cheap, reliable way to test Blood sugar, not diabetic

[masraum]

Folks, I'm curious about checking my blood sugar level throughout the day and over several different days for a bit. I'm not diabetic or pre-diabetic, so this won't be covered by any insurance, and it's not going to be long term. I don't want to spend a ton, if it's $200 for a machine and then another $5-10 per test I'll likely just skip it. But if I could spend $100 or maybe $150 to get a machine and also perform a bunch of tests, then I probably will.

I'm just a nerd that likes to measure things. I've read a bunch about blood sugar and how it changes throughout the day and how it changes following meals. I also fast from time to time, and I'd like to monitor my blood sugar through some normal days, days that I have sweets or eat snacks late and days that I'm fasting.

Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Is this going to be possible for a reasonable cost?

[Bob Kontak]

Amazon has several for under $50

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=blood+sugar+monitor+kit+with+strips&crid=Z8SX8R20261C&sprefix=blood+sugar%2Caps%2C196&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_11

[vash]

those testers are cheap.

i do the same thing. i like to see what happens like after a big bike ride..or a snickers bar. its fun.

[masraum]

Ok, and those are reasonably reliable?

Anyone got a specific model that they have experience with that has been good?

[vash]

Originally Posted by masraum

Ok, and those are reasonably reliable?

Anyone got a specific model that they have experience with that has been good?

i dont know about accuracy. i once tested at home and then drove to the lab for the official test. at home i was super great..at the doc office, it was much higher. i was fasting. it was curious at the least. but for your purposes, you would be comparing apples to apples using the same gear.

[Mahler9th]

I worked in this space for a couple of years.. long story. Went to all of the meetings and worked with all of the top researchers and doctors.

Lifescan/Onetouch, anything from Abbott, et cetera. These are top brands that have been around for a really long time. Blood glucose meters are FDA-regulated medical devices-- they cannot be marketed or sold without clearance from FDA, and FDA even regulates manufacturing and post-sales/marketing processes.

So lots of choices and no real clinically significant differences in terms of accuracy and/or precision.

There are of course some technologies/products that provide ongoing episodic glucose values from companies like Dexcom and Freestyle/Abbott.

The product I worked on was called the GlucoWatch-- it was FDA approved in 2001 and commercialized in 2002. I reported to the COO. The product worked well but was not viable since related patient costs were not reimbursed by CMS.

[Tobra]

They are mostly pretty good, where they get you is the test strips. A lot of the time you can get the machine for almost nothing.

There is a system where you have a probe that goes into your arm, small needle, that can give you instantaneous blood glucose levels as many times a day as you want. Pretty neat, but I don't know if you could get one if not a diabetic.

[1990C4S]

You need two tests, non-fasting, and then fasting blood sugar. If it is fine you're wasting your time....unless the data satisfies you.

You must know a diabetic who tests regularly. They could help you out.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

I worked in this space for a couple of years.. long story. Went to all of the meetings and worked with all of the top researchers and doctors.

Lifescan/Onetouch, anything from Abbott, et cetera. These are top brands that have been around for a really long time. Blood glucose meters are FDA-regulated medical devices-- they cannot be marketed or sold without clearance from FDA, and FDA even regulates manufacturing and post-sales/marketing processes.

So lots of choices and no real clinically significant differences in terms of accuracy and/or precision.

There are of course some technologies/products that provide ongoing episodic glucose values from companies like Dexcom and Freestyle/Abbott.

The product I worked on was called the GlucoWatch-- it was FDA approved in 2001 and commercialized in 2002. I reported to the COO. The product worked well but was not viable since related patient costs were not reimbursed by CMS.

Interesting, thanks. I worry a little bit about the no-name crap on Amazon although I'm sure it's probably a faithful copy of the bigger name stuff.

Originally Posted by Tobra

They are mostly pretty good, where they get you is the test strips. A lot of the time you can get the machine for almost nothing.

There is a system where you have a probe that goes into your arm, small needle, that can give you instantaneous blood glucose levels as many times a day as you want. Pretty neat, but I don't know if you could get one if not a diabetic.

Yeah, that's what I'm assuming, there's always a catch. It's like printers and ink/toner.

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

You need two tests, non-fasting, and then fasting blood sugar. If it is fine you're wasting your time....unless the data satisfies you.

You must know a diabetic who tests regularly. They could help you out.

I get my fasting tested at least once a year, and it's always fine, but this is more about me having extra data, to really have a better understanding of what's going on daily.

I don't think I do know anyone, at least, not closely enough, that I could ask.

[asphaltgambler]

Yes - I have the kit. Very simple - there is a small container with one time use electronic 'blood sucker-upper' tabs that you insert into a small (half size of cigg pack) self-powered unit. You prick your end fingers with a separate 'tool' that also has one-time use 'needles' that 'pop' under preset spring pressure. it really is almost painless.

It gives a direct numeric read-out like say 123 - then plug that number into your A1C calculator that you have downloaded to your phone - to give you the average number.

Possibly there are units now that convert the 'direct' number to the 'Average' (A1C)

It's a really good way to keep on top of what's going on, I highly recommend it. I was the highest I had ever been last November at 6.5 A1C which is considered Diabetic. In 6 months of changing the way I eat, alcohol, etc, I lowered it to 6.0. Further all the other 'bad' numbers come down as well and my Testosterone came up slightly. I lost 14lbs too.

I feel better, look better and am in better health than I have been for a long time - I'll be 61 soon...……..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Yes - I have the kit. Very simple - there is a small container with one time use electronic 'blood sucker-upper' tabs that you insert into a small (half size of cigg pack) self-powered unit. You prick your end fingers with a separate 'tool' that also has one-time use 'needles' that 'pop' under preset spring pressure. it really is almost painless.

It gives a direct numeric read-out like say 123 - then plug that number into your A1C calculator that you have downloaded to your phone - to give you the average number.

Possibly there are units now that convert the 'direct' number to the 'Average' (A1C)

It's a really good way to keep on top of what's going on, I highly recommend it. I was the highest I had ever been last November at 6.5 A1C which is considered Diabetic. In 6 months of changing the way I eat, alcohol, etc, I lowered it to 6.0. Further all the other 'bad' numbers come down as well and my Testosterone came up slightly. I lost 14lbs too.

I feel better, look better and am in better health than I have been for a long time - I'll be 61 soon...……..

Which kit is that?

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by Tobra

They are mostly pretty good, where they get you is the test strips. A lot of the time you can get the machine for almost nothing.

There is a system where you have a probe that goes into your arm, small needle, that can give you instantaneous blood glucose levels as many times a day as you want. Pretty neat, but I don't know if you could get one if not a diabetic.

Hooks into your iPhone too. It's quite convenient, but prescription only.

[Tidybuoy]

The testers are about $30 and any pharmacy. The test strips can be a bit pricy but not too bad, believe about $20 for a pack of 50. Very easy to use. Has a pin-pricker that snaps your finger very fast you don't even feel it. After that, you touch the blood drop with the test strip and it sucks it up. Put the strip into the machine and get the results in a couple of seconds.

[asphaltgambler]

Like this:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Self-Monitoring-Blood-Glucose-System-McKesson-TRUE-METRIX/333947042?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101002301&&adid=22222222227137561988&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=246775035281&wl4=pla-404969688239&wl5=9008141&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=131111392&wl11=online&wl12=333947042&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwPa8j4f46QIVB2yGCh2LDg_SEAQYBCAB EgIgi_D_BwE

[Mahler9th]

I started in the diabetes category in 2000, right after the FDA announced that our submission was "approvable."

About a month before I got to that company (Cygnus), they had hired a medical director (an MD-- endocrinogist). He came directly from NIH where he helped lead the famous DCCT epidemiology study on diabetes. That study helped us learn a lot about the benefits of measurement and control based on measurement.

A lot of that information and perspective is available in the public domain, and of course even more has been learned in the intervening decades.

I will never forget meeting that doctor-- we had a meeting in my first week. I mentioned that I had had an uncle, an MD, PhD that had worked in epidemiology at NIH-- he ran the famous Framingham heart study for a number of years. That study taught us a lot about heart disease.

Anyway, the Cygnus medical director had actually co-authored one or more publications with my uncle. Small world.

Through my work at Cygnus and in the category I learned a lot about the benefits of identifying trends and patterns in glucose levels. When we were approved in March 2001, the story hit most major city newspapers and evening news programs, the WSJ and so on. And the HHS issued its own press release heralding our new type of product. The stock went up but I could not participate for obvious reasons.

I almost got to meet Nicole Kidman, Jody Foster, and Halle Berry when I was working for Cygnus. Kidman was slated to lead in Panic Room, and Foster took over her role. The story featured a child with a medical condition and a watch that could measure glucose... the production people contacted me about our GlucoWatch...

[scott540]

Go to Walgreens. Get a test kit. Might even come strips.
If not, you might out a total of $50. I'm a lifelong type 1 diabetic.
Have done this a couple times while out of town.

[Mahler9th]

Some perspective in the "commercial" public domain:

https://provider.myfreestyle.com/why-cgm.html

Remember, even this information is strictly regulated.

Freestyle was the brand created by Therasense... and the latter was bought by Abbott in around 2004. One of my former colleagues worked at Therasense. I do not know if he had a lot of options when they were acquired... but I suspect so.

[masraum]

Good stuff, folks, thanks. It sounds like this is easily doable and affordable for something that's basically just a nerdy whim.

[WPOZZZ]

Yes, very affordable, but as said before, they get you with the test strips. There are some complete kits with some test strips and lancets. If you have a CVS, see what they have.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Yes, very affordable, but as said before, they get you with the test strips. There are some complete kits with some test strips and lancets. If you have a CVS, see what they have.

We've got CVS and Walgreens local. I'll check them out. Amazon has a bunch of stuff too, but I wonder about Amazon or anyone thoroughly checking the stuff from China to see if it meets any standards. It's probably the same as most of the stuff in CVS, but...