This guide contains:

Background on glucose meters
Important functions and features of glucose meters
How to buy the best glucose meter for you

This short guide was created to help you determine the basics of shopping for glucose meters online and to help you choose the right glucose meter for you. We do not sell any glucose meters ourselves, so you can be assured that all of the information in this guide is unbiased and independent.

Background on glucose meters
If you are fed up with using old-fashioned lancets, tired of waiting in line at your local pharmacy to buy your testing supplies, tired of the complications of using regular blood glucose testing meters and test strips, or are even tired of using your newer model glucose meter because it just doesn't have the features you're looking for, then you are in luck. Purchasing the right glucose meter for you doesn't require running all over town any more, and shopping online for glucose meters offers you a selection that you just can't get in most pharmacies. However, there are some differences among online glucose meter stores and some things you should pay particular attention to when comparing both glucose meters and sites that sell glucose meters.

Functions and features to look for in glucose meters
If you think that shopping online for a glucose meter will fit your needs, then here are a few things to look for when shopping for the right glucose meter for you.

Memory- how many tests can be stored in the glucose meter's memory. Memory can include time and date of prior tests.

Data processing- several glucose meters can provide additional testing data, such as blood sugar result averaging and blood sugar value trend reports; can record insulin dose given, carbohydrates eaten and exercise performed; and can even download results into a computer.

Result time- how quickly it takes for the glucose meter to display the testing results.

Blood quantity- how much blood it takes to perform a valid test. Some glucose meters will draw the right amount of blood, automatically, so you have enough but not too much. Some glucose meters use smaller amounts of blood than others.

Alternate site testing- several glucose meters allow testing from sites other than the fingertips, such as the upper arm, forearm, thigh, and base of the thumb. However, it is important to note that blood taken from the fingertips shows changes in the glucose levels faster than blood taken from elsewhere in the body. This means that other site testing results may vary because the actual glucose concentration may be different.