Strips are very very expensive. Even if you have a copay or coupons. Some strips can be as much as 1.25 per strip!
So teh question is woudl teh actual cost of teh strips limit your testing.
I know it does mine, as I have to pay everything out of pocket.

Unless you get your strips for free, of course it effects how often you test. When I had to pay for my strips I used to test every morning to give me a base line and then if I felt bad later on I'd check it. If I felt OK, I might take it late night or skip it. Or sometimes, if I had only a few strips left and had no money for more, I'd skip and check every third day, as long as I felt OK at other times.

The only thing that's good about that it that you can train yourself to try and feel how well you are doing. If you always feel tired or fuzzy and your number is at a certain height, you can be a better reader of your over all health.

I agree strips are very expensive. I used to test more often when my insurance paid it all and gave me 300 a month. Unfortunately my husband's work switched insurance and they refuse to pay for more than 200 a month and I have to pay a lot more for them.
As a type 1 on a pump I test before I eat, when i feel low (I don't treat unless I really am low) and always before I drive. I don't do 2 hours after I eat tests much anymore and I skip the bedtime a lot. It is frustrating to not be able to test as often as it takes to have the best control.

Since I don't drive, I never thought of testing before getting behind the wheel.

I think you are very wise to check then. Thank you for that great idea for others here.

On average strips cost between 50 cents and 1.25 per strip!
I foudn that if you go to teh websites fo teh strips and meters they ahve pateint assist programs.
I ahvent taken advantge of them as of yet, but wehn I gto dropped from Tenncare( Tenn doesnt care) i picked up switching between meters when i had coupons for strips.
julie

I'm always just hoping they will last until the end of the month.
I think that switching meters to get the deals on strips is a good idea.
I am thinking of switching meters myself. I just need to find the one that my insurance considers its favorite so I can get a better price on the strips.

I wish there was a place where we could see how much these test strips cost. Sometimes the same brand costs a lot more and less every month and all we can do is just pay up and try and not test as often as we are told to.

Does anyone know where there is a site that tells consumers what these strips cost to make? That way we can see how much they are marked up and have a chance to bargain -- maybe.