The Fast Facts
- If you have diabetes, monitoring your blood sugar is essential. But traditional finger-prick tests can be uncomfortable and time consuming.
- Blood sugar monitors without finger pricks have emerged in recent years, with some offering apps or professional support to track and interpret your glucose data.
- Below are our top three picks, including the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus, which we recommend for its discreet, comfortable wear.
Finger stick monitors have long been a mainstay in diabetes management, but pricking your finger multiple times a day can be painful and time consuming.
Monitoring blood sugar remains essential, and how often you do so depends on your diagnosis and treatment plan. Factors like stress, illness, and exercise can also affect readings.
In recent years, several new technologies have emerged to create blood sugar monitors without finger pricks. Instead, these continuous glucose monitors (CGM) detect glucose through interstitial fluid in skin tissues.
Read on to learn about these noninvasive options and how to discuss them with your doctor.
Discover more about Type 2 Diabetes
Other meters being developed
Besides the above CGMs, other meters are being developed that do not require blood samples.
Other technologies may soon help improve diabetes management without the need for finger pricks. However, stand-alone smartwatches, contact lenses, and other buzzworthy devices haven’t yet proven to accurately measure blood glucose.
Above all, we included continuous glucose monitors that are reportedly the most accurate.
Other items we looked at include:
- Insurance coverage and price: We looked at CGMs that are either low cost out-of-pocket or covered fully or partially by insurance, helping make them more accessible.
- Ease of use: Devices should be straightforward to set up and navigate, since you’ll be checking glucose readings and trends multiple times a day.
- Size and comfort: CGMs are worn on the body, so we prioritized models that fit securely and discreetly, with easy-to-read apps or monitors on the go.
- Accessibility: We included devices with helpful accessibility features, such as alarms you can hear or feel.
- Durability: CGMs need to stay securely on the body, withstand daily activity, and provide consistent, accurate readings throughout the sensor’s wear period.
- Special features: Features like Bluetooth connectivity, customizable alerts, trend tracking, and flexible sensor wear can improve convenience and fit different lifestyles.
- User experiences and reviews: We considered feedback from real users to see how devices perform in everyday life.
CGMs require a doctor’s prescription and are typically covered by private health insurance as well as Medicare. Depending on your plan, you may still have out-of-pocket costs. Keep in mind that insurance companies may be less willing to cover meters that have additional features that aren’t considered necessities.
If you don’t have insurance, you can still obtain a prescription for a CGM. It’s estimated that CGMs cost at least $100 per month without insurance.
You may ask the pharmacist or manufacturer about possible coupons and discounts to help offset the costs.
Yes, there are devices that can check blood sugar without pricking your finger. These are called continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).
A CGM uses a small sensor that sits on or just under the skin, often on your arm or abdomen, to measure glucose levels in the fluid around your cells. The sensor continuously tracks your blood sugar and sends the data to a compatible smartphone or reader.
Popular options include Freestyle Libre 3 Plus and Eversense 365.
Noninvasive glucose meters such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are considered both convenient and effective.
A 2024 study found CGM’s are generally more effective than traditional finger-prick meters for many people with diabetes. Veterans with type 2 diabetes found CGM use lowered their average blood sugar over time by nearly 1%, compared with fingerstick testing.
CGMs provide continuous data, helping fine-tune treatment, though more invasive methods, like finger-prick tests, may occasionally still be needed.
Currently, there are no smartwatches that can measure blood sugar directly.
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against smartwatches or smart rings that claim to measure blood glucose levels without piercing the skin. These products are not FDA-approved and may provide inaccurate readings, which could be dangerous for people managing diabetes.
Some smartwatches can pair with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), however, allowing users to view glucose readings on their wrist in real time.
While traditional blood glucose meters remain standard, noninvasive options are continuously being developed to make checking your blood glucose easier and less painful.
If you’re looking for a blood sugar monitor without finger pricks, a noninvasive CGM can also measure your glucose. Depending on the type of meter you choose, you may have to wear a sensor on different areas of the body and switch it out after a certain amount of time.
Talk with your doctor about your concerns with blood glucose monitoring, and whether a noninvasive meter may better fit your needs.