Steps to Consider While Choosing a Blood Glucose Monitor That Fits Your Lifestyle
A blood glucose monitor is used to measure your blood sugar levels. At present, a wide range of at-home blood glucose monitoring devices are available in the market. Most doctors will tell you to purchase a blood glucose monitor to use at home. These small & compact blood glucose meters can be used to capture your blood sugar levels and maintain a daily report of the same, inadvertently helping your doctor in catering his care accordingly.
Consider the following when choosing the most accurate blood glucose monitor that fits your lifestyle:
- Degree of Accuracy:
An accurate reading of your blood sugar levels is crucial for your treatment. A lot of meters do not show you the complete accuracy of your blood sugar. Some external causes can also affect the degree of accuracy of a blood sugar monitor. You need to ensure that you purchase an FDA-approved machine from a verified retailer.
- Size of the Blood Sample:
Some blood glucose monitors need a larger amount of blood samples than others. This can prove to be a problem for people with poor circulation, haemoglobin, or other health issues. Ensure that you don’t buy a meter that puts any strain on your fingers. Testing more frequently makes using larger sample devices more difficult. Have a chat with your doctor and opt for meters that require smaller samples.
- Ease of Use:
Get a blood glucose monitor that is easy to understand, since you’ll be using one for the long term. The more complicated it is, the more likely you become to skip important tests. Understand the added benefits and primary features of the machine.
- Ease of Access:
Wouldn’t you prefer to see your meter readings right on your phone? Connectivity options in the present give you an in-depth view of your readings with time.
- Design:
There are plenty of design variants in the market. They come in different colours, sizes, and added benefits. Choose one that suits your living space and lifestyle best.
- Speed:
You shouldn’t find yourself sitting near the meter for long periods multiple times a day. Find a meter that is accurate and equally fast to suit your lifestyle.
- Automatic v/s. Manual Coding:
Find an automatic reader, otherwise, you will have to sit around and input new codes every time you use a new pack of strips. Automatic meters are far better than manual ones. Prefer to go for the individually packed blood sugar test strips to improve the shelf life of the test strips.
- Storage Capacity:
The latest tech allows you to store your readings. Most meters are equipped with storage capabilities, however, the limits might differ. There are options that reach thousands of readings, while some only reach 100. Choose wisely based on the number of readings you need in a day.
- Affordability:
This might be a no-brainer, but don’t buy a meter that is hard on the pockets. Buy a glucose meter that is easy to maintain, and is within your budget.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that needs routine checkups. While using a meter may sound tedious, it is important to be updated with your blood sugar levels to maintain your health. With our list of steps to consider, you can easily pick the most accurate blood glucose monitor that fits your lifestyle.