LabSytle Innovations

Dario is a glucose monitoring system from the Israeli company. It is unique in that it plugs directly into your smartphone (either iPhone or Android) and connects to an app so you can view and work with your data.

The counter is a small black and white rectangle with orange highlights. It has a small pop-out panel on the side that opens to release a tiny detachable unit that you plug into a smartphone.

This “all-in-one” system has a lancet finger poker built into the bottom of the device and houses 25 blood test strips in a container at its top. Still, it's quite compact, measuring 4 inches long and 1 inch wide.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the Dario meter and the iOS (iPhone) version of the app in 2018. Since then, the Dario has also been approved for Android devices.

Read on to learn more about Dario and its features.

Advantages and disadvantages of Dario

What is the Dario meter?

The Dario is a glucometer that helps people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels.

It is manufactured by Israel-based LabStyle Innovations, launched internationally in 2013 and was reviewed by the FDA until 2018.

Aside from the now defunct one, it is the first meter of its kind that physically plugs into a smartphone in order to check blood sugar levels. Unlike other glucose monitoring systems, it does not have Bluetooth capability, but rather must be plugged into a phone to work. The fact that it uses your smartphone directly means that its data storage is only limited by the space on your phone's memory.

The app shows you 7-, 14-, and 30-day averages, as well as a graph showing whether your blood sugar has increased or decreased since your last reading. It also provides a statistics dashboard that breaks down and categorizes your glucose data so you can easily spot trends. And you can share all the data and charts with anyone you want by simply tapping the share icon and selecting a contact from your phone's address book.

The app offers a food database of nearly 500000 foods, which takes the guesswork out of counting carbs by doing the math for you (using the insulin-to-carb ratio you enter). For me, this has been very helpful in quickly assessing how many units of insulin I should give myself no matter what I eat.

The app also includes a database with activities ranging from walking, cycling and golfing to skiing and running to help you track the effects of exercise on glucose. You can mark your moods, whether you are tired, stressed or traveling, as well as other settings for your recordings.

The emergency “ ” function is perhaps the most effective. Once activated, if you experience hypoglycemia (dangerous hypoglycemia), Dario will send a text message to up to 4 people with your blood sugar levels along with a link to where you are using your smartphone's GPS coordinates.

Dario also offers the option to pay for access to a personalized diabetes program and a personal coach who will help you understand the app, view your health history, set goals and receive check-ins via the chat function from the app or by scheduling a phone call. . (See details on plan options below.)

How accurate is the Dario blood glucose meter?

For a blood glucose meter to be approved for home use, the FDA requires that 95% of all measured blood glucose meter values ​​be within 15% of the actual value and 99% of the meter values ​​must be within less than 20% of the real value. value. Overall, the MyDario device reports about the same accuracy as other popular meters on the market.

The Dario officially records 95 percent accuracy within a range of ±15 percent.

This would place it just below Bayer and Roche in terms of the most accurate meters on the market, as measured by the .

What users say about the Dario blood glucose meter

Overall, customer reviews are generally positive, averaging 3,8 out of 5 stars from 200 user-generated reviews on Google and a 4,4 out of 5 star rating from 3840 reviews on Amazon.

Many users say they switched because of the meter's small and compact design. Others, however, have noted that while the meter itself is small, this is negated by using a smartphone.

A user named Hans raved about his experience with the Dario: “I want to thank you for putting it all together in such a small, easy-to-use self-contained package with an app that keeps track of everything and then is able to show you graphs that help you visualize everything. The final touch is having my coach Keren to answer my questions and explain the different paths available in your application. What you did is rated 'excellent' in my book.

Veteran tech reviewer Luke Edwards said that “the support app is excellent, easy to use, and detailed enough to help you progress. Adding features like note-taking while journaling and automatic messages sent with GPS location in case of hypoglycemia are what help give it a leg up on the competition. »

While many users have praised the accuracy, some have reported readings that appear to be high. A reviewer named Gilbert, for example, said he "noticed that the readings on this meter seemed to be way off when compared to my (Ascensia) Contour Next meter."

Other common complaints relate to the cost of the device, privacy concerns, and difficulty using supplies that come with the meter, such as lancets or test strips. Michael, who reviewed the device on the Walmart website, said: “Dario started calling my phone to sign up for their annual subscription plan for test strips and lancets. Then they sent me an email. I had to unsubscribe from notifications and block their calls. It's a good product, but I felt like my privacy was being invaded.

Where can you get the Dario blood glucose meter?

Unlike some diabetes supplies, no prescription is required for a Dario glucometer.

You can purchase the device directly from the manufacturer in a subscription model if you are interested, which includes unlimited test strips delivered to your door. These are Basic ($25/month for basic supplies only), Pro ($33/month, including access to a personal Dario trainer), or Premium ($70/month, including a Dario trainer staff and a professional diabetes educator).

You can also purchase the meter and supplies on Amazon, Walmart, or BestBuy. The meter's retail price is $84,99 (tax not included) and includes 10 lancets, 25 test strips, and 10 disposable covers to place around your phone while checking your blood sugar to avoid getting blood on your smartphone.

A box of 100 MyDario lancets costs $8,99, a box of 100 test strips costs $59,99, and a box of 100 disposable covers costs $14,99.

Dario is covered by some major insurers in the United States. You can check directly with your insurance company or fill out the form to have the company help you apply for reimbursement. Your out-of-pocket expenses will vary depending on your individual insurance plan.

How to use the Dario blood glucose meter

Overall, the Dario follows a similar procedure for checking blood sugar as other glucometers, with the exception of using a smartphone. To use the Dario blood glucose meter:

1. If desired, insert the phone into a disposable cover included in the Dario welcome kit. Position the audio jack to fit the opening at the bottom of the disposable cover. (Using this cover is optional, you can easily check blood sugar without it.)
2. Open the Dario app.
3. Slide your thumb back on the ridged orange panel to release the Dario drive.
4. Grasp the drive with two fingers and remove it from the case.
5. Plug the Dario meter into the Lightning (audio) jack on your phone, with the Dario logo facing up.
6. Once connected, the app prompts you to insert a new test strip.
7. Remove the white cover.
8. Open the cartridge cover.
9. Remove a test strip and close the cartridge cover to protect the remaining test strips and replace the white cover.
10. Insert a test strip into the test strip port. The app will notify you of successful insertion of a test strip.
11. Charge the lancing device by sliding it down.
12. Place the lancing device on the side of your finger and press the lancet release button to prick your finger.
13. Apply a drop of blood to the end of the test strip.
14. Wait 6 seconds, then receive the test results.

You can consult the Dario glucometer for more information.

Other Glucometer Options

The functionality of the Dario device is similar to almost all other traditional blood glucose meters. What sets it apart, however, is its compact design including built-in test strips and lancets, and its smartphone operation.

The app also offers many convenient and easy-to-use features, such as the ability to keep food and exercise notes as well as blood sugar recording, push-button data sharing and alert GPS location for hypos.

The closest competitor in terms of technological features is probably the , which has Bluetooth connectivity to a full smartphone app.

In terms of compact design, perhaps the most similar is the, which measures 0,75 inches x 1,25 inches x 0,5 inches and is praised for its sleek look.

But neither meter has the built-in test strip container and lancet, making the Dario exceptionally easy to carry and discreet. Additionally, Dario's test strips are sold in packages that provide essentially unlimited strips, which contributes to affordability and convenience.

Keep in mind that Dario is a traditional blood sugar monitoring system that requires fingerstick testing. Today, many people with diabetes opt for a . These require you to wear a small sensor attached to your body 24/24 to constantly take blood sugar readings and transmit the information to a smart device or wearable receiver. If you don't want to, or are concerned about, wearing a device attached to your skin, the Dario is a great traditional meter choice.

Carry

Overall, the Dario Blood Glucose Meter is a step up from most traditional glucometers. Its sleek all-in-one design makes it accessible and easy to carry with you, and it offers plenty of convenient features like carb tracking, low blood sugar alerts, and easy sharing of glucose data.

The only real downside is that you rely on your smartphone to use the Dario meter. So if your phone battery is dead or you are prone to forgetting your phone sometimes, this could be an inconvenience. But these days we are rarely separated from our smartphones, of course.