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For someone with diabetes mellitus types I and II or gestational diabetes (during pregnancy), a glucose meter may be beneficial for managing your health. This is because a glucose meter allows you to monitor and track your blood glucose levels simply and from the comfort of your home. It’s necessary to keep these levels within a healthy range for proper diabetes management and to steer clear of health complications.
The Forbes Health editorial team examined data on the top clinically-validated glucose meters available to determine the best glucose meters of 2022. Factors considered include required blood sample size, cost and special features. Blood glucose meters that require a finger stick test were specifically the focal point of this analysis. Read on to discover our top picks.
Note: Product prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change.
This glucose meter earned points for its low price, as well as its affordable test strips. While it doesn’t offer backlighting, it does have a color range indicator on the device’s face for easy reading of low, normal and high results. Additionally, it requires a small sample of blood and offers a compact design.
This affordable glucose meter’s low backlighting feature allows you to test your blood glucose in limited lighting easily. Additionally, it requires a small sample of blood and alerts you when a test strip is underfilled so you can add more blood. While it doesn’t offer smartphone compatibility, it does allow you to set a reminder alarm for testing.
This glucose meter accumulated points in our analysis for its affordable test strips price, as well as its backlighting feature. It offers a test strip port light for testing in low light and easily tracks meal time averages on its free app, which can help identify patterns in blood glucose stability. The app also offers an estimated hemoglobin A1C reading.
This glucose meter touts a low price tag and uses affordable test strips. It offers smartphone compatibility using Bluetooth wireless technology. It has helpful backlighting, as well as a green, yellow and red target light that lets you know instantly whether you’re in range of your blood glucose goals. Additionally, it requires a small sample of blood and offers a compact design.
This glucose meter scored well in our analysis due to its reasonable price and wealth of features. It’s lightweight and requires the smallest sample of blood for testing compared to the other meters in this ranking. It offers backlighting for the screen and test strip port for ease of testing in low light areas, as well as the ability to set reminder alarms.
People with diabetes have difficulty regulating glucose, a sugar used by the body for energy. Checking your blood glucose levels regularly with a glucose meter is important, as your blood glucose levels can go up or down based on what you eat or drink. Keeping those levels within the target range helps improve energy and mood while preventing or delaying serious health complications, such as:
The advances made in glucometer technology are perhaps the most critical progress made in controlling diabetes since the discovery of insulin in 1921. Today, a glucometer kit typically contains:
There are two types of glucose meters—standard and continuous. Our ranking only analyzed standard glucose meters, which can be a good fit for people who don’t require frequent testing or insulin injections. These types of meters measure current blood glucose by using a finger stick blood sample placed on a test strip and inserted into the device.
Meanwhile, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) work by wearing a sensor placed under the skin that measures glucose levels in real time. People who might benefit from a CGM include those with type 1 diabetes, people who require tight blood sugar control or don’t experience warning signs of low blood glucose and those who have frequent high or low levels. CGMs don’t require as many finger sticks, and as of July 2022, Medicare permanently eliminated the requirement of a four-time daily finger stick to qualify for CGM coverage.
Talk to your doctor about which type of glucose meter is best for you and your needs.
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Self-monitoring blood sugar with a glucose meter is beneficial for people with diabetes in several ways:
When choosing a glucose meter, there are several things to consider.
To determine the best glucose meters of 2022, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed 29 standard glucose meters outlined in the American Diabetes Association Consumer Guide. Glucose meters that weren’t clinically validated by Medaval for use by the general population and had an accuracy rating of less than three stars by the organization were eliminated from our ranking. The remaining meters were then graded on the following criteria:
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Tamrah Harris is a registered nurse and certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. She is the founder and CEO of Harris Health and Wellness Communications. She has over 25 years of experience in healthcare with a passion for health education and wellness.
Sarah is an experienced writer and editor enthusiastic about helping readers live their healthiest and happiest lives. Before joining Forbes Health, Sarah worked as a writer for various digital publications including LendingTree, theSkimm, CNBC and Bankrate. When she isn’t writing or editing, you can find Sarah with her nose in a book or enjoying the outdoors with her French bulldog, Honey.
