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Our tests of top-selling automatic blood-pressure monitors and blood-glucose meters found big differences in accuracy and consistency.

No one should settle for less than high-scoring models, since at-home monitoring can help people manage their blood pressure or diabetes and stave off such serious complications as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Experts say relying on the readings of an inaccurate model could lead to inadequate care.

Regularly testing blood pressure at home provides vital data that people with hypertension and others at high risk for the disease can use and share with their doctors to determine whether the condition is under control. And blood-glucose monitoring at home can help many diabetics maintain optimal sugar levels by adjusting their insulin, medication levels, diet, and activity.

Our tests included laboratory measurements of the blood-pressure monitor and blood-glucose meter models’ accuracy and scores by panels of people who rated the devices’ ease of use and commented on various features. Here’s what we found:

The Duo-Care Combined Blood Glucose and Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor was judged poor in our blood-pressure tests. And though it was rated good in our blood-glucose tests, there’s cause for concern since it could accidentally be set to show sugar levels in foreign measurement units, rather than in U.S. units. That could lead to errors in medication dosages. There are better choices.