Key takeaways
- Glucose monitors can help you track you blood sugar levels throughout the day.
- Some Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) come with apps to track data, or professional support plans.
- Our top picks are the The Contour Next One for a low-cost CGM, or Nutrisense CGM Plan for a CGM alongside nutritionist support.
Home glucose meters can help lower your risk of complications from diabetes. Along with treatment, using a home monitor can help you identify the things that make your blood sugar increase or decrease, from exercise to illness, stress to dehydration, and more.
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- the type of diabetes you have
- what medications you’re currently taking
- how many meals you eat each day
Some doctors may recommend you test only a few times a day, while others may think continuous monitoring is more appropriate — each situation is unique and may change over time.
With all the options available on the market, selecting a great glucose monitor can be a challenge. To make the process easier, we rounded up the seven best glucose monitors available. Feel free to discuss these options with your doctor before you get started.
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Above all, we included continuous glucose monitors that are reportedly the most accurate. Since home meters are designed to help you monitor your glucose in between laboratory work from your doctor’s visits, it’s important that your device provides the most accurate results possible.
While no home test will be as accurate as a lab version, getting as close as possible to the quality of such tests can help provide peace of mind as well as better diabetes management.
Other items we looked at include:
- Price and overall affordability: Meters (and accessories) range in price considerably. The ones on this list are either low cost out of pocket or available through insurance.
- Insurance coverage: Yes. It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance carrier to see which home glucose meters are covered in part or in full by your policy.
- Accessibility: Monitors on this list let you hear or feel alarms when needed or offer other helpful accessibility features, so they aren’t all read-only.
- Durability: Whatever glucose meter you choose, it needs to stand the test of time and perform reliably even after repeated use.
- Portability: Most if not all the glucose meters on this list include carrying cases or are otherwise portable, so they can go wherever your life takes you.
- Special features: Whether it’s Bluetooth connectivity you’re looking for or discreet vibration alarms, you’ll find a variety of special features included in these picks.
- Overall ease of use: Reading your blood sugar should be simple, even if you’re just starting out. We chose devices that are straightforward and easy to use.
- User experiences and reviews: We also took into account reviews, both good and bad, from real people like you who are using these readers in their everyday lives.
We included glucose meters across a variety of features and prices. The cost of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and blood glucose meters can vary widely based on their features, your insurance coverage, and location. Cost is also subject to change over time based on the type of insurance you have, so be sure to check with your carrier for the most accurate price.
If you’ve used a traditional glucose meter in the past and are looking for a less painful, more portable option, then a CGM may be a better choice. You may consider the Libre, Dexcom G7, or Eversense based on their features, as well as the accuracy and duration of sensor wear.
While most insurance and Medicare do cover CGMs, these monitors are more expensive overall. Depending on your insurance, they may offer coverage for one type of CGM but not another. It’s important to check these details with your insurance company ahead of time.
If you don’t have insurance, you can check with your doctor or pharmacist for discounts on your CGM and accessories. It’s also possible to get coupons directly from the manufacturer to help offset the costs.
When browsing for glucose meters online, you’ll notice that some versions, such as the BGM Contour Next, are available for purchase over the counter, while CGMs, such as the FreeStyle Libre 3 or Dexcom G7, are not.
This is because you’ll need a doctor’s prescription to get a CGM system. However, you don’t need a prescription for the basic fingerstick meters we’ve included on our list. With a prescription, you may be able to buy a CGM from a medical supply store online.
If you do decide to purchase a glucose meter or monitor online, be sure you know the total costs up front, including any test strips, extra sensors, lancets, and accessories that may be sold separately. You might also consider setting up these accessories on an auto-ship basis so you don’t run out.
You don’t need a prescription for a blood glucose meter. However, you do need one for a continuous glucose monitor.
Some smartwatches can connect to CGM systems, allowing you to check your readings on your watch. But none are capable of taking blood glucose readings directly.
A blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or below is considered normal for a fasting blood sugar test. For a glucose tolerance test, a level of 140 mg/dL is considered normal.
What’s considered the best glucose meter for you ultimately depends on:
- what features you’re looking for
- whether you want a traditional meter or CGM
- your budget
These seven glucose meters offer benefits — and some drawbacks — to consider when making your ultimate selection. You can also talk about these monitors with your doctor.
