Checking your blood sugar helps you become more involved in your own diabetes care because you can see your numbers and reflect on how various aspects of your life (i.e. food, activity, stress, medication, etc.) affect your blood sugar patterns. Thankfully, the task can be easily mastered, but first you need to pick the right meter for you. Here are a few considerations when trying to choose. 

Meter Features
Consider your individual needs and desires to help make monitoring easier.

• Visibility: Consider a meter with a large screen and easy-to-read display. A talking meter may be another good choice. A screen that lights up and can be seen in the dark might also be useful for anyone who tests at night or in the dark.
• Sensitive Fingers: Consider a meter that uses a smaller sample of blood and/or choose a more gentle lancing device/lancet with finer needle to prick the finger. You may also consider using a lancing device and meter that can test at alternate sites (such as forearm or palm instead of fingertips). 
• Dexterity Issues: Choose an easy-to-handle meter with larger and easier-to-grip strips and lancing device/lancets that would be easier to maneuver. 
• Tracking Your Results: Most meters save results in a “Memory” or “Log” for later viewing and recording. Some results can be downloaded in clinics and/or at home, and some can be downloaded to apps on smart phones via Bluetooth®. These apps enable you to easily track glucose results and print or email them to yourself and your healthcare provider.

Cost
Most meters, strips and lancets are sold over-the-counter at pharmacies at varying prices. If you have insurance, check with your provider to find out if blood sugar testing supplies are covered and which brands are preferred. A prescription from your healthcare provider for the preferred brand of meter and matching strip/lancet can help to reduce your costs. Keep in mind that your insurance/prescription will likely limit how often you can test per day. If you want to test more often than prescribed, additional strips can be purchased at over-the-counter price. You can also ask your pharmacist to help you find a more affordable option for more frequent testing.

If you are interested in discussing your glucose monitoring tools options, your healthcare provider and a diabetes care and education specialist at Freeman Diabetes Education are always happy to help. To learn more about Freeman Diabetes Education services, visit freemanhealth.com/diabetes.