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Best Glucometers

Updated November 2023
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Accu-Chek Guide Blood Glucose Monitoring System
Accu-Chek
Guide Blood Glucose Monitoring System
Expert-Recommended

Our health expert likes the large display and quick results this glucometer gives its users.

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Expert-Recommended
Bottom Line

Our health expert likes the large display and quick results this glucometer gives its users.

Pros

Reputable brand widely prescribed in health care. Can connect via Bluetooth to smartphone app. Convenient lancing device with 6 included lancets. Includes carrying case.

Cons

Does not include test strips or test strip holder.

Best Bang for the Buck
On Call Express Blood Glucose Monitoring System
On Call
Express Blood Glucose Monitoring System
Simple Yet Solid

Despite its limitations, this glucometer earns our expert's approval for its affordability.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Despite its limitations, this glucometer earns our expert's approval for its affordability.

Pros

Basic, affordable, and easy to use. Features a large screen that's easy to read. Users are happy about the reasonable price of the test strips.

Cons

Calibrating it can be challenging, but it must be done for accurate results. Doesn't test ketones.

Dario Blood Glucose Monitor Kit
Dario
Blood Glucose Monitor Kit
Smartphone Compatible

A blood glucose monitor system that is compatible with iPhones for easy monitoring and tracking.

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Smartphone Compatible
Bottom Line

A blood glucose monitor system that is compatible with iPhones for easy monitoring and tracking.

Pros

Kit includes an iPhone connector, glucometer, test strips, sterile lancets, and disposable covers. Takes just seconds to measure. Dario app allows users to monitor and track progress.

Cons

Not Android compatible.

Oh'Care Lite Blood Sugar Test Kit
Oh'Care Lite
Blood Sugar Test Kit
Affordable Choice

An affordable testing kit that is straightforward in operation.

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Affordable Choice
Bottom Line

An affordable testing kit that is straightforward in operation.

Pros

ISO-standardized testing device with single-touch eject function. Five-second results from 5 microgram samples. Includes 50 lancets and 50 testing strips. Auto-coding system and 5 needle depth settings.

Cons

Presents a variety of test results; users recommend taking the average of a few readings for accurate testing.

CareTouch Blood Glucose Monitor Kit
CareTouch
Blood Glucose Monitor Kit
Most Comprehensive

This testing kit includes everything you need to track your blood sugar and is one of our expert's go-to picks.

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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

This testing kit includes everything you need to track your blood sugar and is one of our expert's go-to picks.

Pros

Monitor needs no coding and provides results in 5 seconds or less. Retains 300 test results in memory to track changes over time. Includes lancing device, 100 lancets, and 100 testing strips.

Cons

Additional strips and lancets can be expensive.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
December 08, 2021
35
Models
considered
8
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for Best glucometers

Written by Allen Foster, and fact-checked by Michael Huynh
Updated November 2023

If you are one of the more than 29 million people in the U.S. living with diabetes, a glucometer is an essential item.

This small device is used to test your blood glucose (BG) levels at any given time, providing an indication of whether those levels are high, low, or on target. Diabetics test their blood as often as 10 times per day, depending on circumstances. They select the proper remedy based on the reading, whether it’s taking insulin for high blood sugar or ingesting a glucose tablet, sugar-based soft drink, or orange juice for low blood sugar.

No matter the size, shape, or advanced features of a glucometer, the process of using the device is almost always the same. It begins with placing a test strip in the glucometer and then drawing a small amount of blood from a finger or other designated area with a specially designed lancing device. The blood is placed on the test strip, and the glucometer springs into action. Within seconds, a digital readout of your blood glucose level appears.

The American Diabetes Association considers readings between 80 and 130 mg/dl (that’s milligrams of glucose per deciliter) normal for diabetics before meals.

For diabetics with insurance, the choice of glucometers is limited to what your provider will cover. The glucometer/test strips relationship is similar to razors and razor blades in that the glucometer is relatively inexpensive while the test strips can be very costly. For that reason, health insurance providers negotiate special rates for test strips, either directly with the manufacturer or with third-party suppliers who work with groups of providers.

Selecting a glucometer

There are a number of factors involved in selecting the right glucometer for you. Much of it boils down to a matter of preference. Here are some key areas to consider:

Accuracy

The readouts from your glucometer are used to make important decisions about how much insulin to take for a meal, or in the case of hypoglycemia, how much sugar is needed to correct a low reading. Glucometers are medical devices, so their accuracy is governed by the FDA, which means they all are reviewed by the federal government to ensure their accuracy. That said, independent tests show that accuracy among meters can vary up to 6%.

Testing methods

Meters vary on the amount of blood needed for accurate results, with many meters claiming their test strips require “less blood” for testing. For those who test frequently, the less blood needed for a test, the better.

Expert Tip
Use the lancet and test strip only once! Do not reuse them.
BestReviews Medical Expert

Coding

Each meter uses its own branded test strips, and each vial of strips comes with a code. Before testing, the user must match the code on the strips with the code on the meter. This is a simple process, but it can be an annoyance. Some newer meters don’t require coding, while others automatically read the code on the strips and adjust as needed.

Size

Glucometers vary in size, from large ovals of about 2” x 3” like the Lifescan Ultra One Touch 2 to pocket-sized ones that measure 1” x 2” like the Accu-Chek Smartview Nano. To determine the right size for your glucometer, you need to know that glucometers should be carried in a small case that allows you to keep test strips and your lancing device handy. The size of the case can make a difference in how easy it is to get the unit out when needed on the go.

Storing results

Patterns and trends are important for diabetes management. By understanding such factors as time of day and the impact of exercise and diet, doctors can better understand how to prescribe medications and set required insulin amounts. When selecting a glucometer, make sure it has the ability to store your BG readings as well as the date and time of day. Most physicians — especially endocrinologists — can download these readings from your glucometer to assist in treatment planning. The Lifescan Ultra One Touch 2 can hold more than a week’s worth of time-coded readings, which is valuable for tracking patterns that need attention.

Interactivity

In addition to memory storage, newer glucometers have Bluetooth capabilities that allow the user to share his or her BG readings with a smartphone app. In most cases, the info on that app can be sent to a private, secure cloud and shared with your physician.

Expert TIp
Buy a device for which you can reliability get refills on test strips. They are not all compatible.
BestReviews Medical Expert

Price

Meter cost

Prices range from as low as $10 to well over $100 for meters that check ketone levels as well as blood glucose. With high readings (over 200 mg/dl), many meters will provide a warning to check ketones. It’s important to note that many of the “extra” features on a glucometer are only nice-to-haves; accuracy and ease of use are two of the features that matter the most.

Test strips cost

Glucometers can be cheap, but test strips are not. Luckily, most insurance providers cover a major portion of the cost of test strips. If you run out of strips — which happens a lot for many diabetics — or you are buying strips for your backup meter, the costs can mount. For example, at the time of this writing, a box of 50 One Touch Ultra strips cost about $22 on Amazon. com. For someone testing eight to ten times a day, that’s more than $100 per month for strips.

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Did you know?
All glucometers must be approved by the FDA before they can be sold in the U.S.
STAFF
BestReviews

Glucometers of the future

Health care innovators are coming up with new ways to make testing BG levels easier. Here are a few new high-tech options for diabetics:

Smartphone meters

Meters from Gmate and iHealth work directly with smartphones as an accessory that plugs into the phone. These small devices have their own branded test strips and work with an app made for iOS and Android smartphones. The app not only facilitates info sharing with your physician, but it can also can track diet (the impact of certain foods on your readings) and exercise.

Painless testing

While not on the market yet, UK-based GlucoWise is working on a meter that uses low-power radio waves and sensors to measure your BG level. This non-invasive meter is set to be available in 2018. Integrity Applications is working on a non-invasive meter called GlucoTrack that measures BG via a sensor you can attach to your earlobe.

Contact lenses

Google has secured a patent for glucose-sensing contact lenses that is a system that includes a sensor, chip, and antenna. To make things even cooler, Google, working with Novartis on the project, will develop smart jewelry and other accessories that can act as a reader for the contact lens sensors. It is not clear when device testing will begin.

Tips for diabetes management

With medical breakthroughs and technological advances, diabetes is no longer the major burden it was even 20 years ago. Here are some tips to better manage your diabetes:

  • Exercise is always good, but not all diabetics are type 2, which usually results from obesity/insulin resistance. Type 1 diabetics have to be more careful in exercising and making sure they have enough glucose in their system to avoid hypoglycemia (low blood sugars) as that is more dangerous than high blood sugars
  • Limit your carbohydrate intake.
  • Avoid all diet drinks with artificial sweeteners.
  • Get a yearly eye exam to check for glaucoma and other eye diseases.
  • Go to the dentist at least twice a year for checkups.
  • Have your feet examined regularly for ulcers and to have your nails trimmed.

Please note that these tips are not a substitute for proper medical care. If you have diabetes, we urge you to stay under the care of a qualified physician!

Expert TIp
Make sure you keep a log of your blood sugar levels and time of day to give to your health care provider.
BestReviews Medical Expert
Content Image
Test strips can be pricey. When planning your budget, consider the possibility that maybe one in ten tests will result in an error code from your glucometer, indicating that your sample is too small or that there is a fault (such as low battery) with your meter.

FAQ

Q: Can my smartwatch track my BG readings?

A: To date, no smartwatch can take blood glucose readings. Prior to the release of Apple’s smartwatch, the FDA issued rules regarding the difference between “health and wellness” measurement (how many steps did I take today?) and medical devices like the glucometer. A number of partnerships between smartwatch manufacturers and medical device companies have sprung up to tackle this opportunity.

Q: Do Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics need a glucometer?

A: Yes. Both Type 1s, whose bodies don’t manufacture insulin, and Type 2s, whose bodies manufacture limited amounts of insulin, need glucometers. Type 1s test their BG levels more frequently.

Q: What is a Continuous Glucose Monitor?

A: A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a medical device that continually tracks the patient's BG readings. It is a system that has a transmitter — worn on the body — and a receiver that captures the information. Newer CGMs have smartphone apps that can double as receivers and store readings. CGM users also need a glucometer to calibrate their devices at regular intervals.

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