Blood Glucose Meters: Ratings of Sources
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org asks volunteers with diabetes to test 15 blood glucose meters. Participants judge each meter's size, speed and whether they had to enter a code before using the test strip. Four meters are judged excellent for ease of use -- the most important consideration when picking a meter, ConsumerReports.org says, because you may get a false reading if you don't use your meter correctly.
The 10 Best Blood-Glucose Meters
by Editors of Men's Health
Our AssessmentThis article refers to a Consumer Reports test of blood glucose meters. It covers mostly the same models as ConsumerReports.org's most recent published test (above), but it includes ratings for consistency and accuracy (compared with lab tests), as well as ease of use as judged by "lay and expert panelists with diabetes." Only one blood glucose monitor is judged excellent for both consistency and accuracy: the OneTouch UltraMini. It also gets very good marks for ease of use and features. The Bayer Contour is judged the best auto-code meter, with very good consistency and excellent accuracy and ease of use/features.
Evaluating Glucose Meters: Talk is Cheap, But Access is Golden
by Connie Kleinbeck
Our AssessmentDiabetes is a leading cause of blindness, but most blood glucose meters require sight to operate. The National Federation of the Blind lists and explains several talking blood glucose monitors that can help blind people test their blood glucose independently. The Prodigy Voice offers the widest array of audible instructions and feedback, and it earns the highest praise from diabetes educator Connie Kleinbeck.
Diabetes and Visual Impairment: An Update on the Blood Glucose Monitor Market
by Darren Burton
Our AssessmentThe American Foundation for the Blind thoroughly tests two talking blood glucose meters -- the Prodigy Voice and the SensoCard Plus -- for ease of use by blind or low-vision people. Testers like both blood glucose monitors, but they find the Prodigy Voice "slightly more accessible and usable" for people with impaired sight.
Blood Glucose Meters
by Editors of ChildrenWithDiabetes.com
Our AssessmentChildren With Diabetes was started by a parent whose 2-year-old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. Now part of Johnson & Johnson, it organizes educational conferences, promotes diabetes awareness and occasionally tests blood glucose meters. Here, editors recommend several meters that are good for children. The article hasn't been updated in a while, but all but one of the recommended meters are still current.
A Glucose Meter Accuracy and Precision Comparison: The FreeStyle Flash Versus the Accu-Chek Advantage, Accu-Chek Compact Plus, Ascensia Contour, and the BD Logic
by L.E. Thomas, et al.
Our AssessmentThis study, conducted by researchers at United Memorial Hospital in Batavia, N.Y., compares the accuracy of five home blood glucose meters: the Accu-Chek Advantage and Compact Plus, Bayer/Ascensia Contour, BD Logic and FreeStyle Flash. Researchers find the FreeStyle Flash most accurate, but it has been discontinued. In a letter to the editor, the chief medical officer at Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care questions the validity of the study design, especially the fact that the researchers judged accuracy by comparing the meters' readings (using blood from capillaries) with lab tests on the typically lower-glucose blood from veins.
The Best Blood Glucose Meters
by Erich Schultz
Our AssessmentDiabetesWellBeing.com editor Erich Schultz has "a lengthy history of diabetes" in his family, both type 1 and type 2. His website compiles informative articles and research about diabetes. It also posts reviews of about 20 of the most popular blood glucose meters. Although Schultz doesn't pick any favorites, his reviews do point out the pros and cons of each meter.
Testing Blood Sugar: These Diabetes Meters Need No Coding
by Tricia Edgar
Our AssessmentTricia Edgar, a reviewer who has type 1 diabetes, says blood glucose meters that don't require the user to enter any codes are the best for children, people with poor vision and people who forget to code their meters. She lists six no-code meters and briefly summarizes their outstanding features -- for example, the FreeStyle Freedom Lite has big, easy-to-read numbers, while the Advocate Redicode Talking No-Code Meter reads results aloud.
Blood Glucose Meters That Are Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired Persons
by Mark M. Uslan, et al.
Our AssessmentThis study looks at five blood glucose meters designed for use by visually impaired people, including several models from Prodigy and Advocate. The Prodigy Voice is the only one "fully usable by blind and visually impaired persons." The study is excellent, but it's three years old, and it doesn't include some of the newest models on the market.
by David Mendosa
Our AssessmentDavid Mendosa, a journalist with type 2 diabetes, writes extensively about the disease on his own website and in other publications. Here, he reviews the Solo V2 talking blood glucose meter. Unlike other talking meters, the Solo V2 audibly warns the user if there's not enough blood on the test strip, preventing false results.
by Ann Bartlett
Our AssessmentAnother HealthCentral.com writer with diabetes, Ann Bartlett, tests three talking blood glucose meters from Prodigy: the Prodigy Voice, Prodigy AutoCode and Prodigy Pocket. She prefers the loud speakers and large displays of the Voice and AutoCode models.
New Blood Glucose Meters for the Visually Impaired
by A. Paul Chous
Our AssessmentA. Paul Chous is an optometrist who has type 1 diabetes and who specializes in diabetes eye care. He tests Prodigy blood glucose meters for several weeks and especially likes the Prodigy Voice, which was designed with the help of visually impaired and blind patients. He says its tactile buttons "allow easy operation by even totally blind people with just a little practice."
Health Monitors -- Blood Glucose
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our AssessmentMost of the popular brands of blood glucose meters have accumulated customer reviews here. The two highest-rated meters are the Bayer Contour and FreeStyle Lite. Both earn an average rating of 4 stars out of 5, with at least a dozen reviews posted.
Our AssessmentThis Australian blogger has type 1 diabetes. He occasionally writes very informative reviews based on his real-life experience with blood glucose meters. His former favorite, the FreeStyle Lite, was supplanted first by the Accu-Chek Performa and later by the Accu-Chek Mobile, which has built-in test strips -- but is not available in the U.S.
Diabetes Care Reviews
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Our AssessmentUnlike Amazon.com, Viewpoints.com isn't a retail site -- it simply collects user reviews of all sorts of products, including blood glucose meters. The OneTouch UltraMini rates highest, averaging 4.71 out of 5 stars with two dozen reviews posted. Most brands get far fewer reviews.
Diabetic Supplies Reviews
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Our AssessmentWalmart.com sells fewer brands of blood glucose meters than Amazon.com, and it accumulates fewer user reviews. The Bayer Contour earns the highest rating -- an average of 4.5 stars with about 20 user reviews posted.
Diabetes Monitors and Kits
by Contributors to Drugstore.com
Our AssessmentThis retail website sells all of the most popular brands of blood glucose meters. The OneTouch UltraSmart maintains a perfect 5-star rating with 10 user reviews posted.
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
Our AssessmentBuzzillions.com collects user reviews of all types of products. Several blood glucose meters get a few ratings each, but the reviews aren't well-organized -- you have to search for "blood glucose" to find the reviews. The Bayer Contour meter gets nearly perfect ratings, with nine total reviews posted (each different-colored model gets its own listing).
Our AssessmentEpinions.com is another website that collects user reviews. Most blood glucose meters get only a handful of reviews here, and outdated models are still listed. Among current models, the OneTouch UltraSmart earns the highest ratings -- an average of 4 stars out of 5 with 11 reviews posted.