Question concerning diabetic test strips?

Question

My dad has cut his testing down to twice a week to save on his test strips since they are expensive for him. He was testing daily. Perhaps testing twice a week is sufficient. His doctor said it would be fine. His blood sugar stays pretty stable, but in the past, has had problems with it being too high. He has Medicare, AARP supplement insurance, and goes to the VA clinic for appts. Is there a way to get test strips at a reduced rate? I thought his insurance would pay for them or partially at least, but he is buying them himself. I am considering sending him some money to help pay on them, if the doctor says he ever needs to be checking it more often. So how safe is it that he is only checking twice a week? I'm not impressed with his doctor, so I hope he is being honest with my dad on testing twice a week asw being fine. Anyone with diabetes that could advise?

Answer 1

the doctor has to write a prescription. if the doctor writes a prescription specifically stating to check blood sugar twice a day, the insurance will give your father 60 strips a month. alot of time it is a pain in the butt for people to run around and get scripts. have the doc write a script for 'diabetic supplies' including how many lancets, strips, and needles (if used) are used a month. the only thing insurance wont pay for is alcohol wipes (they are cheap anyway) and medicare pts can get a new meter every 5 years, but usually its better to just buy your own meter (they arnt much, the companies make 90 percent of their money off the strips) have the doc write on the script the type of meter it is , get a new script to match a new meter. insurance pays for strips!!! now of course if your dad doesnt have a script he will have to buy them, even have the doc write to check sugar three times a day and he will have extras. i am a home care nurse and have figured this all out. if your dad uses insulin he needs to check at LEAST twice a day. if he is on orals, once a day in the am before meals, if he is good for a long time then once or twice a week is ok with some docs but i would watch it closer.  

Answer 2

You dad is looking at committing slow suicide.  You MUST measure your blood 3-4 times A DAY.  What is important is that the diabetic keep a CONSTANT control over the blood sugar.  One or twice a week (even one a day) won't do it.  His blood sugars will rise, and he will suffer from the effects of diabetes -- which include heart attacks and strokes.

I wasn't aware thet Medicare DIDN'T pay for strips.  I've never seen an insuranc plan that didn;t pay for testing supplies.  being VA, he might get a reduced rateh through the clinic.

>I< think he is just being stubborn, and doesn;t want the hassle of testing 3-4 times a day, so this "i gotta buy them myself" is a story he's conconcted.

YOU need to check all his insurance, and the VA, but whatever you do get him BACK onto a 3-4 times a day schedule before the heart attacks and strokes take him from you.

Answer 3

Blood sugars must be checked 4x a day, reguardless. Medicare should be paying for those expensive strips. He should not have to compromise his life for money. He may not realize this. Or if he is like my mom was, too pround and too stubborn to ask for help. Call Liberty Medical- the will bill medicare directly and they also will help with the machine,meds, syringes etc.  

Answer 4

No, testing 2x a week isn't adequate.  Neither is once a day, but many people get by on it.  3x a day (before each meal) is recommended for Type 2's, 6-8x a day for Type 1's.  Between Medicare and his supplemental, something should be covering his strips.  Perhaps he just needs to switch brands, which is no problem because they're all about the same and they'll often give you the meter for free.  The best you could for him is get on the phone with his providers and do some research about this.  Maybe an appeal needs to be made, and his doc should help him out with a recommendation for 3 strips a day minimum (need to allow for bad strips, mistests, etc.).