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blood sugar monitors
- Thread starter maryanne
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trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Depends how much you wish to spend! The sort of normal BG monitor which does require one to prick a finger (though most 'bodgers' you don't see the sharp bit so you place the gadget on the side of the top of the finger and press a button) and produce a teeny drop of blood, which might cost as little as £20 upfront with strips at approx £8 per pot of 50 or the sort you insert in your arm (where you do not see anything sharp) and it sticks there for a fortnight and is 'read' by passing a scanner or your mobile phone over it, which costs £50 apiece so £100 ish per month. They don't actually physiclly measure your actual blood. There are also dearer options of these, but a bit OTT for a normal T2 to be honest. Or you can go for a dearer finger pricking meter where strips cost £25+ per pot of 50.
Most find the cheaper option does the job well enough to sort out what you actually need to know.
Most find the cheaper option does the job well enough to sort out what you actually need to know.
Glucometers are clinical devices so whatever you buy will meet a required standard, which is called ISO 15197:2013. If you want to feel confident make sure that is listed in the description or on the box.
All glucometers need access to your blood, though, whether worn continuously or by you drawing it as required. If you are not at risk of hypos, by taking Gliclazide or insulin, then it is not worth the much greater cost of continuous monitoring as you will need to get used to inserting something into your skin either way.
Some meters claim greater levels of accuracy, but they are all accurate enough that it is not worth paying extra for greater accuracy. And cost tends to determine the features they offer instead anyway, though the real cost of a standard device is the test strips. They are not reusable and each device needs their own particular types so you cannot shop around. A free meter with expensive strips will quickly end up costing you more than a moderately priced meter with cheaper strips. So unless there are features you need, it is better to pick what to buy based on the cost of the strips.
Lancets tend to be universal though, so for those you can shop around and if you do not like the lancing device that comes with a meter you can change. The TRUEdraw, which comes with TRUEyou and TRUE METRIX but you can buy on its own in Boots, is gentler and smoother than the one with my current meter.
But the pricking is something you just have to get used to use one. If you follow the advice to do it properly it can be painless to the point of not even noticing it. The needle only quickly flicks at your finger as it only needs to draw a very small amount of blood. It is not like an injection where it has to go deep inside or stay there for any length of time.
Though a common feature you may want to look for is "alternative site testing." It still requires drawing blood in the same way, but it will take it from your arm where there are less nerve endings so you are less likely to feel anything. But the results are also less accurate, which is why fingertips are normally used.
All glucometers need access to your blood, though, whether worn continuously or by you drawing it as required. If you are not at risk of hypos, by taking Gliclazide or insulin, then it is not worth the much greater cost of continuous monitoring as you will need to get used to inserting something into your skin either way.
Some meters claim greater levels of accuracy, but they are all accurate enough that it is not worth paying extra for greater accuracy. And cost tends to determine the features they offer instead anyway, though the real cost of a standard device is the test strips. They are not reusable and each device needs their own particular types so you cannot shop around. A free meter with expensive strips will quickly end up costing you more than a moderately priced meter with cheaper strips. So unless there are features you need, it is better to pick what to buy based on the cost of the strips.
Lancets tend to be universal though, so for those you can shop around and if you do not like the lancing device that comes with a meter you can change. The TRUEdraw, which comes with TRUEyou and TRUE METRIX but you can buy on its own in Boots, is gentler and smoother than the one with my current meter.
But the pricking is something you just have to get used to use one. If you follow the advice to do it properly it can be painless to the point of not even noticing it. The needle only quickly flicks at your finger as it only needs to draw a very small amount of blood. It is not like an injection where it has to go deep inside or stay there for any length of time.
Though a common feature you may want to look for is "alternative site testing." It still requires drawing blood in the same way, but it will take it from your arm where there are less nerve endings so you are less likely to feel anything. But the results are also less accurate, which is why fingertips are normally used.
Thank you so much for you advice i shall have to see what I can find
Thank you for your advice it is food for thought. I shall have to look around
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