In some cases, your health care provider can help you check the accuracy of your meter by using a laboratory meter in his or her office. Your health care provider might ask you to perform a blood glucose test just as you would on your own. Then, he or she might check your blood glucose using the laboratory machine. If the two results match, your meter is probably accurate.
Other factors can affect the accuracy of your meter. Altitude, temperature, and humidity can have unpredictable effects on glucose results.
In some cases, you, not the meter, may be giving inaccurate results. Researchers have found that practice, at least in the area of blood glucose monitoring, does not make perfect. Fresh from training by a diabetes educator, people start off getting accurate results. But as time goes by, people begin to get sloppy. Accuracy usually decreases over time.
Take your meter with you for checkups, and ask your health care provider to observe your technique from time to time. Or measure your blood glucose level with your own meter when your blood is drawn for laboratory glucose tests. Record your results. The two readings are best compared when you are fasting. When your lab-tested blood results are available, compare the numbers.
Comparing Home and Lab Results
• Make sure that you are comparing plasma blood readings (not whole blood) from your meter to your lab results.
• If your result was off by more than 5–10%, go over your technique with your diabetes educator or provider. If he or she can’t find any problems with your technique, it’s time to consider whether something may be wrong with your meter.
Monitoring: Problem Areas to Watch
• Your blood. Are you getting enough blood on the test strip? To increase blood flow, wash your hands in warm water, hang your hand down, and massage your hand from your palm out to your fingertip before pricking. You may find it less painful to prick the side of your finger rather than the fleshy pad. For some strips, once the drop is on the strip, you can’t add more blood. Washing your hands will also help prevent any perfumes or food residue from affecting your test results.
• Test strips. Are your strips fresh? Be aware of the expiration date. Avoid exposing the strips to light and moisture. Are you coding your meter to each new batch of test strips? Variations occur from one batch to another, even when made by the same manufacturer.
• Your meter. Check your meter regularly with the control solution specified by the meter’s manufacturer. Look in the instructions that came with the meter if you’ve forgotten the technique. If your meter can be cleaned, do it periodically. You may find a buildup of blood, dust, and lint that can affect the readings.
Batteries and Meter Replacement
Meters run on batteries, but each model handles batteries differently. Find out what kind of battery your meter takes before purchasing it. Consider the cost and ease of replacing the batteries.
Some models allow you to buy the battery and insert it into the meter yourself. These batteries might be specific to the meter and therefore could be more expensive and difficult to find. Or these batteries might be standard batteries (such as AA or AAA) that run in devices like flashlights or remote controls and therefore are cheaper and easier to find. Still other meters have no replacement batteries.
Most manufacturers will tell you how long the meter’s batteries will last. Some meters tell you when the battery needs replacing. Some companies will replace batteries for you, and others simply replace the whole meter.
With daily use, batteries generally have to be replaced every 1,000 readings.
Lifestyle Considerations
Your lifestyle is one of the most important considerations for choosing a blood glucose meter. With so many meters on the market today, you are bound to find a meter with at least a few of your preferred features.
Size
Some glucose meters are so small that they fit on a vial of strips, while others are larger, so people with big hands can handle them easily. Small meters are easy to slip into your pocket or purse. However, if you have trouble with small hand and finger movements, you may want to consider a larger meter. Larger meters may be heavier and clumsy to carry around. Some meters have rubber grips that make them easy to hold.
Your Vision and Language
Whether you have severe visual impairment or just have a hard time focusing on small print, you may want to consider this when choosing a meter. Some meters completely talk users through monitoring with both voice set-up commands and readings. The meter may also have buttons with raised imprints. Others have a large screen to make reading the numbers easy. If you have any degree of colorblindness, test a few different models. Make sure that you have no trouble reading the digital display.
Some meters display or speak in different languages, such as Spanish. Others use symbols instead of words to display information.
Test Site
Alternative blood glucose monitoring, such as the upper arm, thigh, calf, and palm, is available with some meters. Make sure to check your meter for the availability of this feature before using alternate sites. Alternate sites will give you more options, but these sites may not be as consistently accurate as your fingertips. For example, readings from alternate sites may vary after eating, after taking insulin, or during low blood glucose periods.
User-Friendliness
Make sure your meter or monitoring system is easy to handle, especially if you have arthritis. Several features can make meters easier to use. Some models require a smaller-sized drop of blood. Ask how much blood is required for each model you might be considering. With some models, too little blood may give a faulty reading, and you may need to repeat the test. This can be inconvenient at best, but it could be a problem for people with poor circulation in their hands or those who must check their blood glucose in cold environments.
Other models may require more hands-on time than others. For example, stay away from devices that require too much time if you’re always in a hurry. Some meters can measure blood glucose just seconds after a drop of blood lands on the strip. These devices can be very useful when you test often or in work and social situations, where a few seconds here and there really make a difference. If you are always on the move, you may want to consider a meter and insulin pen combination.
Blood Contamination
Contamination can be a serious concern if you have an illness such as hepatitis or HIV infection. So, choose a system that will keep handling of blood samples to a minimum. Don’t share lancet devices or meters in which blood can contaminate the device. Always dispose of sharps properly.
Support System
If you are using a meter for the first time, consider one that offers a video that teaches you how to do the reading. A picture or visual image can make a seemingly complicated procedure crystal clear. Also make sure that the company has a 24-hour toll-free number to call for any questions about the meter. Sometimes a quick phone call clears up a simple problem. Also check that your health care team is familiar with the model you purchase and that supplies are easily available in your area or by mail order.
Meter Memory and Data Management System
Your meter can do much more than give you a blood glucose reading. It can also store and manage these readings and sometimes even make recommendations for food or insulin doses based on this information.
Some meters can store up to 3,000 glucose readings. A big memory can be helpful for people who carry their meters around with them during the day. Some models have one-button memory recall to review recent results.
Your meter’s data management system is also important to consider. Some models will help you upload the information to a web portal that only you and your health care provider can access. Some models