August 2005
Blood-glucose monitors: We found two excellent models
TOP RATED The OneTouch UltraSmart, $85, stores 3,000 readings.
Two-thirds of Americans with the most common type of diabetes don’t have their blood sugar under control, meaning they face
increased risks of blindness and other problems, a recent study found. Careful monitoring of blood-glucose levels at home
is essential. We tested 13 glucose monitors and found real differences.
A panel of medical experts and lay people, all with diabetes, helped us evaluate how easy the products were to use. In lab tests, all the monitors were reasonably accurate, meaning that their average readings deviated only slightly from the standard. But they varied in consistency. That’s more important than accuracy because you can adapt to inaccurate readings as long as they’re consistently high or low by the same amount.
The bottom line. Consider the OneTouch UltraSmart or Ultra. They produced results in about 5 seconds with relatively little blood, and panelists liked the Ultra’s compact design and the UltraSmart’s large memory.
Cost based on 4 tests per day, a typical amount, and rounded to the nearest $10. 
Gives results in 10 seconds or less. 
The size of a deck of cards or smaller. 
Stores more than 360 readings. 
A talking version; costs $490. 
Disposable; cost assumes using 15 monitors a year.
A panel of medical experts and lay people, all with diabetes, helped us evaluate how easy the products were to use. In lab tests, all the monitors were reasonably accurate, meaning that their average readings deviated only slightly from the standard. But they varied in consistency. That’s more important than accuracy because you can adapt to inaccurate readings as long as they’re consistently high or low by the same amount.
The bottom line. Consider the OneTouch UltraSmart or Ultra. They produced results in about 5 seconds with relatively little blood, and panelists liked the Ultra’s compact design and the UltraSmart’s large memory.
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Quick Ratings: Blood-glucose monitors |
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 In performance order. |
Excellent
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Very good
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Good
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Fair
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Poor |
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Brand & model |
Price of meter |
Annual cost of strips |
Overall score |
Test results |
Features |
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Similar models in small type, comparable to tested model |
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OneTouch UltraSmart |
$85 | $1,370 |
88.
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OneTouch Ultra |
65 | 1,370 |
87.
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BD Logic |
73 | 1,310 |
78.
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FreeStyle Flash |
73 | 1,170 |
76.
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Accu-Chek Complete |
110 | 1,070 |
74.
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Ascensia Contour |
77 | 1,310 |
73.
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FreeStyle |
73 | 1,170 |
71.
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Accu-Chek Compact |
73 | 1,070 |
70.
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Accu-Chek Advantage Voicemate |
65 | 1,070 |
69.
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Ascensia Breeze |
58 | 1,280 |
63.
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Advance Micro-draw |
64 | 1,330 |
40.
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ReliOn NewTek (Wal-Mart) |
55 | 830 |
40.
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TrueTrack Smart System (drugstore-chain label) |
20 | 880 |
30.
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Cost based on 4 tests per day, a typical amount, and rounded to the nearest $10. Gives results in 10 seconds or less. The size of a deck of cards or smaller. Stores more than 360 readings. A talking version; costs $490. Disposable; cost assumes using 15 monitors a year.
