Blood-glucose meter Ratings 10/01

FEATURE REPORT

October 2001

Ratings Blood-glucose monitors

The tests behind the Ratings

Overall score is based on ease of use and features, consistency, and accuracy. Ease of use and features represents the judgment of a panel of nine people with diabetes--including four diabetes professionals--of how easy it was to use, maintain, and transport a meter, and how useful its features were. Consistency means the ability to give similar readings on successive tests of the same blood sample. Accuracy means how closely the readings agreed with standard lab results. We gave consistency more weight than accuracy because as long as the meter is consistent, users can learn to adjust to any persistent bias in the readings. Priceis approximate retail, but does not include rebates.

Most models come with a small supply of glucose test strips and disposable lancets, and a lancing device. Many come with a check strip to be sure that the meter is working properly. Several include a control solution to check that the meter and test strips work together properly. All come with a carrying case as well as a log to record the blood-glucose results.

Blood-glucose monitors
In performance order

Key no.	Product	Price	Price per strip	Overall score	Ease of use and features	Consistency	Accuracy	Recommendations & notes

1	One Touch Ultra	$65	$0.80					A very good choice. Accurate, consistent, and easy to use. Gives quick results and requires less blood than most. Needs minimal cleaning.
2	Accu-Chek Advantage	65	0.80					A very good choice. Accurate, consistent, and easy to use. Needs minimal cleaning.
3	FreeStyle	75	0.80					A very good choice. Accurate, consistent, and easy to use. Gives quick results and requires less blood than most. Needs minimal cleaning.
4	One Touch SureStep	65	0.80					Accurate and consistent. But larger than most. Needs periodic cleaning.
5	Glucometer DEX	70	0.70					Accurate and easy to use. But less consistent than some. Uses a convenient 10-strip cartridge. Needs minimal cleaning.
6	One Touch Basic	55	0.80					Accurate and consistent. But larger than most and needs periodic cleaning.
7	One Touch FastTake	70	0.80					There are better choices, due to poor consistency. But accurate and easy to use. Gives quick results and requires less blood than most. Needs minimal cleaning.
8	MediSense Precision QID	50	0.90					Accurate, but less consistent than some. Requires less blood than most. Needs minimal cleaning. Batteries are not replaceable but should last for 4,000 tests.
9	AtLast	65	0.80					There are better choices. Accurate, but much less consistent than most. Larger and much harder to use than most. Analyzes blood only from arm and thigh. Needs minimal cleaning. Batteries are not replaceable but should last for 2,500 tests.
10	InCharge	80	0.80					There are better choices. Less accurate and much less consistent than most. Needs periodic cleaning. Also measures glucoprotein, a gauge of long-term glucose control.
11	Prestige Smart System (private label sold by drug chains)	20	0.50					There are better choices. Less accurate and much less consistent than most. Larger and harder to use than most. Needs periodic cleaning. Discontinued; replaced by the Prestige IQ, which the manufacturer says uses the same testing technology.


	New model is smaller and has more memory features than the one we tested. It would likely be rated Good for ease of use and features.