Blood glucose monitors, or meters, are devices the size of a cell phone or smaller used to monitor your blood glucose levels. They are typically used with lancets, for poking the finger, and test strips, where you place the blood sample before inserting into the monitor to get your reading.

Blood glucose monitors vary in size and functionality. Some allow you to use blood from places other than your fingertip, and some have a large display screen or spoken instructions for people with visual impairments.

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Tips for Shopping for a Blood Glucose Monitor

When choosing the right meter for you, keep in mind the following features beyond the price of the unit:

1. Expense of the test strips. Since test strips are often the most expensive part of monitoring your blood sugar, keep in mind the cost of compatible strips and how often you’ll be using them.
2. Overall glucose monitor size and portability. Smaller glucose meters have less functionality, but if easy access on-the-go is important, than a smaller unit can be ideal. Also consider the size of the screen and ease of reading results.
3. Speed of results. Many monitors boast results in less than 5 seconds. More advanced glucose meters, such as ones that let you add more blood to the test strip rather than starting over, may take several minutes to have your results.
4. Blood glucose monitor accuracy. Monitors that are “self-coding” are usually more accurate as there’s less room for error. For the most accurate results, follow each step carefully and make sure your meter is clean and set up for the test strips you’re using.
5. Amount of data. Some newer glucose monitors provide far greater information than just your blood glucose level, including data like your A1C and blood pressure. The more advanced models offer graphs and the ability to save results, and some even connect to your computer so you can download results. Keep in mind these advanced glucose monitors come with software and may require proper setup. A few meters can also directly interface with an insulin pump.
6. Blood sample size needed. Most newer glucose meters boast that you only need a “speck” of blood — the amount needed ranges from 0.3 to 1.5 microliters.
7. Whole blood glucose vs. plasma glucose. Home glucose monitors measure the glucose in whole blood while most lab tests measure plasma glucose. It’s important for you and your healthcare provider to know whether your meter provides results as "whole blood" or "plasma equivalent" so that you’re comparing apples to apples.
8. Cleaning and maintenance of glucose monitors. Some meters need to be cleaned regularly while others contain electronic alerts indicating when you should clean them. Other meters can be cleaned only by the manufacturer. Also note the type of batteries required and the cost of replacement.

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