Three of the glucose meters tested, including the OptiumXceed, are made by Abbott Diabetes Care.

“All of Abbott’s blood glucose monitoring systems meet the current international standard for blood glucose meter accuracy,” Adrienne Turner, a spokesperson for the company, wrote in an e-mail to Reuters Health.

“The accuracy of its medical products is one of Abbott’s main priorities and we will continue to meet current and future regulatory and industry standards for blood glucose meter accuracy.”

Both U.S. and Australian standards committees recommend that glucose meters should give results within 20 percent of laboratory tests, but researchers say that may not be good enough, especially for pregnant women with diabetes.

When it’s not treated correctly, diabetes during pregnancy can lead to a higher risk of miscarriage or a more difficult birth and heavier newborns. Because of that, the goal is “to bring the blood glucose levels of (pregnant women) with diabetes as close to normal as can be achieved,” said Dr. Boyd Metzger, who studies diabetes in pregnancy at Northwestern University.

However, he added, “that’s led to a lot of dependence on self-monitoring.”