Newer models usually have a few things going for them.  Not aways, but usually they are more accurate than their predecessors.  They usually need a smaller blood sample size.  Many of the newer models lets you test on your arms too where there are less nerve endings and it hurts less.  Newer models are usually quicker and take only about 5 seconds compared to 15 seconds on older models. I'm not going to list which ones are newer or older.  Suffice it to say that if you check out a few pharmacies and it's not generally being sold anymore, you'll want to steer clear of it.

Actually, since you can many times get a meter free from your insurance or free after rebate or as cheap as you can purchase a new meter on ebay, why bother with the worry of purchasing an old used meter?  Many glucose monitor companies give you the meter nearly free or at super discount after rebate so that you'll buy their test strips.  Since the meters are near give-aways, you really shouldn't need to buy a used meter.  Get the best brand spanking new meter and do yourself a favor!  If you're still just set on buying a used meter then make sure the unit is in good working order and the batteries are fresh.  Used meters?  Why?  Just say no.

The smaller the blood sample size, the less your lancet needs to plunge into your fingers to get a sample of blood.  The less your lancet needs to plunge the less it hurts!  The smallest blood sample size these days is around 0.3 to 1ul (1 or less micro liter).  The bigger sample sizes that hurt more are 4 to 10 ul (4 to 10 micro liters).  The smaller the sample size the better.  I feel that this is the single most important issue with accurate glucose monitors these days.  Are you still using a meter where you need a whole drop of blood to do the test, egads, get a new machine!

You probably want to be careful with this one.  Newer models are inherently quick.  Older models sometimes sacrificed speed for accuracy.  So if you see an older model that is quick, you may want to scruitinize it.  Quick usually means about 5 to 7 seconds whereas slow is 10 to 15 seconds.  Personally, I don't really care if it takes 10 seconds to get a result so it's not a big issue for me.  It usually takes me a few seconds to clean up and throw stuff away anway before I even look at the result.  That being said, a 5 second result is nice, though.

Some of the glucose meters have a few test strips inside to start you off.  Those test strips expire at some point.  Find out whether the box has test strips and if so find out the expiration date.  Make sure the box is factory sealed or those test strips may have been compromised.  Test strips are worth about 50 cents a test so if there is test strips in the box, that may add about $5 to the value of the auction. 

If you search on ebay and can only find one of a certain type monitor or none at all, that's probably a good indication that the monitor is not popular.  What's wrong with that?  Well, if it's not popular, it may be increasingly hard to find test strips or support for it in the future.

Sometimes it's hard to tell which models are truly accurate.  They all spout "more accurate!"  What does that mean?  Well nothing.  I think they all have to be fairly accurate like around 20% but 20% accurate is not all that accurate.  Personally, I've tried several models, and I've found them all to be around where my body's feedback was telling me so I don't worry about it being a problem for me.  If you do think it's a problem, you should investigate this issue for yourself.  Don't be fooled by a meter with the name "Precision" or "Accurate" in the name.  You should follow proper procedures such as coding correctly and proper handling of the blood sample.  See your monitor's user guide and consult your doctor on proper blood sampling tecnique.  The other thing you might want to do is run controls every now and then to make sure your meter is accurate as you hope it should be.  Most Meter companies usually supply at least one level of control to verify your strips and meter.  One level control only shows you're vaguely in the expected range.  Proper procedure dictates that you should run two levels of control (high & low) daily and each time you open a new vial so that you are accurate and precise.  Realistically, no one does two or three level controls except blood chem labs.  If you're super worried about accuracy (which most of us really aren't) you could even buy 3rd party glucose chemistry controls and become your own blood chem lab but that gets really expensive and not practical for the majority of us.  So I hate to say it, but there's not much you can really do about accuracy other than just run the one level control and do the normal proper handling procedures.  (Like keep strips and test at room temperature, keep your machine clean, and wash your hands, etc).  There again, a newer model is more likely to be accurate than an older model.  If you're probably worried about accuracy but can't do much about it.  I'd say lean on your body's feedback and if your meter doesn't jive then you may want to get a new and different meter and retry or go to the doctor and have him test you.

Some models allow you to store your tests internal to the machine.  This can be convenient in that you don't have to go hunting for your test strips and fumble with inserting them.  I really don't see it as an issue, but some people like it.  I think it's just a gimmick, myself.

Some models exclaim that there's no coding involved!  What's cool with that  is you can just load a test strip and go.  But, it's not that important.  If you've had diabetes, you're probably already tuned into that you need to learn more and stay on top of your illness so you're probably smarter than the average joe.  Surely, you can enter a code before you test.  Most meters let you enter the code once for all 100 tests so you don't really do it that often anyway.  The code is usually on the vial or on the box.  It's easy, you just make sure the code on the meter matches the code on the vial and your set.  It is nice not to need to code but is it really that important?  Well, if you were to enter the wrong code or forgot to update the code when you switched to a new lot, you automatically will get inaccurate results.  This appears to be more FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) from companies trying to push a product than it is a real problem.  Personally, I've never had a problem with it. 

I suppose if you travel a lot or if you have to test a lot and keep your machine with you, then size might be an issue where you will want to keep it with you in your pocket or your purse.  For the vast majority of us, though, we test in our bathroom, right?  You throw your meter on the counter until next time.  So why does it matter the size of the thing? Most of the meters are pretty small anyway so this is not a big deal.

If you're challenged by programming a VCR, you're probably not going to want a super complex meter.  Now some of you need to report results to the Doc, so in that case it might be important to you.  But, the vast majority of us just need to know a value and that we're doing ok and we don't really care much more than that.   Most systems will store your results and even give you a running average and all.  What more flashy stuff do you really need?  If you have Type I diabetes, it might be more important to you to have more smarts or data cables linked to your computer and such, but most of us don't care about all of that.  If you're just set on looking for a smart system, check out the OneTouch UltraSmart, it's cool and has more features than you can shake a stick at or possibly understand!  I have used one and sometimes it is nice to look at all the information.  A PC and a spreadsheet can be easier than some complex meters.

Test strips go for about $1 each at the pharmacies and about $0.35 to $0.50 each on ebay.  If your insurance covers it, then really who cares at all the price of test strips.  I haven't really noticed where you an get a better deal with one monitor than another so don't really look too hard at the price of the test strips to govern your purchase of a meter.  Don't buy a meter because the test strips are cheap anyway.  You're not doing yourself a favor.  Don't buy expired strips.  You wouldn't buy expired milk would you?  No one will guarantee results of expired strips so don't even think about it.  Isn't your health imporant enough to do it right?

You can find out more about test strips i recommend, glucose monitor reviews and other diabetic information on my other guides.

If you go to your local Pharmacy and you can't find your meter being sold anymore that probably means you should upgrade.  The meter is not being sold anymore for a reason!  IT'S OLD and OBSOLETE!  So get a new one.  Yikes! if you're still using a meter that needs a whole drop of blood to test!  Most of the new meters only need a blood sample the size of a pin head (0.3 to 1uL).  Yikes! again if your meter takes 30 seconds to test!  Most of the new meters take 5 seconds.  You may be going through  unnecessary pain and trouble by using an old machine.  You might could upgrade your glucose meter and  make life a lot better for your glucose testing.  You don't have to plunge the lancet so far in to get that much blood out so it makes sampling virtually painless.  Also, many of the new monitors let you sample from your forearm where there are less nerves so you  might not feel a lancet at all!  Please, if you're still on an old machine, then upgrade!  Your test strips won't be much more expensive if at all (usually they are the same price).  Also, you might could get a new monitor very inexpensive on ebay or sometimes even free after rebate!  Some companies have upgrade programs when they come out with a new meter.  It's silly to fool with old glucose monitors!  Upgrade! 

Here's some current models (10/2006). Don't see your model listed?  Hmmm.  Figured it out for yourself.  Investigate it!  Your meter might just be fine for you so don't take offense.

* = These meters seem to be the most popular!
@ = My personal favorites!  (but hey, that's just me!)
f = I experienced poor customer service

S=No longer sold

o=BD is getting out of the Blood Glucose Monitoring Business