A guide to choosing a free glucose meter

If you’re a diabetes patient, your health insurance probably helps you cover all your ailment-related expenses.

One of the most expensive investments that diabetes patients have to make is in glucose meters. Other than that, people also have to spend money on buying testing strips and alcohol swaps, among other accessories. You should also look out for the level of maintenance these glucose meters require.

However, you can avail of a free glucose meter through some schemes. Besides, some companies also offer free glucose meters so that you will buy the exclusive strips that are needed to use those meters in the right way. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself while picking from a selection of free glucose meters.

How can I get a free glucose meter?

• Be it through Medicare or some other health insurance policy you need to make the right decision while picking a free glucose meter. While you may not have a choice of the most stellar collection, you still shouldn’t settle for the mediocre ones.
• Medicare, especially, offers high-end brands such as Accu-Chek®, OneTouch®, and FreeStyle and gives you a choice of around nine different models.

Is it better to get a doctor recommended meter?

• The first and foremost thing you should keep in mind is that doctor recommended meters are most likely to be covered by your insurance.
• Different meters cover and measure different things. So, it’s always safe to go with what your doctor has recommended. However, try and understand what models you can work with.

What does insurance cover?

• If you have a green light from the doctor to pick any meter you like, then your next set of restrictions will come from your insurance provider.
• Approach your provider and ask them to give you a list of glucose meters that they cover. Go through this list and see if any of them stand out.
• Some meters are covered partially by insurance providers, and you will have to cover the remaining amount. Always ask if your insurance also pays for testing strips and alcohol swabs, along with other materials that you will need.
• Some insurance companies offer partial cover for testing supplies. For example, they’ll cover a limited number of strips per month or year.

Are free glucose meters easy to use and maintain?

• Most people settle with meters that are easy to use and forget that a good glucose meter should last them a few years at least. This requires maintenance, care, and regular cleaning.
• The testing procedure is different for each meter, so make sure that you understand how to use them in advance.
• As for maintenance, keep an eye out for devices that need calibration or recalibration for different strips. Many glucose meters now work only with specific kinds of testing strips.

What is the time taken for reading? Can these measures be stored?

• You need to consider the usability of the meter. Are the readings digital or do they exist on a scale that you aren’t familiar with?
• The time taken for giving a reading is equally important. It might seem like 30 seconds isn’t that long, but it adds up over the years.
• Keeping a record is vital for obvious reasons. You should be able to track your readings over the past month or so as this will help you and your doctor keep a tab on your health.
• Some meters come with a log that automatically downloads to your computer, while others have a memory to store around 400 readings.

Should people look for any special features in a free glucose meter?

• Special features include sizes and voice prompts, or even reminders and different colored devices.
• Some models have a back-lit screen that makes it easier to view the readings in low light.
• Other models come with a hypoglycemia warning display on the screen.
• A few models record and display blood ketone levels and insulin grams. These features make the whole process of measuring glucose levels a lot easier.

Go through the above-mentioned ideas and select the right glucose meter for you. There are numerous models of free glucose meters available today. Feel free to discuss this with your doctor, your insurance provider, and perhaps even a pharmacist. In this way, you’ll fully understand what you need and learn about the choices you have.