I was diagnosed T2 6 months ago and am on the diet and exercise route to control. Self testing has been part of my regime and was extremely useful in figuring out why I felt shaky and weak, sluggish and tired, or had an insatiable craving for frozen raspberries (my sugary food "way better" choice substitute). I don't test daily, but when I feel "odd" or different, and by testing, have become more in tune with my body and the signals it sends out. Although my GP, practice nurse and practice dietician have encouraged self testing, I have also look at the cost of extra strips more pragmatically ---- I paid enough to fund a small country on sugary treats and a +2 litre daily coke habit, and did not count those costs, the cost of getting my resultant diabetes under control should be treated in the same light. (I don't think it is possible that strips can cost more than my sugar binges). It's about making choices, and I choose to self test. (My HBG test was 6.1 last month -- Yay!)