- Wealth of tracking features
- Easy to use
- Excellent accuracy
- Compact
- Backlit screen for easy night testing
- Expensive meter and test strips
- User must type in test-strip code
- Requires more blood than others
- No talking feature for the sight-impaired
Unlike pared-down blood glucose meters, the OneTouch UltraSmart packs powerful software into its palm-sized case. Although experts say it's easy enough for a child to use for basic glucose testing, the whole point of this expensive meter is its enormous memory (it stores more than 3,000 records) and ability to track everything that might pertain to your diabetes -- when and what you ate, how long and hard you exercised, what time you took your insulin or diabetes pills and the results of your last eye and foot exams. The UltraSmart can generate on-screen graphs to show your glucose levels by date or time of day, or you can download your data onto a computer to tap the greater power of OneTouch's diabetes management software. A backlit screen helps with night testing. However, the UltraSmart doesn't read the codes on your test strips automatically -- you have to enter them by hand -- and it takes a bigger drop of blood than other meters, such as the Bayer Contour (*Est. $20) or ReliOn Micro (*Est. $9). If you don't plan to use the UltraSmart's advanced features, reviews say you're better off buying one of these less expensive -- but still accurate -- blood glucose meters.
ConsumerReports.org ranks the OneTouch UltraSmart against its rivals based on ease-of-use tests, and a Men's Health article refers to another Consumer Reports test of consistency and accuracy. ChildrenWithDiabetes.com judges the OneTouch UltraSmart solely on whether it is suitable for children to use. DiabetesWellBeing.com critiques all major features of the OneTouch UltraSmart. Epinions.com and Drugstore.com both post user reviews.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
The OneTouch UltraSmart is among the 15 blood glucose monitors tested for ease of use at ConsumerReports.org. Editors note each meter's testing speed and annual test-strip cost and rank the meters from best to worst. Some general information is available for free here, but ratings are for subscribers only.
Review: Blood-Glucose Meters, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Dec. 2009
2. Men's Health
The OneTouch UltraSmart earns the highest rating of "excellent" for accuracy and ease of use/features in this test, and a "good" rating for consistency. This article refers to a Consumer Reports test that judged all of these criteria.
Review: The 10 Best Blood-Glucose Meters, Editors of Men's Health
3. ChildrenWithDiabetes.com
The OneTouch UltraSmart offers powerful data analysis, but it's also simple enough for children to master, making it one of this educational organization's top-rated blood glucose monitors for kids.
Review: OneTouch UltraSmart, Editors of ChildrenWithDiabetes.com, Sept. 22, 2007
4. DiabetesWellBeing.com
The OneTouch UltraSmart "is arguably the Lexus, Cadillac and Mercedes (take your pick) of glucose meters," reviewer Erich Schultz says. Advanced programming and data analysis capabilities are its standout features.
Review: OneTouch UltraSmart Glucose Meter Review, Erich Schultz
5. Epinions.com
With an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars over a dozen reviews, the OneTouch UltraSmart is the top-rated glucose meter at Epinions.com. These user reviews are filled with helpful details, and each one includes a list of pros and cons.
Review: Onetouch Ultrasmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System, Contributors to Epinions.com
6. Drugstore.com
User reviews here aren't as helpful as those at Epinions.com. All 10 give the OneTouch UltraSmart a perfect score, and few contain any criticism.
Review: OneTouch UltraSmart Blood Glucose Monitoring System, Contributors to Drugstore.com
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