Instruments such as blood glucose meters have recently appeared in our lives and have greatly simplified the lives of people with diabetes. It’s easy to cope with them: just put a drop of blood on the test strip and the sugar level appears on the display screen. A wide range of glucometers, their parameters and various useful options can confuse a person choosing a device. Help in choosing a device can be provided by the rating of glucometers. Reviews of people who used the device can confirm the correct choice.
Measuring method
Photometric-type glucometers resemble the human eye, determining the degree of color change in the test zone that occurs when the blood glucose reacts with a reagent consisting of glucose oxidase and special dyes.
Electrochemical glucometers tend to use a newer method based on measuring the current strength that occurs when a similar reaction of blood glucose and glucose oxidase is carried out.
The second method is more convenient, since it uses a smaller drop of blood. The accuracy of the methods is roughly comparable.
Blood drop volume
The size of a drop of blood is an important parameter, especially for children and the elderly. Indeed, to get a drop of blood in 0.3-0.6 μl, the smallest depth of puncture is required, which is less painful and allows the skin to heal faster. Devices that need the smallest drop of blood for analysis, top the ranking of the best glucometers.
Measurement time
For glucometers of the latest generations, the result is output in the shortest possible time - up to 10 seconds. The speed does not affect the accuracy of the result.
The fastest results come out in 5 seconds with the Accu-Chek Performa Nano and OneTouch Select meters.
Memory
If you keep a sugar control log, it is important to be able to store the results of the latest measurements in the device’s memory, occasionally downloading data from the meter’s memory.
The largest volume for 500 measurements is Accu-Chek Performa Nano.
Food mark
A number of glucometers are capable of marking test results before and after meals with the possibility of separate statistics. This makes it possible to evaluate sugar on an empty stomach and after a meal separately.
This option is available in the OneTouch Select and Accu-Chek Performa Nano meters.
Statistics
If the patient does not keep an electronic diary of self-control with the calculation of average indicators, you can use the glucometer option. A larger amount of statistics can be a useful tool for you and your doctor, help to more accurately assess the degree of compensation for the disease and develop a strategy for taking sugar-lowering drugs.
Accu-Chek Performa Nano glucometer provides the best statistics.
Test Strip Encoding
Each batch of test strips is assigned a unique code. In various glucometers, this code is set differently:
- manually;
- with the help of a chip inserted into the meter and included with the packaging of test strips;
- in automatic mode, find out the code of the test strip.
The most convenient are auto-coded meters, such as Contour TS.
Packing Test Strips
In the tube, test strips can be stored for 3 months after opening. If each test strip has its own packaging, they can be used for the period indicated on the package. This is very convenient with relatively rare blood level measurements.
Such packaging is used in glucose meters "Satellite Plus" and Optium Xceed.
Test strips for the device
The size of the test strips and their degree of rigidity are important for elderly patients who find it difficult to manipulate small items. It’s better for such people to have a larger and denser test strip.
Test strips are included with the meter. In type 1 diabetes, sugar is often measured several times a day. The cost of the device for such patients will consist of the sum of the cost of the meter itself and the set of strips that are needed for a month. Preference at an equal price can be given to devices with a large number of test strips in the package. You can also purchase a device that does not have strips.
Additional functions
- Instrument Warranty. An important feature for long-term use.
- Communication with a computer. If you are preparing to use special analytics programs, this option allows you to quickly enter all statistics into your computer.
OneTouch glucometers are equipped with a special cable used to communicate with the computer.
- Voice function. The voice meter is specifically designed for people whose vision is impaired or absent. The glucometer accompanies the patient with all the steps involved in preparing the measurement procedure and voices the result of checking the sugar level.
- Type of battery. It is important to choose a glucometer for which you can buy food in the region where the device owner lives.
Classic AAA pinky batteries are used in Bionime Rightest GM300 glucometers.
- The accuracy of the device. A very important parameter. Not all glucometers have high accuracy. Quality rating will help you choose the device that gives the most accurate readings.
If we talk about age preferences, then the simplest glucometers with a large screen are closer to older people.
It is important for young people who love activity and mobility to be able to connect to a computer, the compact size of the device and the amount of working memory.
iCheck
British blood glucose meter
iCheck by Diamedical. The device is powered by one standard CR-2032 battery. Its stock is designed for a thousand measurements. Dimensions glucometer - 80x58 mm.
The glucometer can be configured to output measurement results according to Western standards in milligrams per deciliter or in millimoles per liter, as was the practice in the USSR. The measurement time is 9 seconds. He needs 1.2 μl of blood. The memory of the meter contains the result of the last 180 measurements, which are assigned the date and time of measurement. There is weekly statistics on the average measurement result.
When a new tube of the device is opened, it is only necessary to insert the coding chip, which is sufficient until a new tube.
The meter has the ability to connect to a computer, however, a connecting cable with a serial RS-232 interface is not included.
Accu-Chek Performa Nano
The German Accu-Chek Performa Nano glucose meter from Roche is compact in size. Its dimensions are 69x43 mm. Powered by two classic CR-2032 batteries.
The device needs a very small amount of blood - 0.6 μl. The result is displayed in turn in two standards: a few seconds per mmol / l and mg / dl.
To be able to communicate with the computer, the device has an infrared port. The glucometer is not equipped with computer software.
Sensocard plus
The Hungarian Sensocard Plus glucose meter of the E77 company has a voice module and can instruct the patient and inform about the results of the analysis in English and Russian. This option is designed to help people with visual impairments, which often happens with diabetes. To power the device, two CR-2032 batteries are required, the charge of which is enough for a thousand measurements. Dimensions of Sensocard Plus glucometer - 90x55 mm.
In order to conduct an analysis, a drop of blood of 0.5 μl is necessary. Time for issuing the result is 5 seconds. You can configure the device to measure in mg / dl or mmol / l. The device memory is capable of storing the results of the last 500 measurements. You can get average statistics. It is possible to exclude individual results from the calculation of statistics, marking them as incorrect. They are in memory, but do not participate in calculating averages.
There is a code card that is inserted into a special connector on the side of the meter. If it is lost, the test strip code, consisting of three characters, can be entered manually. The device is equipped with an infrared controller, but the software is not complete.
Optium xceed
Abbott's Optium Xceed has the ability, in addition to
blood glucose, to also measure the level of ketone bodies, which are the product of fat breakdown. If the blood content of
ketone bodies is increased, this may indicate a serious illness - ketoacidosis.
Test strips for glucose and ketone bodies are required different and are sold separately from each other.
The device has a small size of 74x53 mm and an attractive design compared to competitors. The device requires one CR-2032 “hourly” battery. The batteries last for one thousand tests. Among the Optium Xceed glucometers presented in the review the only one has a backlight.
In glucose analyzes, it is possible to select a unit of measurement. It can be set in the instrument settings either mg / dl or mmol / l. Ketone bodies are measured only in mmol / L.
To correctly conduct a glucose analysis, a drop of blood of 0.6 μl is needed, for the study of ketone bodies, a drop requires twice as much - 1.2 μl. By the size of the drop, the device leads the rating of glucometers in 2013. Accordingly, the analysis time for these analyzes is 5 and 10 seconds. The memory of the meter has a capacity of 450 measurements of various kinds. It is possible to obtain averaged indicators. Some results can be excluded from general statistics by marking as control.
The device can connect to a computer. The connecting cable can be connected to the test strip connector. However, neither the connecting cable nor computer programs are included with the meter.
The best glucometers
When a glucometer is selected, it is necessary to build on information about the type of its operation. An important role is played by the company manufacturing the devices. After analyzing the many reviews of people with diabetes, you can determine the best meter for your case. The rating of glucometers for accuracy recently, according to diabetic reviews, was headed by devices from such manufacturers:
- "Satellite";
- Accutrend
- Accu-Chek;
- Optium
- Ascensia;
- One Touch
- Biomine;
- Medi Sense.
These same brands top the rating of glucometers in Ukraine.
Features
Glucometers "Satellite" are produced by the Russian company "Elta", specializing in equipment for patients with diabetes. The company supplies the devices with everything necessary for the analysis. The kit comes with 10 disposable test strips, a device used to pierce a finger, a control strip, a user manual, a cover, and warranty documents.
The Accu-Chek glucometer is distinguished by a photometric analyzer. This model is characterized by the fact that the blood volume required for analysis is controlled by the glucometer itself. In addition, the Accu-Chek meter has a large memory of up to 500 measurements, which allows you to bring into the system all changes in sugar levels that occur in people with diabetes.
Models of the One Touch Horizon and Ultra Smart lineup were liked by a large number of patients who regularly measure blood sugar levels. The instrument quickly produces highly accurate results. 5 seconds is enough for the glucometer to determine the glucose level. The main disadvantage of One Touch glucometers noted by users in their reviews is their high cost.
The Biomine glucometer has a lot of advantages. This is a high speed analysis: information is displayed after 8 seconds after the blood is applied to the test strip. The device allows you to automatically calculate the average measurement results for the last week and month. The model has a large-sized screen on which the results of the analyzes are clearly visible, therefore it is recommended for older people.
The new generation of glucometers is represented by Ascensia, Accutrend, Optium, Medi Sense. They head the rating of glucometers in 2014. When preparing for the purchase of a device, you need to carefully study the reviews of people who have already used it about its advantages and disadvantages (a kind of rating of glucometers). Of course, when buying, you need to familiarize yourself with the operation of the device by making a test analysis.