How to Identify the Best Diabetic Test Strip for You

If you are diabetic, it is important to keep your glucose levels in check. One way of doing this is by checking for ketones and sugar with a blood glucose meter, but there are other ways too. Home testing kits can be used at home or on the go without needing professional help. These come with test strips that use either urine or blood samples to detect whether your sugar levels are high or low. In this post, we will talk about some of the best diabetic test strips available and what they each offer, so you can make an informed decision!

Glucometers vs. Amino Acid Meters​

There are also two different types of meters: strips that just measure glucose levels in blood samples (Glucometers) and strips that measure both sugars and proteins in urine samples (Amino Acid Meters). Some people like using an Amino Acid Meter because it can also measure ketones in the blood, meaning you see your progress more quickly.


If you want to go home and test yourself for sugar levels at any time of day, then a Glucometer would be better! But if you’re going out on the town or traveling abroad, an Amino Acid Meter might suit your lifestyle. It’s important to find the best diabetic test strips for you and to get to know both of your options.

Accuracy​

When selecting a meter and test strips, accuracy within 15% or 15 mg/dl of laboratory values is considered good. In studies, only six brands passed this standard:

  • Contour Next from Bayer – 100 percent

  • Accu-Chek Aviva Plus from Roche – 98 percent

  • Walmart ReliOn Confirm (Micro) from Arkray – 97 percent

  • CVS/pharmacy Advanced from Agamatrix – 97 percent

  • FreeStyle Lite from Abbott – 96 percent

  • Accu-Chek SmartView from Roche – 95 percent

That means that there’s a bunch of test strips out there that are less accurate than they should be. For example:

  • Solus V2 from BioSense Medical – 76 percentz

  • Advocate Redi-Code+ from Diabetic Supply of Suncoast – 76 percent

  • Gmate Smart from Philosys – 71 percent

Don’t worry! You can generally trust almost any self-monitoring diabetes strips or meter to provide at least a close approximation of your blood glucose levels, which is generally not considered dangerous.

Where Can I Get Reliable Test Strips and What Do They Cost?​

Test blood glucose strips are available everywhere from big box stores, independent pharmacies, and many websites. You can find them on Amazon, eBay, discount pharmaceutical sites like GoodRx, manufacturers’ websites. Pricing can vary based on the source, but it’s an expense that can add up fast.

More Than You Can Handle?​

We are dedicated to providing quality supplies to diabetics just like you. And since we know sometimes you can end up with a surplus of supplies, we make it super easy to sell the excess and keep cash in your pocket. Want more information on how to get started? Call us or chat with one of our representatives to order your free shipping kit. Once your shipment is confirmed, you can have your payment in just a few hours.