How to choose

Several features included in some machines may help you manage your diabetes better. Talk with your doctor about which make sense for you. Then use our Ratings chart (available to subscribers) to find the models that have the

Annual strip cost

The devices themselves don't cost much, typically only between $9 and $85. Sometimes they are even given away. But the test strips can add up. A year's supply for a patient who uses four a day ranges from $645 to $1,900. Also check to see how much your insurance will cover.

Multi-test strip cartridge

This feature allows you to load several strips into the meter at once, rather than loading each strip individually.

30-day average

Most monitors we tested allow you to see your average blood-glucose reading for the past 30 days.

Auto-code setting

Test strips come with a code printed on the vial or in a chip, which allows the device to be calibrated to the strips. Some models do that automatically. But models without automatic coding require the user to manually enter the code, increasing the chance of errors.

Auto-off

This feature automatically turns off the meter when you remove the test strip, saving battery life.

Shorter test time (5 seconds or less)

That may not sound like long, but many panelists found it inconvenient when a meter took longer than that to give a reading.

Computer download

The ability to download your readings to your computer can help you track your glucose over time, and you can print out the results for your next doctor's appointment.

Lots of memory

People who give themselves insulin injections usually have to check their blood-glucose levels several times a day. How many times you need to check can determine how many readings you want to store. We consider a meter to have a lot of memory if it can store 400 or more results.