Best Glucose Meter for Diabetes and Blood Sugar Monitoring

The Freestyle Libre is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that doesn't require a finger prick. It has a thin sensor that you insert under the skin (it's not painful) and wear all day. You then scan the sensor with the device to get your glucose reading.

"For people who are interested in deeper insights into their glucose levels, I'll often recommend the Freestyle Libre for continuous glucose monitoring," says Dr. Nate Favini, Chief Medical Officer at Pair Team. "By placing a sensor on your arm, you can track your glucose constantly through the day and develop your understanding of what makes your sugar levels go up and down. People will often be surprised that foods that they assumed were good for their glucose levels may be causing spikes in their sugar. Though continuous glucose monitors are more expensive, they can help you understand what types of food and exercise are best for you."

Keep in mind that even if you use a CGM, you may still need to do blood glucose readings with a finger prick monitor. You may also be eligible for a free trial of the Freestyle Libre CGMs, which can give you a chance to experience it at no cost.

Dr. Josh Emdur, medical director of SteadyMD, recommends the Dexcom G6, a CGM for Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes patients. "I find continuous glucose monitoring to be a valuable tool in the management of both Type 1 and 2 diabetes," he says. "CGM data provides actionable insight to help patients track their glycemic response to dietary choices and activity levels."

The Dexcom G6 is similar to the Freestyle Libre in that it continuously monitors glucose levels in your body from a small sensor inserted in the skin, but you don't have to scan to get a glucose level reading. Your reading is sent wirelessly to the Dexcom handheld device, or you can pair with your smartphone or Apple Watch via an app.

The price can vary based on insurance.

The Contour Next One Blood Glucose Monitor is a bestseller and a budget-friendly at under $35 for the test kit. The blood sugar monitor is simple to use and provides a 5-second reading, plus it connects to the Contour Diabetes app via Bluetooth to keep a log of your readings to share with your doctor.

The Care Touch Blood Glucose system is the No. 1 bestselling blood glucose meter on Amazon. The kit is a great value and for $30 you get everything you need to test your blood sugar. The kit includes the Care Touch meter, a lancing device, lancets, test strips and a carrying case. Once you test your blood sugar, you get your results in five seconds and the meter stores up to 300 readings for monitoring over time. If you've never used a meter before, this kit is great to get you started at an affordable price.

The ReliOn Prime is one of the most affordable options for a blood glucose meter. Keep in mind that you will still need to buy the strips separately. At Walmart they are $14 for a box of 50 strips. The ReliOn stores up to 250 blood sugar readings so you can go back to see previous readings, but there's no smartphone or app pairing capability. If you want a simple meter that can help you test multiple times per day, then this is a solid option.