10 tips for choosing a glucometer

Popular vote - which brand offers the best blood glucose meters for the home?
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Contur TS

Satellite

Johnson & Johnson

NIPRO

Roche

Elta

Optium

Bionime

Taido

Total voted: 11

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A glucometer is used to measure glucose levels. In order for the device to show a result, a drop of blood must be applied to the test strip. On sale there are glucometers 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 reacting with glucose, it changes its color (usually to various shades of blue). A significant disadvantage of photometric instruments is the errors in their results, which appear during prolonged use.

Electrochemical

Such glucometers differ from previous devices in that the level of electric current generated on the test strip during glucose oxidation is read to determine the result. The advantage of modern electrochemical models is very accurate results.

Regardless of the glucometer you choose, you will need to regularly pierce your skin and purchase test strips. In this situation, the promises of some manufacturers about the effectiveness of non-contact devices that can analyze biochemical processes, just by scanning a person's palm, seem tempting. Unfortunately, such glucometers are still being developed, and all offers for their sale are the tricks of scammers.

Conclusion: we recommend choosing electrochemical devices for the home, as 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 body and display. When choosing a device, consider the age of the person who will use it. For example, older people absolutely do not need 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 an ordinary pocket.

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

As for the error of the results, GOST allows deviations of 20% from the available indicators.However, modern electrochemical glucometers allow you to measure the level of glucose in the blood with an error parameter of 12-16%. Please note that the accuracy of the results is also affected by improper use of the device, storage of test strips, etc.

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

An important consumable item that ensures the operation of glucometers is test strips designed for single use. In order to correctly calculate the dose of insulin and reduce the level of glucose in the blood to optimal levels, 2-3 measurements are required daily.

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

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to buy strips for several years in advance. They have a limited shelf life, and in addition require compliance with certain rules for storage and use. The cheapest strips for domestic devices will cost you 500 rubles / 50 pcs.

Conclusion: before you buy a glucometer, check whether there are test strips for it in free sale and how much they will cost.

The glucometer is powered by a battery, so when choosing a device, we recommend paying attention to its capacity. The battery life depends on the modification of the device. In some glucometers, it is impossible to change the battery, it lasts for 2-2.5 years, after which you will need to purchase a new device.

Most Russian manufacturers offer glucometers with a removable battery, with some devices running 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 (it will last for 1,000 measurements), low self-discharge and low cost.

Conclusion: When buying a glucometer, be sure to pay attention to its battery. Some devices even work with little finger batteries. Buy batteries from reliable manufacturers, they will last you a very long time.

When buying a glucometer, you need to decide which functions are important to you. We do not recommend that older users 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 option of voice guidance for poor eyesight.

The main functions found in Russian and foreign glucometers:

• Alert system. For example, when making a small amount of blood for an accurate study and output of results, a beep will sound;
• Recommendations. The display of the glucometer will show the order and time of the tests (for example, before / after a meal);
• Output of results. The content of glucose in the blood can be displayed both digitally and by voice;
• USB port. It allows you to connect the glucometer to a computer or laptop, display any data on the screen, and, if necessary, transfer them, freeing up the device's memory;
• Encoding (chip).Each pack of test strips has a special code that must be set to the device before use;
• Calibration. If the glucometer measures blood sugar, then 11-12% must be subtracted from the obtained parameter in order to see the correct result. The calibration function does all the calculations for you.

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

Conclusion: Think about what features you need in advance. The most common: an alert system, fixing the results in time and choosing a puncture site. Of course, the more additional functions, the higher the cost of the glucometer.

Doctors advise a healthy person to check 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 different units: mmol / l or mg / l. It is necessary to take blood for measurements from any finger, with the exception of the thumb and forefinger.

To get the most accurate measurements, prick with the needle on the sides of your finger, not on the pad. Auxiliary lancets are recommended to be used as disposable materials to eliminate the possibility of infection.

When choosing a glucometer for 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 sampling.Of course, the larger it should be, the more unpleasant and painful the procedure. Typically, 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, you need to take measurements correctly and take into account the speed of the glucometer.

When buying a glucometer for home, pay attention to its package. In addition to inserts indicating the optimal levels of glucose in the blood and the procedure for first aid in emergency situations, it includes:

• the device itself
• battery,
• case,
• lancet pen for automatic finger pricking,
• jar with a small amount of test strips for initial measurements.

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

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

The expiration date of test strips is usually 4 to 6 months from the date of opening. We do not recommend buying glucometers with small strips, otherwise it will be very difficult for an elderly person to use them. It’s great if the kit comes with a flexible plastic case that can protect the device if it falls.

For young people with diabetes, aged 12 to 50, we recommend choosing a compact glucometer with a stylish design. Additionally, a modern device may provide a backlight function that allows you to recognize the sugar content in the blood even in the dark.

Conclusion: when buying the most optimal glucometer for the elderly in priority: a solid body, a large display and a minimum of moving parts that are easy to break.

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

Before buying a glucometer, 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 costs 800 rubles, then your expenses for the year will be about 9,600 rubles. provided that per month you will buy one pack of consumables. At the same time, a similar glucometer from a foreign manufacturer will cost 1,300 rubles, but test strips will cost 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 have studied user reviews and prepared for you a selection of reliable manufacturers offering high-quality blood glucose meters for home use:

• contour TS,
• Satellite,
• johnson & johnson,
• NIPRO,
• roche,
• Elta,
• optium,
• Bionime,

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