If you’re a diabetic, chances are you didn’t choose your blood sugar monitor. It chose you.
Most newly diagnosed diabetics get their blood glucose monitors from their nurse educator, endocrinologist, or general practitioner. When I was diagnosed, I was given a hand-me-down monitor from my mother, a diabetic nurse. I got a second one—free—from my nurse educator.
I was never happy with either of them. When I finally went shopping, I was shocked at the variety of features, sizes, options, and even colors available. And I was flustered. There was no solid way to evaluate them. When it comes to technology, I’m used to researching my decision to death before I purchase an item, but there was no reliable source of information to consult.
This is why a new evaluation of home blood glucose monitors by Consumer Reports is welcome news. (The magazine, which last rated blood glucose monitors in 2005, also rates home blood-pressure testing equipment in the report.)
CR ranks 13 monitors, from major brands to generic drugstore devices. Though it is far from exhaustive, the report and its rankings are a good general resource. Most importantly, CR measured model accuracy with the help of a third-party lab. Since diabetics make decisions that impact their health based on the information produced by their blood sugar monitors, accuracy is essential. The rankings also include essential information like the cost of monitors and their strips (which range from 44 cents to more than $1 apiece).
The one drawback is that it doesn’t break out other features important to lots of diabetics: the size of the screen, the strip system (some monitors automatically dispense strips, a handy feature when your hands are shaking), and alternate site testing. Instead it lumps those features under ease of use.
CR recommends four models: the OneTouch UltraMini (pictured above), Ascensia Contour, ReliOn Ultima (Wal-Mart), and Accu-Chek Compact Plus. The report is free, but you’ll have to subscribe if you want to see the ratings. Considering how important blood glucose monitors are to your health, paying $5.95 (the cost of a one-month, automatically renewing subscription to ConsumerReports.org) so that you can view the full report may be worth it.
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Comments (1)
What is the price of the sugar monitor ? I want 1 piece with strips
Can you send by an international courier ?