Blood glucose monitor recommendation

Regarding home glucose monitors: They are required to be highly accurate, but the requirement is less than 100%, which means that rarely a reading will be inaccurate. "According to the FDA, accurate glucose meters provide results that are within ±15% of the lab 95% of the time." Once in a great while I've tested significantly higher than I expected, I've then retested immediately and found the new test result to be significantly lower and in line with what I expected. (Of course, we shouldn't just assume the meter is wrong about an unusual test…RETEST if in doubt.) Fasting tests (first thing in the morning unless you've been raiding the frig during the night) might provide you with the most useful information. Congratulations on being proactive about your health!

My meter is extremely inaccurate. When I get high readings and retest, it’s often off by 20 points or more.

Thanks for comments about blood glucose testing. May have more questions after I start testing.

what is the latest information on glucose monitoring

Avoid the Metene available on Amazon. Cheap strips but wildly inaccurate. I like the Contour Next One.

I’m using a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor. When I was on the G5 CGM ( a very long time ago), it required a daily calibration. Dexcom supplied the Contour meter and strips. Though the G6 and G7 CGM’s say that no calibration is needed, I still use the Contour Next for CGM accuracy and calibration.

Please understand what blood glucose readings indicate. There is an average reading, but then there are reasons (normal) that it will be higher than the average. There are also times of the day that are more indicative than others.

This is my opinion…so ask your doctor.
I think everyone that is prediabetic, diabetic, or concerned about their blood sugar should ask their doctor for a one month prescription for a continuous blood glucose meter. The Libre 3 is only about $100.00 for the month ( check with your pharmacy first).
These meters are not 100% accurate but they are accurate enough to give you incredible information on how what you eat and how your daily activities affect your blood sugars. They will let you see where your problems are…what spikes your blood sugars and how high they go! For some they will also show lows that could cause problems in the future.
They are a wake-up call and will help you to make changes that will improve your health!
And in case you are wondering…they do not hurt to apply!

I think this is great advice. I took Metaformin for about six weeks because my glucose ran in the 90s and my hgbA1c was 6.1 plus Metaformin is in a clinical trial to prevent MGUS from progressing. While on 1500 mg metaformin I had incredibly high (200/100) post prandial blood pressure spikes. Post prandial is after eating. Sometimes when I am busy I would postpone my noon meal. This is when the spikes would occur. I could “feel” them coming on. I did not need a bp cuff!
I stopped the Metformin and no longer am having the spikes. But after recording 20 years of non fasting glucose readings in the nineties I am clueless as to what happened.
I will be purchasing one of those monitors to try to figure it all out. Again, a great suggestion!

Stela is about $80-90, no prescription needed. It is a continuous monitor.