Getting More Glucose Test Strips On A Budget
By Adam Brown Cash-pay strips with good accuracy and co-pay programs to save money Here are some tips for getting more test strips at a lower cost, either through insurance or by paying cash. Option 1: Pay cash and buy strips directly without insurance. Here are some accurate products that have lower cash-pay prices (listed in alphabetical order). This list is not 100% comprehensive and includes reputable strip brands we trust. Abbott’s Precision Neo: $39 for 100 strips at FreeStyle or in retail stores. AgaMatrix Presto: $21 per 100 strips at AgaMatrix. The Presto meter and strips are also sold in stores under the CVS, Target (up&up), and Kroger store-branded glucose meters. Ascensia/Bayer Contour Next: around $25 per 100 strips on Amazon. Contour Next strips are usually sold by “third-party sellers” on Amazon, though I’ve never had a problem buying them. (The reviews are also very positive.) However, I always check the expiration date before using them, just to be safe. One Drop Premium: $33-$39.95 per month for unlimited strips at One Drop or in the One Drop apps on Google Play and Apple iOS. Option 2: If you have insurance, use co-pay assistance programs to cut the cost of strips. These programs are sponsored by companies and can save you money when using insurance. You can find these by searching for your strip brand and “co-pay assistance program.” Here are three brand-name offerings and sign-up links. Note: you have to make sure the pharmacist actually runs your prescription using the co-pay assistance card; otherwise, the cost reduction won’t go through. When I’ve used these in the past, pharmacists almost always forget to input them, so you have to ask and have the number on hand (e.g., stored in a note on your phone). Option 3: Ask your healthca Continue reading >>
Save Money On Blood Glucose Test Strips
Get the Most for Your Money Take steps to extend the life of your test strips. Proper and careful use of every test strip can make a big difference in how well they work. Avoid wasting any test strips by exposing them to moisture or extreme temperatures that can generate an error code on your meter. Get the lowdown on your testing needs. Some people might not need to test as often as they think, says Wood. "Ask your health care provider, 'When is the best time for me to test? How many times do I really have to test? Is it possible I'm testing too much?' " she says. For PWDs type 2, once blood glucose levels have stabilized after diagnosis, some won't need to test more than twice a day unless they're starting on insulin or taking a new medication that may adversely affect their diabetes medicine, Wood says. Call or meet with your diabetes educator. Most diabetes educators and pharmacists can provide information about ways to find less-expensive test strips and discounts. They also have access to information from organizations such as the American Diabetes Association. Be honest if you're having difficulty affording strips. "I called Abbott to tell them I couldn't afford the test strips, and they told me about their FreeStyle Promise Program, which gives you a free meter and batteries," says June Chase Bartlett, PWD type 1 of St. Louis. 5 Tips for Testing Blood Sugar 1. Before you buy, check the expiration date. Always look for the date on the box. Once a strip expires, it is no longer reliable. 2. Always wash your hands before testing. A thorough cleaning with soap and water reduces bacteria and helps you avoid an inaccurate blood glucose number, says Lynn Sutton, a certified diabetes educator. "Very small -- even invisible -- amounts of carbohydrate on your fingers or h Continue reading >>
Why Do Test Strips Cost So Much?
Have you looked at test strip prices and thought, “These should be made of gold?” Well, they are made of gold, along with other costly chemicals. But some cost 16 cents apiece; others cost $1 to $2. Why this range? What price is right? Spurred by some comments from DSM reader John C, I decided to research test strips, and they’re amazing. In fact, I will need two columns to explore them and the issues involved in their best use. To understand how test strips work, you would need to know quantum mechanics and electrochemistry (whatever that is), and I don’t. Here’s the part I could understand: Modern strips work by measuring the electrical energy in glucose in the blood. According to an article by Erika Gebel, PhD, in Diabetes Forecast, “Electrochemical test strips, the world standard today, employ enzymes…that convert glucose into an electrical current. That electricity…is read out by the meter as a glucose concentration.” It’s much faster than the old way, which was based on reading a color change, and requires much less blood. Apparently, working with enzymes is hard. “You want hydration around the enzyme to keep it active, but not too much because that will lead to degradation,” says Selly Saini, the worldwide director of strip products for Johnson & Johnson. “That’s a fine balance.” Because they use enzymes, strips are delicate. According to Dr. Gebel, exposure to humidity or temperature extremes can damage the enzymes, reducing accuracy. But “strip makers have partly tamed enzymes and increased their life span by incorporating chemicals that stabilize them.” So the colored patch at the end of the strip includes absorbents to soak up blood and enzymes to turn it into electricity and stabilizers to protect the enzymes. Then the elect Continue reading >>
Truetrack Vs Truetest Test Strips: What’s The Difference?
The TRUEtrack and TRUEtest blood glucose test strip boxes look nearly identical because they are both made by the same company, Nipro Diagnostics, and they can be very difficult to tell apart. The problem is that the TRUEtrack and TRUEtest strips will only work in their respective meters and cannot be interchanged, so you need to know which type your meter takes. Here’s a quick guide: TRUEtrack: These test strips are only used with the meter TRUETrack blood glucose meter. This meter is available under the brand name of your favorite retail store such as CVS, Walgreens, or other retail locations (it will be a store brand meter). TRUEtrack test strips are covered by Medicare and many Medicaid plans, and have a lower average co-pay than other systems for many private insurance plans. Are available in 50 and 100 count sizes Use a small blood sample of 1 microliter Are usually less expensive compared to competitor’s test strips For more information on TRUEtrack click here. These test strips are only used with two meters: TRUEresult and TRUE2go. Both of these meters are available under the brand name of your favorite store such as CVS, Walgreens, or other retail locations (also store brand meters). TRUEtest test strips are covered by most private insurance plans, Medicare Part B, and most Medicaid plans. For more information on TRUEtest click here. Pharmacy Prescription Pick-Up Tip: It is important to make sure you are receiving the correct strips from the pharmacy, especially since these products look very similar to one another. I suggest double checking that you have been given the correct test strips before leaving the pharmacy counter so that you do not have to make an unnecessary trip back—or discover, when you are about to test your blood sugar, that you have the Continue reading >>
Do Diabetic Test Strips Expire?
Glucose test strips are expensive. Are you wasting money if you throw away expired strips? Are they still accurate if you use them after they have expired? These are important questions to ask if you cannot afford new test strips, or want to use old ones. Furthermore, you may have too many and want to sell diabetic test strips before they expire. A company named Glucomart performed some tests to help answer these questions. The design and results of their study are shown below. Design They used test strips from different manufacturers that had been expired for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years. The expired strips were compared with the same brand unexpired strips. Three control solutions were used: normal, high, and low concentration glucose solutions. Test trips were tested three times in each control solution. Statistics were used to test the accuracy of each strip. The brands tested included: Accu-Check Aviva Plus Accu-Check Compact Advocate Bayer Breeze 2 Bayer Contour Bayer Contour Next Element Embrace FreeStyle FreeStyle Insulinx FreeStyle Lite Liberty Nova Max One Precision Xtra One Touch Ultra One Touch Ultra Blue TrueBalance TrueTest Results The accuracy of the test strips depended on: The brand of the test strip. The length of time since expiration. [thumbnail target=”_self” alt=”Accuracy of the test strips by brand ” src=”There was no significant difference between the accuracy of unexpired strips and those that had been expired for up to 1 year. Most strips that expired 2 years previously were accurate, except for Precision Xtra: Precision Xtra strips that expired 2 years ago were not accurate or precise. Those that expired 3 years ago gave false low readings. Most test strips that expired at least 5 years ago were less precise and accurate. They sometimes ga Continue reading >>
How Blood Glucose Meters Work
Source: Web exclusive: May 2011 Using a blood glucose meter If you have diabetes, a blood glucose meter could well be your new best friend, and critical to successfully managing your disease. “A glucose meter is a tool to help know where your blood sugar is at, and what affects it,” says Karen McDermaid, a diabetes educator in Moosomin, Sask. There are lots of different models of meters’also called blood glucose monitors or glucometers’but they all work the same way: They detect the level of sugar in your blood, and give you the results almost instantly. It all comes down to chemistry Wondering how a glucose meter works? Remember high-school science class? First, you use a lancet to pierce your skin and apply a drop of blood to the meter’s test strip. Next, a series of chemical reactions takes place between the sugar in your blood and substances on the test strip, creating ferrocyanide. An electrical current flows from the ferrocyanide to the glucose meter, which uses the strength of this current to measure the amount of glucose in your blood. The meter converts it to the digital number that you record in your logbook. How not to slip up It’s possible to get an inaccurate reading if you don’t use your meter properly. But there are steps you can take to reduce that risk. Start by washing your hands and the test area of your skin with soap and water. Dirt and residue on your skin can skew the results. Pay attention to your test strips. If they’ve been exposed to extreme temperatures or they’re out of date, they may not be up to the job. If your meter requires the code number from your test strip container, make sure you’ve entered this properly. And be sure to test a big enough drop of blood’but don’t apply more blood after you’ve already done it Continue reading >>
Is It Okay To Use Expired Diabetic Test Strips?
Have you ever thought about using expired diabetic test strips to save money? Read this article to find out whether or not it’s a good idea. Diabetic test strips can be expensive. Some of them range up to $2 a piece. And in a box of 50, that can really start to add up. It’s understandable that you’d want to be able to get the most for your money from that. It’s understandable that you’d want to be able to get the most for your money from that. That’s why it can be so frustrating when they reach their expiration date before you’re finished with them and you have to throw them away. When this happens, you’re probably wondering, “What’s the worst that will happen if I use these?” Well, the conversation around expired test strips is actually very lively. Many people have an opinion on whether or not using expired test strips is the right thing to do. We’re here to give you all of the facts, so that you can form an opinion of your own How do diabetic test strips work? In order to understand whether or not you should be using an expired test strip, it can be useful to understand how they work. The basic explanation is this — a liquid-attracting layer moves your blood into the little window on the strip, which is known as the “chemistry strip.” This strip is made up of an enzyme and what’s known as a mediator. The enzyme attaches itself to the glucose in your blood and pulls off sugar electrons. The mediator then passes the enzyme through the circuit to get you your reading. The enzyme is “living,” which is how a diabetic test strip is able to expire in the first place. Eventually, the enzyme will “die,” or break down. And then it will not be able to attach to the glucose in your blood or pull off the sugar electrons. But when exactly do Continue reading >>
How Onedrop’s $40/month For “unlimited Test Strips” Works
I was skeptical when I first read the description of One Drop‘s diabetes program: unlimited test-strips for a monthly subscription of $39.99/month (or $33.33/month if you pay for a year upfront). There are actually several services that come with this monthly fee, but the cost of test-strips is what intrigued me most. Unlimited? Seriously? Surely there must be something in the fine-print that turns this blood sugar management fantasy into real life? My skepticism quickly transformed into fascination when I read Will Dubois’ review of One Drop on DiabetesMine. Like George Washington, Will Dubois doesn’t tell a lie. If Will says it’s legit, it’s legit. Today, I’m very happy to report that I am officially a subscribing member of One Drop! I hope their unlimited test-strips program forces Bigpharma to change how they treat people with diabetes. (As in: Hey BigPharma & Health Insurance, your whole “we want you to be as healthy as possible but we don’t want to make it affordable for you” thing…that’s absolute bulls*t. And One Drop knows it.) Okay, so before you read my full review, I want to explain: I am not being paid by One Drop and they didn’t even ask me to review their product! I became a subscribing member all on my own volition, and I’m so freaking excited about giving my money to them instead of to the crooked pharma/health insurance industry. I simply can’t help but write about it, because I think you’ll want to be part of it, too. And of course, I’m most excited about actually being able to get the number of test-strips I need in order to manage my type 1 diabetes the way I want to! The Full Scoop on One Drop & What They Offer It isn’t just about the test-strips…but, actually, let me explain a little more about the test-strips. B Continue reading >>
How Does Glucometer Or Glucose Monitoring Device Work?
Glucose testing is an important part of a diabetic’s daily health care. Without testing, a diabetic can easily become ill, because his glucose levels are not where they need to be. To do glucose testing, a diabetic uses a glucose testing meter, which uses a glucose testing strip. A glucose meter or glucometer, is a medical device used for measuring the approximate level of glucose in the blood. The glucose meter, determines the concentration of glucose in the solution. Most glucose meters, are based on electrochemical technology, they use electrochemical test strips to perform the measurement. A small drop of the solution to be tested, is placed on a disposable test strip, that the glucose meter uses for the glucose measurement. Glucose meter test strips Glucose strips, that are used for glucose monitoring from blood. In each test strip, there is an enzyme called glucose oxidase. This enzyme reacts with the glucose, in the blood sample and creates an acid called gluconic acid. The gluconic acid then reacts, with another chemical in the testing strip called ferricyanide. The ferricyanide and the gluconic acid, then combine to create ferrocyanide. Once ferrocyanide has been created, the device runs an electronic current through the blood sample on the strip. This current is then able to read, the ferrocyanide and determine how much glucose is in the sample of blood, on the testing strip. That number is then displayed on the screen of the glucose testing meter. The two most common methods, used in electrochemical measurement of glucose are: Colorimetric method and Amperometric method. Colorimetric method In this method, the typical sensors such as LEDs or photo sensors form the analog interface. These sensors are followed by a Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA) for the gluco Continue reading >>
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Diabetes Test Strips
Tweet Blood glucose test strips (diabetes test strips) are a key component of blood glucose testing. These small disposable strips of plastic may look insignificant but they provide a very important role in helping people with diabetes to monitor and control their diabetes. In the vast majority of cases, each meter will take one type of test strip only. There are some blood glucose meters however that take blood ketone strips as well, to test for ketone levels. How do diabetes test strips work? When blood is placed onto the test strip, it reacts with a chemical called glucose oxidase producing gluconic acid from the glucose in the blood. At the other end of the test strip, the meter transfers a current to the test strip. The test strip has electric terminals which allow the meter to measure the current between the terminals. The current between the terminals changes depending on the level of gluconic acid that has been produced. The blood glucose meter then uses an algorithm to work out the blood glucose level based upon the difference in current. Some blood glucose test strips allow the reapplication of more blood to the same test strip if needed during the test. The amount of blood required by a test strip can vary between manufacturers. Generally, between 0.5 μl to 1 μl of blood is required. Some test strips, not so commonly used these days, do not require a meter. When blood is placed on the active part of the strip and then wiped off after a specified number of seconds, the reagent will change colour and the result can be obtained by matching the colour of against a colour chart on the side of the pot. It is less accurate than using a blood glucose meter but the test strips can often be cheaper. Where can I get test strips? Within the UK, blood glucose test strip Continue reading >>
Bayer Contour Vs. Contour Next Glucose Test Strips
Bayer Contour and Contour NEXT blood glucose test strips are manufactured by Bayer. Contour test strips are widely used in United States and around the world for their great features. Bayer Contour glucose monitoring systems are highly popular here in the U.S because they are affordable, easy-to-use, and clinically accurate. Moreover, in a study conducted by J.D Power in 2014 Bayer was ranked highest by consumers for blood glucose meter satisfaction. Bayer Contour and Contour NEXT glucose monitoring systems share similar features such as the No Coding Technology. Despite the common similarities, there are some differences. You can safely assume that Contour NEXT is the next generation of Contour glucose monitoring system. In fact, Bayer is now encouraging users to upgrade to Contour NEXT for highly accurate results. One major difference between the 2 systems is the test strips. Bayer Contour glucose meters use Contour test strips whereas Contour NEXT glucose meters use Contour NEXT test strips. Much like the meters, these test strips share some similarities and dissimilarities. For the most part, they are fairly identical. It is very common for Bayer users to ask “what’s the difference between Bayer Contour and Bayer Contour NEXT glucose test strips?” In fact, our customers often ask us the same question. Which one should I use? Are Contour NEXT test strips better than Contour test strips? What’s the Difference Between Contour and Contour NEXT test strips? Bayer Contour test strips are proven to delivery clinically accurate results. However, the Contour NEXT test strips when used NEXT EZ meters take the accuracy to the next level by offering next-generation accuracy. The new innovative technology built in Contour NEXT assesses a single blood sample using 7 pulse Continue reading >>
A Low-cost Inkjet-printed Glucose Test Strip System For Resource-poor Settings
Go to: Abstract The prevalence of diabetes is increasing in low-resource settings; however, accessing glucose monitoring is extremely difficult and expensive in these regions. Work is being done to address the multitude of issues surrounding diabetes care in low-resource settings, but an affordable glucose monitoring solution has yet to be presented. An inkjet-printed test strip solution is being proposed as a solution to this problem. Methods: The use of a standard inkjet printer is being proposed as a manufacturing method for low-cost glucose monitoring test strips. The printer cartridges are filled with enzyme and dye solutions that are printed onto filter paper. The result is a colorimetric strip that turns a blue/green color in the presence of blood glucose. Using a light-based spectroscopic reading, the strips show a linear color change with an R2 = .99 using glucose standards and an R2 = .93 with bovine blood. Initial testing with bovine blood indicates that the strip accuracy is comparable to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 15197 for glucose testing in the 0-350 mg/dL range. However, further testing with human blood will be required to confirm this. A visible color gradient was observed with both the glucose standard and bovine blood experiment, which could be used as a visual indicator in cases where an electronic glucose meter was unavailable. These results indicate that an inkjet-printed filter paper test strip is a feasible method for monitoring blood glucose levels. The use of inkjet printers would allow for local manufacturing to increase supply in remote regions. This system has the potential to address the dire need for glucose monitoring in low-resource settings. Keywords: low-cost test strips, inkjet printing, glucose Continue reading >>
How To Safely Use Glucose Meters And Test Strips For Diabetes
Subscribe: FDA Consumer Health Information Using a glucose meter to check and monitor blood sugar is a daily part of life for millions of Americans with diabetes. Glucose meters and test strips are medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And the FDA wants to make sure you use these devices safely. Read on for advice. Beware of Buying Previously Owned Test Strips The FDA is aware that some sellers are marketing pre-owned or secondhand test strips to consumers. These are unused test strips previously owned by someone else. These pre-owned strips may be sold at lower prices when compared to new strips. For instance, you may see flyers advertising cheap test strips in your neighborhood, or you may see sellers marketing cheap test strips online. It is technically legal for people to resell their test strips. But the FDA does not recommend that you buy pre-owned test strips or that you resell your unused strips. That’s because pre-owned strips can give incorrect results—and may not be safe to use with your device. Here’s why: Test strips should be properly stored to give accurate results. If you buy pre-owned strips, it is hard to know whether the strips were stored properly. Test strips also could be expired. A lack of proper storage or using expired strips could put you at risk for getting incorrect results from your glucose meter. And incorrect results can put you at risk for serious health complications—and even death. Test strip vials that have been opened by another person may have small amounts of blood on them, which can put you at risk for infection. Pre-owned test strip vials may have been tampered with, which means that they may not be safe to use. (For instance, the expiration dates might have been changed or covered up.) Pre-ow Continue reading >>
Glucose Testing
Glucose Testing Glucose Testing is a important and vital part of a diabetics daily health care. Without testing, a diabetic can become sick because their glucose levels are not where they need to be. Glucose testing is done by using a glucose testing meter, which uses a glucose testing strip. Glucose Testing Meter Steps for Testing Glucose To test for glucose one must drop a sample of blood by placing on the strip. This is done by poking the skin with a needle called a lancet. The lancet pricks the finger which allows the sample of blood to flow right onto the glucose strip. Once the blood sample has made it on to the glucose strip, a device called a glucose meter is used to measure the glucose in the blood. In each test strip, there is a chemical called glucose oxidase. This glucose oxidase reacts with the glucose in the blood sample and is created into a acid called gluconic acid. This current is then able to read and determine how much glucose is in the sample of blood on the testing strip. The number is then relayed on the screen of the glucose testing meter. Blood Glucose Meters A glucose meter is used to determine the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood. The glucose meter is a key element in monitoring diabetes can help test if the blood sugar is too high or low. Glucose meters are small and are handheld, they can fit in the palm of a hand. Glucose meters cost anywhere from $20 to the most advanced meters costing $500. Examples One Touch Verio Glucose Meter System The One Touch Verio glucose meter is practical, reliable, and affordable. This glucose meter provides instant notifications of high and low blood sugar trends, unsurpassed accuracy, and requires a very small blood sample size. The Verio glucose meter is one of the more recent and efficient Continue reading >>
Prodigy® No Coding Test Strips
Features • No Coding required • Works with all Prodigy meters • Approved for Alternate Site Testing (AST) • Capillary action makes testing easy! One Strip, Three Meters Prodigy® No Coding Test Strips work with the Prodigy AutoCode®, Pocket, and Voice meters. The 3 lead technology allows the meters to test only when there is enough blood on the test strip, saving the user test strips and money. The capillary action automatically draws the blood sample into the test strip. Prodigy® No Coding test strips do not use GDH-PQQ technology and are approved for alternate site testing. Our glucose oxidase technology allow for safer and more accurate results. Continue reading >>
