A BLOOD GLUCOSE METER IS A SMALL MEDICAL DEVICE THAT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF GLUCOSE (SUGAR) IN A PERSON'S BLOOD. IT IS COMMONLY USED BY PEOPLE WITH DIABETES TO MONITOR THEIR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR INSULIN DOSAGES AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR DIABETES MANAGEMENT.

TO USE A BLOOD GLUCOSE METER, A PERSON TYPICALLY PRICKS THEIR FINGER WITH A SMALL LANCET TO DRAW A DROP OF BLOOD, WHICH IS THEN PLACED ON A TEST STRIP THAT IS INSERTED INTO THE METER. THE METER THEN MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF GLUCOSE IN THE BLOOD SAMPLE AND DISPLAYS THE RESULT ON A SCREEN WITHIN SECONDS.

• SIZE AND PORTABILITY: BLOOD GLUCOSE METERS COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES, AND SOME ARE MORE PORTABLE THAN OTHERS. SMALLER AND MORE PORTABLE METERS CAN BE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TEST THEIR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS ON THE GO.
• SPEED: THE TIME IT TAKES FOR A METER TO PROVIDE A READING CAN VARY, AND SOME METERS ARE FASTER THAN OTHERS.
• ACCURACY: ALL BLOOD GLUCOSE METERS MUST MEET CERTAIN ACCURACY STANDARDS, BUT SOME METERS MAY BE MORE ACCURATE THAN OTHERS. PEOPLE WITH DIABETES SHOULD WORK WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO CHOOSE A METER THAT IS ACCURATE AND RELIABLE.