Best Glucometer (blood sugar) in Thailand?

[OneMoreFarang]

I have diabetes, treated with tablets. I want to measure my blood sugar level from time to time.

I used to have a Glucometer from Beurer, but the supply for the test strips and needles was difficult.

What is a reliable brand and maybe model of a Glucometer which is common in Thailand.

I like quality, it does not have to be the cheapest.

Thanks

 

Something like this

 

[KhunLA]

Not inexpensive, but if I was diagnosed as 'diabetic' and on insulin, I think I go with a CGM.   IF constantly monitoring, and adjusting one's diet, you may become un-diabetic, and not need the meds.  

 

Though it would require adjusting one's intake of pleasurable foods   Actually, isn't that hard, as I've made the adjustment, since was getting close to pre diabetic myself.

 

Even easier to do if you love CheeseCake, as homemade, and you can cut the sugar content to less than half, and won't even miss it.  If anything, taste better.

 

From your previous post, you do seem content to have meds & your sweets & starchy carbs.   

 

I've used the 'urine' litmus strips, for glucose & ketone levels, and surprisingly accurate, (tested before & after blood work results) and very inexpensive.  Though probably not as accurate or precise, for what you want.

 

LAZ ... "Easy to detect Leukocytes, Nitrite, Urobilinogen, Protein, pH, Blood, Spcific Gravity, Ketone, Bilirubin, Glucose."

 

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not inexpensive, but if I was diagnosed as 'diabetic' and on insulin, I think I go with a CGM.   IF constantly monitoring, and adjusting one's diet, you may become un-diabetic, and not need the meds.  

 

Though it would require adjusting one's intake of pleasurable foods   Actually, isn't that hard, as I've made the adjustment, since was getting close to pre diabetic myself.

 

Even easier to do if you love CheeseCake, as homemade, and you can cut the sugar content to less than half, and won't even miss it.  If anything, taste better.

 

From your previous post, you do seem content to have meds & your sweets & starchy carbs.   

 

I've used the 'urine' litmus strips, for glucose & ketone levels, and surprisingly accurate, (tested before & after blood work results) and very inexpensive.  Though probably not as accurate or precise, for what you want.

 

LAZ ... "Easy to detect Leukocytes, Nitrite, Urobilinogen, Protein, pH, Blood, Spcific Gravity, Ketone, Bilirubin, Glucose."

 

 

Thanks, and I confirm "From your previous post, you do seem content to have meds & your sweets & starchy carbs. ". 😉

 

A long time ago I looked into these urine strips. It seems they are only useful up to about 150 (I forgot the unit).

Over that the kidneys make you pee all the time to get rid of the excessive blood sugar - as far as I understand.

 

Normally I have <150 blood sugar, but it could happen that I have above that. For that reason, I want to use a blood sugar meter like above to be sure to have accurate values also above 150 (hopefully not too often). 

 

 

 

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

In USA they have ones now that do not require pricking your finger. And they are not expensive, but not available here yet. 

[1FinickyOne]

17 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Thanks, and I confirm "From your previous post, you do seem content to have meds & your sweets & starchy carbs. ". 😉

 

A long time ago I looked into these urine strips. It seems they are only useful up to about 150 (I forgot the unit).

Over that the kidneys make you pee all the time to get rid of the excessive blood sugar - as far as I understand.

 

Normally I have <150 blood sugar, but it could happen that I have above that. For that reason, I want to use a blood sugar meter like above to be sure to have accurate values also above 150 (hopefully not too often). 

 

 

 

 

 

my friend says it fluctuates quite a bit, daily - he can be anywhere between 1-200

[OneMoreFarang]

Just now, 1FinickyOne said:

my friend says it fluctuates quite a bit, daily - he can be anywhere between 1-200

Obviously, it depends if you just eat or drink something, etc.

When I visit my doctor I in the morning I should not eat or drink anything over night. And then the result is relative constant, for me mostly about 120 to 140.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

In USA they have ones now that do not require pricking your finger. And they are not expensive, but not available here yet. 

 

Thanks. I don't care about the needle. For me it is important that it is accurate easily available in Thailand.

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Obviously, it depends if you just eat or drink something, etc.

When I visit my doctor I in the morning I should not eat or drink anything over night. And then the result is relative constant, for me mostly about 120 to 140.

Still in diabetic range.

 

You need better blood sugar control, obviously.

 

In terms of brands of meters, , AccuCheck is the most commonly used & reliable type here. The strips are expensive but easy to come by, pretty much any pharmacy has them.

 

And the company provides good tech support.

 

For periodic assessments at a lab or hospital/clinic, Hb1ac is better than fasting sugar for a number of reasons. The fasting sugar captures only your glucose at one point in time, before eating. It is fairly easy to "game" this by following a better diet for a few days before testing, and people may do this even without consciously realizing it.  Hb1ac on the other hand is an average over several months and captures nto only glucose before eating but after eating as well. So a better overall picture of what is going on.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

23 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Still in diabetic range.

 

You need better blood sugar control, obviously.

 

In terms of brands of meters, , AccuCheck is the most commonly used & reliable type here. The strips are expensive but easy to come by, pretty much any pharmacy has them.

 

And the company provides good tech support.

 

For periodic assessments at a lab or hospital/clinic, Hb1ac is better than fasting sugar for a number of reasons. The fasting sugar captures only your glucose at one point in time, before eating. It is fairly easy to "game" this by following a better diet for a few days before testing, and people may do this even without consciously realizing it.  Hb1ac on the other hand is an average over several months and captures nto only glucose before eating but after eating as well. So a better overall picture of what is going on.

 

 

 

Thanks Sheryl

 

I see a doctor regularly and he does all those tests.

My idea to buy another glucometer is so that I can check my blood sugar level from time to time when I want to know the level at that moment.

 

I just ordered it.

[Mentors65]

Contour Plus on Lazada.  Hospitals in Switzerland and Germany use this Contour Brand. (Bayer). Very accurate

[Lacessit]

IIRC there is a phone app that can be installed.

 It takes a reading from a test strip. Perhaps Sheryl can comment on the accuracy.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

IIRC there is a phone app that can be installed.

 It takes a reading from a test strip. Perhaps Sheryl can comment on the accuracy.

 

This one seems to transfer the data to a phone app. I ordered it yesterday.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2690083651-s9699058332.html

 

[ignis]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

This one seems to transfer the data to a phone app. I ordered it yesterday.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2690083651-s9699058332.html

 

Love the statement "you should not use the information obtained from this measurement for self-diagnosis or self-prescription."

 

So what is the point of using ?   I use Accu-Chek meter and have done for many years, I NEED to know each morning my reading so I can have the amount of Insulin I need... this morning 114 so normal amount of insulin, last week had 2 different days were I was low 56 and 69 = adjusted my Insulin to NON if 90 or below take less Insulin so 100% do use my meter for self-diagnosis or self-prescription

 

Accu-Chek test strips I buy for the same place 'The Good Dr Pharmacy'  around 800 baht for 100 strips with postage, takes around 5 days to arrive [clear customs + delivery]   use the same place for around 5 years.   Cheapest I could find in BKK was on Rama 4 cost 1.250 baht, as for local Pharmacies very few stock them + normally is 25 strips for about 450 baht !!

 

Would love the CGM but the cost it very high - the sensor must be changed every 14 days - I did speak to a Rep at Abbotts the ongoing cost is around 1,000 baht per month     Yes fed up with 30 odd years of finger pricks

 

As for the Hb1ac test, yes is done every 3 months = show I am good for years now 6.1 - 6.3...  but will not show the odd days I dropped far to low and need to have less insulin....  had I relied only on the Hb1ac  test I would have gone into a Diabetic Coma long ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, ignis said:

Love the statement "you should not use the information obtained from this measurement for self-diagnosis or self-prescription."

 

In other words, talk with a doctor before doing stupid things. Unfortunately, some people have to be told that it's not a good idea to just meddle around with medication. 

[Sheryl]

People who are adjusting their insulin dosage based on blood glucose readings would normally be doing so according to instructions from their doctor,  and  that would not be considered "self prescription".

[thailand49]

I got mines at Facino, here in Pattaya a number years ago they have a number of brands mines cost 1500 baht.  Make sure you can easily access the strips which is expensive. 

[RocketDog]

It's important to note that the three methods mentioned so far test different blood.

The needle pricks measure arterial blood, the CGM uses interstitial fluid, and the AC1, if done properly uses actual venous blood. There are conversion factors that adjust the differences.

 

If one is persistent one can simply use the accu check unit to take a reading several times during the day and night over a longer period of time to get a daily cycle profile. It's important to also note each reading with data on what you eat throughout the day. The more data you have the more you will understand your personal situation.

 

Doctor visits are important but first hand information is invaluable. Each person is different. Know yourself and the cheap but accurate meters empower you to do so at low cost.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, RocketDog said:

It's important to note that the three methods mentioned so far test different blood.

The needle pricks measure arterial blood, the CGM uses interstitial fluid, and the AC1, if done properly uses actual venous blood. There are conversion factors that adjust the differences.

Needle prick is not arterial. Far fom it.

 

It is capillary blood. 

[OneMoreFarang]

I received my new ACCU-CHEK Instant. It's easy to use and has an app to connect to.

I won't use it regularly so I will get some experience with it but probably not enough to report here.

[OneMoreFarang]

Some time ago when I had my Beurer device similar to the picture above, I measured my blood sugar with that device a few minutes before my blood was drawn by a nurse for lab analysis. The values were relatively near to each other.

I didn't try this many times, so I don't know if that is usual. 

[animatic]

Accu-Chek Guide Me is working fine.

find strips easily and doc is happy with accuracy

[billd766]

On 1/1/2025 at 4:28 PM, Sheryl said:

Still in diabetic range.

 

You need better blood sugar control, obviously.

 

In terms of brands of meters, , AccuCheck is the most commonly used & reliable type here. The strips are expensive but easy to come by, pretty much any pharmacy has them.

 

And the company provides good tech support.

 

For periodic assessments at a lab or hospital/clinic, Hb1ac is better than fasting sugar for a number of reasons. The fasting sugar captures only your glucose at one point in time, before eating. It is fairly easy to "game" this by following a better diet for a few days before testing, and people may do this even without consciously realizing it.  Hb1ac on the other hand is an average over several months and captures nto only glucose before eating but after eating as well. So a better overall picture of what is going on.

 

 

I have been using an Accu Chek Active for about 18 months now. I do a blood sugar check every Monday morning first thing.

 

Most of the time I am in the pre diabetic stage with the readings between 5.6 

mmol/L or 101mg/dl up to 6.8mmol/L and 123mg/dl, but sometimes it goes past that into the red area of 7.2 or 130.

 

It normally goes back down a week or 2 later.

 

The lancets are mostly common but the test strips can vary from model to model of the tester.

 

I am fortunate enough not to need or use insulin.

[RocketDog]

On 1/4/2025 at 10:15 AM, Sheryl said:

Needle prick is not arterial. Far fom it.

 

It is capillary blood. 

Sure is red!

"Far from it" is a bit misleading. Venous and arterial blood are in fact very close to each in the capillaries. So a needle prick is a mixture of arterial,venous, and interstitial fluid liquids if fact; that's the purpose of capillary beds after all.

 

https://www.labce.com/spg296242_venous_arterial_and_capillary_blood_specimens.aspx

 

"Capillary Blood

Capillary blood is obtained from capillary beds that consist of the smallest veins (venules) and arteries (arterioles) of the circulatory system. The venules and arterioles join together in capillary beds, forming a mixture of venous and arterial blood. The specimen from a dermal puncture will therefore be a mixture of arterial and venous blood along with interstitial and intracellular fluids.

Capillary blood is often the specimen of choice for infants, very young children, elderly patients with fragile veins, and severely burned patients. Point-of-care testing is often performed using a capillary blood specimen."

 

So where in the capillary bed does arterial blood change to venous blood?? I've done animal surgery and never seen a black demarcation line. AC1 doesn't use capillary blood for exactly that reason; it is drawn from a vein. Also, venous pressure in the extremities is very low, so without arterial pressure the blood drop would take a much longer time to form than it actually does.

 

You're right, but I'm not wrong. Or, I'm right but you're not wrong. Take your pick.

 

I'm not challenging your authority or experience, but I have some myself, just in a different area I'm guessing.

 

From 1974-1979 I was the principal biomedical electronic engineer on an NIH grant to develop an artificial left ventricular assist device; Dr. Micheal DeBakey was the Principal Investigator. I've patented and published several papers on heart valves and valve testing. I've  spent my share of time time in OR and wet lab and performed numerous animal surgeries myself. I have spent many hours with some of the best cardiovascular surgeons in the world and long ago learned that they are not gods with all the answers; nobody is. The human body is a mysterious and tremendously complex thing.

 

I always advocate for patients to be active and informed as possible and to always question their primary care physicians until they understand the issues.