Are glucometers for home use accurate?

Q: Can you suggest a good glucometer for home use? We have heard that the instant variety is less accurate compared to the ones used in the diagnostic labs.

A:The new generation of glucometers use electron generation sensor technology. These are more accurate than older ones where colour change was measured. The new generation glucometers are - Accutrend Sensor / SmartScan, etc. Glucometers use capillary blood - not venous blood. Hence the values tend to be 10-14% higher than laboratory values. Glucometers are very good for blood glucose monitoring but not for diagnosis of diabetes.