[Sable99]

Does anyone know what pharnacies are authorized to sell Durable Medical Equipment (DME)? I will run out of my diabetic test strips (True Metrix) when I'm in TV. I will have to have my doctor call in a prescription to get them. I'm not sure if they will allow it!?!?! Doesn't really make sense to me as you are only allowed one strip a day but yet I can have two prescriptions at a time???

I'm going to pay for an extra box now but what about the next order.

[Walt.]

My wife has diabetes, so I'm going to let her answer your question.

Hi,
I, too, am allowed only one strip a day. I belong to a wonderful diabetes support group, here in The Villages, where we have discovered the cheapest and very reliable blood glucose test meter and test strips. It is made by "ReliOn" sold only at Walmart. I have compared the readings with my insurance approved meter and strips and they're pretty much identical. I've attached a copy of the 100 test strips box, which also shows the meter, sold separately.

The meter is "ReliOn Prime Blood Glucose Meter"
The test strips are "ReliOn Prime Blood Glucose Tests Strips."

The meter, currently costs $9.00 and you can get the strips in single or double vials, each containing 50 strips. The single vial is about $9.00 and the double vial is almost $18.00. That's only 18 cents per strip. My insurance approved strips costs $146 for a double vial. Insurance pays for all of it, but I can get only 100 strips every 3 months.

The meters may be on the shelf of Walmart's diabetes supply section but most often, you will have to get on the prescription line and ask for the strips, even though you don't need a prescription for either the meter or the strips. They don't like to keep the strips on the shelf because Walmart complains that "they fly off the shelves quickly." What's so good about it is that they're accurate, cheap and you can get them at any Walmart, no matter where you travel, and you don't need a prescription.

As for the support group, it's a very unique group, where hundreds of us Villagers have learned to manage our own individual A1c's. It's not unusual for people who have not been able to manage their A1c's for 20 or 30 years, come to our group and in a few weeks get it managed. It doesn't matter whether you're on insulin or on pills. We meet every Friday at the SeaBreeze recreation center, from 9:00 am to noon and also meet every Saturday from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Both sessions are the same and you come when it's most convenient for you. Stay as long as you like, you don't have to stay for the whole session. There is also a Friday afternoon session from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm for those who have insulin pumps. You can find a listing for the support group in every Thursday's Recreation News section of The Villages Daily Sun, titled "Diabetes Optimal Control & Managing A1c. I've attached a copy of the weekly notice.

[Walt.]

Sorry for the tiny photo. I can't figure out why it keeps coming out so small.
If you have any questions feel free to send a PM.

[Sable99]

Thanks for the info. I actually took a class at our local hospital when I was first diagnosed and they recommended the ReliOn strips. I bought the meter and the strips in case I wanted to test more than once a day.

I got different information when I went to buy the True Metrix strips. This clerk told me my prescription was about to expire so she faxed my doctor for a new prescription. They will post date this order so I will have them for Florida. In future months, I need to call them and they will mail the strips to Florida. I simply have to sign the form and return it to them so they can be reimbursed. It seems like they could make this process easier for them.

Thanks for the information on the support group meetings. I am going to try to make some of the meetings. I'm going to be busy the first couple of weeks with contractors but hopefully, I can work the support meetings into my schedule. Are they all at SeaBreeze?

[Walt.]

Yes, all the support group sessions are at the SeaBreeze. Just to let you know ahead of time, in order to follow what we do at the support group, you will need 2 strips a day. Some use more than 2. It's worth it, though. You learn so much about your own diabetes.

[Sable99]

Thanks for the information. I will bring the ReliOn meter and strips with me! I put the support group meetings on my calendar. My numbers aren't that high so I don't take this as seriously as I should. Hopefully, the group meetings will help.