Most diabetes patients prefer the ease of checking their blood glucose levels themselves rather than making frequent trips to a lab. If their condition requires frequent tests, having their own meter is definitely more convenient.

What meter to use becomes one of the central questions for these people. Patients need the help of their doctor and all available information in print and online to help them make their decision. Each patient\’s choice should be based on criteria pertinent to him or her, such as how physically able the patient is to handle tiny test strips or how well can he or she read the display on the meter. Once the patient determines his or her personal needs in a glucose meter, they are better able to make an informed choice.

Some key things to look for when choosing a glucose meter include:

1. Display: Does it have a display that is easily readable?

2. Insurance: Some health insurance companies only cover certain meters or only pay a particular amount. The patient should find out from his or her insurance provider what the coverage limitations are and if they will also cover the test strips.

3. Expense: For someone with a fixed income or with no insurance, cost is big factor in the decision making process. An affordable meter does not necessarily mean the strips that go with it are affordable. When picking a meter, confirming the price of the strips is vital.

4. Special features: Many brands of meters have features that other, simpler meters don\’t. Some of these could be important for certain diabetes patients to help do a better job of controlling their condition.

* Providing rapid results: Some meters can have the results in as little as 5 seconds.

* Sample sizes: Because some patients can have difficulty getting a large enough blood sample for their meters to analyze, there are new meters that get accurate results with smaller sample sizes.

* Internal data storage: The more test results that a meter can save in its memory the easier it is for patients and doctors to track glucose levels over time. As many as 1000 results can be saved by some meters.

* Download capability: Some meters allow you to download all of the test results in its memory. Once onto a computer, the patient can easily email this file to his or her doctor.

* Multiple test sites: Constant testing on the fingertips can make them painful and tender. Meters are available that make it possible to take samples from other places on the body like the forearm, base of the thumb, and even the thigh.

Before selecting from the best glucose meters, the patient needs to ensure that he or she completely understands all of the features, knows how to use the meter properly, and is aware of how much insurance will pay and how much of the cost of the meter and strips they will incur.

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