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It is necessary for most diabetes patients to check the level of glucose in their blood. Being able to do this themselves with a personal glucose meter without the hassles of driving to a lab for each test is important.

Choosing the right meter requires advice from a doctor and some research. The decision should be based on testing requirements, lifestyle, and the physical abilities of the patient. For instance, for those with bad vision, a meter with a small display would be the wrong choice. A patient with limited dexterity in the hands should choose a meter that loads the test strips automatically. What meter will work well for one patient may not be the right option for another.

Some key things to look for when choosing a glucose meter include:

1. Display features: It is important to be sure that the display is readable and is lighted for use at night

2. Insurance considerations: The patient should always check with their insurance company first. Some health insurance companies cover only a certain type or brand of meter or may pay only up to a set amount. Knowing if the insurance coverage has limitations is important, along with ensuring that they will cover the test strips.

3. Expense: For someone with a fixed income or with no insurance, cost is big factor in the decision making process. An affordable meter does not necessarily mean the strips that go with it are affordable. When picking a meter, confirming the price of the strips is vital.

4. Special features: Many brands of meters have features that other, simpler meters don’t. Some of these could be important for certain diabetes patients to help do a better job of controlling their condition.

* Providing results quickly: There are meters that can provide results as quickly as 5 seconds.

* Smaller sample sizes: It can often be difficult to get a large enough sample for some meters to read. There are glucose meters that can do it with smaller samples of blood.

* Internal memory: A meter that can store a lot of test results can be a valuable asset for the patient and his or her doctor in tracking glucose levels. Some meters can hold up to the last 1000 results.

* Download capability: Some meters allow you to download all of the test results in its memory. Once onto a computer, the patient can easily email this file to his or her doctor.

* Alternate testing sites: More and more meters can take samples from other places on the body such as base of the thumb, the forearm, or eve the thigh. This is good feature for those patients who must test more frequently and their fingertips are tender and sore from repeated testing.

Before making any decision, the patient should be sure that he or she can use the meter easily and understands all of its functions. These points, plus cost issues and features required, are of the utmost importance when choosing the right glucose meter.

Robert Mann is a poet, published writer, and website designer living in California. Mr. Mann is also the creator of the consumer website BestProductSpy.com, which daily lists the best glucose meters by sales rank, along with listings for best products in many other consumer areas.

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