My brother (16 years old) just got diagnosed and I wanted to find out about any problems associated with glucose meters. Is there a best kind to use? What should we look for in a meter? Is there any different method that we could use other than a meter? If anybody has any advice I would really appreciate it.
Glucose Meter Question
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Steve,
Since you are not yourself diabetic, I have moved your thread to our Family and Friends of Diabetics - The Diabetes Forum Support Community For Diabetics Online forum.
Meters are something that it is difficult to give absolutes on. The cost of the meter itself is only a small part of the issue. Meters use test strips that are one shot items and the cost of the strips rapidly dwarfs the cost of the meter.
However, there is no reasonable way to monitor blood sugar without one. When I was a boy, the only tool on offer was a urine test strip which gave a rough guide as to the amount of sugar you were passing into urine. Too rough and ready and more important, too late to be particularly useful.
Over where you are, your insurance should have some views on which meters they will fund and the number of strips they are prepared to make available. Usually, too few
Walmart offers a range of meters, the Relion brand that appears to be excellent value for money. Over where I am however, I don't have any personal experience of it but some of our US members will have a view.
Since you are not yourself diabetic, I have moved your thread to our Family and Friends of Diabetics - The Diabetes Forum Support Community For Diabetics Online forum.
Meters are something that it is difficult to give absolutes on. The cost of the meter itself is only a small part of the issue. Meters use test strips that are one shot items and the cost of the strips rapidly dwarfs the cost of the meter.
However, there is no reasonable way to monitor blood sugar without one. When I was a boy, the only tool on offer was a urine test strip which gave a rough guide as to the amount of sugar you were passing into urine. Too rough and ready and more important, too late to be particularly useful.
Over where you are, your insurance should have some views on which meters they will fund and the number of strips they are prepared to make available. Usually, too few
Walmart offers a range of meters, the Relion brand that appears to be excellent value for money. Over where I am however, I don't have any personal experience of it but some of our US members will have a view.
Many of us have the Relion brand meters and like them. A meter only gives you a 20+ or - reading, even the best of them. So it's never an absolute. I like the cost of the strips compared to others and easy of getting them.
Good luck to you and your brother. Maybe he'll join us one day soon.
Good luck to you and your brother. Maybe he'll join us one day soon.
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5,318 Posts
Hi Steve and welcome.
In my opinion, and that's all it is, when measuring glucose levels around a normal range, I'll say under 120 because that's my personal goal, most meters you'll see in the pharmacy are all pretty much the same. There are exceptions of course as they are electronic devices and each one can be wonky.
So the basic measuring capabilities of meters are all about the same, it's the extra whizz bangs that separate each meter. Some can download directly to your computer, some require cables. Some are USB port based and can store, download, and recharge thru the port.
As John mentioned the real cost is in the strips. Some can be over $60 per vial of 50 strips. So if your insurance doesn't provide adequate coverage using these can run up the cost at the register real quick.
Personally, I use the Walmart relion prime Meter. Since I look for trends as opposed to actual readings, for the most part anyway, this brand works for me. And the cost of strips, $9 per 50, makes it very affordable as I pay out of pocket.
Your brother will either work with his doctor/insurance to get a meter or can spend some time with a pharmacist discussing the pros and cons and determine one he likes.
Hope that helps some
Sent from my iPhone
In my opinion, and that's all it is, when measuring glucose levels around a normal range, I'll say under 120 because that's my personal goal, most meters you'll see in the pharmacy are all pretty much the same. There are exceptions of course as they are electronic devices and each one can be wonky.
So the basic measuring capabilities of meters are all about the same, it's the extra whizz bangs that separate each meter. Some can download directly to your computer, some require cables. Some are USB port based and can store, download, and recharge thru the port.
As John mentioned the real cost is in the strips. Some can be over $60 per vial of 50 strips. So if your insurance doesn't provide adequate coverage using these can run up the cost at the register real quick.
Personally, I use the Walmart relion prime Meter. Since I look for trends as opposed to actual readings, for the most part anyway, this brand works for me. And the cost of strips, $9 per 50, makes it very affordable as I pay out of pocket.
Your brother will either work with his doctor/insurance to get a meter or can spend some time with a pharmacist discussing the pros and cons and determine one he likes.
Hope that helps some
Sent from my iPhone
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