You’re the only one who can advocate for your health. It starts with in-home monitoring to help track changes, create a medical record and watch for trends in your health.

Whether you’re diabetic, pre-diabetic or just want to keep an eye on how your body handles sugar, these blood test kits will keep you alert and aware at all times. We selected glucose monitors recommended for type I and type II diabetics.

Accu-Chek is one of the biggest names in diabetic testing kits and supplies. This inexpensive testing kit includes everything you need to get started. You get the Accu-Chek Guide Me meter that provides blood test results in less than four seconds and the FastClix lancing pen.

The FastClix lancing device stores lancets in a drum within the pen’s body. You only have to load lancets into the machine once every six uses. A numbered counter rotates after each use to tell you how many lancets are left in the pen.

This kit also includes 100 Guide test strips, a hard-shell case for storage and 108 FastClix lancets. Your Guide Me meter stores your most recent 720 test results for easy access and to record information to bring to your doctor.

Utilize customizable depth settings to find your ideal comfort in the FastClix pen. If needles scare you, watch the FastClix video on its Amazon sales page to demonstrate how its lancet pen provides the least painful experience possible. Nothing compares to Accu-Chek’s value and utility.

AUVON’s all-in-one kit gives you everything you need to get started in one convenient carrying bag. You get 60 lancets, 50 glucometer strips and a lancing device to prick your finger for every test.

The meter takes six seconds to display results with high levels of accuracy. Store average results over seven-day, 14-day and 30-day periods, so you have information to bring to your doctor. You also receive a user guide, test strip guide, log book and the battery required to power your glucometer.

Fifty lancets aren’t even an entire month’s worth of testing supplies, which is why you’ll notice the significant price difference between AUVON and Accu-Chek. This should last you for two weeks if you test three times daily.

Contour is one of the oldest diabetic testing brands, and it’s earned its crown. Somewhere between AUVON and Accu-Chek’s price point sits the EZ diabetes testing kit, equipped with 100 glucose strips, 100 lancets and a lancing device.

You get the meter, a carrying case and user manuals to get started. Contour also sits right between our two other kits with a five-second test response time. The meter is extremely easy to use, but the show’s star is its Active Forward lancet pen.

Choose plenty of needle depths from the twist-operated system at the end of the pen, utilize the build-in grip for your fingers and gently prod your finger with the lancet pen. Contour makes a relatively painless lancet pen that doesn’t leave a large mark on your finger afterward.

If price is a concern, Metene is here to save the day. This budget-friendly glucometer and lancing device kit comes with a little bit of everything you need to get started, including 100 lancets and 100 glucometer strips.

Like other kits, you get a carrying case to store everything. Your glucose monitor comes with reminder alarms, a large display and an extremely easy-to-use interface. You get results in just seven seconds after inserting your glucometer strip.

Store up to 450 blood sugar values (five-month equivalent) and get information on your averages for 14-day up to 90-day periods. Metene is the perfect solution if you want utility without paying the Accu-Chek price (if you don’t mind a slightly less advanced lancet pen).

Last but not least, DARIO is another budget-friendly kit that specifically comes in handy for iPhone users. DARIO uses a lightning adapter strip reader. Plug it right into your iPhone to get results immediately uploaded to your DARIO app and review your information later.

It supports iOS phones in the sixth generation up through iOS 15. As a leading brand in glucometers, DARIO is excellent about timely updates that quickly catch up to current-gen iOS updates.

DARIO also has an Android USB-C adapter option. However, there have been some complaints about timely software updates. We recommend this kit for iOS users.

You get 25 test strips but just 10 lancets, which is where this kit falters. There are no batteries required to get started. Just be sure to buy additional strips.

Measuring your blood sugar can be scary, especially when you don’t know what to look for. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you get used to your new meter.

Glucose meters often give correct readings but can potentially provide false readings. According to the Mayo Clinic, accuracy can be affected by the testing site location on your body, issues with your monitor, extreme temperatures and not applying enough blood to test strips, among other things.

As you age, your pancreas produces less insulin. This is why diabetes is often associated with old age and is pretty alarming in young people.

Your levels will change with age but should remain between 70-130 mg/dl before a meal and less than 180 mg/dl for anyone over 20. It’s a wide range that can accommodate many age ranges.

No, thanks. I want to stay in the dark.

According to the CDC, a normal fasting blood sugar level is 99 mg/dl or lower. Fasting requires eight hours of ingesting nothing but water before a blood test. Between 72 mg/dl and 90 mg/dl is average for an adult without diabetes.

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