I had a discussion with my diabetic nurse about wanting to test to keep a check on such things. She was against it, saying since I don't adjust my medication according how I test it didn't make sense to rely on self-testing and I should go by whatever the hbaic shows, but suddenly sighed and said it was because it was so expensive to prescribe endless test strips. She did prescribe me a box of 50 and then said this for while I was learning how to get control of my BS and what foods work for me. she said she considered this money well spent.
I can see her point in not testing all the time. I am lucky to have a monitor and ten strips a month prescribed free (all diabetic prescriptions are free), but while I'l learning so much about this I feel I need to test more frequently, which is why she ok'd the box of 50 in addition to the 10 a month. I can't change my meds much as such, although even this isn't true as I've dropped one Gliclazide tablet in the evening due to BS going too low over night. I wouldn't have known I'd had my first hypo if I hadn't tested and seen BS at 3.5. I'd have assumed the palpitations, sweating and feeling ill were menopausal or blood pressure or just being ill.
I can already see the benefits in my BS of a change in diet. As I learn more I will be more confident that my BS is under control with just a light touch on the self-testing and regular hbaic tests to confirm good control. As I lose weight (fingers crossed) and exercise more i will see that my average BS is in better ranges. If you are T2, as I understand it, your body could, with the right care (diet, exercise) get back to dealing with spikes without them being so dangerous to you - like everyone else's body does if they're not diabetic (and assuming not too much damage has already been done to pancreatic cells).
I think that being able to self test will show me how well I cope after different foods, which will reassure me that my body deals ok with occasional spikes, so I guess I'm saying it might be good for you to get a meter if your GP won't provide one - and folks on here have done that, so I'm sure they can advise on most economical types.