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10-05-2007, 07:24 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 45
| | | Ouch... test strips are expensive....
I haven't posted much lately.. so here I am..
I got my Ac1 test result. It was 10.10. I wasn't too happy, but my pcp is always positive to encourage me for improvement...
I started *trying* eating healthy. The big change is that I started eating three times a day. I am doing pretty well. Only thing is that I craved for a lot of food or eating fried food when I get really stressed out from my work... bad bad!!!
I joined gym a week ago. I started brisk walking 1 mile each time for a couple days and now increased to 1.5 miles. I have been walking for three weeks, 5 times a week. I must have walked 3 miles or more today outside. I want to increase to 2 miles at gym in a couple days. I am trying.
Today I met the diabetes educator finally. My blood level was 170. It was better than 289, the day of diagnose on September 11. Thank God, he gave me "OneTouch" Ultra2. I saved about $60. He was very kind, and explained to me a lot of things. It was a lot of information to take. But I am ready for this challenge for me to get better.
I went to pharmacy to get alcohol prep swab, Lancet, and test strips, and aspirin. Total of $110. Yikes. I have insurance, and this was it. Crazy. I just wondering how people can afford for expensive test strips. It supposed to last about a month.
I kinda got depressed this afternoon. My doctor asked me to start taking aspirin... then she is going to add an another medicine in January. Then my RN is going to ask my pcp to add the dosage of Metformin. I am taking 500 x2 right now. Then I started thinking about poking my finger with needles twice to four times a day. Ah.. so depressing. So I went for a walk with my girl yorkie in downtown Boston and shop for some gym clothes.
Anyway.. how does everyone manage to pay so much money for medicine and all the strips etc...  |
10-05-2007, 08:13 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 543
| | | Michiko, all I can offer is sympathy. If one does not have health insurance, any disease can wreck our pocketbooks.
I'm fortunate - at this time - because Medicare pays 100% for test strips. I would be very hard pressed to test often otherwise.
Hopefully some other members of DF can over you tips on reducing the cost.
Good luck.
__________________
I was born with nothing and I've still got most of it. |
10-05-2007, 08:20 PM
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manassas, in the Old Dominion
Posts: 6,534
| | | Check out Wally World (Wal-Mart) for their strips and meters...they beat the socks off of everyone else for price. And as far as Metformin costs at Wal-Mart--I do believe Met is one of their "$4" drugs.
__________________
I'll mend myself before it gets me... |
10-05-2007, 08:55 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 45
| | | I saw some on ebay and they are much cheaper. I thought I needed prescription from doctor to get test strips.. .. I am so new to this, and confused. |
10-05-2007, 09:12 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manassas, in the Old Dominion
Posts: 6,534
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Michiko  I saw some on ebay and they are much cheaper. I thought I needed prescription from doctor to get test strips.. .. I am so new to this, and confused. | The strips, no. Anyone can buy them, sell them in the USA. Meds--now THOSE you'll need an RX. Actually, depending on where you live, you can get insulin just by asking and signing for it.
__________________
I'll mend myself before it gets me... |
10-05-2007, 10:00 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rothesay, New Brunswick Canada, eh
Posts: 6,802
| | Alcohol swabs?What are they?  |
10-05-2007, 10:14 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 45
| | I am just so pain sensitive. So my doctor suggested me to get alcohol prep swabs..... it wasn't expensive only a couple dollars. I got Lavender scent one  |
10-06-2007, 05:22 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bucks County, PA, USA
Posts: 961
| | | If you have insurance, get an Rx for the strips. You Rx plan should then cover the strips and all you pay is your co-pay.
__________________ 
Unless otherwise stated, the opinions expressed here are my own and are in no way intended to be considered as anything other than my opinion. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
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10-06-2007, 05:25 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: florida
Posts: 39
| | | since you have insurance, get an RX for the strips and find a place to order them from. they do all of the insurance billing and it is a way better deal.
__________________
type 1 for 3 years or so
lantus in the AM
novalog pen with meals.
good times.  |
10-06-2007, 06:22 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Macomb Twp, Mich
Posts: 856
| | Hello Michiko.... We can all understand your confusion on the insurance scandals. What insurance do you have? My doc writes a scrip for testing 4 times a day, even though I test twice, and I pay 20 bucks for 120 strips. I take metformin (1000mg) a day,and on those I get a 90 day supply for 80.00.
I too use the alcholol swabs AFTER testing. If you use them before, they can give you false readings. Best of luck to you and stick around,you can learn a lot here!! gdpit_com_5610563_290.gif
__________________ 
Diagnosed Type 2 April '07
2000mg Metformin daily,Crestor,Plavix,Atenolol,Pottasium,Diet Coke taken as needed!!
(April '07-A1C= 6.9)
(August '07 A1C= 6.4)
(March '08 A1C= 6.4)
(June '08 A1C= 6.3)
(Sept '08 A1C= 7.4)   When signmakers go on strike, is their anything written on their signs?? |
10-06-2007, 07:15 AM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston
Posts: 45
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by bryan42 | Where do you get the strip so cheap? Or is it because of your insurance? I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. |
10-06-2007, 07:27 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 751
| | I didn't have insurance when I was diagnosed and now that I do they still won't cover anything for a year since it is a pre-existing condition. Test strips are so expensive!!! Even at WalMart they are $100 for 6 barrels (I use Accu-Chek compact). I can find them on e-bay and usually pay $36 - $42 for a box of 6.
With a prescription you should only have to pay your co-pay with BCBS.
I use my lancet several times before replacing it and I've never even though of using an alcohol swab for some reason.
Michiko I also wanted to share that once I reduced the amount of carbs I ate my cravings subsided. It is such a difficult addictive cycle to break I know. Those cravings are very real.
Congratulations on increasing your exercise!! I know it can all be so overwhelming. You sound motivated and you are getting more educated and getting support. That is a great combination for management!!!!
Oh - if you crave fried foods could you get something fried that is not breaded? That might satisfy you but not add the carbs...of course the 'fried' bit isn't good either...but as I told my doc early on I could only take care of 1 disease at a time and I was eating for my meter...later I was able to eat more heart healthy (although that remains a struggle for me - I love the fatty foods )
Good luck!!!
Dawn |
10-06-2007, 08:50 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St. Charles, IL
Posts: 545
| | | Michiko, I have BCBS and 100 strips costs me about $10. I have a Rx for them so if you don't then ask your Doc about writing you one.
__________________   |
10-06-2007, 08:58 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,583
| | | Are you able to order you prescriptions through a mail-order plan? I get 90 days for just a few dollars (10 strips a day!)...so that's a real bargain for me.
Make sure your doctor writes the prescription correctly for a few more than you need each day. Some days I test more than others...it all averages out. |
10-06-2007, 10:20 AM
|  | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 35
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Michiko Where do you get the strip so cheap? Or is it because of your insurance? I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. | I also have Blue Cross insurance, if you have a prescription for the strips the cost would be the same as a name brand prescription. I pay $25.00 for a box of 100. Have your dr. give you a prescription for testing 4 times a day so you will get the big box. Hope that helps. |
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