Are you playing Russian Roulette with your Diabetes Test Strips?

Today’s question comes from a concerned child of a diabetic… Read on:

Question: My dad has cut his testing down to twice a week to save on his test strips since they are expensive for him. He was testing daily. Perhaps testing twice a week is sufficient. His doctor said it would be fine. His blood sugar stays pretty stable, but in the past, has had problems with it being too high. He has Medicare, AARP supplement insurance, and goes to the VA clinic for appts. Is there a way to get test strips at a reduced rate? I thought his insurance would pay for them or partially at least, but he is buying them himself. I am considering sending him some money to help pay on them, if the doctor says he ever needs to be checking it more often. So how safe is it that he is only checking twice a week? I’m not impressed with his doctor, so I hope he is being honest with my dad on testing twice a week asw being fine. Anyone with diabetes that could advise?

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Answer: Wow, I really feel for your (and his) situation.

Listen, this is what you need to do:

The doctor has to write a prescription. if the doctor writes a prescription specifically stating to check blood sugar twice a day, the insurance will give your father 60 strips a month. alot of time it is a pain in the butt for people to run around and get scripts. have the doc write a script for ‘diabetic supplies’ including how many lancets, strips, and needles (if used) are used a month. the only thing insurance wont pay for is alcohol wipes (they are cheap anyway) and medicare pts can get a new meter every 5 years, but usually its better to just get your own meter (they aren’t much, the companies make 90 percent of their money off the strips) have the doc write on the script the type of meter it is, get a new script to match a new meter. Insurance pays for strips!!! Now of course if your dad doesn’t have a script, he will have to buy them, you should even have the doc write to check sugar three times a day and he will have extras. If your dad uses insulin he needs to check at LEAST twice a day. If he is on orals, once a day in the am before meals, if he is good for a long time then once or twice a week is ok with some docs but I would watch it closer. The best option for you is to check out ClickOnHealth.

From what I’ve researched, it’s exactly what you’re looking for.  You can get a free meter, and they’ll work with your dad (and his insurance) when it comes to getting diabetes test strips. All you have to do is fill out the form & send it in and get a FREE Glucose Monitor.