Comparison Charts
These comparison charts are meant to be used by healthcare professionals as tools to compare the numerous blood glucose meters currently available on the Canadian market. Each comparison chart was developed independently using information collected about each meter.
If the terms used to compare the meters is unclear please see the legend below for a detailed description of each meter feature.
Note that not all meter features were compared in each table but that a head to head comparison can be made with the detailed information provided on the Meters Page. If information is missing from these tables that you feel would be valuable please use the Contact Form to make a recommendation.
If the terms used to compare the meters is unclear please see the legend below for a detailed description of each meter feature.
Note that not all meter features were compared in each table but that a head to head comparison can be made with the detailed information provided on the Meters Page. If information is missing from these tables that you feel would be valuable please use the Contact Form to make a recommendation.
Simple To Use Meters
Characteristics
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Meters Included
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Comprehensive Meters
Characteristics
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Meters Included
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Meters For Patients With Coordination Difficulties
Characteristics
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Meters Includes
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Forgiving/Easy To Test Meters
Characteristics
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Meters Included
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Advanced Meters
Characteristics
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Meters Includes
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Meters With Specialty Functions
Meter
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Specialty Function
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Comparison Table Legend & Explanation of Features
Brand - The manufacturer of the meter.
Interface - The number of buttons or the way in which a user will interact with the meter.
Test Style - This refers to whether the meter is a single strip testing or multi-testing system.
Test Window - How long the meter will wait for you to apply blood after you have inserted a test strip.
Test Volume - The amount of blood that must be applied to the strip in order to have a successful test.
Time to Add Blood or Add Blood? - If allowed, the amount of time the meter will accept more blood if too little was initially applied
Memory - The number of tests that the meter's internal memory can store
Language - This indicated the language in which the meter can operate.
Back Light - Indicates that the meter's screen is lit so testing can be more easily accomplished in the dark
Strip Light - Indicates that the strip port lights up so that it is easier to insert a strip into the port in the dark.
Battery - Indicated whether the meter is powered by a replaceable or rechargeable battery.
Mealtime Tagging - Indicates that tags can be placed on test results that indicate whether the test was before or after a meal
Notes - This is additional information that can be added to tests to help the patient qualify test results.
Averages - This refers to the number of days included in the average test calculations found on the meters themselves
Pattern Identification - Some meters determine times of the day where blood glucose is routinely high or low and indicate this as a pattern.
Alarms - This indicates the number of alarms that can be set on the device.
Computer Connect - This indicates the method used to connect the device to a computer based Diabetes Management Software System
Error Message - This indicates whether the device shows standard error codes or text instructions explaining errors
Interface - The number of buttons or the way in which a user will interact with the meter.
- A lower number of buttons usually indicates a meter that is simpler to use.
Test Style - This refers to whether the meter is a single strip testing or multi-testing system.
- Multi-testing systems include a collection of strips or suitable alternative that allows numerous tests to be conducted before a new set of strips or tests must be replaced within the meter.
- Some meters also include integrated single or multiple lancet systems along with the multi-testing system
Test Window - How long the meter will wait for you to apply blood after you have inserted a test strip.
- Range = 1-5 minutes
- The longer the window the more time a patient has to draw blood and apply it to the strip before the meter turns off.
- If the meter turns off before blood is applied to the strip the test will not work and the strip will be wasted.
Test Volume - The amount of blood that must be applied to the strip in order to have a successful test.
- Range = 0.3-1.5 microlitres (µL)
- Certain patients may have trouble drawing enough blood for some meters and may have to use a deeper lancet setting to compensate.
- Many strips cannot accept a second blood drop and will therefore be wasted if too little blood is applied on the first attempt.
Time to Add Blood or Add Blood? - If allowed, the amount of time the meter will accept more blood if too little was initially applied
- N/A or No - This means that the meter does not accept a second blood drop
- Yes - This means that the meter does accept more blood but that the time limit was not able to be found
- Range = 5-60 seconds - this is the window during which the meter will accept more blood
Memory - The number of tests that the meter's internal memory can store
- Once the meter memory is filled it will begin overwriting new tests over the oldest tests
Language - This indicated the language in which the meter can operate.
- Some meters are available in multiple languages but the language selection can only be made before purchase. Other meters, particularly those with large numbers of language options, are able to be switched between languages during use.
Back Light - Indicates that the meter's screen is lit so testing can be more easily accomplished in the dark
Strip Light - Indicates that the strip port lights up so that it is easier to insert a strip into the port in the dark.
Battery - Indicated whether the meter is powered by a replaceable or rechargeable battery.
- Once replaceable batteries are drained new ones must be purchased and installed in the meter
Mealtime Tagging - Indicates that tags can be placed on test results that indicate whether the test was before or after a meal
- Most meters with mealtime tagging can also calculate averages of tests at a specific time of day allowing for more details analysis of results.
Notes - This is additional information that can be added to tests to help the patient qualify test results.
- Common notes include large meal, recent exercise, or feeling ill. Custom notes can often be created as well.
Averages - This refers to the number of days included in the average test calculations found on the meters themselves
Pattern Identification - Some meters determine times of the day where blood glucose is routinely high or low and indicate this as a pattern.
- Test Time Average - This is a simple average result of a specific test time determined using the mealtime tagging option.
- Message - This indicates that the device detects a pattern automatically and alerts the user of the pattern with a message.
Alarms - This indicates the number of alarms that can be set on the device.
- Alarms are typically used to remind patients of a test or medication administration time.
Computer Connect - This indicates the method used to connect the device to a computer based Diabetes Management Software System
- Data Cable - This means that the meter requires a proprietary data cable in order to transfer information to the computer
- USB Cable - This means that the meter needs only a standard USB cable to transfer information to the computer
- USB Port - Indicates that the meter has a built in USB drive that can be connected directly to a computer's USB port
- iPhone Connect - This indicates that the meter connects directly to an iPhone or similar device
- IR to SmartPix - An infrared window is used to perform a wireless transfer of information between the device and the SmartPix Device that is used to connect to a computer and generate testing charts.
Error Message - This indicates whether the device shows standard error codes or text instructions explaining errors
References Used To Compile Comparison Data
- Abbott Diabetes Care Canada website. Available at: http://www.abbottdiabetescare.ca/index-en_CA.htm. Accessed: March 7, 2013.
- Abbott Diabetes Care. Freestyle Insulinx Owner's Booklet. Mississauga, ON; 2011.
- Abbott Diabetes Care. Freestyle Freedom Lite Owner's Booklet. Mississauga, ON; 2009.
- Abbott Diabetes Care. Freestyle Lite Owner's Booklet. Mississauga, ON; 2009.
- Abbott Diabetes Care. Precision Xtra User Guide. Mississauga, ON; 2009.
- Bayer Inc. Bayer Diabetes Website. 2013. Available at: http://www.bayerdiabetes.ca/en/. Accessed March 7, 2013.
- Bayer Inc. Contour Next User Guide. Toronto, ON; 2012.
- Bayer Inc. Contour Next EZ User Guide. Toronto, ON; 2012.
- Bayer Inc. Contour Next USB User Guide. Toronto, ON; 2012.
- Bayer Inc. Contour User Guide. Toronto, ON; 2012. 2008
- Bayer Inc. Contour Link User Guide. Toronto, ON; 2007.
- Bayer Inc. Breeze 2 User Guide. Toronto, ON; 2008.
- LifeScan Canada. OneTouch Website. 2013. Available At: http://www.onetouch.ca/. Accessed March 7, 2012.
- LifeScan Inc. OneTouch Ultra 2 User Guide. Burnaby, BC; 2009.
- LifeScan Inc. OneTouch Ultra Mini User Guide. Burnaby, BC; 2009.
- LifeScan Inc. OneTouch Ultra Smart Owner's Booklet. Burnaby, BC; 2006.
- LifeScan Inc. OneTouch VerioIQ Owner's Booklet. Burnaby, BC; 2011.
- Animas Corporation. OneTouch Ping Owner's Booklet. Markham, ON; 2010.
- Roche Diagnostics. Accu-Chek Website. 2013. Available At: https://www.accu-chek.ca/ca/. Accessed March 7, 2013
- Roche Diagnostics. Accu-Chek Aviva User's Manual. Laval, QC.
- Roche Diagnostics. Accu-Chek Aviva Nano User's Manual. Laval, QC; 2008.
- Roche Diagnostics. Accu-Chek Compact Plus User's Manual. Laval, QC; 2008.
- Roche Diagnostics. Accu-Chek Mobile User's Manual. Laval, QC;2010.
- Sanofi. BGStar and iBGStar Website. 2013. Available At: http://en.bgstar.ca/web/. Accessed March 7, 2013
- sanofi-aventis. BGStar Owner's Guide. Laval, QC; 2011.
- sanofi-aventis. iBGStar Owner's Guide. Laval, QC; 2011.
- sanofi-aventis. iBGStar Diabetes Manager App User's Guide. Laval, QC; 2011.
- Tremblay-Harrison. Oracle Diabetes Website. 2010. Available at: https://www.oraclediabetes.com/. Accessed March 7, 2010.
- Tremblay-Harrison. EZ Health Oracle Owner's Manual. Toronto, ON; 2007.