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Type 2 Testing strips, where to get them?

Personally, I'd be wary of Ebay and would rather trust a supplier like the link for the Codefree meters. A pharmacist or medical supply retailer/wholesaler should have a licence, which could be revoked if they abuse things. Ebay has less redress if the best price is for counterfeit or expired strips.. And if lancets are contaminated, that would be.. bad.

Having said that, I'm newly diagnosed T2. My first session was with GP pharmacist and they said 'no' to prescription strips & lancets. Session yesterday was with a nurse/practice educator who have me a TRUEyou meter and said I would get them. Not sure how many that'll be, but picking them up later. I was fairly insistent about wanting to measure my BG so I could manage my diet though.

Good Luck!
 
Alexandra100 said:
I realise that The Codefree strips work out a bit cheaper if you buy lots, but I'd like to put in a word for the TEE2. Firstly, the fact that it's free, but you get a useful little carrying case, 10 free strips, 10 free lancets (which will last for ages if, like me, you re-use them) a free lancet gun and free bottles of testing fluid. Then, customer service is fantastic. You can speak directly to a REAL PERSON 24/7 on a freephone line whenever you have a question or if you prefer not to order online (The website is not the easiest to navigate.) Your order arrives pretty much by return of post. You can have a replacement gun, more batteries and more testing fluid, as well as the CD and cable for connecting to a computer, all free. (The last two I failed to make work, but at least they didn't cost me anything.) The meter works faster than the only other one I've tried and it only requires a small drop of blood.
http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-blood-glucose-meter/
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Thanks, I ordered one of these last night can I ask, though, is it OK to reuse the lancets? Only as I'm testing upto 11 times a day at the moment (mainly to get readings for first doc appointment on tuesday) and it would save me a fortune to know I could reuse them!
 
cherrydarling_ said:
Thanks, I ordered one of these last night can I ask, though, is it OK to reuse the lancets? Only as I'm testing upto 11 times a day at the moment (mainly to get readings for first doc appointment on tuesday) and it would save me a fortune to know I could reuse them!
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I think you will find most of use here re-use them many times over. I do. I usually change mine when I come to the end of that cassette of strips (50) if I remember, or sometimes if it stops drawing enough blood/starts to hurt more. I have come to no harm after 3 and a half years. However, the official guidance is to change every time. The decision is yours!
 
first14808 said:
I was fairly insistent about wanting to measure my BG so I could manage my diet though.

Good Luck!
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I'm thinking I've got to be insistent with my gp, I'm quite an anxious person and would do better getting my levels down if I can actually see it working!
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I think you will find most of use here re-use them many times over. I do. I usually change mine when I come to the end of that cassette of strips (50) if I remember, or sometimes if it stops drawing enough blood/starts to hurt more. I have come to no harm after 3 and a half years. However, the official guidance is to change every time. The decision is yours!
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Thank you! You have saved me from not feeding the sproglings, just to buy lancets and seeing as you'r an Oracle I shall definitely be listening to you
 
cherrydarling_ said:
Thanks, I ordered one of these last night can I ask, though, is it OK to reuse the lancets? Only as I'm testing upto 11 times a day at the moment (mainly to get readings for first doc appointment on tuesday) and it would save me a fortune to know I could reuse them!
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I re-use them until I start to think that perhaps they are getting a bit too blunt. You must NEVER share a lancet with another person, however. Here is a quote from the respected writer on diabetes, Jenny Ruhl, "

"You Can Reuse Your Lancet
If you are the only person using your lancet device there is no need to use a fresh lancet for each test. I change mine about once a month. Some people report changing theirs even less frequently.
Never Share A Lancet!
If someone else is going to use your lancing device--for example a relative interested in knowing whether their blood sugar is high after a meal--you must give them a fresh lancet and dispose of it immediately after they use it to avoid transmitting any blood borne diseases--including ones neither of you may be aware exist. Never violate this policy!"

You can find lots of practical help on JR's site: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/
 
Alexandra100 said:
I re-use them until I start to think that perhaps they are getting a bit too blunt. You must NEVER share a lancet with another person, however. Here is a quote from the respected writer on diabetes, Jenny Ruhl, "

"You Can Reuse Your Lancet
If you are the only person using your lancet device there is no need to use a fresh lancet for each test. I change mine about once a month. Some people report changing theirs even less frequently.
Never Share A Lancet!
If someone else is going to use your lancing device--for example a relative interested in knowing whether their blood sugar is high after a meal--you must give them a fresh lancet and dispose of it immediately after they use it to avoid transmitting any blood borne diseases--including ones neither of you may be aware exist. Never violate this policy!"

You can find lots of practical help on JR's site: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/
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My purse and bank account thanks you
 
cherrydarling_ said:
Thank you! You have saved me from not feeding the sproglings, just to buy lancets and seeing as you'r an Oracle I shall definitely be listening to you
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Pleased to have helped, but beware the oracle! I'm only an oracle because I've been here a long time and make far too many posts - it's nothing to do with my knowledge! I'm still learning, along with everyone else. :)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Pleased to have helped, but beware the oracle! I'm only an oracle because I've been here a long time and make far too many posts - it's nothing to do with my knowledge! I'm still learning, along with everyone else. :)
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Quite right, Bluetit. IMO no-one is an oracle. Not even my favourite gurus. Everyone gets some things wrong, and probably everyone gets some things right. The trick is to suss out which are which.
 
I recently changed to the Accu Check Mobile which is mainly recommended for type 1s as the casette of 50 tests has to be used in 3 months. Im type 2 but test enough for this to be fine. So easy to use and i have bought thr casette for £8 on ebay with no probs.
 
I tend to swim against the tide, so only use lancets for one day. Several tests each day. I find that after 4 or 5 times they get blunt, and bruise my fingers. Still not sure if that is because I am oversensitive, or have thick skin.
 
Caz_B said:
I recently changed to the Accu Check Mobile which is mainly recommended for type 1s as the casette of 50 tests has to be used in 3 months. Im type 2 but test enough for this to be fine. So easy to use and i have bought thr casette for £8 on ebay with no probs.
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I also use this meter and get my cassettes on eBay. I am careful who I buy from and look for the expiry dates. I've been doing this a long time and so far no problems. I understand why some folk object to people selling these on eBay and making money out of the NHS, but I am a self funding T2 so in a round-a-bout way, the NHS is helping me and I am helping the NHS by (so far) avoiding expensive complication treatment and all medication. ;)
 
My objections with Ebay are around risk/reliability rather than price, so if people have found reliable sellers.. share them?

And following on from my experiences yesterday in the Soapbox section.. If you convince your GP to prescribe testing, make sure the prescription is for compatible bits! So I got lancets, but no pen, so Accu-Chek Multiclix lancets which go in a pen that's no longer available. The Fastclix version I got seems pretty good/painless and lets me choose when to move onto the next lancet.

And <click> <beep> 9.2. Hmm.. :p
 
first14808 said:
My objections with Ebay are around risk/reliability rather than price, so if people have found reliable sellers.. share them?
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Not always possible to share them as they come and go, and may not be around at the time you want them.
I am just careful to read the seller's reviews and make sure they have sold the same items previously (rather than just being general dealers of anything). I tend to buy in bulk so look for multiple boxes rather than single ones. eBay will refund if the item is not as described or there are other issues.
 
first14808 said:
Personally, I'd be wary of Ebay and would rather trust a supplier like the link for the Codefree meters. A pharmacist or medical supply retailer/wholesaler should have a licence, which could be revoked if they abuse things. Ebay has less redress if the best price is for counterfeit or expired strips.. And if lancets are contaminated, that would be.. bad.

Having said that, I'm newly diagnosed T2. My first session was with GP pharmacist and they said 'no' to prescription strips & lancets. Session yesterday was with a nurse/practice educator who have me a TRUEyou meter and said I would get them. Not sure how many that'll be, but picking them up later. I was fairly insistent about wanting to measure my BG so I could manage my diet though.

Good Luck!
Click to expand...
When my husband was diagnosed with T2 he was given a meter and a prescription for 50 strips a month.When he went for his first 3 month HbA1c test he was told because his BG levels were good he would no longer get strips on prescription so now he uses the Codefree one
 
Well, slap my thigh and call me Susan! My TEE2 turned up today, (which was lucky as I ran out if strips this morning) I only ordered it on Thursday! I do find the gun trigger very, very sensitive though. I find its fired the piercing shot even before its reached my finger:happy:
 
cherrydarling_ said:
Well, slap my thigh and call me Susan! My TEE2 turned up today, (which was lucky as I ran out if strips this morning) I only ordered it on Thursday! I do find the gun trigger very, very sensitive though. I find its fired the piercing shot even before its reached my finger:happy:
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Great stuff.

By the way, you can use any lancet device with any meter, so you can continue using your old one if you prefer it. Or you could invest in what I believe is the best lancet device there is - the Accu Chek Fastclix. Far less hassle, 6 lancets in a drum inserted inside the pen so no handling at all and no visible needle.
 
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