A diabetic selling his or her test strips for extra cash puts their own health at risk by not testing themselves as often as they should.
Unfortunately, some people with diabetes reduce the number of times they test themselves to save money on strips. Seniors on fixed incomes may find selling their unused strips lucrative to making ends meet. When patients have to switch, they are often left with unused strips. According to a recent New York Times article, insurance coverage changes often, leaving a patient with little choice other than to purchase newer monitors and their associated and often more expensive testing strips. Why risk buying expired test strips? Cost. Why would you buy expired test strips in the first place? Some glucose meters can’t read an expired strip and some manufacturers sell proprietary blood glucose monitors that only read their brand of test strips (always read the fine print on meters before purchase). Major brands suggest discarding any test strips or control solutions by the Use By date. Any temperatures outside of the recommended range provided by the manufacturer may also damage test strips and interfere with accuracy.Īlways follow manufacturer guidelines for usage. Use of test strips exposed to moisture, heat, and humidity may give false results. Instructions for care and storage of test strips are provided through printed inserts or on the box itself. The FDA recommends that strips not be used after that date to ensure accurate results. Test strip brands usually specify a Use By date. These factors are important when considering the use of expired strips. The stability of the chemicals used and their longevity and accuracy differ by brand, age, and other factors.
The middle layer generally acts like a filter of sorts that allows the blood sample to reach the glucose oxidase as well as other stabilizing chemicals where the analysis process occurs. The top layer of the strip collects the blood. Though many different brands of glucose testing strips are manufactured today, most are constructed the same way. The enzyme on the strip enables the device to ‘read’ the current between the terminals, using an algorithm to determine the glucose concentration in the blood. After a drop of blood is placed on the strip, it’s inserted into the glucose meter device, which transmits a small current of electrons to the end of the strip. This enzyme produces gluconic acid when combined with a blood sample. A small area at the tip of the strip is coated with an enzyme known as glucose oxidase. Glucose test strips are primarily made of thin, flexible plastic. Blood sugar levels rise and fall throughout the day, but diabetics must carefully monitor such changes. These readings provide valuable information that determine whether insulin or food or liquid intake is needed to boost levels, and whether adapting activities during certain times of the day is required. They may not look so special, but these strips enable glucometer devices to ‘read’ glucose levels in the blood. What makes those diabetic test strips so special?ĭiabetic test strips are an important part of blood sugar (glucose) monitoring. Before considering expired test strips, know the facts. What are the risks of using expired test strips?Īccuracy is key when testing your blood sugar.How long after the expiration date can you safely use them?.How have they been stored? Have they been stuffed in the glove box of a hot car all summer? Exposed to dampness or high humidity levels?.
Is it safe to use expired test strips? Before you do, ask yourself a few questions about their potential effectiveness. Cost outlay for many diabetics may reach thousands of dollars a year for just their testing strips, even for those with health insurance coverage. Self-testing with diabetic test strips is the best way to monitor yourself, but testing strips are expensive and range in costs from $0.50 per strip to over $1.00 per strip, sometimes more depending on manufacturer and number of strips in a box. Your doctor makes recommendations based on the type of diabetes and how well your diabetes is controlled. Whether you have Type I or Type II diabetes, regular blood sugar testing is essential to avoiding higher or lower than normal glucose levels.ĭepending on the type of diabetes you have, you may need to check your blood glucose levels anywhere from two to ten times a day.
People with diabetes must maintain blood glucose levels within acceptable ranges to avoid health issues.