New Blood Sugar Monitors Take the Sting Out of Testing

For many of the 21 million Americans living with diabetes, the worst part of monitoring their blood sugar levels is not the prick to their fingers, but the punch to their wallets.

The American Diabetes Association recommends people with Type 1 diabetes test their blood sugar levels at least three times a day. Those with Type 2 diabetes may need less frequency, but should maintain some kind of regular testing schedule. Diabetics testing three or more times a day can spend $4 or more daily on test strips. One ambiguous test result, or damaged, mishandled or contaminated test strip can drive the cost even higher.

Advances in glucose meter design are helping reduce the discomfort and cost of self-monitoring.  Today's compact, easy to use and read, battery-powered meters are a far cry from the first products used in the 1970s. Early models were nearly a foot long, required up to a minute to produce a reading and needed to be plugged in to a power source. Testing devices marketed for home use in the early 1980s weren't much better.

Most American diabetics now love their glucose monitors. In fact, a 2001 study by the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, found that most people don't mind the necessary blood prick. They are far more concerned with the accuracy, ease of use and affordability of their meters, the study showed.

"The more accurate and reliable your meter, the less you will spend on retesting because of odd results or test strip problems," says Chris Mehringer, a glucose meter expert with DoctorDiabetic.com. "Modern meters improve accuracy and speed of results - some take as little as 5 seconds to produce a reading."

Advantages of modern meters include:

* Speedy results - the New Optium by Abbott Laboratories returns results in just 5 seconds.

* Small sample size - Many monitors can take a reading from a very small drop of blood. Others permit the user to add a second drop of blood - rather than completely redoing the test with a new strip and test site - if the first sample proves inadequate.

* Forearm testing - Meters like the New Optium and One Touch Ultra by Lifescan spare the fingertips by allowing the user to draw blood from anywhere on the forearm, making it virtually pain free.

* Cost reductions - In addition to improving accuracy, organizations like Doctor Diabetic can help qualified patients obtain their diabetes supplies at little or no cost to them.  Founded in 2001, the company now serves 70,000 patients. Diabetics with Part A and B Medicare coverage can have 80 percent of the cost of their testing supplies covered by Medicare.

"Those who also have a secondary insurer or State Assistance may pay nothing as secondary insurers will often cover the remaining 20 percent of costs," says Mehringer. Patients without secondary insurance can submit a financial waiver which may qualify them for financial assistance to cover the costs Medicare doesn't cover. "We know dealing with the Medicare system can be daunting, so we handle all the paperwork for customers to ensure they are getting the maximum coverage to which they are entitled," Mehringer says.

Supplies can be ordered online, or by calling (800) 852-1652. Orders are delivered directly to the patient's door free of charge.  

Copyright © 2006 ARA Content