a lancing device with around eleven adjustable levels. This means that it is capable of penetrating skin of various thicknesses. Therefore, you should have some degree of success if you are trying to get blood from other sites with the exception of your fingers. This is great news for people who have to check their levels multiple times a day. 2. Active1st TrueMetrix Testing Kit Why we like it: The Active1st TrueMetrix testing kit contains everything that you need to draw, test, and document your blood glucose levels. If this is the first time that you have to buy a blood glucose monitor, then you are probably not looking for anything too complicated or high tech. You will also need a meter that comes with all of the bells and whistles so that you will not need to add anything to it. Well, this kit will meet all of your needs and then some. You get the meter, lancets, lancing device, control solution, and test strips. You are fully set to Continue reading >>

Choosing The Right Blood Glucose Meter

There are many blood sugar meters to choose from, so start by thinking about what's most important to you. Ask yourself a few questions. Are you concerned about accuracy? Make sure you're using a meter and test strips that provide accurate results. Roche quality control processes ensure consistent accuracy. Find out more about our accuracy commitment. Do you use blood glucose results to dose insulin? The Accu-Chek Connect system sends results from a wireless Accu-Chek meter to a smartphone app that includes an insulin calculator.2 Do you feel like you're always short on time? A system that syncs your data wirelessly, without manually entering results, can save time with every test. You may also want to consider a blood glucose meter that gives results quickly, makes it easier to handle test strips, doesn't require coding, or simplifies lancing or dosing. Would you like to reduce the pain of testing? Choose a system with a lancing device specifically designed to minimize pain, such as the Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device, which is proven least painful and overall easiest to use.1 Will you track results in the blood sugar meter, with an app or on a computer? Most blood sugar monitors have built-in memories, and many can beam or transfer data directly to your smartphone or computer. The Accu-Chek product family includes a few of these options, including the Accu-Chek Connect and Glooko™ apps. Think about what will make testing easier for you, then look for a system that fits your needs. 1Ranked first most often versus leading competitors. Data on file. 2The Bolus Advisor feature requires setup and activation by a healthcare professional. Continue reading >>

Pet Glucose Meters Vs. Human Glucose Meters

by Robin Two months ago, my 13-year-old male cat Zulu was diagnosed as having feline diabetes. Zulu is a beautiful long haired manx. Now, after many visits to my veterinarian to do glucose monitoring, it was suggested that I might want to use a home monitor. I have done literally hours of research to find what meter would be best suited for my cat and have come away with two points: 1.) Only use a pet meter for the most accurate results. 2.) If you are to use human meters, choose one that can utilize the smallest blood sample such as, Freesyle Lite. Can someone help me sort this out please? Thank you for your response, Robin Dear Robin Thank you for writing in with your question. I recommend home monitoring for all of my feline diabetes patients, and have always used human glucometers in my practice and so have my clients. Human glucose meters have the benefit of easy access to additional test strips and batteries from your local pharmacy. There are many different models on the market these days and it is easy to find one that only requires a very small blood sample for testing. The other thing to consider heavily when purchasing a glucometer is the cost of the strips. Just recently, I realized how much more I was paying for strips than I needed to and ended up purchasing a new glucometer just so I could start buying the cheaper strips. The savings in the price of strips has already paid for the new glucometer. The most important thing, however, is to measure your chosen glucometer's accuracy. You should bring the meter you choose to your veterinarian's office and ask them to compare the results from your meter with their own meter, or to test a blood sample on your meter and have it compared with an outside laboratory's results. Keep in mind that all glucometers are go Continue reading >>

The Most Accurate Blood Glucose Meter

Credit: Accu-chek.com The Accu-Chek Aviva was first in an evaluation of a dozen meters conducted by a team of testing experts at Germany’s University of Ulm led by Guido Freckmann, M.D. It led the field in accuracy and precision. Few studies of meter accuracy have appeared in the more than 20 years that I have been writing about diabetes. Dr. Freckmann and his team of researchers have been the most relevant, reliable, and prolific in testing our meters. But some of the meters that they evaluated aren’t available in the United States. The leading diabetes journal that evaluates our meters just released the full text of this meter accuracy study. The editors tell me that the study will be free online only until March 31. Most Relevant Info So don’t wait too long if you want to review the whole thing. Meanwhile, I summarize below what I think is the most relevant information. The journal is Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and the study is “Evaluation of 12 Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems for Self-Testing: System Accuracy and Measurement Reproducibility.” The journal published it two years ago, but until now only the abstract has been freely available to us. Dr. Freckmann and his colleagues rated the meters against both the current and proposed standards. The current standard can be met more easily. It requires that at least 95 percent of the results fall within plus or minus 15 mg/dl at blood glucose levels below 75 mg/dl and within plus or minus 20 mg/dl at levels greater than or equal to 75 mg/dl. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) set this level back in 2003, and it is the standard not only in Europe but also in the United States because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses it. The Tighter Standard ISO’s 2013 standard is tigh Continue reading >>

Guidelines For Buying And Using Diabetes Supplies

Diabetes is a lifelong condition. Because it is, you can have major health problems if you don't keep blood glucose under control. That's why fully understanding how to buy and properly use diabetes testing supplies as well as diabetes medications is so important. Learning to regularly test your blood glucose level with a glucose monitor and to take diabetes medications when you are supposed to will make living with the condition much easier. With a little practice, you can self-manage diabetes just as you manage other aspects of your life. When you do, your quality of life and ability to be active and do the things you want to do will greatly improve. Home blood sugar (glucose) testing is an essential part of controlling your blood sugar and self-managing diabetes. Your diabetes educator can guide you in terms of how often to check your blood glucose and how to do it properly. Make sure the diabetes educator watches you use the glucose meter several times. That way, you can be sure you're doing it correctly. At a minimum, you'll be checking your blood sugar every morning before you eat. It's also advisable to check it before lunch and dinner and at bedtime. Your doctor may also ask that you test your blood one hour after eating. Blood glucose levels checked with blood taken from the fingertips will show important changes faster than glucose levels checked with blood taken from other sites on the body. The usual way to check blood sugar levels is by: Pricking the fingertip with a lancing tool -- a small, sharp needle Putting the blood drop on a test strip Placing the test strip into a glucose meter Reading the blood glucose level displayed on the meter If you take insulin, you might change the dose, depending on the reading. Checking blood glucose frequently allows you Continue reading >>

Blood Glucose Meter Accuracy Comparison (chart)

How accurate is your blood glucose meter? A major study found that almost half of meters do not meet the minimum required standards: For blood sugars over 75 mg (4.2 mmol): Accurate within 20%. For example, if your blood sugar is 200 mg (11 mmol), the meter must read between 160 (8.8 mmol) and 240 (13.3 mmol) at least 95% of the time. For blood sugars under 75 mg (4.2 mmol): Accurate within 15 mg. For example, if your blood sugar is 60 mg (3.3 mmol), the meter must read between 45 (2.5 mmol) and 75 (4.2 mmol) at least 95% of the time. There is a new proposal that would require all results to be within 15%. But how do you know if your meter is meeting this standard? Today, there is no systematic verification of meter accuracy after it gets approved for sale. And as you will see below, many meters are sub-standard. This puts people relying on these tools in unnecessary danger. If you’re going to take a shot of insulin, a number that’s 15% off is a really big deal. Taking too much insulin can result in severe low blood sugars, hospitalization and even death. Comparison of Meter Accuracy The chart below is from System Accuracy Evaluation of 43 Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems for Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose according to DIN EN ISO 15197 by Dr. Guido Freckmann and others published in Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Volume 6, Issue 5, September 2012. Between 2009 and 2011, over a hundred people were recruited to test each of the meters listed below. The test strips were taken from at least seven different vials of one manufacturing lot. Over at least ten days, the patients tested their blood sugar with the meter and then a second sample was taken for analysis in a lab. Before using this data, it is important to know the limitations: The study only looked Continue reading >>

Best Blood Glucose Meter

A blood glucose meter is a very helpful device because it provides you information on blood glucose levels. The device is easy to use and understand, it comes at an affordable price, and it’s very convenient. It’s recommended for maintaining the normal blood sugar and thus avoiding any possible health issues caused by diabetes. To help you get an accurate and reliable blood glucose monitoring system, we have selected the most performant models on the market. So, take a closer look at their reviews and choose the one that suits your needs the best. Brand: Fora Dimensions: 3.7 x 0.2 x 1 inches Weight: 9.6 ounces Check Price Brand: FreeStyle Lite Dimensions: 2.0 x 3.3 x 0.63 inches Weight: 8.8 ounces Brand: Accu Chek Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 5.6 inches Weight: 8 ounces Check Price Brand: Bayer Dimensions: 3.14 x 2.08 x 0.51 Shipping weight: 8.6 ounces Check Price Brand: One Touch Ultra Dimensions: 5.4 x 3 x 8.2 inches Shipping weight: 8.8 ounces Check Price Reviews of the Best Blood Glucose Meters of 2018 With the help of this device you will be able to monitor your blood glucose levels every time you want. Besides the fact that it provides accurate results, this model features Bluetooth, which means you can connect it to your smartphone. This allows you to track the concentration of glucose in the blood on a daily basis, without too much effort on your part. The FORA TN’G works with test strips and it comes with a case to protect the meter and to hold the test strips and the lancets. Furthermore, the meter features 4 alarm settings and no less than 450 test memories with both date and time. In order to recharge it, you simply have to plug it into a USB port. The LCD display allows you to easily read the results in both sunlight and darkness, which is a great plus. PR Continue reading >>

Best Blood Glucose Monitors:

Choosing the Right Glucose Monitors - Millions of people depend on blood glucose monitors to help them manage their diabetes and keep glucose levels in check. This is crucial for short-term health, but also in preventing complications due to diabetes in the future. A single drop of blood holds a treasure trove of information for the diabetic, and routine testing is essential to maintaining optimal health. With a tool that is this important, you need to make the best possible choice. Whether, for you, that means the easiest to read, the easiest to use, the most convenient, the least invasive, a blood glucose monitoring system that meets your needs is literally a lifesaver. How do you choose the right one for you? Choosing the Right Glucose Meter for Your Needs Before you buy based on one factor, such as price, it is important to take a look at the different features commonly available so you can decide which blood glucose monitor will be the best fit for your life. Here are some considerations to keep in mind: *Size. Meters are quite small, typically between 3 and 4 inches in length and width, and quite light. Many models are between 1 and 5 ounces. How to choose? Think about where you will be carrying your blood glucose meter: in your backpack, purse, glove compartment, pocket? Do you need it to have a large display screen? Would a backlit display or a speaking monitor be better for you? Meters are typically very discrete, so you'll want to think about your needs as far as reading your results comfortably. *Size. This time, consider the size of the blood sample that the meter needs to test. As blood glucose monitors have advanced, you typically need very little blood. Most use between 0.3 microliters (which would fit on a pin head) to 1.0 microliter. If it needs signif Continue reading >>

One Drop Glucose Meter Review And Giveaway: Unlimited Test Strips

A meter that comes with unlimited test strips is a win for anyone with diabetes. One that comes with a slick app and a leather holder might also be enough to convince you to transition to One Drop, because AT LAST this everyday, every-meal apparatus that you lug around come sunny day, rainy commute, sweaty bike ride doesn’t come in a nylon, made-in-Taiwan, black zippered bag. At last. My One Drop meter arrived inside a gleaming silver box. When I flipped it open, I was greeted with components that might look more appropriate at Best Buy then a pharmacy. Perhaps a functional tool on a cocktail bar? The black leather holder is stitched in red and snugly lined up in the holster are test strips, meter and lancet gleaming in space age silver. “There’s no cool diabetes gear.” Jeff Dachis, CEO and founder of One Drop, said two years ago, right before he launched the One Drop app and the Bluetooth-enabled chrome meter. Dachis had been thinking of this problem since 2013, when he found out he had type-one diabetes. “There’s no waves for diabetes, no collective, collaborative crowd sourced way to bring diabetics together,” said Dachis, who, although diagnosed late in life, knew far too well what it was like. He watched his father struggle with the disease. When Dachis first learned the news, he said, “They gave me a prescription, an insulin pen and patted me on the back. Ten minutes later I was out of the office. I was stunned.” The active 50-year-old Googled his new way of life and decided to do something about it. First of course, he tackled the idea of how to take an unloved object and make it loved. Then he created a platform to enable people to share data instantly. Dachis wanted to create a tool that allows users to track their “journey between glucose r Continue reading >>

True Metrix | Diabetic Supply Review

People with diabetes can rely on the True Metrix brand for cutting-edge blood glucose meters and test strips that are easy to use. Self-monitoring is essential to verify blood glucose levels are not too high or too low. These meters feature advanced event tags that empower the user to make the important connection between his or her personal lifestyle choices and the results. Users can make educated decisions about their blood sugar test results to actively manage diabetes. True Metrix Meter No Coding Required Many blood glucose meters require manual coding prior to use. Failure to code the meter or making a mistake can lead to inaccurate blood glucose measurements and inappropriate treatment. The True Metrix blood glucose meter with no coding technology automatically matches the test strips to eliminate the possibility of miscoding. The results are more accurate when compared to manually coded meter. The True Metrix meter is easier to use, saves time, and offers the highest level of convenience. Fast Results People with diabetes want fast results so there is no waiting to find out what their blood glucose levels are. This helps them to manage hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia immediately to avoid further complications. Additionally, the triple sense technology provides impressive accuracy. It automatically detects, as well as analyzes and corrects, the variables in blood samples. Small Sample Size & Alternative Site Testing A smaller sample size makes it possible for the user to conduct alternative site testing. It can be painful to continue drawing blood from the fingertip or the side of the fingers. With a small sample size, diabetes patients can get relief by drawing blood from a less painful spot. This includes accessible body areas such as the forearm or the palm of t Continue reading >>

The Best Glucometers For Seniors 2018 - Glucose Meter Reviews

Overall Best Pick Accu-Chek Aviva Connect Best Value Contour Next Introduction For people with diabetes, it's essential to get accurate and efficient readings of blood glucose levels. Glucometers allow people to do just that: quickly and easily measure their glucose levels themselves. We spent over 80 hours researching the 30 best glucometers on the market, considering specifications, features, user reviews, medical studies, availability and cost. After eliminating models that used old technology or were too difficult to find in stores, we purchased the 10 best blood glucose meters so that we could perform hands-on evaluations of each device. Before we dive into our recommendations for the best glucometers, it's important to note that Dignifyed is not a substitute for your primary care physician. We make our recommendations based on common scenarios, hands-on experience, market cost evaluations and a comparison of important features, but they do not replace advice from your doctor. We are not medical experts. The Accu-Chek Aviva Connect gets its name from its main feature: Bluetooth that connects it to a mobile app on your smartphone. This provides excellent data management of your readings so you can spot patterns and better treat your diabetes. In addition, the device's interface is one of the easiest to navigate. It has multiple buttons, so you can get to the features you need quickly, and the display is high-contrast with big numbers. Another reason the Aviva Connect is the best glucometer is the wide availability of its test strips. We couldn't find a pharmacy or online store that didn't stock them. Of course, the one significant downside of the test strips is their cost. At $1.39 per strip in a pack of 100 and $1.52 per strip in a pack of 50, they're more expensiv Continue reading >>

Glucometers For Testing Blood Sugar

Home testing of your cat's blood glucose (sugar) levels provides the best means of getting the diabetes under control. Simple testers called glucometers allow home testing. Which one should you use? At-home monitoring of blood glucose Human diabetic patients typically use inexpensive blood glucose monitoring systems to check their blood glucose levels. This provides immediate feedback to the patient and provides the doctor with invaluable information for ongoing treatment decisions. FelineDiabetes.com and its subsidiary, FDMB, were on the forefront of recommending that owners of diabetic cats use the same glucose meters designed for human diabetics as a simple, rapid, pain-free method of getting immediate and accurate blood sugars on diabetic pets. There are abundant advantages of home glucose testing, especially that the cat is in its natural home environment, thus diminishing the role of stress on blood glucose values. Samples can be obtained easily in cats using an inexpensive "human" glucometer purchased in a pharmacy. Repeated sampling is easily performed. The results are a true measure of blood glucose at the time of the test (Proceedings of the 19th ACVIM Forum, Abstract #100). Home testing with a glucometer is simple to do. Daily variations of blood sugar in pets can be taken into account and insulin dosages can be adjusted on a daily basis, if necessary. These methods have been described in the literature and have improved quality of glucose regulation and accurate assessments of insulin requirements. (Reusch CE, Wess G, Casella M: Home monitoring of blood glucose concentration in the management of diabetes mellitus. (Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 2001;23:544-556.) Please be aware that home glucose testing, although an excellent advancement in management of feline dia Continue reading >>

Review Of The New Contour Next One Blood Glucose Meter And App

In October, Ascensia (formerly Bayer) launched its newest blood glucose meter and integrated app-The CONTOUR®NEXT ONE meter and the CONTOUR®DIABETES app. You can find out more about the specifics of this new meter and app here. DISCLAIMER; Thriveabetes was asked if we would share information about this new product with our followers and subscribers. I was really interested in this meter, I asked if I could have a meter sent to me. Both the meter and the app are free for everybody and the meter had already been launched in Ireland (details of how to get it at the end of this post). Once I received the Contour Next One meter and I downloaded the app from the Apple App store. I volunteered to do the blog post review and have not received any payment of any kind to do this. I have tried to give an unbiased review but I feel that maybe I’m a little spoilt when it comes to the diabetes devices. I would like to re-enforce that my opinion is just one opinion. What works for me is not going to work for every person with diabetes. In writing this post I realised that checking my blood glucose on a meter alone isn’t enough for me. That I really do appreciate an app that allows me to input the information associated with that blood glucose reading. I need to include if this reading is before or after a meal, if I am using this reading to calculate insulin dosage, how much carb I’m about to eat, physical activity, etc. I have been using the MySugr App to log my blood glucose readings for almost two years and I love it. This meter is one of the few existing blood glucose meters that is integrated with a smartphone app. BG results captured throughout the day are automatically synced and logged. It removes the need for uploading to a desktop computer or laptop. Last week, I lis Continue reading >>