Stephen Wells

Diabetes Supplies - Finding the Most Suitable Glucose Meter

One of the significant needs of daily life for the diabetic is to have on hand the best in diabetes testing supplies that will help to monitor the day to day status of his or her diabetes.  Here are some considerations when shopping for the most suitable blood glucose meter, likely to be the most important component of the patient’s diabetic supplies kit.    

For those who are diabetic, it can be tempting to rely upon the recommendations of friends and family who are familiar with and reliant on diabetic testing supplies themselves.  However it is important for every patient to keep in mind that his or her diabetes treatment plan is likely to be unique and to differ from that designed for anyone else.  Choosing diabetes supplies based on individual preferences and circumstances is the wisest decision.

 There are two organizations responsible for providing guidelines that need to be considered when choosing glucose meters, the American Diabetes Association and the Food and Drug Administration (the organization which happens to be responsible for testing and approving diabetic supplies like glucose meters).  Their guidelines aren’t identical and it helps to look at both organizations’ guidelines for diabetes supplies to find a happy compromise.

 The first factor to consider is accuracy. Clearly, every meter should be manufactured to provide the utmost accuracy.  The good news is that most meters are accurate when new.  The issue may arise later on, after months of use.  It is important to continually check the glucose monitor for accuracy, and a minimum of monthly is recommended. This can be done through purchasing a specialized solution from the pharmacy, or by comparing a meter reading to professional lab results by taking a reading from the personal meter at the same time when lab tests are run at the doctor’s office.  Test results should be within 15% of one another.

Ease of use is the next big factor in choosing diabetic testing supplies, especially a meter that will be used daily.  Ease of use may mean how much blood is required to obtain a reading, or how large the display is on the meter.  This factor is purely subjective but should not be overlooked.  The harder a meter is to use, the less the patient will want to monitor his or her glucose levels.  Every aspect should be considered, from the size of the display to response time, to the size of the test strips recommended to be used with a specific meter.  Diabetic test strips are a necessary component of a meter of blood glucose monitoring system, they do not work on their own.  The person with diabetes draws a small amount of blood by pricking the skin with a lancet and the resulting blood droplet is applied to the test strip. The meter is then able to detect the level of blood glucose present.  To some patients the ability to draw the tiniest drop of blood with less pain may be an important factor.

By comparing all features offered by various meters, the patient can be certain he or she has all the features they need as well as those additional ones they prefer.

 Price is also something that may be important to any patient who is often ordering several batches of diabetes supplies each month.  When it comes to glucose meters, there is a wide variety of price points to choose from.  Before making this a deciding factor, it helps for the patient to speak with his or her health care team and also to their insurance company. 

 In managing diabetes, finding the right diabetic supplies is a large piece of the puzzle, and enables the patient to manage daily readings with ease and focus on other areas such as diet, exercise and preventative measures with greater peace of mind.

Article Tags: Diabetes Supplies

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