What are the Best Blood Glucose Monitors?

By Angela Taylor | Published on April 24, 2023
A young woman checks her blood glucose levels using a blood glucose monitor.
Photo Courtesy: Adobe Images

If you have diabetes, having access to an accurate glucose monitor is key to help manage your blood sugar levels effectively. Make sure the one you select delivers consistent and reliable results every time.

The best meters offer many convenient features to make managing diabetes simpler, such as Bluetooth connectivity and mobile management apps that sync readings with phones or smartwatches.

Contour Next EZ

Blood glucose monitors provide an easy and straightforward method to assess your blood sugar levels, track diabetes management plans, and gain insight into which foods have an effect on them.

The Contour Next EZ blood glucose meter is an efficient and user-friendly glucose testing solution with a compact design and intuitive controls, offering quick and accurate tests with its 480 test memory capacity. It features an easy-to-read black and white display and user-friendly controls.

It contains a quick reference guide, lancing device, 10 colored lancets and logbook to assist those just starting to manage their diabetes or looking for an easy way to monitor blood sugar. Designed specifically for newcomers to managing diabetes or those who want an easy way to keep tabs on blood sugar.

The Bayer Contour Next meter works with Bayer’s Contour Next test strips, requiring only a small blood sample to measure glucose levels. With its quick 5-second countdown and customized settings that can be tailored specifically to suit you preferences, as well as pre/post meal markers and adjustable testing alarms it offers fast glucose monitoring for fast results.

OneTouch Ultra 2

The OneTouch Ultra 2 offers an easy, gentle, and quick way to monitor how food affects blood sugar levels. Results can appear within five seconds – perfect for busy people!

This glucometer offers an easy viewing experience even in low light conditions, and allows users to add meal “flags” for more accurate results.

It operates off of a 3V battery and connects directly with diabetes management software, with its memory capable of holding up to 500 test results.

With the OneTouch Ultra 2, you can monitor your glucose level anytime, anywhere – keeping track of trends and making informed decisions about treatment. Furthermore, meal-by-meal averages help manage diabetes more efficiently.

The OneTouch Ultra 2 offers convenient one-use sterile OneTouch test strips that can be reused multiple times without lengthy cleanup procedures. In addition, this meter comes equipped with a Delica lancing device and 10 OneTouch lancets so testing can start immediately.

Dexcom G6

Dexcom G6 CGM system for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes allows you to make glucose treatment decisions without needing fingersticks or calibration.

Dexcom G6 features an auto-applicator, sensor and transmitter to send data every five minutes directly to a compatible smart device or receiver. Furthermore, this device offers direct smartphone app connectivity without the need for separate receivers.

One of the greatest advantages of Dexcom G6 is its compatibility with insulin pumps that automatically administer insulin when glucose readings rise above certain thresholds (allowing hassle-free management). Additionally, this device features customizable alert settings with low and high threshold thresholds plus an urgent low soon alarm alarm and offers the opportunity to share glucose data with loved ones.

The Dexcom G6 price typically falls in the range of $180 to $450 depending on your insurance plan and eligibility for Medicare vouchers for purchasing this device from Walgreens or another participating distributor.

FreeStyle Lite

FreeStyle Lite is one of the most renowned blood glucose monitors available today, boasting ease-of-use and quick results. This compact device features a backlight display and test strip port light; additionally it requires only 0.3 microliters blood sample to provide accurate glucose readings.

The FreeStyle Lite utilizes a coulometry measurement technique that provides more accurate results than other glucose meters. Its unique ZipWik tabs break apart blood samples quickly and make it easier for test strips to wick up blood and register its reading on the meter.