Diabetic Discounts

You’ve seen the diabetes meter promotions over and over on TV and in magazines. Good old (really old) Wilford Brimley is always telling you how you can get FREE testing supplies – IF YOU ARE ON MEDICARE. Well, for those of us who are not ready for medicare, and have quite a few years left before we are, we have to find the deals where we can. And thank goodness for Patti LaBelle – FINALLY a really attractive image for people who live with diabetes.

I never really paid attention to coupons for free meters, since my doctor gave me a freestyle lite meter, and my previous health plan offered a $25 copay for the strips. That comes to 50 cents a strip, and it is still way too much, I feel. Then, I changed insurers and the copay shot up to $50 for 100 freestyle strips. The “preferred brand” was one touch – and the co pay is $25. Still not great, but much better.

So I used the coupon that was in Smart Source a few weeks ago for $15 off a One Touch meter and went to CVS where it was on sale for $14.99. Strips are not included with these meters, but I already had some strips on hand that had mistakenly been given to me by another doctor, so I used those. It works fine for me.

Then I learned that Freestyle had a promotion in a diabetes magazine for free meters. I sent away for the style I don’t have – which comes with a starter kit of free strips.

Now, Bayer Breeze II and Contour meters are being promoted. There are coupons in this weekend’s smart source for up to $30 off the meter, and up to $20 off test strips. I believe a prescription is required for these, so I will let you know how I make out with combining the coupons, pharmacy promotions, and insurance co pay.

Meantime, I now have several meters – and can switch brands if my insurance changes or if the list of preferred brands changes. The competition is now heating up for insulin pens and pumps.  Fortunately, I don’t need those, but for those who do, it means a slight break in the cost of a really expensive condition.

I’ve also come to really like the Glucerna brand cereals and shakes – and the related Zone bars. There have been lots of coupons and CVS ECB deals for those recently, and I find they are really good for not only controlling sugar spikes but as part of my weight control too.

Here’s a printable coupon for $1.25 off Glucerna products

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