Diabetes Talking

Question:

[ stuff deleted] Consequently, I still feel that a cooperative would be a good idea. George Davis

Cooperatives are an interesting idea, but you need to look at what is the minimum order sizes from the manufacturer, your membership etc. As I see it, if you need to distribute over a large area, you better have a membership who is going to work hard with you to do all the processing etc. Good luck

Response:

I suspect that laziness is a big feature of the reaction you got.  If you buy First Choice Strips (which actually are more reliable, I gather, than the OT strips by a very small amount) by mail order you can the strips for a quarter each which is cheap enough so that I find the idea of organizing a cooperative a bit daunting.

I said (in a messags that I’ve just cancelled but is already other there for many people). The local Walgreen’s carries the First Choice at $24.95/100. That’s a quarter each.

I should never post that early in the morning !    That’s $24.95 for 50, so that is 50 cents each. I don’t recall seeing anthing in the 25c each range.   WHere are these places. Bill —

Response:

IBI have always been able to read my strips visually (without a meter) so to IBsave on costs I take a sharp pair of sizzors and cut each strip into forths IBI IBhave found no difference in readings using a whole strip or the one-quarter IBwidth strip visually. IBAbsolutely right! IBMeters are nice technological gizmos, but unless one has a particular IBdifficulty IBin reading a colour chart (i.e partially sighted/colour blind) or if control IBneeds to be controlled very tightly (e.g during pregnancy) the meter is IBof limited value. The decimal point accuracy is meaningless, since the IBenvironmental conditions will never be the same from test to test; the blood I believe, as many people do nowadays, that B/G’s should be "tightly" controlled all the time. IBGiven this, the meter is really a way of getting patients locked into a IBparticular type of strip so that they then have to buy it. Yes, this may be true, but so is buying a car or anything else.  You are then locked into buying the tires and other parts from that manufaturer. IBBTW I heard recently of a meter which could read the top four brands of test IBstrip. I bet that’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons! IBI cut my strips in two so that I can do more tests. Visual comparison is qui IBaccurate enough – resolution to plus or minus 1mmol/l is perfectly adequate IBfor IBday to day purposes. IBBill. There are now modern meters that don’t require any wiping.  The accuracy of these meters is quite high. Bublz, the diabetic Clown   *<:+) Online Data Systems – Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Southeastern) (414) 761-5120 – 3/12/2400  (414)761-5133 9600/14.4K  (414)761-5145 Voice (414) 939-4670 – Kenosha, Racine, Pt. Washington, West Bend, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Mishicot & surrounding Ameritech Customers

Response:

I have always been able to read my strips visually (without a meter) so to save on costs I take a sharp pair of sizzors and cut each strip into forths.  I have found no difference in readings using a whole strip or the one-quarter width strip visually.

Absolutely right! Meters are nice technological gizmos, but unless one has a particular difficulty in reading a colour chart (i.e partially sighted/colour blind) or if control needs to be controlled very tightly (e.g during pregnancy) the meter is of limited value. The decimal point accuracy is meaningless, since the environmental conditions will never be the same from test to test; the blood will be wiped off at a slightly different time each time; there may be traces of blood left on the strip which affect its reflectance; etc. Given this, the meter is really a way of getting patients locked into a particular type of strip so that they then have to buy it. Even here in the UK where the NHS pays for diabetic prescriptions, the drug companies are virtually giving away machines to patients so that physicians will then have to prescribe that kind of test strip. Nice marketing ploy. BTW I heard recently of a meter which could read the top four brands of test strip. I bet that’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons! I cut my strips in two so that I can do more tests. Visual comparison is quite accurate enough – resolution to plus or minus 1mmol/l is perfectly adequate for day to day purposes. Bill.

Response:

I suspect that laziness is a big feature of the reaction you got.  If you buy First Choice Strips (which actually are more reliable, I gather, than the OT strips by a very small amount) by mail order you can the strips for a quarter each which is cheap enough so that I find the idea of organizing a cooperative a bit daunting.  For example, call 18008242401.  The person you talk to will be about as intrested in your health as a chain saw is interested in the structure of wood, but the strips are cheap.

Response:

If you buy First Choice Strips by mail order you can the strips for a quarter each which is cheap enough so that I find the idea of organizing a cooperative a bit daunting. For example, call 18008242401. And George Davis sez: I buy my strips there and they are $18.95 per 50 strips, which is 37.9 cents per strip. That is considerably higher than a quarter, especially since I test about 8 times per day. The cost to manufacture Lifescan strips is approx $4.50 per 50, or 8 cents per strip, according to a Lifescan employee. Consequently, I still feel that a cooperative would be a good idea. George Davis

Response:

: by mail order you can the strips for a quarter each which is : cheap enough so that I find the idea of organizing a cooperative : a bit daunting.  For example, call 18008242401.  The person I was quoted a price of $21.95 per box of 50 which is about 44 cents each. Michael Runge

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey folks, if it weren’t for us DMers there would be no market for BG strips.  Why can’t we form a "Diabetics Cooperative" which would buy directly from the manufacturer and distribute to members at no profit??  If enough of us band together we would have tremen- dous bargaining power.  Whaddya think? I posted this on another group recently and didn’t get much response. Seems most of them get theirs through insurance company.  I have to pay with my own money, so would be interested in saving a few bucks.   |  George Davis     I  MI  30+  Age 57 |

George, Try calling Pharmacare.  I was told that strips can be paid  for by Pharmacare if you get a Certificate of Training.   I’m going to ask my doctor for a certificate.  If I can’t get one from there, I’ll check with St. Paul’s Hospital’s diabetes centre (in Vancouver). Good luck.  FYI, I’m getting mine paid for by my extended medical coverage. Ray PS. I’m new to this game.  I just got diagnosed two weeks ago.  Do you have any hints for treating oneself.  BTW, I’m a type II.

Response:

: I have always been able to read my strips visually (without a meter) so to save on costs I take a sharp pair of sizzors and cut each strip into forths.  I have found no difference in readings using a whole strip or the one-quarter width strip visually.  I also make sure I am still calibrated by doing a blood sugar test at the same time I have blood drawn at the doctors and compare readings. : It works for me! Pray tell, how do you read the strips of a OTII without a meter. You made your statement without stating what strips you are talking about and what kind of reading. If you look at a OTII strip, you would need a magnifying glass to *see* 1/4 of their strip. mvs

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Hey folks, if it weren’t for us DMers there would be no market for BG strips.  Why can’t we form a "Diabetics Cooperative" which would buy directly from the manufacturer and distribute to members at no profit??  If enough of us band together we would have tremen-

If you have a OT meter (1 II or easy) reply to me for the name and address of that co-op  I have to edit the file a bit but not having an OT I did not join it.  But at last word it was still alive.  I just no longer have any contact with it’s founder. —    John F Davis In Delightfull Detroit, Mi.   Remember to drive carefully    Some people would like to tell the Police where to go.  I get PAID TO!

Response:

I have always been able to read my strips visually (without a meter) so to save on costs I take a sharp pair of sizzors and cut each strip into forths.  I have found no difference in readings using a whole strip or the one-quarter width strip visually.  I also make sure I am still calibrated by doing a blood sugar test at the same time I have blood drawn at the doctors and compare readings. It works for me!

Response:

Hey folks, if it weren’t for us DMers there would be no market for BG strips.  Why can’t we form a "Diabetics Cooperative" which would buy directly from the manufacturer and distribute to members at no profit??  If enough of us band together we would have tremen- dous bargaining power.  Whaddya think? I posted this on another group recently and didn’t get much response. Seems most of them get theirs through insurance company.  I have to pay with my own money, so would be interested in saving a few bucks.    |  George Davis     I  MI  30+  Age 57 |

Response:

Hope that this is not a repeat question… since first choice has stopped making test strips for the one touch ii, i have heard that a new company has started making "generic" test strips. Does anybody know anything about this? thanks neil

Response:

    Does anyone know the addresses of any catalogs, etc…   offering test strips for one touch system, at reasonable rates?

In the back of Diabetes Forcast magazines there are several advertisements for companies that offer all types of supplies.  Some look like they have some pretty reasonable prices.  JJ

Response:

says…     Does anyone know the addresses of any catalogs, etc…   offering test strips for one touch system, at reasonable rates?

Ted. . .

Response:

Nottingham) writes: says…     Does anyone know the addresses of any catalogs, etc…   offering test strips for one touch system, at reasonable rates? Ted. . .

K-mart has the generic equivalent for the One Touch strips for about $21.00. Phil

Response:

says… Nottingham) writes: Ted. . . K-mart has the generic equivalent for the One Touch strips for about $21.00. Phil

I’ve tried those.  I ran parallel to One Touch for 2 weeks and the K-Mart strips were inconsistently inconsistent.  I returned them for a full refund. Ted. . .

Response:

     Does anyone know the addresses of any catalogs, etc…   offering test strips for one touch system, at reasonable rates?

Response:

Does anyone know the addresses of any catalogs, etc…   offering test strips for one touch system, at reasonable rates?

The American Diabetes Association mag usually has a number of mail-order drug advertisers. You may be able to see a copy at the library. — Redbat

Response:

cc’d by email The WalMart "Relion" (actually Priccision QID) strips are the cheapest Actually, I find them a little easier to use thanh the official QID strips, and a meter and lancet is only $8.88, so, after a yerr, THROW THE METER out and get a new one.

the FastTake meter deal and FastTake strips are the cheapest, and *far* better than the Relion at www.hocks.com, of course.  :) bill t1 since ‘57 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to this and have seen several places on the internet to get strips. A friend said try E-Bay and some other sites. The other sites were www.hocks.com & www.otcwholesale.com. I am not much into E-Bay, I do not have the patience to wait. Can anyone give me some info? Thanks

Response:

I am new to this and have seen several places on the internet to get strips. A friend said try E-Bay and some other sites. The other sites were www.hocks.com & www.otcwholesale.com. I am not much into E-Bay, I do not have the patience to wait. Can anyone give me some info? Thanks

Response:

Thank you for the info, it was very helpful. Fico

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – cc’d by email The WalMart "Relion" (actually Priccision QID) strips are the cheapest Actually, I find them a little easier to use thanh the official QID strips, and a meter and lancet is only $8.88, so, after a yerr, THROW THE METER out and get a new one. the FastTake meter deal and FastTake strips are the cheapest, and *far* better than the Relion at www.hocks.com, of course.  :) bill t1 since ‘57 I am new to this and have seen several places on the internet to get strips. A friend said try E-Bay and some other sites. The other sites were www.hocks.com & www.otcwholesale.com. I am not much into E-Bay, I do not have the patience to wait. Can anyone give me some info? Thanks

Response:

cc’d by email The WalMart "Relion" (actually Priccision QID) strips are the cheapest Actually, I find them a little easier to use thanh the official QID strips, and a meter and lancet is only $8.88, so, after a yerr, THROW THE METER out and get a new one. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to this and have seen several places on the internet to get strips. A friend said try E-Bay and some other sites. The other sites were www.hocks.com & www.otcwholesale.com. I am not much into E-Bay, I do not have the patience to wait. Can anyone give me some info? Thanks

Response: