Blood glucose monitors
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Hello, my daughter is a 36-year-old. She has had diabetes mellitus (DM) for 2 years. Today she has a prescription for insulin glargine 10 units at bedtime. She claims she has never tested her blood glucose level before but is interested in purchasing a new monitor. She saw a TV commercial for a glucose monitor that allows alternate site testing. She is interested in your opinion on which monitor is the best on the market. Please help.
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@Andrew It is important to tell your daughter that most blood glucose monitors on the market are comparable, but certain key factors can help determine the best monitor for a person. Cost is always an important component because insurance providers typically have a preferred monitor for which test strips can be purchased for a lower copay. Once that is determined, the factors to consider when selecting a monitor include monitor size, sample size, size of display, timing, accuracy, memory, ease of use, data management and download features, alternate site testing, battery type, and need for cleaning. Before recommending a glucose monitor, ask the patient which features are important to him or her. As you have mentioned that alternate site testing is important for her. Many monitors allow the use of alternate sites such as the palm, forearm, upper arm, thigh, and calf. It is important to counsel her as to when it is not appropriate to use alternate site testing (ie, typically, when her glucose is fluctuating, such as 2 hours after a meal, during periods of hypoglycemia, or right after exercise). Patients should be encouraged to use alternate site testing only when they are in a fasting state, before meals, and more than 2 hours after physical activity or meals. Because she is starting a new treatment, she might benefit from testing her blood glucose level on her fingers until it stabilizes on the new medication. Once the level is controlled, she can start testing it at alternate sites.
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