The glucose meter is not the only approach to testing glucose (blood sugar). However, it is considered the most accurate home method for measuring day-to-day glucose control.

Other home glucose testing methods include:

• Visually read blood glucose strips. These strips require a blood sample to be applied to a chemically coated test strip. The test pad on the strip then changes color accordingly. The more glucose is present in the blood the greater the color change on the test pad. The user then compares the color on the test pad to a color chart on the side of the vial and estimates the blood glucose level.
  
  
• Visually read urine strips. Glucose can also be present in urine, and there are several urine tests available on the market. Some require the strip to be dipped in a cup of urine, and others need to be passed through a stream of urine. The chemically coated test pad then reacts with the glucose in the sample and changes color accordingly. The test pad is then compared to a color chart on the side of the vial.    
  
  
• Glycohemoglobin test (A1C test). This test measures a person’s average blood glucose level over the past two to three months. Hemoglobin is a protein component of red blood cells that transports oxygen to the cells in the body. Hemoglobin combines with glucose to make glycosylated hemoglobin. The test shows the amount of glucose that sticks to the red blood cells, which is proportional to the amount of glucose in the blood. It can be said the test is reading the “memory” of the red blood cells’ activity. A diabetic patient’s typical target result for the A1C test is 7 percent or less, and testing is recommended at least twice a year.
  
  
• Visually read ketone urine strips. Ketones are in the urine if fat is being used instead of glucose for energy. This occurs because insulin is either not available or very low to break down glucose. Elevated ketones are one indication of uncontrolled diabetes. It is important to follow the directions and notify one’s physician of the results.