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Are test strips universal ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pat91
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Pat91

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Hi guys, can I buy any make of test strips. I have the gluco men blood monitor. But that brand isn't on the diabetes UK shop. Thanks guys
 
Unfortunately the strips are monitor specific.
what I did when diagnosed was buy the cheapest monitor and strips I could find the gluco Navi is the monitor and the strips are about £8 a pot of 50 on Amazon.
The monitor I was prescribed (gluco men aero) the strips were £20 to buy if I ran out which I did in the first few months as I was testing a lot more than 4 times a day.
The Navi is now my back up device!
 
SaraKaya said:
Unfortunately the strips are monitor specific.
what I did when diagnosed was buy the cheapest monitor and strips I could find the gluco Navi is the monitor and the strips are about £8 a pot of 50 on Amazon.
The monitor I was prescribed (gluco men aero) the strips were £20 to buy if I ran out which I did in the first few months as I was testing a lot more than 4 times a day.
The Navi is now my back up device!
Click to expand...
Hi there, oh that's rubbish, yeah I've had to buy a few packs of Amazon £15 for 50 for the Gluco areo ones. That's not a bad idea of buying a cheaper one and having a back up tho. Thank you.
 
How many strips are you getting on your prescription? As a Type 1 you are entitled to at least 200 a month and if this isn't enough then I'd suggest you talk to your DSN or GP about getting more, you shouldn't have to pay for your strips xx
 
@Type1Pat if you are UK based, as someone taking blood sugar lowing medication (insulin), you should not be paying for your test strips.
If you do not have enough on your prescription and your GP will not extend your prescription, I recommend taking it up with Diabetes UK as they have run a campaign to ensure we get enough test strips and do not need to self fund.

Those who have to self fund (most people with type 2 who choose to test) find that blood glucose monitor manufacturers make their money out of test strips. They have no desire to have universal test strips.
 
Type1Pat said:
Hi guys, can I buy any make of test strips. I have the gluco men blood monitor. But that brand isn't on the diabetes UK shop. Thanks guys
Click to expand...

Yeah, as @helli said - don’t pay for them! And you don’t have to pay prescription charges either by the way. You can get a medical exemption certificate and then don’t have to pay any charges (all presuming you’re in the UK).
 
And you can have a back up meter if you want and then get the strips for that one added to your prescription too. I have two different meters and both types of strips are on my prescription.
 
Inka said:
Yeah, as @helli said - don’t pay for them! And you don’t have to pay prescription charges either by the way. You can get a medical exemption certificate and then don’t have to pay any charges (all presuming you’re in the UK).
Click to expand...
Yeah I sent off my form just waiting on something back, I'm guessing you receive a card ? Thank god we have the NHS, picked my prescription up last week it would of been around £70 for it all
 
Inka said:
And you can have a back up meter if you want and then get the strips for that one added to your prescription too. I have two different meters and both types of strips are on my prescription.
Click to expand...
How many do you get through a day, because it's all new I'm getting through around 7-10
 
As a Type 1, surely you can get a system and strips prescribed by the GP that will cost you nothing?
 
Kaylz said:
How many strips are you getting on your prescription? As a Type 1 you are entitled to at least 200 a month and if this isn't enough then I'd suggest you talk to your DSN or GP about getting more, you shouldn't have to pay for your strips xx
Click to expand...
Currently getting 50 a time but as it's all new to me I'm testing quite a lot so there not lasting to long. Thanks for the advice, I wasn't aware of this
 
mikeyB said:
As a Type 1, surely you can get a system and strips prescribed by the GP that will cost you nothing?
Click to expand...
Yeah I have but I'm getting through quite a lot at the minute. But the guys on here have mentioned I can just request more
 
helli said:
@Type1Pat if you are UK based, as someone taking blood sugar lowing medication (insulin), you should not be paying for your test strips.
If you do not have enough on your prescription and your GP will not extend your prescription, I recommend taking it up with Diabetes UK as they have run a campaign to ensure we get enough test strips and do not need to self fund.

Those who have to self fund (most people with type 2 who choose to test) find that blood glucose monitor manufacturers make their money out of test strips. They have no desire to have universal test strips.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply as I wasn't aware of this. Will ask for maybe double the amount next time I order. Thank you.
 
Type1Pat said:
Yeah I sent off my form just waiting on something back, I'm guessing you receive a card ? Thank god we have the NHS, picked my prescription up last week it would of been around £70 for it all
Click to expand...

Yes, it’s like a plastic credit card sized thing.
 
Inka said:
Yeah, as @helli said - don’t pay for them! And you don’t have to pay prescription charges either by the way. You can get a medical exemption certificate and then don’t have to pay any charges (all presuming you’re in the UK).
Click to expand...
Your comment reminded me ... nothing to do with test strips but @Type1Pat have you informed the DVLA you are taking insulin?
You will need to do so (and your insurance company although they shouldn't change the price of insurance). You will likely get a 3 year driving license but I have had no trouble renewing mine every 3 years.
 
Just a word of warning even the same manufacturer can have differnt strips for differnt models
 
helli said:
Your comment reminded me ... nothing to do with test strips but @Type1Pat have you informed the DVLA you are taking insulin?
You will need to do so (and your insurance company although they shouldn't change the price of insurance). You will likely get a 3 year driving license but I have had no trouble renewing mine every 3 years.
Click to expand...
Yeah I informed them the day after I came out of hospital, have returned the questionnaire to them today so just waiting to hear back now. Is it every 3years then for a renewal. Did you find when you returned to driving more pressure/ anxiety being behind the wheel ?. Thanks for the heads up
 
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