Diabetes Resources

meters

Various agencies and consumer groups test blood glucose meters for accuracy and publish their findings online. Consumer Reports publishes their own list in their paper magazine as well as their online mag but to read their results online, you have to have their online subscription. Below I've listed three lists of results from different resources, including the Consumer Reports 2015 list that was posted on an independent blog.

Consumer Reports - 2015

1. Freestyle Lite
2. Freestyle Freedom Lite
3. Bayer Contour Next
4. True Metrix (Walgreens)
5. Bayer Breeze 2
6. Up & Up (Target)
7. AccuChek Aviva Plus
8. ReliOn (Walmart)
9. AccuChek Compact Plus
10. ReliOn Ultima

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And this is from an independent blog from 2016 (sorry I no longer have the source):

1. AccuChek Compact Plus
2. Freestyle Lite
3. One Touch Ultra2
4. AccuChek Nano
5. Bayer Contour Next EZ

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From Consumer Reports, November 2013:

These all have an excellent overall score and accuracy. Up&Up and ReliOn are the cheapest and have the cheapest test strips but they don't have all the functions of the higher-priced meters. They are something to consider if you don't have insurance or if your doctor hasn't prescribed a meter and you just want to test on your own and insurance won't cover it.

Accu-Chek Aviva
FreeStyle Lite
Bayer Contour Next
Bayer Breeze 2
Up & Up (Target brand)
ReliOn (Walmart brand)
Accu-Chek Compact Plus
TRUEresult Blood Glucose Monitoring system (also available under pharmacy brand names)
FreeStyle Freedom Lite

Even though these have an excellent rating, don't forget that some individual meters may still be 'off' and not as accurate as lab results. You should take your meter to your next lab appointment and use it to test your blood sugar after the technicians take your blood so you can compare their results to your own meter's.

Don't be surprised if you test yourself twice within a minute and get different readings. Meters are only held to an accuracy rate of plus or minus 10% for any given test.

Here is a chart that lists the equivalents of the A1c and blood sugar in mg/dl and mmol/L. You can switch back and forth between these two systems by clicking the clickable "US" phrase and "outside US".

www.diabeteschart.org/intlbgchart.html