We found two excellent models.(OneTouch UltraSmart tops the ratings of glucose monitors)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Two-thirds of Americans with the most common type of diabetes don't have their blood sugar under control, meaning they face increased risks of blindness and other problems, a recent study found. Careful monitoring of blood-glucose levels at home is essential. We tested 13 glucose monitors and found real differences.

A panel of medical experts and lay people, all with diabetes, helped us evaluate how easy the products were to use. In lab tests, all the monitors were reasonably accurate, meaning that their average readings deviated only slightly from the standard. But they varied in consistency. That's more important than accuracy because you can adapt to inaccurate readings as long as they're consistently high or low by the same amount.

The bottom line. Consider the OneTouch UltraSmart or Ultra. They produced results in about 5 seconds with relatively little blood, and panelists liked the Ultra's compact design and the UltraSmart's large memory.

TOP RATED The OneTouch UltraSmart, $85, stores 3,000 readings.

 
Quick Ratings 
 
Blood-glucose monitors 
 
In performance order. 
 
Brand & model                  Price of   Annual cost 
                               meter      of strips [1] 
Similar models, in small 
type, comparable to 
tested model. 
 
OneTouch UltraSmart              $85         $1,370 
OneTouch Ultra                    65          1,370 
BD Logic                          73          1,310 
FreeStyle Flash                   73          1,170 
Accu-Chek Complete               110          1,070 
Ascensia Contour                  77          1,310 
FreeStyle                         73          1,170 
Accu-Chek Compact                 73          1,070 
Accu-Chek Advantage               65          1,070 
Voicemate [5] 
Ascensia Breeze                   58          1,280 
Advance Micro-draw                64          1,330 
ReliOn NewTek (Wal-Mart) [6]      55            830 
TrueTrack Smart System            20            880 
(drugstore-chain label) 
 
Brand & model                      Overall score 
 
Similar models, in small 
type, comparable to 
tested model.                  P   F   G   VG   E 
 
OneTouch UltraSmart            [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
OneTouch Ultra                 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
BD Logic                       [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
FreeStyle Flash                [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
Accu-Chek Complete             [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
Ascensia Contour               [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
FreeStyle                      [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
Accu-Chek Compact              [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 
Accu-Chek Advantage            ...