Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (2024)

Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (1)

Tracking blood sugar levels is essential to managing diabetes and may be useful if you’re concerned about your metabolism or energy levels. Glucometers are accurate, easy-to-use machines that can help you stay on top of your blood sugar levels. You can see your blood sugar result in real time by applying a small dot of blood from your fingertip onto a test strip and inserting it into these portable meters. If you have diabetes or another blood sugar concern, checking your blood sugar consistently helps you identify patterns that may trigger spikes or dips in your blood sugar, treat low blood sugar, and manage dangerous blood sugar levels. Note that these are not to be confused with a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, which monitors your blood sugar continuously all day from a meter worn on top of the skin.

To bring you the best glucometers on the market, we evaluated 16 products for accuracy, ease of use, ease of setup, data display, portability, and overall value. You may have special considerations or personal needs, such as large display fonts, insurance coverage limitations, or voice guidance.

What is a Normal Blood Sugar Reading?

The specific blood glucose level considered ideal for you depends on many factors, including:

  • Age
  • How long you have had diabetes
  • Medications you take
  • Any other medical conditions you may have

That said, the American Diabetes Association suggests that a normal reading for non-pregnant adults who currently have diabetes should be between 80 and 130 mg/dL before a meal and less than 180 mg/dL 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of the meal. Note that the targets are different for folks without diabetes or who have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Cost and Insurance Coverage: Akankasha Goyal, MD, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health, says the most important thing to consider when researching glucometers is if it will be covered under your insurance company. She explains that because people monitor their blood glucose once or twice per day, it’s important that the kit is cost-effective. When researching glucometers, consider insurance coverage for the meter and test strips, as testing frequency can impact overall costs. Check if the specific test strips required by the meter are covered or partially covered by your insurance to ensure cost-effectiveness. The devices may also be FSA- or HSA-eligible.
  • Accuracy: The quality of your glucometer and the quality of the testing strips used in your glucometer can dramatically impact the accuracy of your blood glucose monitoring tests. Some meters are known for giving readings that show up to a 15% discrepancy. While that variance is accepted by the Food and Drug Administration, the more accurate readings you can get from your glucometer, the better.
  • Storage Capacity: The glucometer models we tested store 100 to 1,000 readings. This difference matters because more storage allows you to discover patterns when your blood glucose levels dip and rise. Goyal recommends purchasing a device with more memory storage, but only if your insurance company covers the glucometer.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

We suggest consulting a healthcare provider if you have any concerns or questions over what glucometer is best for you, your lifestyle, and your health management. If your results are consistently high, low, or your symptoms are worsening it may be best to consult your physician as soon as possible. They can also ensure that you're using your device correctly.

In This Article

Pros

  • Minimal set up

  • Can draw blood from places other than the fingertip

  • Easy-to-read display

Cons

  • No app connectivity

Key Specs

Result Speed: 4 seconds | Storage Capacity: 300 readings | Included in Kit: 1 glucometer, 100 ultra-thin tri-bevel tip lancets, lancing device, 200 test strips, logbook, control solution, and carrying case

Why We Recommend It

This blood sugar meter is simple to use, requiring minimal setup. With fast results presented in less than three seconds, we loved that it has a clear display that immediately shows your blood sugar. This meter is small, portable, and comes with a carrying case. One of our favorite features is this meter's unique ability to allow for multiple blood applications on the same test strip (if you don't get enough blood for an accurate read on the first draw), ultimately avoiding waste and saving precious glucose testing strips. This product is generally affordable and great for not super tech-savvy folks.

We did not experience much pain while testing this product, and when you’re poking your fingers multiple times a day, this is a huge win in our book. For folks sensitive to finger pricks, we love that you can use this meter’s lancing device to draw blood from places like the palm or the forearm.

If this pick isn't right for you, the Prodigy Glucose Monitor Kit is a close runner-up for our favorite device. It comes ready to use straight out of the box. With voice guidance in multiple languages, this meter is accessible to folks with vision limitations. The blood sugar display is clear and easy to read. Storing 450 blood sugar readings, this option lets you keep track of long-term data.

The Prodigy is excellent for alternate site testing as it can also be used to draw blood from the forearms, upper arm, thighs, calves, and palms in addition to fingertips.However, its main drawback is that it's slightly larger and heavier than other models, making this meter less portable than other options on the market. Overall, we loved the value and additional features in this kit.

Keep In Mind

If you’re looking for something more technologically advanced that provides detailed tracking and app syncing, this one may not be the best fit for you.

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (3)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (4)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (5)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (6)

Pros

  • Minimal set up

  • Clear display

  • Portable kit

Cons

  • Instructions are confusing

Key Specs

Result Speed: 5 seconds | Storage Capacity: 1,000 readings | Included in Kit: 1 glucometer, 100 test strips, 1 lancing device, 100 lancets, control solution, traveling case

Why We Recommend It

This testing kit comes with everything you need included right out of the box. With clear, easy-to-read display numbers, you will get your reading back in less than five seconds and be able to interpret it quickly. This meter kit is lightweight and portable and comes with a carrying case for travel. It’s affordable, simple to use, and makes a great budget option.

Great for folks who are newly diagnosed or have never checked their blood sugar before, this no-nonsense kit has everything you need without the bells and whistles.

For beginners on a budget, Ascensia’s Contour Next EZ blood sugar monitoring system comes at a great price for its value. The straightforward setup process made it easy to begin testing our blood sugar immediately. The simple user interface displays your blood sugar within just five seconds, and its readings were consistently accurate in our tests. And, with 480 readings stored in the meter’s memory, we love that you can refer back to your logs for months. Ascensia’s blood sugar meter also generates a 14-day average blood sugar reading to help you predict trends over time and show progress. We wish the monitor were backlit. Seeing our readings in low light was a little hard, but that feature would have helped.

Keep In Mind

We found the instructions a little confusing at first as the illustrations and written descriptions are in separate manuals. However, once we got the hang of it, this option was very easy to use.

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (8)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (9)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (10)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (11)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (12)

Pros

  • Voice guidance

  • Large storage capacity

  • 7-day reading average

Cons

  • Larger size

  • No app connectivity

Key Specs

Result Speed: 5 seconds | Storage Capacity: 1,000 readings | Included in Kit: 1 glucometer, ketone kit, 50 testing strips, 50 ketone strips, 100 lancets, control solution

Why We Recommend It

This meter’s audio guidance makes it a perfect fit for seniors and other folks who have vision limitations. Not only does it provide narrated instructions for use, but it also announces your blood sugar readings. Plus, the meter features a display with large, backlit text and numerals.

Storing up to 1,000 blood sugar readings, you can keep your testing results for months to come. We also love that it offers a seven-day average feature so that you can check progress on the whole week over week.

Another simple and easy-to-use pick we recommend for seniors is the Metene TD-4116 Blood Glucose Monitor Kit at Amazon. It shows you exactly what you need to know—nothing more, nothing less—in large text on an even larger display. We especially loved the backlight feature, which makes the grayscale screen easy to read, even in low light. Although this product is a bit large to carry around in your pocket, we like that it comes with a compact carrying case, increasing its portability. Overall, the accessible price and easy user experience won us over. You can also download your readings from the meter to your computer via a USB cord, allowing you to track your blood sugar over time.

Keep In Mind

This model is heavier and bulkier than other options on the market, making it well-suited to folks who will be using it at home but less ideal for those who travel often.

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (14)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (15)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (16)

  • Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (17)

Pros

  • Compact portable size

  • Bluetooth connectivity to app

  • Intuitive, in-depth in-app tracking

Cons

  • Long setup time

Key Specs

Result Speed: 6 seconds | Storage Capacity: Unlimited| Included in Kit: 1 glucometer, 25 testing strips, 10 lancets, 10 disposable phone covers

Why We Recommend It

If you’re looking for a higher-tech blood sugar monitor that connects to your phone via an app, this one might be the right fit for you. With a user-friendly interface, you will receive a timely display of your blood sugar on your smartphone screen.

Thanks to its app connectivity, this glucometer’s lancet and meter are contained in one device, making it super portable. While its portable format means this device doesn’t have a screen or audio announcement of your blood sugar readings, it’s great for folks who are a bit more tech-minded and want to see more in-depth insights into their blood sugar patterns, track their weight, and receive insights and reminders via an app.

Another great pick for tracking your results is the Dario Blood Glucose Monitoring Starter Kit. While you can measure your blood glucose using the machine alone, this meter also connects to the mySugr app for downloadable readings and detecting patterns in blood sugars over time. There was virtually no setup required for it, and it’s quite small and portable compared to other models we tested. It can fit easily into a bag or roomy coat pocket and comes with a carrying case to prevent stray button-pushing, making it a great fit for someone on the go. Its backlight also makes it easy to use overnight on planes and trains. This one is also eligible for FSA and HSA.

Keep In Mind

If learning new technology is not your thing this meter might not be for you. Its setup process is more complicated than competitors’ and readings are only available in the app, so it might not be a good fit for seniors or those with vision limitations.

How We Tested the Glucometers

To find the best glucometers on the market, we tested 16 products in our lab. With the supervision and help of an onsite nurse, our editors checked each glucometer against a control solution then, once it was confirmed that the meter was functional, tested their own blood sugar. A stopwatch was used to see how long the results took to come in from the time we used the strip to when the blood sugar showed up on the meter. We then rated each product based on the following criteria:

  • Accuracy: Using the control solution, we were able to quickly assess the accuracy of each meter.
  • Ease of Set Up: We considered whether or not each meter was ready to go right out of the box and the extent of steps required to set up the glucometers.
  • Ease of Use: Our editors observed the user experience including how much assistance they needed to use the glucometers for the first time, how easy all of the parts of the kits were to use including the lancing device and testing strip, and how intuitive the navigation of the meters were.
  • Data Display: We considered the layout of the display, whether or not the product had a backlight, how many users can store information, and where the readings get stored for quick access when evaluating the quality of data display on each meter.
  • Portability: We looked at the products’ dimensions and weight, whether or not the meters come with a carrying case, how the products are powered, memory capacity, and any additional connectivity options that would make travel more convenient.
  • Overall value: After our comprehensive review process, each editor evaluated the overall value of the products based on the price relative to the median market value of other meters.

How to Use a Glucometer

Depending on your doctor's recommendation, you might need to test your blood sugar just once a day up to before and after every meal or snack.

Follow these steps, according to the American Diabetes Association:

  • First, set out your glucometer, a test strip, and a lancet (the tool for drawing your blood).
  • Wash or sanitize your hands to prevent infection.
  • Insert the test strip into the meter.
  • Prick the side of your fingertip with the lancet to draw a drop of blood.
  • Touch the edge of the test strip to the blood and hold it there.
  • Your blood glucose measurement will show up on the meter's display.
  • To learn more, check out our guide, How to Use a Glucometer

Our Experts

We consulted two experts during the research and writing of this article on the best glucometers:

  • Minisha Sood, MD, endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital
  • Akankasha Goyal, MD, endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between a blood glucose meter (BGM) and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)?

    To test blood glucose, there are two main types of devices used: basic blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Basic blood glucose meters require a blood sample (usually a finger prick) each time you test. A typical meter is a handheld device with a test strip that reacts with the blood sample and reads the glucose level. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can check your blood sugar automatically every few minutes and transmit the reading wirelessly to a monitor, smartphone, or tablet. Rather than repeated blood draws, a CGM uses a tiny sensor inserted under the skin.

  • How do I know if my glucometer is accurate?

    Most glucometers come with control solutions to compare for accuracy. Alternatively, take it with you when you have a lab glucose test and check your blood immediately after. For the best results, ask the lab to process your blood sample within 30 minutes.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Caroline Thomason has been in the field of health and wellness for more than 12 years. As a dietitian and diabetes educator, she has real world experience with blood sugar meters and the people who use them. For this tested round up, she relied on her own experience as well as discussing the pros and cons of these products with diabetes experts.

Check Your Blood Sugar Anywhere With These 4 Best Glucometers (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Gregorio Kreiger

Last Updated:

Views: 5950

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gregorio Kreiger

Birthday: 1994-12-18

Address: 89212 Tracey Ramp, Sunside, MT 08453-0951

Phone: +9014805370218

Job: Customer Designer

Hobby: Mountain biking, Orienteering, Hiking, Sewing, Backpacking, Mushroom hunting, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.