Bogie
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 133
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Diabetes
I am 68 and Type 2 - a recent graduate from "Pre-diabetic". My mother, 90, is a Type 1 insulin. My grandfather (maternal) died from Diabetes at 58 yrs old.
Here in Canada, specifically Ontario, your out of pocket costs vary based on "Pre-diabetic", Type 1, or Type 2. Meters are "free" if you buy the first 100 strips. Under the Ontario Public Drug Programs, age 65 or older (I guess that people under 65 are at no risk for diabetes according to our health plans) or under certain support programs, depending on your type of diabetes, you get "x" free strips and pay if you need more. The strips, as mentioned before, are the costly part - affordable for some but not all. How often that you test will determine your cost over and above your no-charge allowance. As you can see, unless you are using insulin, the free strips are minimal. Lancets are not free.
Test strips no-charge per 365 day period:
3000: Patients managing diabetes with insulin
400: Patients managing diabetes with anti-diabetes medication with higher risk of causing hypoglycemia* (about 1 strip per day avg)
200: Patients managing diabetes using anti-diabetes medication with lower risk of causing hypoglycemia* (1 strip every 2 days avg)
200: Patients managing diabetes through diet/lifestyle therapy only (no insulin or anti-diabetes medications)
Unless you are on insulin then if you want to test on a regular basis to monitor your blood sugar levels, there will be the cost of the test strips. About $60 +/- CDN (36 BP) per 50 strips.
Ontario drug program pays about $100 million Canadian Dollars or 60 million British Pounds per year paying for the strips under this program (3% of Ontario drug plan expenditure).
Ontario Drug Program Financial Assistance
https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/48...ntario-financial-assistance-programs.pdf.aspx
https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/48...ntario-financial-assistance-programs.pdf.aspx
The current provincial Liberal party in power reduced the number of free strips but this may change in the next election as the current gov't is not popular (20%).
Yes, the meters do vary but are a good weather vane to either congratulate you or slap you in the face and say "Smarten up!"
I have 3 different meters (I am a techie guy, elder geek, and wanted to see for myself). The variance is minimal between them. Tykess, One Touch Verio IQ, and AccuCheck Aviva. My favourite being the Tykess. The One Touch Verio IQ gives "way off" false readings if the battery is not kept fully charged and it does not hold a charge very long. The AccuCheck Aviva and Tykess use replaceable batteries that do last a long time. I also have the Bant App on my iPhone to keep track of my readings.
Here in Canada, specifically Ontario, your out of pocket costs vary based on "Pre-diabetic", Type 1, or Type 2. Meters are "free" if you buy the first 100 strips. Under the Ontario Public Drug Programs, age 65 or older (I guess that people under 65 are at no risk for diabetes according to our health plans) or under certain support programs, depending on your type of diabetes, you get "x" free strips and pay if you need more. The strips, as mentioned before, are the costly part - affordable for some but not all. How often that you test will determine your cost over and above your no-charge allowance. As you can see, unless you are using insulin, the free strips are minimal. Lancets are not free.
Test strips no-charge per 365 day period:
3000: Patients managing diabetes with insulin
400: Patients managing diabetes with anti-diabetes medication with higher risk of causing hypoglycemia* (about 1 strip per day avg)
200: Patients managing diabetes using anti-diabetes medication with lower risk of causing hypoglycemia* (1 strip every 2 days avg)
200: Patients managing diabetes through diet/lifestyle therapy only (no insulin or anti-diabetes medications)
Unless you are on insulin then if you want to test on a regular basis to monitor your blood sugar levels, there will be the cost of the test strips. About $60 +/- CDN (36 BP) per 50 strips.
Ontario drug program pays about $100 million Canadian Dollars or 60 million British Pounds per year paying for the strips under this program (3% of Ontario drug plan expenditure).
Ontario Drug Program Financial Assistance
https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/48...ntario-financial-assistance-programs.pdf.aspx
https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/48...ntario-financial-assistance-programs.pdf.aspx
The current provincial Liberal party in power reduced the number of free strips but this may change in the next election as the current gov't is not popular (20%).
Yes, the meters do vary but are a good weather vane to either congratulate you or slap you in the face and say "Smarten up!"
I have 3 different meters (I am a techie guy, elder geek, and wanted to see for myself). The variance is minimal between them. Tykess, One Touch Verio IQ, and AccuCheck Aviva. My favourite being the Tykess. The One Touch Verio IQ gives "way off" false readings if the battery is not kept fully charged and it does not hold a charge very long. The AccuCheck Aviva and Tykess use replaceable batteries that do last a long time. I also have the Bant App on my iPhone to keep track of my readings.