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Monitoring blood sugar, or blood glucose, is extremely important for many of us out there. If you have diabetes, this is an absolute requirement.
Having one of the best glucose monitors can make your life so much easier, and can help get you on the right track with your diet, exercise, and treatment plan.
This will overall increase your health, while preventing complications and reducing the risk of any health issues.
We’re going to take an in-depth look at the features that make a glucose monitor one of the best for you, as well as things to avoid. What are you waiting for?
Let’s get started!
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Blood Sugar Monitors For 2020
- Contour NEXT Diabetes Testing Kit
- Care Touch Diabetes Testing Kit
- Glucose Wizard Bloodless Painless Glucose Monitor
- Accu Chek Performa Glucometer Kit
- O’Well Tyson Blood Glucose Diabetes Testing Kit
We’ve reviewed the top rated glucose meters followed by a comparison table and buying guide to help you decide on glucose monitor that will work best for you.
Best Blood Sugar Monitors
| Contour NEXT Diabetes Testing Kit | Glucose Wizard Bloodless Glucose Monitor | Care Touch Diabetes Testing Kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Readings Stored: | 7, 14, & 30 day avg | 300 readings | 300 readings / 14-day avg |
| Test Strips Included: | 100 | None | 100 |
| Other: | Carrying Case | No blood needed | Carrying Case |
Blood Glucose Meter Reviews
#1 Contour NEXT Diabetes Testing Kit
If you’re searching for a blood glucose monitor that is so easy to use, you won’t feel like it’s a hassle, then take a look at the Bayer Contour Next Glucose Meter Kit.
The easy-to-read results are displayed clearly and all you have to do is insert the test strip for a stress-free experience. Complicated systems can end up being dangerous, as they can confuse users, which can end up with a low level of accuracy.
Expand to see more The Second-Chance sampler also allows users to apply more blood, which means fewer strips wasted, which is great for the environment and your wallet. No coding means you’ll get results even faster; within a mere 5 seconds, so you can go about your day as usual. Not only that, but you’ll get more accurate results, as there’s no chance of miscoding. In fact, with their MULTIPULSE technology, evaluating each sample 7 times, you’ll get accuracy like you’ve never seen before and makes it our Editors Choice for the best glucose meter. Pre-and-post-meal markers also allow you to get a better idea of how your dietary choices affect your glucose levels, which can be motivating, as well as help you to understand your results. The Care Touch Diabetes Testing Kit is an ultra-convenient package made to make your life a bit easier. The monitor works to recognize batch codes on each test strip, so you don’t even have to insert any codes, which is less of a hassle, and more accurate. With their unique monitoring system, you don’t even have to take out the used strip on your own, as they have hygienic, single-touch strip ejection to do it for you. Expand to see more The memory storage is pretty significant, capable of storing up to 300 readings, in addition to holding your 14-day average to see how you’ve been doing. Just like the last model, it gives you pre/post meal flagging, as well. While it doesn’t come with rechargeable batteries, it does have an auto-off function, so you can go longer without having to purchase new batteries. No matter if you’re an absolute beginner with taking your blood sugar, or have been doing this for a while, we can assure you this is one of the best glucometers that you don’t want to cross off your list. The Glucose Wizard is really something special, and is perfect if you’re willing to spend a bit more for the convenience and comfort of not having to prick your finger. That’s right, you can monitor your blood glucose without actually poking yourself at all! The way it works, is through measuring the finger surface humidity, and radiation of heat and convection heat. Expand to see more Their method then measures blood flow velocity, completely pain-free. In addition, it’s extremely portable, weighing in at just 4 ounces, making it perfect to carry wherever you need. As it’s rechargeable, you can also be reassured you won’t have to run out to get batteries, which can be inconvenient. Finally, it also works with a smartphone app, which makes it the best blood sugar monitor if you don’t want to have to prick yourself for blood! The only real downsides (aside from the steep price), is that it doesn’t work with those with glucose levels higher than 200, so really keep that in mind if you pertain to that. In addition, the room temperature must be within 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you have to wait 10 minutes between tests for the sensor to reset completely. The Accu-Chek Performa is another one of the best blood glucose meters that is high-quality device, which gives you results in just 5 seconds, while also using it’s unique “painless” technology used in their lancing device. In addition, you don’t need to load a lancet each time you test. The rubber, ergonomic grip and overall design makes it comfortable to hold, but also nice and stable. Expand to see more Another feature we love about this glucose meter, is the ability to hold a whopping 500 results, that you can also sync to your laptop if you choose. This makes it ultra-convenient to send over to your physician so they know how to properly help you find the best treatment possible. You can easily take it with you anywhere you go, as it weighs in at just 59 grams – and that’s with the battery! While the battery only lasts around 6 months, it does feature an auto power-off feature, which turns off the unit after non-use of two minutes. Coming in on the bargain end of the glucose monitors is the O’Well testing kit. Even though it’s very inexpensive it retains 500 readings and will give you a 7, 14, 30-day avg of your results so you can see how you are progressing. This kit features a lancing device with 10 adjustable depth levels, which match different thicknesses of the skin, making it more convenient and less painful. Expand to see more This allows you to take the levels from various test sites like your forearm. Although the kit only requires a small amount of blood, it is still very accurate, and provides results within just a few seconds, which makes monitoring easy for both pets and owners. The multi-purpose monitor not only measures glucose levels, but also activity, health levels, and medications. What is nice about the simple display on the unit is the large easy to read display. The buttons are also larger than many others making it easier to use than other glucose monitors. Choosing the best blood glucose monitor may not be as simple as you thought, once you get started looking at all of the varying options on the market today. There’s often the misconception that the more expensive, the better, however, this isn’t always the case. Below, we’ve gone ahead and come up with a buying guide to inform you on what you should look for, while avoiding possible “cons”. Keeping on the subject of cost, you probably know that all monitors work similarly. However, there are some pretty significant differences across the board. It’s important not to just look at the retail price, alone. The reason why, is because blood glucose monitors don’t just involve the purchase of the monitor – you also must purchase the test strips, which will usually be used various times per day. If you’re testing at least 4 times per day, this can possibly add up to literally thousands of dollars each year. With that being said, take into consideration how many test strips come with your initial kit, and how may replacement strips you’re going to need to purchase. To pay as little as possible, it’s important to take a look at your insurance and what it can cover for you. Medicare is notorious for covering a good portion of diabetes-related products, which can be a huge help. If you have private insurance, it doesn’t hurt to take a look and see what it covers, as well. Typically, the company will at least cover a bit. See if there are particular brands that the insurance covers before you purchase your products, and see how many test strips are covered each month. How important this is will depend on you and your requirements. However, it’s never a bad idea to have a blood sugar monitor that has a good capacity of storage. The best meters are going to have the ability to store at least 300 results. Not only that, but they should give you the option of tracking the average of your results for over a week, 2 weeks, or 30 days, so you can see your general blood sugar levels, and how you’re doing trend-wise, as well as what you can change. How long does your current (if you have one) blood glucose monitor take to give you your results? While talking in seconds doesn’t seem like much of a difference, when you’re using the unit multiple times throughout the day, a few seconds can really seem to add up and even seem like an inconvenience, which can cause you to skip testing. Try to aim for a diabetes check machine that will give you your results in a mere 5 seconds or less. Any more than that, and it can start to become a hassle for some users. If your unit doesn’t require any coding, then generally speaking, it’s going to be must quicker for you. Another aspect many new users don’t take into consideration, is the size and weight of the units. The truth is, that there are some that are quite bulky and can end up being an inconvenience to try and carry around with you everywhere. You’ll want to steer towards the more compact, lightweight meters. While larger models do have benefits like being able to store various strips so you don’t have to load one for each reading, but they ultimately are a bit inconvenient. If you don’t have the best eyesight, or may have issues with dexterity, or will just be using it at home, then larger units can definitely be the way to go. Blood sugar test kits are either going to come with replaceable batteries, or rechargeable ones. Which will work better for you? Are you the type of person who’s going to forget to keep your monitor charging while not in use? Or perhaps you don’t want to have to go out and buy new batteries all of the time. Ultimately, it’s up to your own preferences, as there are benefits to both. A: This is going to depend on each person. Your physician will tell you how often you should test your blood sugar, and you should definitely go with their instructions. If you take insulin, you’ll probably test anywhere from 5 to 10 times, daily. If you’re taking medications to lower your levels, then you may test lower, at just 3 to 5 times, daily. If you have pre-diabetes, you may only test once a day, or as little as once a week. A: When used correctly, most products are typically accurate. However, there are times they may be a bit off. Things like test strip issues (outdated or damaged strips), exposure to extreme temperatures, dirt on the skin, improper coding, not enough blood, testing site locations, monitor problems, and the amount of red blood cells you have in your blood can all affect the accuracy. It’s always a good idea to remain adequately hydrated, make sure your strips are in good shape, and make sure everything is always clean and stored in proper locations. We hope that this guide has helped you find the best blood glucose monitor for you. Each one of the units vary a bit, but we can assure you that they’re all very high quality, and will do a great job, as long as you read through and know they’re the right one for your needs. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you again soon! In March 2019 Amazon announced that Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts (HSA/FSA) would be accepted as new forms of payment for eligible product purchases. Using HSA/FSA funds to purchase on Amazon can be a great way to reduce taxes and reduce overall healthcare costs for items not covered under medical insurance. Users of such medical savings plans are issued a debit card by their provider, which can be added to their payment methods in their Amazon account. Whether items sold on Amazon are deemed as eligible for HSA/FSA plans remains the responsibility of the buyer and their particular health plan provider. It’s ultimately up to the IRS and participating health plan providers to deem which medical and health products are considered eligible for the payment plans. But the eligibility is quite broad and inclusive of thousands of products that are sold on Amazon and considered Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts plan-eligible. See this IRS document for more information about Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf#2 Care Touch Diabetes Testing Kit
#3 Glucose Wizard Bloodless Painless Glucose Monitor
#4 Accu Chek Performa Glucometer Kit
#5 O’Well Tyson Blood Glucose Diabetes Testing Kit
Glucose Meter Comparison Table
Glucose Monitor Readings Stored Test Strips Other Rating Contour NEXT Diabetes Testing Kit 7, 14, & 30 day avg 100 Carrying Case 4.2 / 5.0 Care Touch Diabetes Monitor 300 readings / 14-day avg 100 Carrying Case 4.0 / 5.0 Glucose Wizard Bloodless Glucose Monitor 300 readings Not Needed No pricking needed 3.7 / 5.0 Accu Chek Performa Glucometer 500 readings / 7, 14, 30 avg 110 5 second test results 3.7 / 5.0 O’Well Tyson Blood Glucose Diabetes Testing Kit 500 readings / 7, 14, 30 avg 50 Carrying Case 3.9 / 5.0 How to Choose the Best Blood Glucose Monitor
Cost
Insurance
Data Storage
Testing Time
Size and Weight
Battery
FAQs For Glucose Monitors
Q: How often should I test my blood glucose levels?
Q: What can I do to improve the accuracy of readings?
Final Thoughts
Notice:
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