The cost of blood glucose test strips and other diabetes care can be high in the U.S. This high cost can negatively impact people with diabetes and affect their diabetes management. It may lower the use of glucose test strips among people with diabetes.

In the U.S., you can try these tips to reduce the cost of test strips:

• Check with your insurance provider or Medicare. Your insurance provider or Medicare will help cover the cost of test strips if you have a prescription. Check with them. They may have a contract with a different blood glucose meter company, and you may be paying more than you have to for your test strips.
• Check with your blood glucose meter company. Many companies have programs or discount cards to help with the cost of testing supplies. The phone number should be on the back of your meter.
• Ask your store. Some stores have generic meters and testing supplies at a lower cost than brand-name meters.
• Patient assistance and outreach programs. Ask your doctor about resources that may be available to you.