10 tips on choosing a meter

Popular vote - which brand offers the best glucometers for the home?
We vote!

Contur TS

Satellite

Johnson & johnson

NIPRO

Roche

Elta

Optium

Bionime

Taido

Total votes: 4

Vote results

Blood glucose meter is used to measure glucose levels. In order for the device to show the result, a drop of blood must be applied to the test strip. On sale there are blood glucose meters that differ in the main mechanism of action.

Allocate:

Photometric

The most common devices. You will see the measurement result on a test strip treated with special reagents. After reaction with glucose, it changes its color (usually, into various shades of blue). A significant disadvantage of photometric devices are errors in their results that appear with prolonged use.

Electrochemical

Such blood glucose meters differ from previous devices in that in order to determine the result, the level of electric current generated on the test strip is read when glucose is oxidized. The advantage of modern electrochemical models are very accurate results.

Regardless of the glucometer you choose, you will have to pierce your skin regularly and purchase test strips. In this situation, the promises of some manufacturers about the effectiveness of non-contact devices that can disassemble biochemical processes seem to be tempting, just by scanning the palm of a person. Unfortunately, such blood glucose meters are still being developed, and all offers to sell them are tricks of fraudsters.

Conclusion: for the house we recommend choosing electrochemical devices, since they are more modern and accurate. In addition, the price of test strips will be the same as for a photometric glucometer.

All glucometers differ in shape, dimensions of the case and display. When choosing a device, consider the age of the person who will use it. For example, older people absolutely do not require additional functions, but a large display is useful. If you lead an active lifestyle and are constantly on the move, then pay attention to compact devices that fit in a regular pocket.

Another criterion that is important to consider when choosing is the amount of memory. It is measured not in our usual gigabytes, but by the number of measurements taken. This figure varies from 30 to 1 500, so you can always see previous results. The larger the memory capacity of the device, the higher its cost.

As for the accuracy of the results, the GOST allows deviations of 20% of the available indicators. However, modern electrochemical glucometers make it possible to measure the level of glucose in the blood with an error parameter of 12–16%. Keep in mind that the accuracy of the results is also influenced by improper use of the device, storage of test strips, etc.

Conclusion: when choosing a meter in terms of shape and size, focus only on the convenience of the future user.

An important consumable that provides the work of blood glucose meters is test strips designed for single use. To correctly calculate the dose of insulin and reduce the level of glucose in the blood to optimum performance, 2-3 measurements are required daily.

Keep in mind that only “their” test strips are suitable for a specific model of the meter, others cannot be used. That is why, buying devices from foreign manufacturers, make sure that you can quickly find consumables for them at an affordable price.

Unfortunately, the purchase of strips for several years ahead will not succeed. They have a limited shelf life, and in addition require compliance with certain rules for storage and use. The cheapest strips to domestic devices will cost you 500 rubles / 50 pcs.

Conclusion: Before you buy a meter, ask if there are any test strips for it on sale and how much they will cost.

The meter works on battery power, so when choosing a device we recommend to pay attention to its capacity. Battery life depends directly on the modification of the device. In one meter, it is impossible to change the battery, it lasts for 2-2.5 years, after which you will need to buy a new device.

Most Russian manufacturers offer glucometers with a removable battery, and some devices operate on two batteries. An excellent choice would be devices with a CR2032 battery, which goes to 3V and is made in the form of a tablet. This battery is durable (enough for 1,000 measurements), low self-discharge and low cost.

Conclusion: buying a blood glucose meter, be sure to pay attention to its battery. Some devices even work from little batteries. Buy batteries from reliable manufacturers, they will serve you for a very long time.

Buying a blood glucose meter, you need to decide what functions are important to you. We do not recommend older users to choose devices with a bunch of bells and whistles. Most likely, they will never use the port to transfer measurement results to a laptop or tablet, but they will appreciate the menu in Russian and the voice accompaniment option for poor vision.

The main functions found in Russian and foreign blood glucose meters:

• Alert system. For example, if you make a small amount of blood to conduct an accurate study and produce results, you will hear a beep;
• Recommendations. The display of the meter will display the order and time of the study (for example, before / after meals);
• The output of the results. The content of glucose in the blood can be displayed both digitally and vocally;
• USB port. It allows you to connect the meter to a computer or laptop, display any data on the screen, and, if necessary, transfer it, freeing the device’s memory;
• Encoding (chiping). Each pack of test strips has a special code on which the device must be configured before use;
• Calibration. If the meter measures sugar in blood plasma, it is necessary to subtract 11-12% from the obtained parameter to see the correct result. The calibration function performs all the calculations for you.

Some devices are able to calculate averaged measurements for 7, 14, 28, 35 days, etc. This option allows you to monitor your own state, therefore, is considered one of the most useful and common when using a blood glucose meter.

Conclusion: think in advance what functions you need. The most common are: the alert system, the recording of results by time and the choice of the puncture site. Of course, the more additional features, the higher the cost of the meter.

Doctors advise a healthy person to specify the level of glucose in the blood once a month, while the permissible parameter is no more than 5.5 mmol / l.The sugar content is measured in various units: mmol / l or mg / l. It is necessary to take blood for measurements from any finger, except for the thumb and index finger.

To get the most accurate measurements, make a needle prick from the sides of your finger, and not into the pad. Auxiliary lancets are recommended to be used as disposable materials in order to exclude the possibility of infection.

When choosing a blood glucose meter for your home, pay attention to the speed of work. In modern devices, it should be no more than 1 minute, but for “advanced” expensive devices, the results appear after 3-4 seconds.

The next selection criterion is the volume of blood required for collection. Of course, the more it should be, the more unpleasant and painful the procedure. Usually, developers require to “feed” the device in portions ranging from 0.6 to 2 ml of blood.

Conclusion: To know the level of glucose in the blood, it is required to take measurements correctly and take into account the speed of the meter.

Buying a blood glucose meter for the home, pay attention to its equipment. In addition to inserts indicating the optimal indicators of blood glucose and the order of first aid in emergency situations, it includes:

• the device itself,
• battery,
• case,
• lancet handle for automatic finger piercing
• a jar with a small number of test strips for initial measurements.

Conclusion: for inserts included in the device, you will pay extra separately. If they are useful for older people with diabetes, teenagers and middle-aged users can easily find this information on their own.

When choosing a blood glucose meter, it is important to consider the age of the user. Judging by the reviews, older people are well suited for durable and reliable devices without the encoding function, since they do not require every time you use the device to remember and enter the code.

The shelf life of test strips is usually 4 to 6 months from the date of the opening. We do not recommend to buy blood glucose meters with small stripes, otherwise it will be very difficult for an elderly person to use them. Well, if the kit comes with a flexible plastic case that can protect the device when dropped.

Young people suffering from diabetes, aged 12 to 50 years old, recommend choosing compact blood glucose meters with a stylish design. Additionally, a modern backlight device can provide for a backlight function, which makes it possible to recognize the sugar content in the blood even in the dark.

Conclusion: When buying the best glucometer for the elderly, priority is given to the robust case, large display and a minimum of moving parts that are easy to break.

The next key criterion for choosing a meter is its cost. It varies from 650 to 3,500 rubles. and higher, depending on the brand, additional features, speed, memory and other factors. One of the main pricing parameters is measurement accuracy. Devices with an error of only 15% will cost much more than those that give results with a deviation of 20%.

Before buying a meter, be sure to calculate the future costs of its operation. For example, if a device from a Russian manufacturer costs 700 rubles, and a pack of test strips for it is 800 rubles, then in a year your expenses will be about 9,600 rubles. provided that in a month you will buy on one pack of consumables. At the same time, a similar blood glucose meter from a foreign manufacturer will cost 1,300 rubles, but test strips 500 rubles, therefore, the annual cost of it will be only 6,000 rubles.

Conclusion: do not buy cheap blood glucose meters and do not forget to calculate in advance the future costs of their operation.

We studied user reviews and prepared for you a selection of reliable manufacturers offering high-quality blood glucose meters for home use:

• Contur TS,
• Satellite,
• Johnson & johnson,
• NIPRO,
• Roche,
• Elta,
• Optium,
• Bionime,

Each of these manufacturers guarantees high quality, reliability and ease of use of the meter.