Choosing a Blood Glucose Meter

Here are some tips to help you choose a blood gucose meter:

Insurance
Health insurance companies may only pay for specific meters or have limitations on cost. Check with your insurance company to see what it pays for and find out if your health insurance covers the cost of test strips.

Budget
Before you buy a meter, check the cost of that meter's test strips (especially if your insurance doesn't pay for them). A meter that seems like a bargain may not be if it uses more expensive test strips.

Ease of Use
Meters come in all sizes. Smaller meters may be more convenient for your child to carry with her, but they can also require more dexterity to use. Take a look at the packaging for the test strips -- are they easy to open? If you or your child have any vision problems, look for a meter with a larger display or with a voice module. Some test strips may be easier to use than others. Check on how big of a blood sample is needed and whether or not the strips need to be wiped.

Support
Some meters come with a video that demonstrates the correct way to use the meter. Many meter manufacturers include a toll-free number on the packaging that you can call for help. Also, make sure that your child's doctor and diabetes educator are familiar with the meter you're considering.

Smart Meters
Some meters can store a certain number of blood glucose results in memory (anywhere from a few to 250 readings). This can be helpful if your child needs to test at school or on the go. You can even find meters with sophisticated data management systems that track a variety of aspects of care and can be downloaded into your computer. Some meters can display languages other than English. It's up to you to decide if such features would be helpful.