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Accu-Chek manufactures blood glucose meters that people can use to monitor their diabetes. People can purchase bundles and subscriptions through the company’s website.
This article provides information on Accu-Chek and the blood glucose monitors the company provides. We also list some alternative options for monitoring blood glucose levels and answer some common questions about Accu-Chek products.
A quick look at Accu-Chek meters
- Best for an easy-to-read display: Accu-Chek Guide Me Meter
- Best backlit device: Accu-Chek Guide Meter
- Best for use with Medtronic devices: Accu-Chek Guide Link Meter
- Best for reminders: Accu-Chek Aviva Meter
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Accu-Chek is a brand of products for people with diabetes. The company Roche Diabetes Care, Inc. manufactures Accu-chek products, which include:
- blood glucose monitors
- lancets
- test strips
- control solutions
At the time of publishing, Accu-Chek announced an urgent medical device correction. Some test strips in the Accu-Chek Aviva Plus and Accu-Chek Smartview vials may be open or unsealed. If a person sees that any of their test strip containers are open, they must not use them. They should instead contact Accu-Chek and arrange to receive replacements.
Accu-Chek meters are for people with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, which are
People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin. Conversely, those with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their body’s cells do not respond correctly to the hormone. As a result, glucose does not enter cells and instead builds up in the blood.
Accu-Chek meters help people with diabetes to self-monitor their blood glucose levels. This is important since excessive blood glucose levels can cause health complications, such as:
Neither Accu-Chek nor its parent company, Roche Diabetes Care, Inc., currently have listings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.
However, Accu-Chek has a listing on Trustpilot, where it has a rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
Some of the Accu-Chek blood glucose monitors are compatible with the mySugar app. This app offers a personalized data logging screen and allows users to add or remove fields depending on their therapy needs.
People can also access blood glucose graphs to see how much their blood sugar levels are fluctuating.
At the time of publishing, Accu-Chek manufactures four different blood glucose devices. However, the company is discontinuing the Accu-Chek Aviva Meter.
Below are the blood glucose meters available on the company’s website.
Best for an easy-to-read display: Accu-Chek Guide Me Meter
The Guide Me meter requires a 0.6 microliter (mcl) blood sample and produces results in under 4 seconds. The product requires Accu-Chek Guide test strips.
This meter has a large LCD screen that displays results in an easy-to-read format. The product also features Bluetooth connectivity.
The meter can hold up to 720 diary records and 30 control results. It is compatible with the mySugar app.
At the time of publishing, the Accu-Chek Guide Me Meter costs $14.99. However, people have the option to receive a free meter if they subscribe to a monthly delivery of test strips. A person does not need insurance to subscribe and can use their Flexible Savings Account card.
Best backlit device: Accu-Chek Guide Meter
The Accu-Chek Guide meter requires a 0.6 mcl blood sample and can produce results in less than 4 seconds. The product requires Accu-Chek Guide test strips.
The Guide Meter has an easy-to-read LCD with a backlight, allowing users to read their results at all times of the day. The meter also features Bluetooth connectivity.
This product can hold up to 720 diary records and 32 control results. It automatically uploads all results to the mySugar app.
At the time of publishing, the Accu-Chek Guide Meter costs $29.99.
Best for use with Medtronic devices: Accu-Chek Guide Link Meter
Accu-Chek’s Guide Link meter returns results within 4 seconds.
The LCD features a backlight, and the device has a memory of up to 720 diary records and 32 control results.
Additionally, the Guide Link Meter has Bluetooth connectivity. Accu-Chek states this device serves as a companion to the Medtronic MiniMed 770G hybrid pump.
At the time of publishing, the Accu-Chek Guide Link Meter is not available for purchase on the company’s website.
Best for reminders: Accu-Chek Aviva Meter
The Accu-Chek Aviva Meter can issue results in 5 seconds. It features a memory of 500 blood glucose results and 20 control tests.
This product has an LCD and an infrared window for data transfer. The Aviva Meter is compatible with the mySugar app, and the device sends reminders to check a person’s blood glucose levels.
While Accu-Chek is discontinuing this product, people can still purchase the Aviva test strips.
Below are some advantages and disadvantages of Accu-Chek.
Pros
- The Accu-Chek Guide Me Meter is free with a monthly test strip delivery subscription.
- Blood glucose meters feature easy-to-read LCD screens.
- Blood glucose meters return results in under 5 seconds.
- Accu-Chek meters feature Bluetooth connectivity.
- A flexible savings account can cover the costs of the product.
Cons
- Some Accu-Chek blood glucose meters are not compatible with the mySugar app.
- Accu-Chek blood glucose meters are only compatible with Accu-Chek test strips.
- The meters have a short battery life.
- Some products are discontinued or currently unavailable for purchase.
There are few customer reviews for Accu-Chek available through vetted organizations such as the BBB and Trustpilot. Of those available, positive reviews praised the company’s customer service department and shipping service, while negative reviews complained about the meter’s short battery life. One customer on Trustpilot gives Accu-Chek a 1-star rating, stating that they received a faulty product that gave an inaccurate reading.
Amazon lists multiple product reviews for individual Accu-Chek products. Many reviewers describe the Accu-Chek Guide Meter as good value and easy to use, while some state that the product came with missing or dead batteries.
Below are some tips on how to get started with an Accu-Chek meter.
Ordering through the Accu-Chek website
Currently, consumers can receive an Accu-Chek Guide Me meter or an Accu-Chek Guide meter for free. They simply visit the company’s website, hover over the drop-down bar at the top of the landing page, and then click on meters.
Once on the meters page, a person should click the “learn more” button for the Accu-Chek Guide Me meter or the Accu-Chek Guide meter. They can then click the “get it free” button and will land on a page with a form at the bottom. They can fill in and submit the form to receive a free meter.
Ordering via Amazon
The Accu-Chek Guide Me meter and Accu-Chek Guide meter are also available for purchase on Amazon.
Consumers may save money by purchasing bundles of Accu-Chek products on Amazon. These bundles may include a meter, lancets, and test strips. People can also purchase Accu-Chek SoftClix lancing devices that come with test strips.
Ordering through a pharmacy
Consumers may save on Accu-Chek products through their pharmacy with the Accu-Chek Pharmacy Discount Program.
To benefit from the program, people must log on to the Accu-Chek website and fill out a form to receive a coupon. A person can then call their doctor for a prescription for Accu-Chek products. They can then take both the coupon and the prescription to their pharmacy to receive the products at a discounted price.
Using the start kit
Accu-Chek offers a Simply Start kit that currently costs around $49.99. The kit contains the following items:
- an Accu-Chek Guide Me meter, which includes an Accu-Chek Softclix lancing device
- a pack of 102 Accu-Chek FastClix lancets or 100 Accu-Chek Softclix lancets
- a pack of 100 Accu-Chek Guide test strips
Consumers may then also save on refills through the Simply Refill program.
When purchasing a glucose monitoring device, a person can choose from several brands and device types, including:
- Dario Health: This company’s blood glucose monitoring system requires a blood sample size of 0.3 mcl. It does not require any cables or batteries, and it can track diabetes metrics, physical activity, and medication intake.
- Contour Next: This brand manufactures different blood glucose monitors, some of which are compatible with the Contour Diabetes app. People can purchase test strips through the company’s website.
- Dexcom: This brand manufactures the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. This is a glucose monitoring device that sits against a person’s skin to measure levels of glucose in the fluid between cells. The device does not require calibration or test strips. Learn more about Dexcom.
The table below compares Accu-Chek products with the other types of blood glucose monitoring products above.
| Accu-Chek | Dario Health | Contour Next | Dexcom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requires lancets | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Compatible app | mySugar | Dario app | Contour app | Dexcom G6 app |
| Insurance coverage | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Price for starter kit | $49.99 | $29.99 | free meters, $19.99 for test strips package | varies due to insurance coverage |
The
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides the following target ranges for blood glucose levels:
| Before a meal | 80–130 mg/dl |
|---|---|
| 1–2 hours after beginning a meal | less than 180 mg/dl |
A blood glucose meter is useful for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It may also benefit individuals with other conditions that affect blood glucose levels.
The ADA recommends that the following people monitor their blood glucose levels:
- people who are pregnant
- people who have low blood sugar levels
- people who require insulin medication
- people who have ketones from high blood sugar
Below are some frequently asked questions about Accu-Chek meters.
Which Accu-Chek model is the best?
The best Accu-Chek model for an individual depends on their needs.
According to the Diabetes Technology Society, all Accu-Chek’s blood glucose meters are accurate.
People may wish to consider which testing strips they use and whether they will use the mySugar app before purchasing a meter.
How much does Accu-Chek cost?
The price of an Accu-Chek meter depends on the model.
At the time of publishing, the cost of an Accu-Chek meter starts from $13.98. However, people can receive a blood glucose meter for free when subscribing to monthly test strip deliveries.
How do I use an Accu-Chek meter?
A person should check the Accu-Chek manual for instructions on how to use their particular device.
Some general instructions recommend:
- washing hands before inserting the test strip into the meter
- lancing the fingertip
- holding the edge of the test strip to the blood
- reading the results on the meter
People should contact a doctor if their blood glucose levels are higher or lower than usual over an extended period.
The
Additionally, people should speak with their doctor at least twice a year and should make annual appointments with the following healthcare professionals to screen for any diabetes complications:
- a dentist
- an eye doctor, or ophthalmologist
- a foot doctor, or podiatrist”
Additionally, the ADA suggests people seek medical advice before starting any new physical activity. A healthcare professional can advise a person on which activities are safe and whether any exercise will impact the effectiveness of their medication.
Accu-Chek manufactures four blood glucose meters that help individuals monitor their blood glucose levels. The devices can help people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to effectively manage their condition.
All Accu-Chek meters produce blood glucose readings in under 5 seconds and display the results on an easy-to-read LCD screen. Some meters are also compatible with the mySugar app, which allows people to assess fluctuations in their blood glucose levels over time.
People should see their doctor at least twice a year for a checkup. They should also contact their doctor between checkups if their blood glucose levels are frequently higher or lower than usual.
Please note: Medical News Today does not imply warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or endorse any of these applications. Nobody at MNT has evaluated these apps for medical accuracy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved them unless otherwise indicated.