The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that can provide measurement of glucose with variable intervals between measurements, allowing more efficient measurement with greater patient safety. A method according to the present invention can comprise measuring the value of an
analyte such as glucose at a first time; determining a second time from a patient condition, an environmental condition, or a combination thereof; then measuring the value of the
analyte at the second time (where the second time can be expressed as an interval after the first time, an absolute time, or a time indicated when certain patient or environmental conditions, or both, are reached or detected). The second time can be determined, as an example, from a comparison of the
analyte value at the first time with a threshold. The interval between the first time and the second time can be related to the difference between the analyte value at the first time and the threshold; e.g., the closer to the threshold, the closer the two measurement times. The invention can be used with automated measurement systems, allowing the
system to determine measurement times and automatically make measurements at the determined times, reducing operator interaction and operator error.