Choosing the Right Glucose Meter and Insulin Test Strips

Glucose meters and insulin test strips are critical to the well-being of those with diabetes. They are the lifeline that lets them know what their body is doing and what appropriate action they need to take to keep their blood-sugar in balance.

 

But choosing the right ones can be a difficult process. A big reason for this is simply the assortment of products that are available. Unfortunately the sheer number of options can make it easy for people to make the wrong choice and not know any better until it is too late. Not to mention the offers of free meters that many companies offer is very tempting for many consumers, particularly if they are on a tight budget.

Thankfully there are plenty of things you can do to make sure that you are making a good decision when choosing meters and insulin test strips. The first thing you need to think about is who the meter is for. If it is for you, then you may have an easier time choosing one since you will just know which ones you like and which you do not. But if it is for someone else, you will need to take specific things into consideration.

When shopping for a glucose meter for a child, you will need to find one that is easy to use and preferably causes as little pain as possible. There are many available that are designed for children, and you should look into these. Another example is if you are shopping for an older or visually impaired person, you need to find a meter that has a large screen so that there is less chance of it being misread.

Something else you will undoubtedly look into is price. This is obviously very important, but you can't take the price of a meter at face value. This is especially true if it is being given away for free. One thing you need to think about is how much of the cost your insurance will cover. Sometimes this will vary depending on the type of meter, so be sure to do some research into this.

You also need to think about the cost of the insulin test strips that the meters require. You may save money with a free meter, but if the strips it takes are unusually expensive you will spend much more in the long run. Look into the monthly cost of the strips along with the cost of the meter, and you will have a much better idea of which ones offer a better value.

Finally, think about the convenience and comfort that a meter offers. It should be small enough and rugged enough to handle being carried around with you, but offer easy-to-see readouts and simple operation. Also, where do the blood tests need to come from? Many meters now use different areas than the fingertips, since this is a sensitive and uncomfortable spot to test from. See what options you can find, such as the palm or inside of the arm.

Be sure and take your time when choosing a glucose meter and the insulin test strips that go with them. Ask your doctor for some recommendations, and try to find reviews of popular devices to get an idea of what your peers think of them.