Strips and meters dilemma

[Metal mama]

Hello,
I've got four different meters from four different companies that each have differing features I really like.
I am able to get two different sets of strips from my surgery, but know they won't prescribe two more sets.
Anyone else have this dilemma and how do they get the strips they need?
If they buy them, where's the best place for a deal?
Cheers people!

 

[MaryPlain]

Hello,
I've got four different meters from four different companies that each have differing features I really like.
I am able to get two different sets of strips from my surgery, but know they won't prescribe two more sets.
Anyone else have this dilemma and how do they get the strips they need?
If they buy them, where's the best place for a deal?
Cheers people!

I haven't got a direct answer to your question, but coming at this from a different angle, is it possible that there might be one meter which combines the features you like so that you don't need four? It must be a pain to carry around 4 meters, and difficult to use many of the logging features they provide?

 

[Metal mama]

Hi and thanks for the reply.
They are all used for different things eg. Put one next to my bed, one in my bag, one in my kitchen etc.
They all do different things so I can't get rid of some of them like one lights up and is handy next to bed, one has a smaller blood sample, one charges up thru the wall socket. Got a bit of dilemma on my hands to be honest. :-/

 

[DeusXM]

It's not really a dilemma. Those strips cost the NHS money. There's no medical reason why you would need such an array of strips so it's not exactly fair to expect the taxpayer to shoulder the burden of providing you with a luxury. If you really do need such a range of strips, eBay is probably your best bet.

 

[Metal mama]

Fab will look there.

 

[Metal mama]

And whilst we're on the subject of wasting tax payers money isn't it a waste that old meters can't be recycled? I appreciate there may a slight risk of contamination but surely they could be broken down go some way and the parts reused? No they can't and no company will do it. Same with the strip bottles-can't be recycled due to what is in the lid to keep the strips dry. Whilst the meters can be destroyed in the pharmacy, the bottles go into landfill.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I'm not sure I could run more than one type of meter at a time apart from emergency cover. Comparing more than one meter result side by side (testing the same drop of blood etc) is a fast-track route to madness, as I find each meter tends to have its own idiosyncracies in terms of results. When I changed from Roche meters to the Countour Link that works with Artoo (pump) I had to spend a few months tweaking doses/corrections/expectations until I had worked out how the new results 'worked'

Intrigued to know what features/functions you mean - Is it something like the light on the strip port of one (can't remember which) for night time tests?

 

[DeusXM]

And whilst we're on the subject of wasting tax payers money isn't it a waste that old meters can't be recycled?

Absolutely. The only option I can really think of is again, eBay. It might be possible to put unwanted monitors for sale online provided it's made clear it's a used monitor.

You might be able to partially recycle the strip bottles though - surely if you remove the lid, they'd be fine?

 

[Metal mama]

Very interesting point. I shall call One Touch up tomorrow and ask.
I have also passed all my meters to a friend who is off to a third world country next week to donate them to a hospital and have kept two. A regular one and a back up. I have enclosed a letter stating that they have been used. My friend {a health professional} has said if the hospital is unhappy about using them he will bring them back.