Test strips are one of the essential tools that people with diabetes need to manage their disease. While all test strips measure the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood stream, there are some things that people need to know about the tiny medical devices – especially for those that are newly diagnosed.

How They Work

Test strips utilize a very small amount of blood to measure the amount of glucose in the blood. The blood, combined with enzymes within the strip, creates an electrical impulse that’s transmitted to the meter. The meter produces a digital readout of the amount of sugar in the blood. It tells individuals if they have to administer insulin or eat something if the number is too low.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Each brand of test strips are made for a specific brand of meter. Test strips are not interchangeable among different meter brands.

Cost Varies

The cost of test strips varies widely, depending on the brand. Out-of-pocket costs will depend on an individual’s insurance coverage. Some healthcare insurers pay for more than an individual needs per month, while others may not cover enough.

Glucose meters and test strips can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. That route can be less expensive than using insurance to cover the cost, especially for those that are uninsured or underinsured.

Accuracy and Meter Features

An expensive meter doesn’t automatically make it more accurate. There are store brand meters and test strips that are highly accurate. Meters can have a variety of features that make them more desirable for some, such as large LED displays or those that will give an audible reading.

Personal Choice

The selection of a glucose monitor and the test strips it uses is a personal choice. Some physicians routinely prescribe a certain brand, but the choice is ultimately up to each individual and if they can afford the test strips it uses.

We Buy Unused Diabetic Test Strips and Supplies

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused, and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

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Diabetic test strips are used by millions of people across the U.S. who have the disease. They provide an effective and efficient way of measuring the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream, but how they accomplish that feat often remains a mystery, even to those that use them. There are more modern methods of testing available, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), but test strips are by far the most often utilized method of testing. CGMs are a more expensive option and many insurers won’t cover the cost of the devices unless clients meet specific eligibility requirements.

Blood Sample

Test strips use a small sample of a person’s blood to measure the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. The end of the test strip is touched to the blood sample and the strip automatically absorbs a small amount of blood into the strip

Enzymes

Test strips are manufactured with an enzyme that reacts to the blood sample. It triggers a bio-chemical electrical current that’s read by a glucose monitor. The more glucose that’s in the blood, the larger the reaction with the enzymes in the test strip. A glucose meter translates the response into a number that’s displayed digitally on the meter.

Deadly Disease

Uncontrolled diabetes leads to a myriad of health complications and can be deadly. The disease can result in blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure, stroke and heart attack, and mental health issues. The damage to nerves and blood vessels – primarily in the feet and legs – can result in amputations. There’s no cure for diabetes, but proper monitoring can aid in preventing or delaying the negative impact it has on the body.

Disease Management

The process of testing glucose levels seems fairly simple, but it’s a highly complex interaction. Make no mistake, diabetic test strips are small but powerful medical devices and critical for the monitoring and management of diabetes.

We Buy Unused Diabetic Test Strips and Supplies

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused, and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Test strips are a necessary part of a multi-step process for monitoring and managing diabetes. With daily monitoring using test strips and a glucose monitor, healthy eating and lifestyle changes, the toll the disease takes on the body can be minimized or delayed.

A Medical Device

Test strips are small but powerful medical devices that are combined with a glucose monitor to measure the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. A high reading by the glucose monitor indicates that insulin needs to be administered. If the reading is too low, it’s an indication that an individual needs to eat something to increase glucose to an optimal level.

The Role of Glucose

The body uses glucose to fuel itself and provide the energy to walk, run and perform ordinary activities. Glucose levels that are too low cause symptoms that can include shakiness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and can lead to coma.

The symptoms of glucose levels that are too high include blurred vision, tiredness, irritability, and excessive thirst and urination along with coma Test strips and a glucose monitor are used to keep track of how high or low glucose levels are throughout the day.

Health Complications

Test strips provide the information individuals need to minimize and delay diabetes related complications ranging from heart and kidney disease to nerve and blood vessel damage, along with the potential for amputation. The disease also takes a toll on mental health. There are dozens of decisions each day about what to consume, how much and when. There’s a considerable amount of worry, anxiety and even fear that comes along with being diagnosed as diabetic.

Control is Key

Diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and glucose level monitoring are all steps in controlling the disease. There’s no cure for diabetes, but the measures individuals take after they’ve been diagnosed will have an impact on their future health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Test strips are an integral part of diabetic health and wellbeing.

We Buy Unused Diabetic Test Strips and Supplies

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused, and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

There’s far more to managing diabetes than just testing glucose levels regularly and
administering insulin when needed. People that don’t have the disease are unaware of the
many choices and changes that diabetics must make each day to be healthy and reduce the risk
of a variety of serious health problems. There are 4 goals in managing diabetes, all of which are
designed to help people live longer lives.
Healthy Food
Eating a healthy diet and consuming the proper portion sizes are critical to mitigate the risk of
high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and heart disease – to name a few. The foods
that diabetics eat and the beverages they consume can literally make the difference in life and
death.
Healthy Weight
Diabetics that maintain a healthy weight have more energy, feel less tired, experience fewer
infections, and heal faster. Proper nutrition is an element in maintaining a healthy weight and
even losing weight.
Move More
When individuals follow proper nutrition and maintain a healthy weight, they’re better able to
move and engage in activities they enjoy. No one has to spend hours at the gym to move and
get more exercise. Nor do they have to perform activities they don’t like. Diabetics should
choose to engage in things they enjoy such as gardening, dancing or horseback riding.
Take Medication
One of the 4 primary goals of managing diabetes is taking prescribed medication as directed.
Some people are tempted to skip or stop medications because they feel good. Exercise, proper
nutrition, maintaining a proper weight and taking medications are all part of effective diabetes
management.
Staying Healthy
Attaining those 4 goals will help in mitigating health-related problems associated with diabetes
that includes the pain and tingling of neuropathy and going blind. It will help protect against
developing kidney disease, teeth problems, and gum disease, along with heart disease, high
blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels for a longer life.

We Buy Unused Diabetic Test Strips and Supplies

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused, and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Technology has increased the ability for people to monitor and manage their diabetes more effectively. One of those is continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. They eliminate the need for multiple finger pricks to obtain a blood sample for testing.

CGMs monitor glucose levels through an adhesive sensor that’s placed on the arm or abdomen. It has a small needle that’s inserted into the skin and held in place by the adhesive backing. Readings are sent to a phone or a specific monitor designed for the task. Depending on the brand, sensor patches will need to be replaced every 4 to 10 days.

The sensors monitor the fluid between cells and takes readings every few minutes. It’s the equivalent to testing glucose levels approximately 300 times per day. The sensor patches notify individuals when their blood sugar levels go above or below a specified reading. The reading will tell them if they need to administer insulin or consume something to raise glucose levels.

CGMs are extremely helpful in identifying trends and patterns in glucose levels. They’re especially beneficial for those that work out, exercise regularly, or have jobs that can make monitoring difficult. The devices are FDA-approved and can only be obtained with a prescription. Depending on the brand, the readers cost between $200 and $300. That doesn’t include the cost of sensors that can run $400 to $500 per month.

The technology is effectively out of reach for many people. Some health insurance companies consider them a covered expense, other don’t. Not all state’s Medicaid program cover them, will only do so for Type 1 diabetes, or for children.

Some states also have strict criteria about the frequency of doctor visits, number of times a person tests each day, and their A1C levels. Some states will only accept a diagnosis of the disease from an endocrinologist. Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost, but also has stringent requirements as to who qualifies for the technology.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

The holidays are filled with temptation. Rich foods, high-carbohydrate snacks and alcoholic drinks all present a clear and present danger if you’re diabetic. It’s exceedingly difficult to manage diabetes during the year and holidays don’t make it any easier to maintain control of your blood sugar levels. The following tips can help you minimize highs and lows of blood glucose levels during holiday celebrations.

Insulin Go Kit

It’s almost inevitable that at some point during the holidays you’re going to slip up and eat something that will affect your blood sugar levels. That’s why it’s vitally important that you have a go-kit with testing supplies and insulin with you at all times. Be sure to test more often.

Eat Before You Go

Eating a regular, healthy diet before attending parties will make you feel full and less likely to indulge at a party. You can still enjoy any low-carb, low-sugar treats that are on the menu.

Alcohol

Stay away from alcoholic drinks. Whether it’s beer or mixed drinks, they have high levels of sugar. Even mocktails can have elevated sugar levels due to the fruits and syrups that are used.

Sweets

Many hosts don’t understand that treats that claim to be no-sugar or “diabetic safe” can contain significant amounts of sugar. The body doesn’t distinguish between different types of sweeteners – it treats them all the same. It can be helpful to bring a gift of treats to share that you know are safe for you to eat.

Meals

Try to maintain a regular eating schedule during the holidays, don’t skip meals and eat slowly. Consider bringing a dish of vegetables to share that you like and are low carb. Avoid candied fruits and vegetables and keep portions small. Certain types of meat can also increase blood sugar levels.

Unreasonable Limits

Don’t place unreasonable limits on yourself. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a nibble of the exceptional foods you’ll encounter during the holidays. It’s important that you also forgive yourself if you make a mistake – you’re only human. You can monitor your sugar levels at celebrations and administer insulin if necessary.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

The number of diabetic test strips a person uses each day varies widely. There’s no set number. Someone that’s newly diagnosed with the disease will use more than someone who has their diabetes tightly in control. The number of times people test their glucose levels each day is complicated.

They may be uninsured or underinsured and unable to afford insurance co-pays or the cost to purchase strips at over-the-counter retail prices. Diabetic test strips are not cheap. People may go without testing due to cost. Unfortunately, many insurance companies override the recommendations of the patient’s doctor.

A patient’s insurance company has a direct impact on testing. Some people that are well-managed can test as little as 4 times per day. Others with Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, may need to test 10 to 12 times a day.

Insurance companies have widely differing policies when paying for test strips. Insurers may pay for a set amount that’s not enough or more than the individual needs. Others base their policies on what someone with well-managed diabetes may need, while discounting the requirements of newly diagnosed patients.

It takes time for people to coordinate and control all the variables connected with diabetes and that’s especially true for youngsters that develop the disease. Testing will also be dependent on factors ranging from if an individual is prediabetic or taking insulin, their age, and A1C profile.

Further complicating the issue of test strips is a trend by non-diabetics to test their glucose levels due to fear of developing the disease. Others are concerned about medications they’re taking that increase glucose levels. Insurers don’t want to pay for either practice, though it can be beneficial for those with a family history of diabetes.

The testing needs for each individual is different. A variety of factors can affect blood glucose levels. Some medications, stress, pain, sleep loss, hormone levels, dehydration, and even caffeine can elevate blood glucose levels, necessitating the need for extra testing.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Once used, diabetic supplies contaminated with blood are considered biomedical waste and be disposed of in a manner that’s appropriate and approved. Individuals must dispose of their test strips in the same manner as their lancets and syringes, often in a sharps container.

Sharps containers can be purchased at many pharmacies and medical supply outlets, but they can be costly. Cost depends on the size, quality, and model selected. It’s a long-term, ongoing expense. They can be purchased for as little as $6 to as much as $47. Some are clearly marked FDA-approved, while others are not, even though they’re safe to use.

However, a sharps container isn’t always absolutely necessary. The Florida Health Department allows for another method of disposal. Individuals can place their lancets, syringes and test strips in a metal or heavy plastic container, such as a laundry detergent, fabric softener or color safe bleach jug. It can then be placed in the trash.

The container’s top should be secured shut with heavy duty tape when full. The words “medical waste” should be clearly written in marker on the outside of the jug. It’s important for individuals to check with their waste disposal provider to ensure the company permits that type of disposal. Even though the Dept. of Health allows it, some companies won’t accept jugs or sharps containers.

Many counties and health departments have created drop off programs and sites where individuals can leave their sharps containers or laundry jugs for disposal. People may also find the same type of drop off initiatives at clinics, hospitals, medical waste facilities, and pharmacies.

It’s important that diabetic supplies that have come into contact with blood be disposed of properly. The blood itself isn’t dangerous, it’s the potential pathogens that may be contained within the blood that pose a problem, even if individuals aren’t aware of them.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Most diabetics are worried about not having a large enough sample when testing their glucose levels, receiving an error message, and wasting one of the valuable and expensive strips. What you may not know is that you can also have too much blood on your test strip. Test strips will take up the correct amount of blood, but you don’t want blood covering the end of the strip.

Each test strip manufacturer has a recommended amount of blood needed for their brand of test strips. An over abundance of blood will result in an error message or inaccurate results. Inaccurate readings can also occur if you scrape the test strip over your finger or otherwise have the test strip contact anything other than the blood sample. Fingers that are damp or sticky can throw off readings.

There are very definite guidelines when using test strips to avoid inaccurate readings. You should wash and dry your hands thoroughly each time before you test. A variety of contaminants can be found on the hands, even if they don’t appear dirty.

Hard squeezing of your finger to obtain enough blood shouldn’t be done. People with poor circulation are more apt to do this, as their hands are cold and blood may not flow as freely. Warm your hands before pricking the site for a blood sample.

Blood glucose manufacturers recommend that you use an alcohol wipe to sterilize the testing site. However, many in the medical community are now advising against doing so as it can result in a reading that’s too low.

For decades, individuals have been directed to prick a finger for their blood sample. However, there are more nerve endings in your fingers and many in the medical community are recommending that you use other sites and to change the test site in a regular sequence. Using expired test strips will also result in inaccurate readings.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

People with diabetes must test their blood sugar periodically throughout the day. Doing so is a life and death situation. That testing tells them if they need to inject insulin. Much has been written about the dangers of diabetes and insulin resistance, leading many to take the pre-emptive step of regularly testing and/or using modern technology to track their blood glucose levels in real-time.

An increasing number of doctors are even recommending testing to help people stay healthier by learning how food and exercise affects them and their energy levels. Surprisingly, people are discovering that supposedly healthy options, such as fruit, can spike sugar levels higher than cookies.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices make it easy for individuals to track and monitor blood sugar levels, without painful finger pricks, and the technology provides a more accurate and up-to-the-minute view of how dietary choices affect glucose levels. Many people are turning to CGMs or even traditional monitoring methods because they’re at a higher risk of developing the disease due to a family history.

Individuals should know that CGM technology requires a prescription. For those that haven’t been diagnosed as diabetic, insurance probably won’t cover the cost and the devices aren’t cheap. Many insurers won’t cover the cost at all, deeming traditional meters and test strips as a more cost-effective solution for the insurance company.

In some instances, durable medical equipment (DME) insurance benefits may cover the cost. Others are ordering their CGMs from Europe where at least one brand of CGM is available without a prescription.

There are multiple guidelines that diabetics must follow to stay healthy and control their blood sugar levels. The use of CGMs by non-diabetics can provide powerful and important insight into established “rules” by which diabetics currently live. It can be helpful in creating more effective dietary methods of managing diabetes.

The devices are an effective way to preemptively address the disease before it develops. It can be equally important for learning how medications, stress and other factors directly affect blood sugar levels.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!