By Stefanie Maglio
Blood glucose meters are small, computerized devices that measure and show your blood glucose level. This information then allows you and your doctor to figure out how food, exercise, medications, stress, and other things can affect your blood glucose. This is fairly important as it will help to create a better treatment plan for the individual. There are all sorts of meters that are available. Some meters are more basic, while others are more advanced with memory for storing information. Costs of these meters vary, and some insurance companies may not always provide coverage. It’s important to find out what meter is best for you based on how simple or complex it may be, as well as what is best for you financially. When choosing a glucose meter, see if your nurse educator or doctor suggests one in particular. If they do, it would be best to start looking in that direction. It’s also important to find out what your insurance covers when selecting a meter. Your insurance company may have a list of pre-approved meters that it covers. Also find out if your insurance covers the cost of supplies and testing strips. After checking with your insurance company, it’ll be easier to see how much you will actually have to spend on a meter. It is also important to find out how easy it is or isn’t to use the meter you’re considering purchasing. Are numbers easy to read? And how much blood is necessary for a reading? How long does it take to get the reading? Maintenance is also an important thing to consider. Is it simple to clean? Can the meter be set correctly for new strips quickly and easily? Lastly, it may be a good idea to find out if you’re looking for any special features in the meter such as storing memory. Some meters keep logs as well. It all depends on the preference of the individual. However, these are all important qualities to consider when purchasing a glucose meter.