I've been thinking about strips quite a lot recently. I run 2 meters, a Contour which they sent me for free and for which I buy strips from ebay, and a Freestyle Lite which my GP gave me. They issue a Freestyle Lite to all newly-diagnosed diabetics, regardless of type, so the standardisation referred to above is already happening. Mind you, if they can get a good price for bulk deals, good for them.
I use them alternately, two weeks each. So in effect, I pay for half my strips.
Our diabetic specialist GP told me quite straightforwardly that they want me to test as little as possible because the strips are expensive. So far, though, I've had as many as I've wanted, because I'm learning how foods affect me.
However - I'm using my Atkins-based diet, and I know what that does to my BG levels. I do need to test for foods outside that diet, and I have learned by testing what the most common carb foods do to me. I shall also need to test regularly as I increase my exercise, until I find out how I react to that. And there's illness, of course. Outside those, do I really need to test 8 times a day, every day?
At the moment I'm testing 3 times most days, more often if I've done or eaten something unusual. Occasionally I'll do a full day of 8. My readings are stable and consistently within Type 2 targets, though I would like them lower. This means one tub of strips on prescription, one bought by me, per month. At present I can afford that.
Would anyone like to convince me why I should be testing more often, other than when I'm ill or if my medication changes? Please? While I want what I'm entitled to and need, I also don't want to cause more expense than necessary.
Viv
