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What Does a Glucometer Measure?

A glucometer (short for glucose meter) measures the amount of glucose present in a sample of whole blood. Tracking this measurement is important for diabetics who have fluctuating blood glucose levels and must keep levels as close to normal as possible. Normal blood sugar levels reduce both the long- and short-term complications of diabetes. With a glucometer, blood is taken in a small sample and is placed on a disposable test strip, which the device uses to calculate the blood glucose level. Most meters display the glucose level in mg/dl (milligrams glucose per deciliter blood).

  1. Types

    • There are many brands of glucometer on the market today. Common names of devices are One Touch by LifeScan, Accu Check by Roche, FreeStyle by Abbott Labs and Ascensia by Bayer. Often companies will give away the glucometer for no charge because the long-term cost is made up from the price of the test strips.

    Features

    • When looking for a glucometer, certain convenience features are important. Portability and ease of reading the results are factors many consider essential. Meters with the ability to take smaller blood samples and those with the option of using sites other than the fingers may increase the comfort level. Fast test times and ease of handling small strips are also considerations when choosing a personal glucometer.

    Accuracy

    • The ability of the glucometer to take an accurate blood glucose reading is a common concern. Most meters have similar accuracy of plus or minus 10 to 15 percent when used as directed. However, a variety of factors can affect the accuracy of the reading. Accuracy can depend on proper calibration of the glucometer, high levels of certain drugs in the blood, the use of older test strips, proper cleaning of the meter itself and the size of the blood sample obtained for testing. Some models today have the ability to warn of inaccurate results with error messages.

    Testing

    • Using the glucometer to test blood glucose levels often during the day is one of the best ways to allow better control of diabetes. Before eating breakfast, first thing in the morning for the first test, then two hours before every meal and at bedtime are good basic testing guidelines. Your doctor may also recommend testing after meals as well as before, during and after exercise.

    Levels

    • Recommendations for normal blood glucose levels vary depending on which organization is making them. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) levels are different from the stricter American College of Endocrinology (ACE) guidelines. ADA recommends 90 to130mg/dl before meals and <180mg/dl 1 to 2 hours after meals. ACE guidelines are <110mg/dl before meals and <140 mg/dl 1 to 2 hours after meals. Talk with your healthcare provider about which glucose levels are best for you.

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