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Ethics opinion, please

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B

BleepBloop

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
For years and years I couldn't get enough test strips. I know how expensive it is when you have to go buy them at full retail price. It really stings, and then you have to worry about wasting them.

My fortunes have turned, or someone has made a mistake, or something. My GP increased my prescription, and I have accumulated a small excess of strips. There are times I need to test 12x day, and other times I skate by with once a day. I guess I've had a few too many once a day days lately.

So. The ethics part. How bad would it be to offer them for sale on ebay? I'd like to get them used by people who need them rather than going out of date on my shelf, and maybe someone can grab a bargain. Last time I looked (a few years ago), each box was ?27 or so at the chemist.

Ethics aside, is it illegal to sell on prescribed test strips?

I intend to not fill the strips script next time to let the excess fall off naturally. I didn't plan this.

I don't think the chemist would re-distribute them if I returned the excess. They'd destroy them and report it as waste, which would hurt other people who get lucky with a generous MD.
 
Hi there and welcome to the forum

Why not see if anyone on here could do with them you dont mention your meter but im sure someone on here could benifit, or are you after making money?

Im not to sure on the rules and regs around selling strips on Ebay I do see people selling them on there so it must be ok I guess.I guess as long as there in date, still have the factory seal on and do match the persons meter then guess its fine
 
Hi Bleepbloop. Welcome 🙂

As far as ethics go, I would say no, don't sell them, offer them to those who can't get them on script.

I would think, almost certainly, that it's illegal to sell them.

As steff says, there are plenty on here who can't get them but would be happy for a box to test with.🙂

Rob
 
If it were me I'd offer them free to a good home 🙂

How long have you been diagnosed, are you on any meds ?

Welcome btw


Sarah 🙂
 
For a start it's ilegal, and well ethical it stinks..

I would check out the expirey dates, if some are close call then offer these to fellow diabeitc's who need them..

Then instead of picking up repeat prescriptions for the test strips whether you need them or not every month I susggest you only actually order up a repeat prescription when you need more supplies..

It's for the reasons you out lined, patients who order up repeat prescriptions when they don't either take the medication or use the full amount, so stock pile them in their cupboards that costs the NHS an absolute fortune, and one of the main reasons why a lot of T2's can't get test strips, and T1's face a very restricted supply..
 
The only person I could think of to offer them to didn't want them. One Touch Ultra 2, I think.

I'm not big on ebay, but it's a way to be sure that the people who get them want them rather than someone who just takes them to have them, if you see what I mean. The friend I offered them to said they would perish on her shelf, but she would have them if I didn't mind that. I said no, they ought to be useful somewhere.

And then, well, the ethics ponderings....
 
BleepBloop said:
The only person I could think of to offer them to didn't want them. One Touch Ultra 2, I think.

I'm not big on ebay, but it's a way to be sure that the people who get them want them rather than someone who just takes them to have them, if you see what I mean. The friend I offered them to said they would perish on her shelf, but she would have them if I didn't mind that. I said no, they ought to be useful somewhere.

And then, well, the ethics ponderings....
Click to expand...

Well your in the perfect place then to give them to someone deserving,unless like I said your out for making money.Now you have joined here you have plenty who would bite your hand off for them,and whoever you gave them to in here would certainly use them!
 
Well yes, I'm scaling back on what I collect now. The numbers didn't seem that much more than what I need, but after a few months....
 
:D Well said Steph :D

Ps also agree 100% with Ellie
 
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I hear so many tales of people crying out for strips in order to be able to control their diabetes and being denied any at all, that if I had an excess I would be more than happy to post them FOC to a needy person I knew from a forum. The very last thing I would do would be to sell them on eBay. If you don't want to be out of pocket then I am sure anyone in need would be more than happy to pay the postage.
 
Pattidevans said:
I hear so many tales of people crying out for strips in order to be able to control their diabetes and being denied any at all, that if I had an excess I would be more than happy to post them FOC to a needy person I knew from a forum. The very last thing I would do would be to sell them on eBay. If you don't want to be out of pocket then I am sure anyone in need would be more than happy to pay the postage.
Click to expand...
I used to not be able to get them, which is why I am worried about them going to waste. It's not loads, just more than I need right now, and since I actually did test 12 times yesterday, I'm reluctant to cut off the supply too decisively.

But as I say, I didn't have ideas on how to get them into homes. I guess I do now.
 
The other option of course is to use them yourself if you feel you could benefit from extra testing.

Is your control as good as you feel you can get it?

There are several threads on the forum regarding Type 2 testing. It would be interesting to hear your experiences.🙂

Rob
 
So how long have you been diagnosed ? Do you take any meds ?

Found anything in particular causes spikes? As I'm not able to test I am very interested to hear how food effect people.
If you do/have done 12 tests a day you must have a very good idea 🙂


Sarah 🙂
 
Ive never heard of a type 2 testing 12 times a day I bet thats more times then some of you type 1s lol.Each to there own of course
 
RSVP said:
So how long have you been diagnosed ? Do you take any meds ?

Found anything in particular causes spikes? As I'm not able to test I am very interested to hear how food effect people.
If you do/have done 12 tests a day you must have a very good idea 🙂


Sarah 🙂
Click to expand...
I think it was October 2006 I officially crossed the line, but with an entire extended family of T2s (and a few T1s), it was always a matter of when, not if. I think I caught it instantly, as I had purchased my own meter and strips and was testing when the doctors thought I was just being silly.

I have metformin and gliclazide, but I'm working to get off the gliclazide. I hate the hypos.

It feels like everything except lettuce causes spikes, but I'll get back to you with better information another day when I'm feeling more focus. I mainly test a lot right now because of med-induced hypos combined with instructions not to eat much (there's an actual plan, but it boils down to not much).
 
I think the only ethical thing is to send them FOC to someone who needs them, and probably the ideal place for that is the charity Insulin for life:

http://www.insulinforlife.org/

They need not only in-date insulin, but also spare strips. 🙂
 
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