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Test strips

I just by whatever the cheapest ones I can find on Amazon are for my meter. I recently changed to an Contour USB from an Accuchek Mobile, because the strips are cheaper (and I can get them in America where they are cheaper still).

If I get them from the US, I get my strips at 30p a test (50p a test from Amazon in the UK). I never buy them from the high-street because they make you pay through the nose.

Your GlucoRX strips look very good value at 23p a test. I think I might have to change my meter again...

I think that somewhere on DUK we should maintain a list of the cheapest strips.
 
The nurse at my doctor's practice gave me a meter and a prescription for strips when I was first diagnosed, but then when I wanted some more I was told sorry, you aren't on insulin therefore you can only get two prescriptions per year! ( I worked it out that meant that I could only test once every 4 days...not much good when you are tryuing to control it with diet!)

I buy them on ebay at less than half the price of getting them at the chemist. I know some people have issues with buying these sort of things on ebay, but I'm afraid I can't afford to have issues :(
 
my doctor gives me test strips on pescription, the nurse had told me that the doctor wouldent give me them and that really i dident need to test my blood :shock:
 
You are lucky to get strips prescribed Lynn. There are lots of Type 2's on this forum who get told that they don't need to test and don't get prescribed any. I can get approx 150 per year on prescription, and I want to test more so buy the rest.
 
im getting mine on prescription now, got given a bayer contour meter by the nurse last week and she has put the strips on prescription, how long i get them for is another matter, was told that because im on tolbutamide i can have them
 
I put a post on yesterday about test strips on the Diabetes.co.uk web-site being advertised for £22.75 for 50. They were for the Care Sens meter that I use. The thing that concerned me most was that the Diabetes.co.uk web-site bought them from the same site I do.
I buy direct from Spirit Healthcare Ltd and pay £12.75 for 50 (25.5p per test).
Maybe the diabetes.co.uk website doesn't or isn't able to take advantage of special offers quickly enough.
I went to my surgery to-day to talk to 4 first year medical students about diabetes (diagnosis,treatment and any associated issues).It was interesting that part of their brief beforehand was that the NHS will not fund test strips for Type 2. I was able to say that testing,testing, testing is the only way to gain individual control and that I had to buy my own and spent about £50 a month.
I said each diabetic person is unique;metabolism, lifestyle, other meds etc all play their part in control.
I was also able to talk to them about lower carbing to lower BS levels and how basing meals around carbohydrates was not right for me AND that I only fully understood by how much when I tested....
 
SparkJack said:
I put a post on yesterday about test strips on the Diabetes.co.uk web-site being advertised for £22.75 for 50. They were for the Care Sens meter that I use. The thing that concerned me most was that the Diabetes.co.uk web-site bought them from the same site I do.
I buy direct from Spirit Healthcare Ltd and pay £12.75 for 50 (25.5p per test).
Maybe the diabetes.co.uk website doesn't or isn't able to take advantage of special offers quickly enough.
I went to my surgery to-day to talk to 4 first year medical students about diabetes (diagnosis,treatment and any associated issues).It was interesting that part of their brief beforehand was that the NHS will not fund test strips for Type 2. I was able to say that testing,testing, testing is the only way to gain individual control and that I had to buy my own and spent about £50 a month.
I said each diabetic person is unique;metabolism, lifestyle, other meds etc all play their part in control.
I was also able to talk to them about lower carbing to lower BS levels and how basing meals around carbohydrates was not right for me AND that I only fully understood by how much when I tested....
Click to expand...
What was their response Sparkjack?
 
I buy my strips from Spirit Healthcare for the same price as you Sparkjack. I applied for a free meter from them a while ago and have bought strips ever since.. I was alerted to the special offer by a post on this forum and I am very grateful .
I have mentioned this befoe but will say again, that their customer service is superb. I have trouble
with both phones and computers due to my poor vision and they have really put themselves out to help.

It is very encouraging to hear that you were invited to speak to these medical students Sparkjack.
Is someone starting to listen o us? I too would be interested in their reaction.
 
East Man
I haven't had a reply as yet from diabetes.co.uk so I will actively telephone them tomorrow so that they can investigate.
The other positive thing I would like to say about Spirit Healthcare is that strips etc come by return of post after you've ordered online. Payment is by cheque within 30 days.
 
Hi SparkJack

It is a significant price difference as you point out. We're going to ask our supplier to look into this.

It may be that CareSens is wishing to undercut its chain of distributors, which can happen sometimes but we'll need to check this is the case before we can say so.

With many thanks
Benedict
 
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