Glucose meters are usually small battery-operated devices, which make it convenient for people to check their glucose levels anywhere. Most work by "reading" a drop of blood that you place on a disposable test strip. Many glucose meters include additional features such as memories for recent blood glucose results and the time the test was taken, download capabilities that allow the transfer of test results to a home computer, and even notification if a reading is too high or too low. Some meters can test blood taken not just from the fingertips, but also from "alternate sites" such as the forearm and palm.

With most meters, to begin testing, place the test strip into a slot in the meter, prick a fingertip or some other area of the skin and then place a drop of blood onto the strip. In a short time, the meter will show a result in its digital display window. You can record your test results as well as other information in a diary or logbook, and talk with your physician or diabetes nurse educator to help understand and adjust your diabetes therapy. How often you use your glucose meter, and the results you should expect, should be based on the recommendations of your physician and diabetes educator.

Glucose meters and test strips must come with instructions for use. When you first learn to use a blood glucose meter, it is best if you receive personal instruction by a diabetes educator or other professional who is familiar with the device. In any case, be sure to read the instructions carefully, and re-read them after a few weeks to be sure that you understood everything correctly. Your user manual should also include a toll-free phone number that you can use to contact the manufacturer.

In the United States, the FDA reviews all glucose meters and test strips before they can be marketed to the public. The agency also requires that manufacturers demonstrate that their test system provides acceptable accuracy and consistency of results. Other countries have similar programs whereby regulatory agencies review the meters that are available.

Tips for Proper Glucose Meter Use

Use the test strips that are recommended for your glucose meter. It is important to only use the test strips that are specified for your glucose meter. Otherwise, the device may fail to give results or may generate inaccurate results.

Know that readings taken from "alternate sites" may not always be as accurate as readings from the fingertips. These readings can differ at times when glucose levels are changing rapidly. This is common after a meal, after taking insulin, during exercise, or when you are ill or under stress.

Use blood from a fingertip rather than an alternate site if you think your blood glucose is low, or if you don't normally have symptoms when your blood glucose is low, or when the results from the alternate site doesn't match how you are feeling.

Before pricking the skin, clean the selected testing site to ensure it is free of sugar residues. If the site is not clean, the readings may not be accurate.

Glucose Meter Accuracy

Know the factors that affect glucose meter accuracy. These may include

• testing conducted on unclean skin
• improper storage of test strips
• the amount of red blood cells (hematocrit) in the blood
• other substances present in the blood such as uric acid, glutathione, and vitamin C
• altitude, temperature, and humidity
• use of test strips developed as a less expensive option than the strips intended for a certain meter

Perform quality-control checks with test control solutions to ensure that the test strips and glucose meter are working properly together. Some glucose meters may also provide electronic test strips that induce a signal to indicate if the meter (and only the meter) is working properly. In addition, perform quality control checks with control solutions regularly to ensure the glucose meter is working properly.

Ask your physician or educator to watch you test yourself. He or she can tell you if you are using the glucose meter correctly.

Know when and how to clean your meter. Some glucose meters need regular cleaning. Others don't need regular cleaning, but contain electronic alerts indicating when you should clean them. You should follow the directions given in the manual on how to clean the meter. Only the manufacturer can clean some glucose meters.

Understand what the meter display means. The range of glucose values can be different among meters. Be sure you know how high and low glucose values are displayed on your meter. Sometimes they are displayed as "LO" or "HI" when the glucose level is beyond the range than the meter can measure.

Also see

Getting Up to Date on Glucose Meters from the FDA
blood glucose meters at the Diabetes Monitor