I'm a pensioneer too, but i do have a small occupational pension on top of tthe State one. I buy my own test strips out of that money. I carry glucotabs in my pocket, but have only rarely needed them. I walk a LOT, but even though i keep bg down tight, I fin d it goes UP with exercise. I hit 6.7 today after the gym, which to me is unacceptable.
The big beef I have with the government is that smokers get help free to get off the weed.
I can't have strips! I didn't choose diabetes, they chose tobacco. I go to LocalHealth authority meetings and there the efficacy of the Sttop Smoking campqaigns is always trumpeted. However, in my area, fewer than half the diabetics can hit an Hba1c below 8%.
In fact when I met the DSN sister from the clinic at a meeting, she questioned whether I am actually diabetic with an HbA1c in the 5%s, as she rarely sees one below 8%
I guess strips might save the PCT as much money as "stop smoking" supplies.