What If I Need More Test Strips Than My Reimbursement Limit
The established reimbursement limits for test strips are set at a higher level than the minimum levels suggested by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Additional information is available from the Canadian Diabetes Association Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose tool.
It is understood that there may be exceptional clinical circumstances where you require more frequent testing. Your physician may prescribe you an additional 100 test strips at a time if it has been determined that you need more test strips for exceptional circumstances.
How Does The Pogo Automatic Meter Work
The POGO Automatic is designed to simplify the process of checking your blood glucose. It also reduces the number of supplies needed. Users will need to load a POGO Automatic 10-test cartridge into the monitor, and once this is done, the only supply they will need to carry around is the monitor itself no lancets, no test strips.
Users press their finger onto the button in the center of the device, and the monitor will automatically lance, collect blood, and produce a glucose value four seconds later. After the test, the device automatically retracts the lancet and test strip and provides a new one for the next time you check your glucose.
You can view your glucose value on the monitor itself, or via the free Patterns app , which connects the device to your smartphone through Bluetooth. Though you do not need the app to see your glucose values, it allows users to see their glucose trends and share the data with their healthcare team using the Patterns healthcare provider portal. The Patterns App can also integrate glucose data with a variety of other wellness devices and apps. To learn more about how to use the POGO Automatic, you can read the user manual here.
POGO Automatic may encourage people to check their glucose more often by addressing some of the barriers to frequent tests, including simplifying the process into one step, adding discretion, and reducing the number of supplies you have to carry.
How To Avoid Counterfeit Blood Glucose Test Strips
Until recently, counterfeit blood glucose test strips is a rare occurrence in the United States. However, the brand LifeScan has known to have the most frequent counterfeit issues. In the past, they have announced that the counterfeit test strips has shown unreliable performance that includes highly inaccurate test resultsand it is unknown how counterfeit test strips that may be in the marketplace will perform. As of 2016, there has not been any counterfeit issues reported by LifeScan or the United States government. However, just to be safe, always check your test strips for signs of counterfeits.
- Tamper MRP Label
All genuine test strip packaging have a Tamper Evident MRP Label. Once peeled off, it would reveal the words OPEN. If the label does not say OPEN, the pack is counterfeit.
- Scratch Label
All genuine test strips packaging have a scratch label. When you scratch off the layer, it would reveal a unique number which can be verified by calling the manufacturer customer service.
If you suspect that you have a counterfeit test strips or have any concern with the test strip, dont hesitate to call the manufacturer customer service for assistance.
Several other companies are also developing technologies that can automatically send blood glucose readings from a meter to insurers. In doing so, companies can truly see if the patient is getting the strips for personal use or whether they are committing fraudulent claims.
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Sharps And Sharps Container Disposal
Improper disposal of lancets, insulin syringes, infusion set cannuals and other medical sharps can cause needlestick injuries, especially for garbage collectors. Please throw your used sharps away safely.
Keep in mind that anything sharp should not be simply thrown in your household trash. Depending upon your state, the requirements may vary. Some ask that you place sharps in a rigid container, such as a laundry bottle, then duct tape it closed and clearly write “do not recycle” on the outside.1 Other areas recommend collection or mail-back programs for these items. Visit the Safe Needle Disposal program site to find a location near you.
How Accurate Are The Test Strips
Even though the manufacturers strive to be as accurate as possible, there is always a margin of error. According to the Food and Drug Administration Department regulations for all blood glucose test glucometer:
- For result at or above 75 mg/dl , 95% of the meter test outcomes must be within ±20% of the actual blood glucose level. For example, if your meter reads 100, your actual glucose level can actually be anywhere between 80 to 120.
- For results below 75 mg/dl: 95% of the test results must be within plus or minus 15 points of the actual blood glucose level. So a reading of 70 only gives an indication that your actual glucose level is anywhere between 55 to 85.
This is the unfortunate trade-off for having equipment that is both small and easy to use. Given that there is a margin of error, almost all glucometers are close to being equally accurate. In addition, there are other factors that may play a role in the accuracy of test strips:
A list of other possible errors issued by FDA that may affect the glucometer reading:
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What Are Lancets And Test Strips Used For
Lancets are small, short needles encased in plastic, and are used to puncture the skin to obtain a blood sample. Standard lancets fit inside a lancing device designed to make the finger prick quick and painless. Single-use lancets, often referred to as safety lancets, are also available and can help avoid accidental puncture.
After the skin has been punctured, a small bead of blood will surface, which can then be collected using a glucose test strip. Glucose test strips are designed to absorb the blood sample into a sample chamber. There it is mixed with an enzyme and the glucose meter runs an electrical current through the mixture. The level of resistance to the current that the mixture has calculates a blood sugar reading. Then, based on that reading, the user can determine what action they may need to take to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Here are some helpful tips to remember if you are new to the self-management of diabetes, or if you have another condition that requires regular blood testing.
Dispose of needles immediately.
Once you have finished using your lancets, test strips, and, if needed, syringes, immediately dispose of them as they are now considered a biohazard, i.e. hazardous medical waste.
It is important to take this seriously.
Do not attempt to clean and re-use lancets or syringes with alcohol or any other anti-bacterial solution.
Never share needles.
What To Do With All These Test Strip Containers
If you require several blood glucose test a day, you will soon have boxes full of these empty test strip containers. But it doesnt mean that you have to throw them all away. You can simply upcycle them for other purposes:
1. Create emergency sewing kits
2. Turn it into craft storage
If you do beading work, these containers are perfect for organizing all your different beads and beading accessories.
3. Turn it into a small candy stash container
If you like to buy candy in bulk, you can fill them in these little containers and stash them in your pockets and bring them wherever you go.
4. Trinkets Organizer
If you have a lot of accessories, these containers are perfect for organizing them in your drawers. This way, your necklaces will never tangle into a ball along with your rings and earrings.
5. Seed Sorters
If you are an avid gardener, you will have plenty of seeds every fall. These containers will be perfect for you to organize your seed collection
6. Play-Do Keeper
The air-tight containers are great for keeping all your childrens Play-Do fresh and moist. You can even refresh old Play-Do by moistening a cotton pad with water and place it at the bottom. This way, the Play-Do will absorb the moisture and will be soft for molding again.
7. Paint Keeper
If you love to paint, you can put your paint straight into these containers. And when you are done painting, you do not need to throw away the paint. Just put the lid back on and your paint will be safely stored.
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Where To Buy Control Solution For A Glucose Meter
Typically, control solution for a glucometer is available from the manufacturer of your meter and test strips, and most private insurance companies or Medicare will cover the cost.
Check the manufacturers website for details on where to purchase control solution. You can also check with your local pharmacy to see if they have available stock of the control solution that is compatible with your glucose meter. If none is in stock, you can request it to be ordered through your pharmacy.
Option : Contact Local Diabetes Advocacy Organizations
Diabetes education centers or local branches of advocacy organizations may collect diabetes supplies themselves or be able to refer you to other donation sites.
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Guardian3 sensors
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Glucose test strips
Read the specifics for donating and find mailing instructions here. If you or someone you know need help paying for diabetes supplies, you can apply for assistance through CR3 Diabetes.
SafeNetRx collects medical supplies and redistributes them to people in need living in Iowa. The organization currently only accepts sealed and unexpired lancets, syringes, needles, and glucose test trips. To donate or learn more, click here.
Thank you for taking the time to donate your old diabetes supplies to those who need it. At diaTribe we are grateful each day for the strength and generosity of the diabetes community. Given the immense need, were hopeful that someday soon there may be easier and more effective ways to also donate unused diabetes medications.
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Ways To Save Of Test Strips
With the current test strips maximum quota being limited to 300 test strips every 3 months, many diabetes have to pay for their strips out of their own pocket. Over time, the expense can truly make a dent in a persons budget. In what ways can you save on test strips? There are many options:
1. Be Strategic
If you have type 2 diabetes and do not require insulin, you can work with you doctor or diabetes educator to determine the bare minimum of tests required in order to maintain your blood glucose control. You can also do something called paired testing, which allows you to spot check and gather enough information throughout the month to get a trend of your blood glucose level.
- Benefits CheckUp:
This service from the National Council on Aging offers information for older adults with limited income and resources. Single individuals who make less than $17,655 a year and married couples making less than $23,895 are eligible. benefitscheckup.org, 1-800-677-1116.
- RX Outreach:
Partnered with the Prodigy meter and strip manufacturer, this organization is here to provide help and supplies for low-income people with diabetes . rxoutreach.org, 1-888-796-1234.
- CR3 Diabetes Association:
You can always find deals where you can buy two boxes of 50 store brand test strips at the same price you will get for buying 25 generic brand test strips. And to score the best deal, the trick is to buy their package deal .
What Is A Diabetic Meter
A diabetic meter is a medical device. It is used to measure the sugar level in the blood.
Diabetic patients need a diabetic meter to regularly check the concentration of glucose in their blood. It is small and portable.
We often take supplements to lower our sugar levels. But, to check if it worked, we need a diabetic meter.
Did you know that a diabetic meter can even last for ten years? But, there are times when you have to change your well-functioning meter with a technologically advanced one!
Diabetes can impair vision. In such a case a patient needs an audible meter. So, what to do with the old diabetic meter that had served you for so long?
Why throw away when you can help someone to ease their difficulties? Recycling diabetic supplies can also save your device from going in the trash.
Besides donating and recycling, many choose to sell diabetic meters at lower prices. This act can be beneficial for both the seller and the consumer.
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The Faqs About Old Diabetic Meters
Old diabetic supplies can be useful in many ways. As many of us do not know the proper process to declutter, we get confused easily. Old diabetic supplies are indeed helpful if you can make the best use of those. To clear out some basic common doubts, we have picked out the most asked questions. Check out the following answers to know more!
How To Dispose Of Lancets And Needles
As diabetics need to monitor their sugar levels on a regular basis, they need certain diabetes supplies to test their blood glucose. Diabetic supplies include a glucometer, test strips and lancets. While it is alright to use a glucometer many times, the same cannot be said for needles, test strips and lancets. Needles, lancets and test strips should be disposed of immediately after use in a safe and sanitary manner. Lets learn how to dispose of needles and lancets.
It is important to know not just how to use them, but also how to dispose of your diabetic supplies safely and properly.
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Learning To Use Your Cgm Or Freestyle Libre
Your diabetes healthcare team will set you up with your CGM or Freestyle Libre if its free on the NHS and show you how to use it. Sometimes manufacturers will help you set up the technology this is fine and can help your healthcare team get more people on to the technology more quickly.
Abbott, which supply the FreeStyle Libre, also provide free online learning for people with diabetes using the technology to help them get the most from it.
You may also benefit from going on a diabetes education course if you use Flash or CGM. Ask your GP or other diabetes healthcare professional to refer you.
If you want to share your experiences about using tech or find out information by asking others using it, go to our forum.
Why Are The Strips So Expensive And Why The Price Discrepancy
If you think of how many test strips you go through each day, you will understand that these little test strips create a huge business. At the same time, you must wonder why these test strips are so expensive. Just in 2013, Roche United States made $463 million profit on blood glucose products.
And thats just one manufacturer in the United States. Estimated that the most glucose test strips take no more than 15 cents to produce, the manufacturers seem to acquire 70 to 80% of the profit. Just by looking at the numbers, you may think that the pharmaceutical companies are blood suckers. However, there are few factors to consider.
The first being how much research is done by the company to perfect the production of these test strips. As explained earlier, every layer of the test strips is crucial to the final outcome of your blood glucose analysis. In order to maintain the accuracy of the test strips, how much blood is allowed to penetrate through the absorbent layer has to be exact. Too much blood may overload the layers and fry the circuit insufficient blood will create a faulty reading. As for the enzyme layer, the exact ratio of each chemical needs to be calculated and formulated to create the most accurate reading yet remain active until its expiration date.
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Dexcom: No Recycling Program
One of the questions we hear most often on the recycling front relates to the popular Dexcom G6 CGM. When it was first approved and launched in 2018, the companys leadership said they were mulling a recycling or takeback program specifically for the new Dexcom G6 single-button plastic inserter thats quite a bit larger than the previous version. Its considered mixed waste, having both non-recyclable metal and plastic parts inside.
On the companys FAQ page, the question Is Dexcom creating a recycling program for the sensor applicator? is met with a clear answer: No.
At this time, we can only recommend that the user dispose of the used applicator following local guidelines for blood contacting components, the page states.
Dexcoms senior public relations manager James McIntosh tells DiabetesMine that there was no decision on a potential takeback program for the Dexcom G6. But the upcoming Dexcom G7 model expected in 2022 will have a new fully-disposable form factor with a smaller sensor and transmitter, as well as a new auto-inserter.
That means itll reduce the volume of plastic and packaging by more than 25 percent compared to the Dexcom G6, he explains, adding: In the long-term, Dexcom is committed to being good stewards of the environment while providing the best possible products for our customers.
Goodbye Omnipod Takeback Program
Insulet, the makers of the tubeless Omnipod pump, had a recycling program in the United States since 2008, but closed that down in 2018 because it wasnt being used enough to be efficient, the company says.
Insulets eco-friendly disposal program was once touted as a green initiative to keep biohazardous waste out of the environment. It separated any hazardous metals and materials and pulverized the remainder to make the materials more biodegradable.
Omnipod users in the United Kingdom and Canada can still use the programs operating in those countries. New Omnipod users in the United Kingdom receive information in their welcome letters about the disposal program. The program states that a partner company with a sustainability focus will make sure returned pods are safely disposed of in line with applicable waste disposal regulations, and that the heat from incineration generates steam that helps generate heat for other purposes.
Since waste disposal regulations and environmental guidelines vary by location, it makes sense that different countries would have different programs.
But its a shame to see that program close down in the United States due to underuse.
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