Home glucose testing vs urinalysis?

Back in the old days (I was diagnosed in 1970) pre glucometer, the only test available for diabetics was via urinalysis - put the tablet in a test tube, add 10 drops of water and 5 of urine, shake, and wait for 2 minutes (IIRC). I was encouraged to do mine at morning and night, and all it really did is tell my diabetic specialist when it was time to increase my dose (growing child). It was better than nothing, but didn't really tell you much than whether your blood sugar had been over 10 for the last few hours, or since you'd last emptied your bladder.

Personally, I used to use it to check my kids whenever I worried that they might be becoming diabetic (T1 daughter of T1 mother so I was a bit paranoid about my offspring), but not much use for my own care once glucometers were about. I do find ketostix mildly useful, because I'm only using them as a check to see whether I have a lot of ketones in my system, and blood testing ketone strips are very expensive.