Stripped

[kevin_standlee]

A D'Oh moment: This morning I realized that while I'd remembered to pack extra diabetes testing lancets (I forgot them on the last trip from home), I forgot to pack another container of 50 of the test strips themselves, so I have only 19 test strips left. I'll slow down to one test per day (I normally test twice) to stretch the supply, but I'll run out before I get home again. The strips are too expensive ($1 each in the US; I haven't checked the price here) to buy over the counter, in my opinion, as I'm not insulin-dependent, and therefore the testing is more a way to monitor ongoing treatment progress.

Comments

[ceemage.livejournal.com]

I believe they are £1 a strip here; but whether they are exactly the same as the US versions I wouldn't like to swear.
Based on your previous readings, I think the US uses a different measurement scale, at least.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I haven't bothered checking on strips here, although I suspect I could find the ones I use. The difference in scales is handled in the meter, not the strips themselves. If I were insulin-dependent, I'd probably pony up the money, on account of it being more a matter of life and death than simply working on long-term health maintenance.

[were-gopher.livejournal.com]

The British Diabetic Association have an online shop. Is that any help?

https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/essentials/meters-and-test-strips

They may also have suggestions on how else to get fresh supplies.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'll be in one place long enough to justify the order; also, I'd prefer to hold up my existing supplies to what's on offer to make sure it's the same test strips. If I really feel desperate about it, I reckon there will be shops that sell them, albeit not a Walgreen's on every corner the way it seems they are in the USA.

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Bummer. Replacing just the common stuff can be such a hassle. Glad your diabetes isn't that dire.
I forgot to pack one of the supply bags of Harold Stuff when we went to Chicago. Luckily most of it was available at Walgreens and we just stretched out the subscription stuff. In our 6 weeks in GB and Ireland, I did a lot of shopping at Boots. They seem to be equivalent to Walgreens and CVS.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remembered to pack all of the other prescription medications, including the new diabetes medicine. If I were insulin-dependent, I'd bite the bullet and buy a small package of test strips. I knew I should have packed that extra vial of strips in my overnight kit the moment the last batch arrived from the mail-order pharmacy.