Blood Glucose Monitors - Glucometers

It seems like everyone has their own Blood Glucose Monitors (otherwise known as Glucometers) these days.  So as a Diabetic, a Gestational Diabetic, or a pre-Diabetic, how are we supposed to know which is the best/fastest/least painful monitors out there?  Well, I have done the research for you.  No more guessing about prices on strips, prices on monitors, or quality any more.  Consider this your One-Stop Hub for Diabetes Blood Glucose Monitors.

Well, here in lies the loaded question of the day. Pharmeceutical companies, and manufacturers of different Glucometers may very well have free offers some times - you may see advertisements offering some of the more 'expensive' Blood Glucose Meters as free with prescription or with an X supply of testing strips or cartridges, etc. They are not being beneficent by any definition of the word, in fact it is how these companies stay in business. You see, if you have their 'free' Blood Glucose Meter, you wont mind paying so much extra for their strips because you 'saved so much money' on the meter. Well, the bigger brands of Glucometer may have a better choice of colors, may advertise that it is the fastest, takes the least amount of blood, or does your taxes for you (just kidding on that last part) but the truth is, they are going to be about the same for the basic function, it is really the little 'extras' that make the difference - including a VAST difference in price.

You stick a strip or a cartridge of strips in a machine that needs to display 3 or 4 numbers. You need to prick yourself in some way, and draw blood, then they all take a little bit of time to tell you what your blood sugar is. Simple, in theory, but still a very difficult - and important choice.

They all say they take the least amount of blood, and test the fastest. Any new Glucometer these days are going to take "a small amount of blood". If you want to measure that in micro grams, feel free. Same difference.  Most Glucometers these days will let you test on your forearm, or any 'less painful' spots, so that isn't really a difference.

• You can find strips and lancets for this Glucometer anywhere! It is kind of the industry standard. Hospitals give them out for free. If you're in a rural area, and don't use the internet often, this may be the clincher for you.
  

• The cheapest retail strips, lancets, and supplies around, and almost as widely available as the One Touch, Ultra.  Is it worth it? My Father in-Law loves them, and says it is the best he has ever used.
  

• The Price is right at Wal-Mart and Hy-Vee (a local grocery chain in my area), but it was only at two of the three Wal-Marts in my area, and only one of the two Hy-Vees. This may be different in your area, and if you are buying online that may not matter much. If you are in a tight spot, they may not be everywhere you want them to be. Definitely something to consider.
  

• With a BIG name like Bayer, you would be shocked and apalled at the retail price of the Bayer "Contour" Blood Glucose Meter. Fortunately, because of its big name, they are also to offer 'severe' price reductions for online discounts, and advertising schemes, and more. LOOK at the difference in price between the List and Retail.
  

So all of these Glucometers are essentially the same.  The main difference is going to be the price of the lancets and test strips.  Because some people have to test their blood four times a day, 30 days a month = 120 test strips a month, and 120 lancets a month.  The cost of the Glucometer is really irrelevant.  Because I am getting my prices from Amazon, the numbers may be a 'bit skewed, but this should show you, on average, what you are paying for these disposables.  I'm sorry for those of you who have to buy the consumables without insurance.