Ask The Expert
Monitoring

I'd say that all of those factors matter. Diabetes educators and people with diabetes are periodically surveyed by meter manufacturers on this topic and their common responses are provided below:

Desirable Meter Qualities:

• Accuracy/with superior technology
• Be easy to use
• Deliver an error message if the blood sample is not adequate (some meters can give a false reading with an insufficient blood sample).
• Require only a small blood sample -some people have difficulty obtaining an adequate blood sample, so a smaller sample requirement is generally preferred (older model meters required much larger blood samples).
• Provide the result in a short period of time (meter times vary from 5 to 30 seconds).
• Have no effect from interfering substances or conditions, such as:
  • Hematocrit: Hematocrit indicates the amount of red blood cells in the blood; hematocrit is low when you have anemia (can occur with kidney disease, pregnancy, surgery, and other medical conditions); hematocrit can run high in other medical conditions or if living in high altitude; so if hematocrit is a concern, then you need to choose a meter that operates under a wide range of hematocrit levels.
  • Oxygen therapy --some meters are affected if there is a higher level of oxygen in the blood-as might occur if undergoing oxygen therapy.
  • Altitude --some meters do not operate correctly at high altitude.
  • Ingestion of common, therapeutic doses of medications, such as: aspirin, Tylenol, or vitamin C.
  • Peritoneal dialysis: Some meters are not indicated for use if you are undergoing peritoneal dialysis using Extraneal®.
• Other options:
  • Alternate site testing capabilities: Alternate site testing is now an option with many meters; testing sites may vary, so you should always refer to each company's owner's manual for detailed instructions.
  • Plasma vs. Whole Blood: Most of the newer meters on the market are plasma calibrated, because laboratories report plasma equivalent glucose values. Some meters, depending on which country the meter was purchased, can be whole blood or plasma calibrated.
  • Data management: Many people like to download their meter onto their computer (or their diabetes team's computer) to view their glucose levels using various charts, graphs, and statistics; some meter programs also offer this via the internet.
  • Size: Some people prefer the smallest meter possible; others find it more comfortable to use a somewhat larger meter. Meters come in all sizes, so you should be able to find one that meets your needs.
  • Test light: If you test during the night, or would like to be able to test your blood in low light conditions (such as at a movie), then consider a meter that provides a test light and back light.
  • Blood ketones: If you would prefer to test your ketones using a blood sample rather than a urine sample, then consider a meter that has this capability.
  • Cleaning requirements: A few meters on the market still require regular cleaning to insure accurate results, while other meters do not have to be cleaned; you may want to take that into consideration when choosing a meter.

Some Final Considerations:

• Insurance reimbursement: Some people are given no choice on a meter - i.e. their insurance company recommends a certain meter (i.e. it provides a higher level of reimbursement for certain brands), and they send it directly to the patient; however, typically meter prices are all very competitive, and in some instances, a person can contact their insurance company and specify why they want to use a certain brand.
• “Test drive” the meter first: Generally-- perhaps I should say ideally--most people would be referred to a diabetes educator when they are newly diagnosed, as the diabetes educator can help the person with the meter decision. In fact, most diabetes educators would have demo samples for patients to try. Some specialty pharmacies also offer meter demos as well as free meter training.
• No risk: As far as I know, all meters have a money-back guarantee so that if you aren't satisfied, you could get a full refund if you contact the company within a required period of time.
• Websites and Toll-Free Numbers: Most meter companies have websites with details of their products; also, all meter companies have toll-free customer service numbers, typically, available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week; and most companies offer a free video explaining how to use the meter.