DARIO Smart Glucose Monitor Kit | Lightning Adapter (Compatible with iPhone 14 and earlier) | Test Blood Sugar Levels & Manage Diabetes, Testing Kit Includes: Glucometer with 25 Strips, 10 lancets

I rarely have the time or interest in writing product reviews. However, after some initial skepticism the Dario reader astounded me and has me convinced it’s the best on the market! It is designed and engineered so well, almost like a tiny flash thumb drive with everything you need to seamlessly use on the go. I can only imagine the case for it that I just ordered will heighten the experience. So just to be clear, I’m not diabetic nor in the pre-diabetic range. Since blood sugar is so important for weight loss and overall health I was interested in casual monitoring. I was looking at CGM (continual glucose monitors) like Levels, Signos, NutriSense but the cost of these programs really add up quick! Instead, I gave the ContourNext One a try. It’s also small and the test strips are similar. To be fair, I never synced it with the app but I really never got to that point. The design of this one is also compact and cute, however I had soooo many bad test strips and it constantly asked me to add more blood, which seemed weird being someone who isn’t used to all the finger pricking. I finally called them and they agreed to send me a replacement unit saying the one I had might defective. The replacement actually does work slightly better and I use it as comparison to the Dario to check that one of the units isn’t way off. Meanwhile, I decided to take a chance on Dario. From the get go the experience was fun interactive and light. It doesn’t have a clinical medical feel like the Contour, but in comparing the measurements they are both pretty spot on with each other. The app is super easy to navigate, and the reading takes very little blood and have had no bad strips. The lancet and pricking also seems more subtle but it’s consistent and I get the same amount of blood each time without feeling I have to stick myself again and again like with the Contour. I was just a tad off-put with how much personal info they wanted right away, however it felt more in a ‘startup tech’ kind of way not as an invasion of my medical privacy. Also, the app is full of useful tidbits of info and videos for regulating blood sugar and overall wellness without being too preachy. The A1c estimate after the first batch of readings is also helpful. Overall, great job Dario! I’ll probably be subscribing to get the unlimited test strips for at least a short while until I can really get a grasp of what foods spike glucose, my fasting glucose, glucose challenge/tolerance, etc. I may even try their BP monitor as well!

So found out that I'm a diabetic (no surprise, father is type 2 and found out in his 50s as well) so I immediately started looking for a tester that was pocket size, easy to use, and easy to read. I kept coming back to the Dario unit because I always have my phone with me and the fact that it just plugs into the phone and works with an app really impressed me. My only concern was how accurate it would be, and some of the reviews have been all over the place on accuracy. The only other concern was the proprietary nature of the strips themselves. I've not tried different strips in this, but since I've been using this for the last couple of months, the only real issue I've run into is sometimes, almost randomly, some of the strips read as having been used and they haven't been. It's maybe 2-3% total, so not significant but it always seems to happen at a bad time. Ease of use has been great, plug into the phone, open the app, insert strip, do the jab (the different settings are great, I have two fingers that only work on maximum so it's nice being able to adjust it) and then put a tiny amount on the strip. It doesn't take much blood at all, and the strips suck up the blood pretty quickly. I have to test on the run sometimes and it's nice that the bare minimum of blood is needed for a successful test. I got some test solutions to check accuracy and also compared it with the tester my doctor’s office uses and was quite happy to find that samples were generally within 5 points so accuracy hasn’t been an issue at all from what I can check. I got a case for it, but in a pinch I can carry it in a pocket without the case and still be able to test comfortably (I used it while at a basketball game in the stands without issue). It's so small even other diabetics see it and want to know what it is and how it works and get excited when I show them. For the price and simplicity of use and need for a tiny amount of blood I couldn't be happier with this device.

DARIO It is not very often that I come across a product that truly behaves the way that it says it will. As a person who is on the fence, with getting diabetes or not getting diabetes, i’ve always checked my blood glucose levels anytime I had visual disturbances or any other unknown symptoms. I was testing my blood sugar a couple weeks ago and I had an extremely high blood sugar. I called the company, to see if they had any advice for me. We later discovered my strips were very old and we’re no longer accurate. They sent me some new test strips and advise me of the expiration date on the product when it is purchased. This was totally my fault for not observing the expiration dates. When I got the new strips my blood sugar tested fine. During this time I had numerous test done at my local hospital and doctors office. And they were all fine. So it was kind of difficult for the doctors to understand why I was getting such a number that was so far off at home. But once we found out the strips are expired and now I was back to normal. Now back to this unit. I have had numerous other blood glucose testing kits. This is by far the best one I have ever had. It is so amazing how so much stuff is packed and do something so small. Everything from the strips to the iPhone adapter as well as the blood sample device as well as the test strips are all stored in the same device. If you’re a fan of a certain building block that is made for children you will like this product. It’s as though every detail was completely gone over. Item number one, the transmitter plugs into the bottom of your iPhone, I have an 11+ and it fits right in the iOS plug for your charger. When you plug it in the home screen for the program pops up and asks if it is OK to turn it on. The Apple program will tell you step-by-step what to do. The plug in the little module, insert a test strip, you take your blood sample. This unit uses the least amount of blood I have ever seen. Also with the black background and the town area where the blood goes it is easy to see. You put your blood on and in just a few seconds you will have a instant display telling you your blood sugar level and where it fits into the range of blood sugars. It also tracks some other items such as your blood pressure and pulse and I believe there is an option to track your sugar consumption and caloric issues. Those items are not what I bought this unit for. I bought it for Fast accurate blood glucose sampling. Most of all you can stick it in your pocket and it is so small you don’t even realize it’s in your pocket. Now my only negative aspect? To buy 25 test preps cost about $25. And of course that is on Amazon. Now you can purchase the unit brand new at various locations and on Amazon for less than $20. So as a person who doesn’t have to have blood glucose testing all the time I do not use a tremendous amount of strips. I think the company should sell small amounts of strips at a reduced cost. As opposed to me purchasing a whole brand new unit every time to save money. They have various subscription models available for various types of diabetic customers whether it be personal consultation or unlimited strips or unlimited skin pricks. I have no complaints about the product whatsoever. When I called the manufacturer, to talk to them about my blood glucose numbers, the company was wonderful on the phone and was very eager to help me figure out my problem. I received quick response via mail of my replacement strips. I have ordered test strips as well as the metal bricks I now can rest easy knowing that my blood sugar is accurate. Cost of the additional items are well within reasonable. The pack of 25 or 50 test strips comes with a nice plastic case that goes right into the unit. I cannot say anything else about this product other than if you want accurate blood glucose testing that is simple to carry around without having to carry a big unit around with you. This is the product I recommend.

I like the concept of this tester. I’ve uploaded the app which works pretty well. It’s fairly easy to use and mostly intuitive. The little tester kit is unwieldy. I wish the end caps flipped open. There’s a lot of steps of opening and closing. I would say the only real problem I have is with the needle poke. It doesn’t work well. I’ve had to re-poke myself and need to press my finger skin into the hole in order for a poke that draws blood. I’m not expecting a painless lance but i do expect just one easy poke. This is two pains. My old lancer works much better. I do recommend though. The whole package of portable tester along with the useful app, I bought the case too, is very good as a whole unit. What the lancer lacks in precision I think the app makes up for. It’s easy to track not just blood sugar but my blood pressure, weight, food diary, exercise, and goals.

You hate to get a physical and find out something like you have Type 2 Diabetes. Of course like many Americans it's my own fault for not eating and exercising correctly and I'm the only one to blame for that. I should also preface this review with disclosing that I've been a product designer for years, so when this product came along, I was so impressed with the design and implied ease of use. In fact, I was so excited I bought three of the devices (so I'd have them in convenient places), extra lancets and test strips. Like that wasn't a big enough investment, I also decided to get the blood pressure device. When I first started using it, I was pretty impressed. It's rare you see a good hardware design matched with a good app design. Here's where it went incredibly bad. After a week of use, suddenly I was getting errors. So thought to myself, hmm... maybe it's a bad test strip... maybe the reader isn't working. No problem... I have two more and tons of other test strips. So I tried them... all of them. I tried all three devices... I opened every package of test strips (I had about 7 sealed packs of test strips). Not only did they all fail, but then it wasn't even reading the blood droplet (see the pics for evidence of both). So frustrated I contact support... and they convince me that it must be my phone. I had an iPhone 11 pro at the time and I keep my phone pretty clear of dirt and debris... but I tried the toothpick and rubbing alcohol trick just to see if the port was dirty or had something in it. Keep in mind, every other device and cord I use that plugs into that port has never had a problem. So the support person asks me if I have another phone to try. I had an old iPhone 7 so I tried it... and it worked! So I thought to myself... OK... I guess I'll suck it up and get a new phone (about a $700 hit, but I work in tech so I can kind of justify it). So I order the phone and decide to use the old phone in the interim until the new one arrived. And then the same problem happened with the iPhone 7... worked for a few days... then same problem. So now I'm super frustrated. I've used 3 devices, over a hundred strips, 2 phones... and still couldn't get it to work... and then the new phone arrives. So I’m thinking… this is probably a lost cause, but I’ll try it… so I use my new iPhone 12 Pro Max and it works… and I think, ok… maybe both of those phones had issues and I’m finally over it. This morning I went to do a test… and it read inserting the device… it detected a strip and when I went to put a drop of blood on it... it didn't detect it. I should also mention that I was very careful and aware that it needs a certain size sample... and as you can see by my many attempts... I covered the sensor as described. So now... 3 different dario devices. 3 different phones including a brand new one. Several calls and emails with Dario support. So many test strips and a lot of money invested in this system, I'm throwing in the towel. I see that this gets lots of positive reviews and maybe I was sent a bad batch of devices, and test strips... but after several hours and hundreds of dollars invested in making this system work, it's time to move on. I hope you have better luck.

I read multiple reviews of the Dario LC BG monitoring system and was on the fence about purchasing it. So I checked out the app in the App Store. A great app with nearly a 5 Star rating. So I went ahead and made the purchase. I’m so glad I did. This is a great compact device. The Swiss Army knife of meters that actually works without any compromise! Some of the reviews were just flat incorrect. One said that the lancing device was nit adjustable but it in fact has four depth settings. Other complain that you had to buy a subscription. That is completely optional, and if you’re a type 1 or test several times a day, it will definitely save you money on test strips and lancets. Others complained that there is no generic for the lancets, but that’s nit tru either. And the Dario brand is available for $5.99 per 100. The meter stem plugs firmly into my lightening port and the phone covers are totally options. Others complained that the device didn’t seem sturdy. Ok, it’s plastic, but so are most meters. I agree that I may not be too comfortable tossing into my backpack, but there is a small form fitting case available for $6.99 (with room for a few extra lancets; the Dario itself holds 25 test strips) Let’s just say that from a form and functionality standpoint there’s nothing to worry about, and nothing on the market that can compete with it. But of course, the most important thing is accuracy. I use a well calibrated continuous glucose monitor and on six spaced out readings the Dario was always within 1 or 2 point of my CGM. I even checked it against my Contour meter and it was always equal or within 2 points. Accuracy seems to be as good as it gets. Finally, there’s the app. I understand the 5 star rating. It is convenient, imports your Apple Health data, and has all sorts of great tips and information. I haven’t fully expired it yet because I wanted to write this review! I’m a big iPhone fan. My phone is always with me. And the way the Dario integrates is pure genius. I won’t opt for the subscription because with a CGM I just don’t do enough testing. But if I needed to, the service is a cost-effective no brainer for a home delivery service. You can sign up if you choose thru the app. I do however highly recommend the case. Some people don’t even use a case for their iPhone, but that’s just barbaric! 😊

I like the items I purchased. Not like getting reviews.

Dario. My favorite meter after being diabetic for 15 years. I started looking for a new meter when I got on my own insurance. High deductible health plans can make strips very costly for me (type 1) especially testing 8 plus times per day. I found the Dario LC meter and fell in love with almost everything about it. Size- about the size of a large key FOB or 2 fingers. My old meter wasn’t huge but still not great. Accurate- whoever in the review complained about a 20 point difference doesn’t know that meters are accurate to + or - 10% of lab values. I have not had any issues with the accuracy. If it gives you something unexpected... wash hands, retest, see if it changes. Cost- my high deductible health plan will cover at 80% for most strips. Which usually means 30 dollars a month. For Dario I signed up for the yearly prime deal for 240. So these run 30% less after insurance. And yes, after a month, they have sent me a total of 600 strips so far. This makes them about 8 cents a piece over the course of a year. The app is nice. Lays things out so the are easy to read. Easy to log what medication you took at whatever time. It has really made a big difference not having to manually log my sugars. Drawbacks- I have cracked the plastic on the housing (probably from getting banged up in my backpack) but I don’t find it to be a big deal. Repaired with a drop of super glue and it’s as good as new. I would have liked the Dario lancets to be a finer gauge as well, I believe they are 28 and I well be replacing them. So there you have it, if you have an iPhone I say this is worth a try, everyone has different preferences but this is a solid device that I intend to use for a long time.