What happened today: The last time I pricked my finger was on June 24th, fasting. It read 119, which in the UK would be about 6.61 (you have to divide by 18). And I ran out of test strips. Yesterday I went to the emergency room and asked them to check my glucose, but the doctor said they couldn't. On Saturday, I went to the pharmacy to ask how much 50 test strips for the glucometer cost, and they told me 100 dollars (I can't afford them). Later, I went to a neighbor's house who is insulin-dependent and asked him for a strip, but he said he didn't have any. My health insurance covers 50 strips per year, but they won't give them to me because I haven't seen an endocrinologist this year, nor have I had any blood tests done. I had a primary care physician who would refer me to a specialist, but she resigned, and my health insurance doesn't have another doctor to refer me to; the system is overwhelmed. I'll get them eventually. I usually buy expired test strips; they still work when they're a year or a few months past their expiration date. They're worthless to the pharmacy because they're expired, but they sell on the black market for about 60% less than at the pharmacy. The girl who sells them to me now doesn't have any. What I did today? I called an ambulance, and the doctor came. I told her I was very thirsty, had to urinate frequently, and my vision was blurred. I also told her it had been a long time since I'd pricked my finger. She asked me what I had for lunch. I told her I had beef and roasted vegetables. I finished eating at 3 p.m., and it was 4 p.m. The doctor put the pulse oximeter on my finger; my oxygen levels were good. She took my blood pressure, which was fine, and then she checked my glucose. Finally! It was 121 an hour after eating, which is about 6.7 in the UK.
