Guide to Blood Glucose Meters (Blood Glucose Monitors)

Over 25 blood glucose meters are available in the UK
Over 25 blood glucose meters are available in the UK

Keeping an accurate idea of your blood glucose levels is an integral part of successful diabetes management. Blood glucose meters allow you to do this.

Urine testing remains important (to check for the presence of ketones), but having an accurate blood sugar meter makes sense for staying on top of your diabetes. Choosing the right meter will depend on the products available to you, the cost of test strips, NHS prescription availability and the most suitable device for your individual requirements.

Compare Blood Glucose Meters

The following independent blood glucose meter profiles detail the types of blood glucose meters available in the UK, meter benefits for self testing, who they are made by, and how to access one.

Blood Glucose Meters:
Brand
Meter Name
 
Bayer Contour USB
Bayer
Video guide!
Bayer's Contour USB
Bayer's first USB-based, rechargeable blood glucose meter. Watch our exclusive video review and read user reviews.

Get Contour USB for £19.99 (saving £5) with code USB121DUK.
Abbot Diabetes Care
Abbott Diabetes Care
Video guide!
Freestyle Freedom Lite
The Abbott Diabetes Care Freestyle Freedom Lite is a small, convenient blood glucose meter. Watch our video tutorial on the Freestyle Freedom Lite.
Abbott Diabetes Care
Video guide!
Freestyle Lite
The Freestyle Lite is a stylish, discreet blood glucose meter, similar to the Freedom Lite. Watch our instructional video on how to use the Freestyle Lite.
Abbott Diabetes Care
Video guide!
Freestyle InsuLinx
The Abbott Freestlye InsuLinx is a touchscreen, user friendly blood glucose meter which can tell you how your insulin levels work.
Abbott Diabetes Care
Freestyle Optium Xceed
The Xceed from Abbott provides simple blood glucose testing and Ketone testing amonst a range of unique features, including a tiny sample size of just 0.3 µL.
Accu-Chek
Accu-Chek
Video guide!
Accu-Chek Aviva
Lightweight and slender, the Accu-Chek Aviva is a discreet and comfortable choice for people with diabetes who wish to check blood glucose levels. Includes a video review of the Accu-Chek Aviva.
Accu-Chek
Accu-Chek Aviva Combo
The Combo monitor comes in at 94 x 55 x 25 mm (3.7 x 2.1 x 1 in) and weighs 103 grams (3.6 oz) with replaceable batteries and download capabilities.
Accu-Chek
Video guide!
Accu-Chek Aviva Expert
The Aviva Expert from Accu-Chek is only available through your diabetes specialist nurse as it calculates your suggested insulin does in terms of carb to insulin ratio.
Accu-Chek
Video guide!
Accu-Chek Mobile
The first monitor to feature the detachable Fastclix lancing device and also uses Accu-Chek’s Smart Pix technology. A revolution in Accu-Chek meters.
Accu-Chek
Accu-Chek Aviva Nano
The Nano revolutionised blood glucose meters in terms of size. The Aviva Nano has a discreet glow in the dark meter display, and includes a proven less-painful Multiclix finger pricker.
Accu-Chek
Video guide!
Previous Generation Meter
Accu-Chek Advantage
The Aviva Advantage features Comfort Curve diabetes test strips and least-painful lancing technology developed by Accu-Chek.
Accu-Chek
Previous Generation Meter
Accu-Chek Aviva Active
The Accu-Chek Aviva Active includes flexible dosing both inside and outside the meter, allowing testers to choose the easiest method of testing.
Bayer Diabetes Care
Bayer
Bayer's BREEZE 2
The BREEZE 2 is complete with Bayer's No Coding technology, automatically coding each new set of disks. The BREEZE 2 lets active people with diabetes test their blood glucose with a minimum of fuss.
Bayer
Bayer's Contour
Every Bayer Diabetes Care CONTOUR meter comes complete with a MICROLET®2. This lancing device is specially designed to be gentle. The fully adjustable end cap allows the individual to set the lancing depth.
Bayer
Video guide!
Bayer's Contour Link
The Contour Link works alongside Medtronic insulin pumps and transmits blood sugar readings wirelessly.
Bayer
Bayer's Didget
The Bayer Didget plugs into a Nintendo DS system and allows children to make testing fun.
BBI Healthcare
BBI Healthcare
Clever Chek
The Clever Chek blood glucose meter from BBI Healthcare features voice commands all the way through your blood testing.
Bbraun
GlucoRx
Omnitest 3
2011 saw German company Bbraun releasing the Omnitest 3 blood glucose meter.
Glucomen
Menarini
Video guide!
Glucomen LX Plus
The GlucoMen LX Plus is a blood glucose meter that incorporates a 2-in-1 blood glucose and ketone testing facility. Blood results in 4 seconds.
Menarini
Glucomen GM
At just 13mm thick, the GlucoMen GM from Menarini stands out as being one of the thinnest blood glucose meters available in the UK.
Menarini
Previous Generation Meter
Glucomen LX
The Menarini GlucoMen LX blood glucose meter is designed to make testing as fast, painless, simple and easy for people with diabetes.
Menarini
Previous Generation Meter
Glucomen Visio
The GlucoMen Visio is one of the smallest blood test meters available, weighing just 39g.
GlucoRx
GlucoRx
Video guide!
GlucoRx
The GlucoRx blood glucose monitoring system is simple to use but delivers precise blood glucose measurement in under 7 seconds.
GlucoRx
GlucoRx Nexus
The GlucoRx Nexus features a large LCD screen with a backlight, making it easy to read at night or in low lighting.
Home Diagnostics
Home Diagnostics
TRUEresult
Home Diagnostics TRUEResults blood glucose meter is one of the Home Diagnostics range including the TRUE2go, TRUETrack, TRUERead, Sidekick, Prestige IQ and TrackEase.
Home Diagnostics
Video guide!
TRUEresult Twist
The TRUEresult Twist is simple and fast use, as it only requires a 0.5 microliter sample size with results taking just 4 seconds.
Home Diagnostics
TRUEone
Home Diagnostics TRUEone blood glucose meter is the world’s smallest blood glucose meter.
IME-DC
IME-DC
IME-DC Blood Glucose Meter
The IME-DC blood glucose test meter aims to be extremely easy to use, and in fact features just one button.
LifeScan (OneTouch)
Lifescan
Video guide!
LifeScan OneTouch Ultra2
The OneTouch Ultra 2 is based on the widely-used OneTouch Ultra. After more testing feedback from doctors, nurses and patients, and latest technology.
Lifescan
Video guide!
LifeScan OneTouch UltraEasy
Providing a fast and accurate reading in just five seconds, the OneTouch UltraEasy Meter is simple to use and helps manage diabetes.
Lifescan
LifeScan OneTouch UltraSmart
The OneTouch UltraSmart Meter is the first combination blood glucose meter and logbook, providing an easier way to understand blood glucose results.
Lifescan
Video guide!
LifeScan OneTouch VerioPro
The OneTouch Verio Pro is a reliable, practical and accurate blood glucose monitor which needs a tiny sample size.
Lifescan
Video guide!
LifeScan OneTouch Vita
Lifescan's established OneTouch range included the One Touch VITA early in 2009 and was revised later in the year to accommodate user feedback.
Mendor
Mendor
Video guide!
Mendor Discreet
The Mendor Discreet is an all-in-one blood glucose meter from Finnish company Mendor. It comprises of blood test meter, test strips and lancing device.
Spirit Healthcare
CareSens
CareSens N
The CareSens N is a small and discreet meter produced by Spirit Healthcare in the UK.
WaveSense
Wavesense
Video guide!
Wavesense Jazz
WaveSense is a new technology in blood glucose testing. There is no coding involved and one version of the meter is wireless.
Ypsomed
Ypsomed Pura
Video guide!
Ypsomed mylife Pura
The mylife Pura blood glucose meter from Swiss based Ypsomed is a white blood glucose meter released in 2009.

Discuss your options with your healthcare team and GP, and always make sure to compare prices. Some people prefer to have more than one blood glucose monitor - one for home and one for the office, or one for home and one for travelling.

Your healthcare team should be able to advise on how many times per day you need to check your blood sugar levels.

How easy are blood glucose meters to use?

This will depend on the design interface favoured by the manufacturer, but some blood glucose monitors are definitely easier to use than others. For instance, some meters require a smaller drop of blood to give a reading. Investigate the process before purchasing and speak to as many peers and experts as possible.

 

Diabetes Shop: Meters & Monitors

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How accurate are blood glucose meters?

All meters on the market should have a high degree of accuracy. Because of the possible implications if they are inaccurate, most manufacturers make certain that their products give accurate readings.

However, testing the meter regularly to ensure that it is still accurate is a good idea, as meters can become less accurate over time.

How do I test the accuracy of my blood glucose meter?

Many professionals recommend checking the accuracy of your blood glucose meter at least once every month.

The best way to do this is to use the meter at the same time you visit the doctor for a test, and then compare the two results.

Why might a blood glucose meter become inaccurate?

Blood glucose meters may malfunction and become inaccurate should they be dirty, ageing or if they become too hot or damp. Furthermore, if the strips are outdated or the meter has a problem calibrating with the strips, the meter may malfunction. Meters should be cleaned regularly, and taken care of like any other electronic device.

Are blood glucose meters portable?

All blood glucose meters today are light to carry and are mostly run on batteries, meaning that portability is not usually an issue. When it comes to carrying your meter on board a flight, you should prepare by getting a letter from your GP in advance.

How long do tests take using blood glucose meters?

Most meters don't take more than a minute to provide accurate blood sugar level results.

For most people and in the case of most meters, speed of testing will not really be an issue.

Many of the later model blood glucose meters will provide results in as little as five seconds.

Are meters available for people who have problems with retinopathy or other eye disorders?

Several leading brands also make audible blood glucose monitors that give verbal instructions and verbal test results to their user. This range includes meters that can speak in other languages besides English.

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