Dogs have been used as guardians by humans for as long as time has been recorded. These pups have provided a means of defense and protective “buddy” to human beings. Most recently, these dogs have been trained to be service animals for those who suffer from a health condition that makes them extra susceptible to seizures.

Diabetes is a health condition that has become a prevalent disease. There is a massive surge in the number of people testing positive for diabetes every year, which calls for a drastic solution. There is a variety of tools and tracking devices to help those with the condition. Among those tools is the diabetic service dog.

Service Dog helps in monitoring and alerting a diabetic patient

Service dogs can help individuals compete against diabetes and its related health issues. The canine trained to respond to diabetes-related needs such as blood glucose monitoring, alerting for hypoglycemia, and reminding at risky times of insulin and caloric intake for dieters and patients on dialysis. These specially trained animals can provide independence while still acting as a security blanket at critical moments in an individual’s day.

Help to reduce blood glucose levels

A diabetic service dog is an animal with specific training to help people living with diabetes. They can help you with several different tasks. Their role is also to warn their owners before anything dangerous happens, such as when their insulin drops too low (hypoglycemia), when their blood sugar drops, or when they’re having low or high blood sugar reactions.

Detect low blood sugar levels or fluctuations

Dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system causes a person to be unaware of how much carbohydrate is absorbed from the digestive tract. A diabetic service dog monitors this process by detecting signs of low blood sugar levels or fluctuations in cardiovascular function. If one of these conditions is reached, it will contact the owner and help get them out of a situation before they need medical assistance.

Assist in changing lifestyle for people with diabetes

Diabetic service dogs offer assistance to change lifestyle for diabetic patients, such as trouble with self-monitoring, meal prep, and management systems. The role of a diabetic service dog is very vital. The “Type 1” service dog is specifically geared toward diabetic needs. The service’s main duties are to remind its handler to take multiple daily blood sugar levels and respond appropriately when the levels ebb or flow out of the desired range. Since a diabetic service dog will be with a person throughout the day, they can alert their owner to a few key changes in blood sugar levels.

Smell a change in the smell of perspiration

A service dog can smell a change in the smell of perspiration or notice differences in your urine. If your dog notices that there’s a drop in your blood sugar, they will bark to let you know that something might happen soon.

Conclusion

As you can imagine, the role of a service dog in someone with diabetes is incredibly important and benefits many different areas in a person’s daily life. I would highly recommend that everyone with diabetes take the time to learn more about their options for living with diabetes, including having a Diabetic service dog.

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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Diabetes mellitus is frequently described as diabetes, it is considered as high blood glucose levels that result from the body’s difficulties to produce enough insulin or inability to utilize the insulin. Blood glucose levels can be checked through a glucose meter with test strips. There are multiple factors that play crucial roles in term of accuracy in readings:

• Compatibility of meters and strips

As mentioned above the blood glucose is a sensitive issue therefore the material we used to monitor diabetes is also sensitive. Each company works on the compatibility of meters and strips according to their own brands. Accuracy of results can be checked by multiple factors like manufacturing materials of different brands of both meter and strips, blood concentration, time exposure, the resistance of a material against environmental changes, expiry and sensitivity.

• Manufacturing materials of strips

Multinational companies are using highly sensitive materials but generally use less sensitive and diverse materials. So, meters and strips should be homogenized for more accurate results rather than different brands with various accuracy measuring issues.

• Blood concentration incompatibility of different models of meters and strips

It is a common observation that each meter shows the different results of different blood concentrations on different strips. It may be due to different models’ calibration or sensitivity and technology.

• Time duration of blood exposure to strip and meter

Various reports in America show that time duration is also an important factor for the reading of blood glucose measurement by meter and strips. Each strip gave different results on the same meter. It is due to the calibration of meter testing reading with respect to exposure of blood with the meter.

• Date of manufacturing and usage date also affects on both

Some literature denotes that the date of manufacturing of strips, moisture and heat also affects strips of different brands. Same acclimatized products of the same companies show more accurate results than different brands expired product strips with the same meters.

• Temperature-dependent meters

The meter reading is also influenced by different products at various temperatures. Some brands work more accurately at low temperatures and some at higher temperatures. Test strips show different results in different brands at different temperatures with the same meter.

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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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A primary concern for someone with diabetes is the recurring medical costs like test strips. Test strips are very crucial for diabetic patients to keep track of their blood sugar levels. It is expedient for them to carry out this test daily, and when you add up these costs, things can get expensive fast.

Test strips can be pretty expensive. Some of them cost up to $2 per piece.  This is why some people find it hard to dispose of their expired test strips. It can be quite frustrating to spend such an amount and then have to throw them away because they reached their expiration date.

Well, the conversation around using expired test strips is a debatable and interesting one. There are a lot of controversies as to whether or not it is okay to use expired test strips. I’m sure you might have considered using expired test strips to cut down costs.

How do test strips work?

Before deciding if you should be using an expired test strip or not, it is crucial to understand how these strips work. To you, the test strip might appear as a simple plastic. But, there is more to it than meets the eye. The test strip comprises layers that each play a significant role in giving you the test readings.

A liquid-attracting layer moves your blood into the chemistry strip (a little window on the strip). The chemistry strip comprises an enzyme that reacts with the glucose in your blood and pulls off the sugar electrons. The glucometer, the mediator on the chemistry strip, picks up the pulse and signals your reading.

Do Test Strips Really Expire?

Now that we know how test strips work, let’s get to the ultimate question. Do test strips really expire? Or is it just another ploy by drug industries to suck us dry?

The simple answer to this is yes! Test strips do expire over time, and that’s because the enzyme on the strip is living organisms, and they have a lifespan. Eventually, the enzymes will start to break down and die over time.

You should also know that different brands have different enzyme tolerance. As a result, some brands’ enzymes will break down faster or slower than others.

What are the risks associated with using expired test strips?

What’s the worst that could happen if you continue to use an expired test strip? As you can imagine, once the enzymes which are responsible for generating your reading begin to break down, the integrity of your blood sugar readings becomes compromised. And if your reading is inaccurate, you are setting yourself up for some severe health issues.

It is tempting to use expired test strips to save a few bucks, you should be cautious not to underestimate your safety concerns. Using an expired test strip isn’t worth the risk. The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) strongly warns against the use of expired test strips as they could give inaccurate results. Most experts also advise against using expired test strips.

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!

Between trick-or-treating, parties, and festivals, Halloween could be one colossal sugar rush, however, it doesn’t need to be. Your child with diabetes can experience Halloween treats carefully, however, keep in mind there’s more to October 31 than sweets. Listed here are some guidelines for celebrating the spooky holiday without sending glucose stages soaring.

Plan Ahead

Sit down together with your child and discuss your Halloween plans in advance so they know what to assume. Create some boundaries and basic rules, and include them in the choice-making during the festivities. They’ll be less prone to complain about a plan they helped create. Discover what’s important to them about the day, and try to work collectively to have fun and manage diabetes safely.

Prepare Activities That Don’t Involve Food

Take the focus off of sweet via encouraging arts and crafts tasks, pumpkin carving/painting contests, observing a Halloween movie, touring a haunted house, or attending a hayride. It is a first-class option to create recollections that don’t involve food.

Avoid Snacking on Candy

Planning to go trick-or-treating? Make sure your child eats healthy the previous day so they can begin the evening with average blood sugar. Then, make a pact with your youngster to avoid snacking unless until you get home from trick-or-treating. Once you’re home, your child can dose the correct amount of insulin for the carbs within the sweet he/she is ready to eat.

Use Candy to Treat a Low

D-mother Extraordinaire, Meri Schuhmacher, recommends preserving non-chocolate candy that can be utilized to treat future lows, like starburst and skittles, and divide them up into servings of 15 grams of carbohydrates and bag them in my opinion. Store the baggage of sweet in easy to reach areas (like your child’s backpack, your bag or automobile). Consistent with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), chocolate and other larger-fats treats don’t work well for treating lows so these may also be put aside for purposes other than treating a low.

Limit Pieces of Candy per Day

Teaching moderation is essential. Set a rule as to what number of pieces of candy your child can eat a day. Apply this rule to everyone within the home, not simply the child with diabetes.

Donate Extra Candy

You can donate the extra candy to all sorts of neighborhood agencies, a regional children’s health facility, or troops overseas by way of the Halloween sweet purchase-back program. These are also excellent ways to teach your youngster about giving.

Halloween can be a challenging holiday to celebrate with diabetes, but following a few of these tips can help your child have a fun and safe Halloween.

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!

Anyone that has diabetes will need to test their blood multiple times each day using test strips and a glucose meter. There are a wide variety of monitors from which to choose and selecting one can be confusing. Monitors encompass basic models to those with special features and they’re available in multiple price points.

When choosing a monitor, factor in the cost of test strips. Test strips aren’t interchangeable among different brands of monitors and will account for a significant amount of the cost of managing the disease. Some elements to consider when choosing a monitor include the following.

Insurance

Some insurance companies will cover the cost of any type of monitor, while others will only cover certain models. Insurers may pay the total cost of a monitor or only a portion and limit the number of test strips allowed each month. In some instances, it may be less expensive to pay for a monitor and/or test strips out of pocket.

Ease of Use

Make sure the face is large enough and the numbers are easy to read. The monitor should fit easily in the hand. Consider how large the drop of blood has to be for testing.

Types

Glucose monitors are available in traditional models that require a finger prick to test with a drop of blood, while other enable blood samples to be taken from other parts of the body. People can also choose a model that uses an adhesive sensor on the skin and sends continuous readings to a monitor, smartphone or smart watch.

Special Features

Meters are available with memory storage and retrieval that can help people track their glucose levels over time, along with models that will vocalize the readings out loud. Others will record the time and date of testing, the results and show trends over time. There are also monitors that allow individuals to download their readings and history to a cell phone or computer and send it to their physician.

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 are always told to eat more fruit, vegetables and foods rich in fiber to aid in managing blood glucose levels. The Mediterranean diet meets all those requirements for a U.S. population where diabetes control is far less than optimal. While the Mediterranean diet isn’t superior to others, it does contain many of the elements that physicians recommend for diabetics and good health in general.

An estimated 50.2 percent of all diabetics fail to reach A1C goals and 53 percent don’t achieve target blood pressure levels. One of the reasons for those figures is confusion about food labels, which leads to uncertainty about what to eat and what to eliminate from their diet while maintaining good nutrition.

Inspired by the eating habits of people living around the Mediterranean, the primarily plant-based diet features an abundance of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, fish, grain, cereals, legumes, poultry, pasta, and olive oil. Few dairy and meat products are consumed. The United Nationals Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Mediterranean diet on its list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

While the diet from the Mediterranean area encompasses a wide variety of foods that are components of healthy eating, without fully understanding the principles underlying the diet, individuals may experience difficulties. Many of the diet’s recipes use pasta sparingly in dishes that are heavy on vegetables, where ingredient ratios would be the opposite in the U.S. To accommodate the need for carbs, bread may be substituted for pasta.

It’s essential for diabetics to keep in mind that the Mediterranean meal plan isn’t a rigid set of recipes, but rather ingredients that can be combined in multiple ways. The eating pattern provides essential nutrition, is high in unsaturated fats (good fats), and relies on fresh fruits and vegetables rather than processed food.

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!

For decades, Type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Much more is known about the disease now and it is possible for adults to develop Type 1 diabetes at any point in their life.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas manufactures too little insulin or none at all. Insulin is a hormone that enables sugar to enter the body’s cells to produce energy for performing various tasks. While diabetes can be caused by poor lifestyle choices, it most often occurs in families with a history of the disease.

However, medical science now knows that diabetes can be triggered by any of multiple types of viral infections. Researchers have also discovered that the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes increases the further away from the equator that an individual is. The immune system fights viruses, bacterial and fungal infections, but in diabetes it destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Many people erroneously believe that only children are afflicted with Type 1 diabetes. That misinformation can cause people to ignore the early warning signs of the disease and delay treatment. Individuals with diabetes will experience increased thirst, frequent urination and extreme hunger. Irritability, fatigue, and weakness can also occur, along with blurred vision and unintended weight loss.

The complications of untreated and unmanaged diabetes are severe and can lead to an early death. It drastically increases the risk of heart disease, narrowing of the arteries, and high blood pressure. Nerve damage, especially in the legs, causes numbness, tingling and pain. Neuropathy can also affect the digestive system resulting in nausea, vomiting and constipation or diarrhea.

The disease damages the eyes and can lead to blindness. Diabetes damages the kidneys, inhibits its ability to filter impurities from the blood, and can eventually lead to kidney failure. People with diabetes are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, particularly of the mouth and skin, along with gum disease.

There’s no cure for Type 1 diabetes, no way to prevent it, and no way to determine exactly who will develop the disease. Even if an individual is eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, they can still develop the disease.

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 economic cost to individuals with diabetes continues to increase. It’s the most expensive chronic disease in the U.S. to treat and it’s the 7^th leading cause of death. It doesn’t matter whether individuals have Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes, the cost of treatment and management is significant.

Genetics

It’s important that people understand that while lifestyle choices can contribute to the development of diabetes, there are other factors at play. Genetics play a significant role and a variety of viruses can trigger the immune system to attack the cells in the pancreas that enable cells to use glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. The result is diabetes.

Rising Costs

There are numerous reasons for the increase in costs, the primary of which is that pharmaceutical companies are charging more for their products. They’re transitioning from older forms of insulin to newer types and claim the higher prices are necessary to pay for the cost of developing it.

Insulin is essentially a cash cow for pharmaceutical companies that know people with diabetes must have insulin to live. The U.S. represents 15 percent of the insulin market globally but generates 50 percent of the industry’s revenue.

Affordability

Diabetic-related costs are taking a high toll on people with the disease, mentally, physically and financially. Many individuals can’t afford the test strips or insulin they need to monitor and manage the disease and it’s not just the uninsured and underinsured feeling the effects. Insurance companies are demanding that clients pick up a larger share of the costs through higher co-pays.

The American Diabetes Association gives the estimated cost of diabetes in 2017 – the last year for which statistics are available – as $327 billion, an increase of 26 percent over the previous 5 years. The situation is so dire in the U.S. that an increasing number of people are traveling to Canada to obtain the insulin and supplies they need.

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 line between disclosure of medical conditions in relation to employment is a thin one. Employers can’t ask about medical conditions before they offer you a job. They can after you’ve accepted a position, but employers can’t retaliate for not disclosing it after you’re hired.

You don’t have to disclose information about your disease if you don’t want to, however, he/she will find out if you opt for employer-provided insurance coverage and you’ll only receive protection under anti-discrimination laws if you reveal the information. If the hiring process includes a pre-hire physical or if the condition could present a threat to you or others within the workplace, you need to disclose.

Diabetes presents a few challenges in any employment environment, some more than others. You may need accommodations that fall under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). That can include the ability to keep snacks and diabetic equipment with you or at your desk, along with breaks to monitor glucose levels and a private space to administer insulin if needed. It can also include a safe place to rest if you have a hypoglycemic episode.

Under the ADA, employer accommodations can include time off for diabetes-related medical treatment of up to 12 weeks through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and recovery time due to diabetes complications. Your work schedule may need to be modified if it interferes with controlling the disease. Special chairs or other equipment may be required if you have neuropathy or large-screen computers if your vision has been impaired due to diabetes.

The short answer is that you don’t have to disclose to an employer that you have diabetes, but there are benefits to doing so under the ADA. You should be aware that there are employers that won’t hire you because of diabetes out of a myriad of misconceptions and fear of expense or workplace disruption. However, proving it was a factor in your job loss is almost impossible.

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!

When an individual has diabetes, every bite they consume has consequences. Those with the disease need a meal plan that features generous amounts of fruits, vegetables and fiber – and easy on the carbs. A diabetic diet doesn’t mean deprivation. It simply means eating foods that are low in fats and calories, high in nutrient value, and controlling portion sizes.

Foods to avoid are those that are high in:

• Saturated fats and cholesterol that include beef, butter and bacon, high fat dairy, hotdogs, sausage, liver and egg yolks – limit coconut and palm kernels
• Trans Fats that include baked goods, margarine and shortening, and processed snacks

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and legumes play an important role in managing diabetes. It will help in controlling blood glucose levels, managing weight, and reducing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and managing weight if applicable.

Raw, roasted and cooked vegetables that include Brussels sprouts, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, and zucchini are good choices. They can even be consumed with salsa, low-fat dressings, guacamole and hummus. Experiment with spices to add extra zest to meals.

Green veggies are a staple in a diabetic meal plan, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boiled or part of a salad. They can be combined with roasted vegies or sauteed with spices.

For those for which plain water doesn’t appeal, infuse it with slices of fruits and veggies to give it some flavor. Try freezing some ice cubes with flavoring such as cinnamon or lemon to add extra interest.

Other foods that help manage diabetes are whole grains and those high in fiber. They include peas, beans and lentils. They contain carbs, but the benefit is that they make people fill fuller longer. Diabetics need carbs in limited amounts and good sources include lean meats, cottage cheese, peanut butter and Greek yogurt.

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!