Disposing of Diabetic test strips

[LittleDog]

I normally test 2 or 3 times per week. Recently I was told by my diabetes supplier that once the tube with the strips is opened you shouldn't use these strips after 3 months regardless of the expiration date. Don't know if this is true but figured someone here might know whether this information is correct.
I figured maybe they told me this in order for me to purchase another 50 strips.

John

[LB]

Hello, Suggest you ask a pharmacist or maby two when you go to a pharmacy again. My wife was diabetic for 29 years before she was fdortunate enough and young enough to get a kidney pancreas transplant. Has been working well now for 12 years. Has had some complications. She said that she would use the strips ( but that is strictly a non professional opinion). Go online to the manufacturer and see if they have a site for questions. Good luck to you. LB

[kb8tpw]

It has been my experience that you can stretch the shelf-life a bit, but once they are open I wouldn't stretch it much. I've used different kinds and the plastic containers generally hold 50, sometimes 25. Using 3-4 a day I don't generally have a problem. Checking as infrequent as you do is probably not wise since you have strips anyway. I used to use a brand wherein each strip was hermatially sealed, so it must be an issue with some brands. Your endo doc is the word I would seek and adhere to however...

[Niels]

I never heard that test strips expire three months after they are opened. I always go by the expiration date that is listed.

I suggest checking with the manufacturer and see what they say.

[BogeyBoy]

Although there is an expiration date on the container mine also says "Discard 6 months after first opening".

[JenAjd]

I was recently diagnosed (this summer, up north, before coming here permenantly) with type 2 diabetes. My primary here referred me to a class (I highly recommend this) that I went to. In the class the educator told us exactly what was stated here. Once opened the stripes are better used within that 3 mo. time frame. The glucose solution to test that comes with your monitor--the same thing! You should never ever re-use the lancets. As for disposal...you put all these items in a plastic (sealed) bag and dispense in a location right inside the front-doors of TV's hospital. Hope this helps!!!!
There are ALOT of sites online that also are quite informative re: diabetics. You can even go to a site that's connected to the manufacturer of your monitor.