Glucometer Guide: Equipping You With Everything You Need to Know

Here are the key things you need to know about glucometers:

• A glucometer measures the amount of glucose in a small drop of blood, giving you a quick look at your blood sugar levels at the time of testing.
• Accurate results require good testing habits like using clean hands, using the correct supplies, and storing test strips properly.
• Blood sugar targets depend on your specific needs and should be determined with the help of a healthcare provider.
• How often you test may depend on factors such as the type of diabetes you have, your treatment plan, and whether you use insulin.
• Keeping track of your results can help to reveal patterns around blood sugar behavior.

A glucometer, also known as a blood glucose meter (BGM), is a device that measures the amount of glucose in a drop of blood, usually taken from the side of your fingertip. It provides an instant look at blood sugar levels when you test.

Your readings can help you better understand how meals, physical activity, medication, and other daily factors may be affecting your blood sugar. Over time, this information can help you make more informed decisions about managing diabetes day to day.

Home blood glucose testing has been helping people manage diabetes since the late 1960s. These days, you can also come across continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), which use a wearable sensor to track glucose levels throughout the day and night. Unlike a CGM, a BGM provides a single reading each time you test, giving you a snapshot of your blood sugar at that moment.

When you place a drop of blood on a test strip, it sets off an immediate chain of events. The strip contains a specialized enzyme, usually glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase 2, that reacts with the glucose in your blood and generates an electrical signal. The more glucose present in the sample, the stronger the signal.

To interpret that signal accurately, each meter is designed to work with specific test strips. The meter converts the signal into the blood sugar reading displayed on the screen in just a few seconds, which is why it's important to use the strips intended for your device.

Before checking your blood sugar with a glucometer, you'll need a few essential supplies. These include:

• A blood glucose meter (glucometer) to measure your blood sugar
• Compatible test strips designed for your specific meter
• A lancing device to obtain a small blood sample
• Lancets, a sterile, short, blade used to puncture the skin to obtain a drop of blood for diagnostic purposes used with the lancing device
• Control solution to confirm that your meter and test strips are working properly
• A sharps* container to safely dispose of used lancets
• A logbook or app to keep track of your results

Many of these items come together in a starter kit, making it easy to begin testing immediately. But supplies such as test strips and lancets will need to be replaced regularly because they are designed for single use.

It’s also important to remember compatibility. Blood glucose meters and test strips are designed to work together, so it’s important to use strips designed for your specific device. For example, CONTOUR^®NEXT meters are paired with CONTOUR^®NEXT test strips, while MICROLET^® lancing devices and lancets are designed to work together in the same monitoring routine. When your testing supplies are designed to work together, it's easier to trust the results from every check.

1. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly to prevent food residue, moisture, or other substances from distorting results 3.
2. When the meter prompts you to begin testing, insert a test strip.
3. Place a fresh lancet into the lancing device and adjust the depth setting so it's comfortable for your skin type.
4. Prick the side of your fingertip for a less sensitive experience. You can also rotate fingers and testing sites to prevent soreness over time.
5. Bring the tip of the test strip directly to the drop of blood to automatically draw the blood to the small channel.
6. Wait a few seconds for the result to be revealed.
7. Record the reading in a logbook or app to keep track of blood glucose behaviors.
8. After testing, place the used lancet in a sharps container and follow local disposal guidelines.

You should also keep an eye out for meter features that can make testing a little easier. For example, Second-Chance^® Sampling allows more blood to be applied to the same test strip if the first sample isn't enough, helping to reduce wasted strips. CONTOUR^®NEXT No Coding^® technology automatically recognizes new test strips, removing the need for coding or calibration, while smartLIGHT^® uses color-coded feedback to show whether a reading is above, below, or within your target range.

When you check your blood sugar, a common question is whether your result falls within a normal range. But what is “normal,” and do the same readings apply to everyone?

To answer, what's normal depends on several factors, including age, how long you’ve lived with diabetes, any complications with the condition, and other health concerns 3. Your healthcare provider can use this information to determine the blood sugar targets that best fit your needs.

But to guide expectations and treatment plans, the American Diabetes Association set target ranges as reference points for treatment. These ranges include:

• Normal glucose levels: 70-99 mg/dL 4
• Before a meal (preprandial plasma glucose): 80–130 mg/dL
• 1-2 hours after a meal (postprandial plasma glucose): Less than 180 mg/dL 5

Blood sugar readings will often determine what comes next, whether that's continuing with your current routine, taking a walk after a meal, or discussing medication and insulin changes with your healthcare provider. Because these numbers play such an important role in diabetes management, accuracy is key for glucometers.

To deliver reliable results, modern glucometers are held to strict accuracy standards. One of the most widely used is ISO 15197:2013, which requires at least 95% of readings to fall within ±15 mg/dL or ±15% of a laboratory reference value 6. This simply means most glucometer readings should closely match the results of a laboratory blood glucose test.

But even with accepted standards, not all meters perform equally. Choosing a trusted system, such as CONTOUR^®NEXT GEN, can provide highly accurate results, with an error margin of only ±5.3%.

That said, even the most accurate meter can produce unexpected results when testing conditions are not ideal. For reliable results, many common testing mistakes are easy to avoid:

• Unwashed or wet hands: Always wash and dry your hands before testing.
• Expired or poorly stored strips: Check expiration dates and follow storage instructions.
• Too little blood on the strip: Apply enough blood to the test strip.
• Extreme temperatures, humidity, or altitude: Follow the manufacturer’s guidance on handling and storing your meter.
• Using the wrong strips: Always use test strips designed for your specific meter.
• Skipping control solution checks: Periodic checks can help to confirm that your meter and strips are working properly. If a result doesn't match how you feel, wash and dry your hands, test again, and follow your healthcare provider's guidance if the reading still seems unusual.

How often you check your blood sugar may depend on the type of diabetes you have, your treatment plan, and if you use insulin.

There are, however, a few select times to check for blood sugar behavior 7 :

• Before meals
• Before or after exercise
• If you feel unwell
• If you’ve been under a lot of stress
• If your blood sugar has been higher or lower than normal
• Bedtime

Testing schedules can look different depending on the type of diabetes you have. People living with Type 1 diabetes, and those who use insulin will often check their blood sugar at different points daily, since blood sugar levels can change quickly, and insulin doses may need adjustment. Patients with gestational diabetes should check blood sugar levels around four times a day to monitor blood sugar levels during pregnancy .

Whatever your testing schedule, every glucometer reading is more than just a number. Over time, these readings can reveal patterns that help you understand your blood sugar and what influences it.

When you track your readings over time, these numbers can reveal patterns that help you understand how food, physical activity, stress, medication, and other factors affect your blood sugar. This information gives your healthcare provider a better understanding of your trends, so they can tailor treatment to your needs.

Keeping track of your readings can be as simple as using a paper logbook, such as CLINILOG. If you prefer an automated approach, some blood glucose meters can sync with smartphone apps to store readings, identify trends, and generate reports that are easily shared with your healthcare team. The CONTOUR^®DIABETES app automatically logs readings from compatible meters, while platforms such as GlucoContro can make it easier to share information with healthcare professionals.

Routine maintenance can help keep your glucometer and supplies in good condition, supporting accurate and reliable results. Here are a few simple tips to follow:

• Keep your meter clean.
• Use a fresh lancet for every check.
• Keep charged batteries on standby.
• Store your meter and supplies properly.
• Keep strips in their original vial and don’t use past the expiry date.
• Test your meter with a control solution if your results seem unusual, or when you open a new batch of strips.

With many options available, choosing the right blood glucose meter can be confusing. When comparing devices, consider accuracy, ease of use, blood sample size, test strip cost plus availability, and connectivity features like Bluetooth.

Additional features such as smartLIGHT^®, Second-Chance Sampling^®, and No Coding^® can simplify the testing process, while making results easier to understand. If you're exploring your options, browse our CONTOUR^® blood glucose meter range for a device that fits your needs. And if you're looking to decide between a blood glucose meter and a continuous glucose monitor, our BGM vs. CGM guide can help you understand the benefits of each option.

A glucometer can help you monitor blood sugar levels and spot patterns over time, but it cannot diagnose diabetes. If you have questions or concerns about your blood sugar, your healthcare provider can help you understand your results, determine the right targets, and guide any medication or insulin adjustments.