Blood Glucose Meters & Test Strips

This page was updated 7th August 2023

The most common method to check glucose is the finger-stick method using a blood glucose meter. This is also known as self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). The humble finger stick blood glucose meter has only been around since the 1980s but it is still the most used diabetes management tool despite the impression you might have from social media.

Using a blood glucose meter involves:

• Inserting a test strip into the blood glucose meter

• Pricking your finger with a lancet device

• Squeezing a drop of blood from your finger onto a test strip

• The meter reads how much glucose is in your blood, and a number displays on the meter screen.

In the last few years, there have been quite a few innovations in the SMBG; they have become more accurate and branched out into helping us with managing all of our diabetes information.

Blood Glucose Meters, The HSE’s Preferred Models

In February 2021, the HSE created a list of preferred blood glucose meters for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Ireland published a press release if you would like to find out more about the process that was used to create this list and more, click here to read. If you would like to view the HSE poster of all the meters and contact details for the company that manufactures them, click here.

All glucose meters are different, but as well as telling what your blood sugar number is, they can have all sorts of additional features such as a built-in bolus calculator, a light where the strip is inserted, connected to a smartphone app to log all your diabetes information, some even check for ketones.

You may carry this gadget with you a lot of the time, so it’s important to find one that fits into your life. It’s also worth mentioning, especially if you have type 1 diabetes, that having a spare is beneficial for when the batteries die or the meter stops working. Some meters are rechargeable using USB cables and use various batteries.

** Most meter companies will replace your batteries free of charge

There are ten companies offering 15 different meters. Here is a list including the brand of meter, the company supplying them and their contact details.

List of Meters by Brand, Company providing them, and Contact Details To Order Free Meters

Accu-Chek

By Roche Diabetes Care

For existing users only. Not included in the preferred list.

Phone: 1800 931 078

Email: Burgesshill.dcaccountmanagers@roche.com

Patient supports: www.accu-chek.ie

Alternative site testing using a Blood Glucose Meter

The blood glucose meter can be used to check glucose in places other than your fingers. 

This is known as alternative site testing AST. However, “alternate site” monitoring tends to produce significantly less accurate results than fingerstick monitoring.  This is likely due to the “lag time” inherent in alternate site testing – similar to that seen with CGM.” (from Integrated Diabetes)

AST can be useful for people whose skin around their fingertips has become severely calloused or hardened. However, “it should be noted, however, that this sort of testing should only be used when blood sugar is stable (eg, before a meal or when fasting) and fingertip blood should be used if blood sugar may be changing rapidly (eg, after a meal or exercise).

Lancing devices may need to be adjusted to a deeper setting when using alternative sites. Some come with a cap to be added for AST.”

Finger Stick versus Glucose Sensors

Finger stick meters check the level of glucose in the blood through our capillaries. Glucose sensors such as continuous glucose monitors CGM and Flash glucose monitors Freestyle Libre, check glucose in interstitial fluid. Interstitial fluid is the fluid that surrounds the cells of the tissue below your skin, and usually, glucose moves from your blood vessels and capillaries first and then into your interstitial fluid. 

Sensor and finger stick readings will rarely match and are expected to be different. A greater difference between Sensor and finger stick readings will be seen when your glucose is changing quickly, such as after eating or after taking a bolus of insulin. And most importantly, always confirm with your BG value before deciding to correct a high or treat a low glucose.

Accuracy

And while SMBG is the most accurate method of testing glucose levels, it’s still not 100% accurate 100% of the time. In 2013, the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) announced improved standards for blood glucose meters. blood glucose meters can be wrong by 15%, 95% of the time and wrong by 20% 99% of the time. 

Verify Accuracy with control solutions. 

You can verify that your glucose reader and test strips are working together properly using the control solution that usually comes with the meter. If not, you can get it directly from the manufacturer. We recommend that you check the accuracy of your meter’s readings at least once a year by comparing a fasting reading with a reading done at the same time in a laboratory. Consult a health professional about the acceptable variance between the two readings. Also, always follow your meter’s user instructions.

Tips for Accurate Testing

• Lancets should be replaced often. Fresh lancets hurt less. 

• Where possible, wash hands with warm water and soap before testing. 

• Never keep your meter or strips in direct sunlight 

To avoid false readings, your test strips and glucose meter must be in good condition. Make sure that:

• The expiry date printed on the test-strip container has not been reached or exceeded

• The test-strip container was not left open after you took out a test strip

• The test strips are in their original container

• The test strips have been kept away from moisture, and stored at a temperature between 4 and 30 degrees Celsius

• The test strips have not been contaminated by dust or other substances 

• There is no dust or dried blood on the opening of the test strip

• The glucose meter has not been left in direct sunlight

• The glucose meter has not been exposed to moisture, or to temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius or higher than 30 degrees Celsius

There are more tips on when to check your glucose level here and:

• For Adults with Type 2 diabetes guide to blood glucose checking

• For Adults with Type 1 Diabetes guidelines for blood glucose checking see “Self-monitoring of blood glucose” Section 3.6.10 Page 26 of the National Clinical Guidelines for Adults with type 1 diabetes

Banner image: "Blood Glucose Testing - Kolkata 2011-07-25 3982.JPG" by Biswarup Ganguly is licensed under CC BY 3.0.