People with diabetes have dozens of things to consider each day and one of those is disposing of their used glucose test strips, lancets and syringes. Many test strip packages have instructions on the inside detailing how to dispose of them, but the information is buried in a mountain of small print.

The first thing to know is that any object that contains blood is considered biomedical waste and must be disposed of in an appropriate manner. There are specially made sharps containers specifically designed for disposing of used test strips, lancets and syringes. The containers are red, come in different sizes, and are available in pharmacies. They also contain visible warnings on the outside of the container about what they hold.

When a sharps container is full, tape the top securely and place it in the middle of the trash bin for pick up. Many Florida counties and health departments have initiated drop off programs where people can take their full containers for disposal. In some instances, individuals can receive another container at no cost or at minimal cost. Drop off programs are also available at some pharmacies, clinics, hospitals and medical waste facilities.

If residents don’t have such a program in their area, the Florida Health Department offers another solution, but advises that individuals should check with their trash pickup company to ensure that the following method is allowed.

People without a sharps container can use a hard plastic or metal container with a screw on top. The most commonly used containers are liquid detergent bottles, though a paint can is also acceptable. When the container is full, secure the top with heavy duty tape. Use a marker and clearly mark the container as “Medical Waste.” It can then be placed in the center of the trash bin for pick up.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

People with diabetes rely on accurate readings from their glucose test strips and meters to effectively manage their disease. All test strips and meters must meet minimum standards for reliability and accuracy. However, a higher priced glucose test strip doesn’t automatically translate into greater accuracy.

A controversy over test strips has raged for years as some have been proven to be more accurate than others. However, it’s not just the test strips that have to be considered. The meters also figure highly into the equation. Some meters and test strips haven’t been re-evaluated or tested for accuracy since first being approved by the FDA.

The introduction of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) that use a sticky sensor applied to the body and read by phones, is gaining popularity and widely used by many diabetics. However, the cost can be prohibitive and there are millions of people that are still pricking their fingers and using glucose test strips and monitors.

The Diabetes Technology Society, a non-profit organization based in California, compared 18 popular glucose meters and test strips for accuracy. The gold-standard is a meter and test strip combination that yields blood glucose readings within 15 percent of laboratory values of at least 95 percent. Only 6 passed the organization’s accuracy tests:

1. Bayer Contour Next, 100 percent
2. Roche Accu-Chek Aviva Plus, 98 percent
3. Walmart ReliOn Confirm from Arkray, 97 percent
4. CVS Advanced from Agamatrix 97 percent
5. Abbott FreeStyle Lite, 96 percent
6. Roche Accu-Chek SmartView, 95 percent

The cost of both the test strips and meter should factor into the decision as to which meter/test strip combination to purchase. Another consideration is if the meter and test strips are covered by insurance, along with any applicable co-pays. Use care when selecting the meter/test strip combo. There are multiple options from each brand and the cost of test strips will be an ongoing expense.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Many people are trading in their unused glucose test strips for cash and you can, too. Before you start inventorying what you have to sell, there are some things you need to know. Buyers of test strips are very particular about what they accept and for very good reason. They sell the test strips to individuals that need them and the strips must conform to the same standards as you’d purchase them in the store.

The answer is no – you can’t sell opened boxes of test strips. The boxes must be unopened and in good condition. Test strips also have an expiration date and companies that buy test strips typically want a minimum of an 8-month window until the strip’s expiration date.

They should also have been stored under appropriate conditions and not exposed to high heat or dampness. Test strips paid for through government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid can’t be resold.

Test strips that don’t meet those requirements can’t be counted upon to provide an accurate reading that’s essential for individuals to manage their disease. Even though they appear simple, test strips are high tech devices and the manufacturing process is complicated. Test strips utilize stabilizing chemicals and enzymes to read glucose levels.

Those enzymes and stabilizing chemicals have a specific shelf life. Each manufacturer has its own proprietary combination of chemicals, each of which remains stable and effective over varying lengths of time.

Companies that purchase test strips resell them to those with diabetes that can’t afford expensive co-pays, are underinsured or are uninsured. Selling your test strips for extra cash is easy.

You can obtain a quote online and the companies will even pay the postage to send the test strips to them. If the strips are accepted, they offer multiple payment methods. If the test strips are rejected, the company will pay the postage to return them to you. It’s a win-win situation for you as the seller and those with diabetes.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

The little plastic test strips for testing glucose levels appear simple, but are a marvel of modern technology, allowing individuals to effectively manage their diabetes at home. All manufacturers of test strips use essentially the same process and the strips work in the same way. However, each manufacturer incorporates small, proprietary differences that ensure it’s only compatible with the company’s brand of meter.

The laminated test strips are comprised of multiple ultra-thin layers and essentially work by using a blood sample to create an electrochemical reaction. A chemical reaction takes place and is converted into an electrical impulse that’s sent to the meter where it’s read.

Test strips begin with a base of polyester, overlaid with a carbon layer to facilitate conductivity. A micro-thin gold or silver-based layer is added and cut into a printed circuit designed to make an electrical circuit when blood is introduced.

A layer of enzymes and stabilizing chemicals are applied to the end of the test strip that accepts the blood sample. When blood is introduced to the strip, a chemical reaction takes place and converted into an electrical impulse that is then read by the glucose meter and presented as a number on the meter’s readout.

The enzymes and stabilizing chemicals have a specific lifespan. High humidity and extremes in temperature degrade the enzyme and chemicals used, thereby rendering an inaccurate reading and placing users’ health at risk.

Test strips that have exceeded their expiration date can exhibit errors by giving readings that are over or under the actual glucose level. Individuals may use too much or too little insulin to compensate. Manufacturers use different enzymes and chemicals unique to their particular brand. Some test strips may provide better accuracy but have a longer shelf life, while other brands may be slightly less accurate but have a longer expiration date.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Monitoring blood glucose levels is an essential part of living with diabetes. It becomes progressively easier over time for adults to prick their fingers to obtain a sample of blood. Parents must perform the testing for very small children. However, a day will come when parents will have to teach their child how to use test strips and glucose meters on their own.

How to Check

Even though they may have seen their parents perform the testing procedure many times, doing it on their own is an entirely different matter. Parents will need to walk a child through the process and it may take many repetitions before they feel confident and do it correctly. That’s to be expected and parents shouldn’t get frustrated with them.

Why to Check

Parents need to have an honest conversation with the child. Children need to know that testing is the way they can help keep themselves safe. Explain what normal readings are, along with what constitutes a high or low reading and what to do. The readings tell them whether they need to eat something, take insulin and if so, how much. If the child is involved in sports and other activities, they need to know that testing allows them to monitor their glucose levels so they can participate.

When to Check

Teach the child that they’ll need to check before breakfast, lunch and dinner and before bed. Teens will need to know they should never get behind the wheel of a car unless they’ve tested their glucose levels first. It’s important for them to know that sometimes they’ll need to check more often – before, during and after exercise. Sometimes glucose levels can drop during the night and there may be times when they need to wake up and check, especially if their glucose levels are low at bedtime.

Additional Checking

When people are ill, it can affect their glucose levels and some medications also affect glucose levels. Be sure the child knows that blood glucose levels can fluctuate if they’re sick and it’s a good idea to test more often if they’re ill. Parents shouldn’t panic about teaching a child to test their own blood – they’ll always be there to provide advice and assistance.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

Test strips are an essential tool for checking blood glucose levels to manage diabetes. The test strips are an ongoing need that’s also expensive. The cost varies widely, depending upon the brand, number of strips used and how often an individual has to test. Further complicating the equation is that test strips aren’t interchangeable between different brands of meters.

There are store brands, known as generic strips, that cost as little as $20 per 100 (20 cents per strip), while name brands can cost up to $188 per 100 ($1.88 per strip). That’s a low of 80 cents per day if a person tests 4 times per day to a high of $7.52. All test strips have to meet minimum accuracy requirements.

The test strip industry is a study in contradictions. Test strip manufacturers insist the cost is a direct result of research and materials to create the tiny strips. Many people say that the cost of the strips increases if their insurance is paying for them. The plastic test strips have a thin gold coating and one end has a coating of enzymes. When blood enters the test strip, it reacts to the enzyme and creates an electrical impulse that’s read by the glucose meter.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are held up as the gold standard of glucose monitors and are only available by prescription. Some insurance companies pay a portion of the cost, some don’t, and some insurers limit it for use to people with Type 1 diabetes. It’s typically too expensive for most people, even with insurance, for the cost of the sensors each month that can range from $160 to $500 per month.

It’s no wonder that diabetics are turning to alternative sources to obtain the test strips they need. Resellers of diabetic test strips buy test them from people that don’t need them or have too many, and resell them at a discount to individuals that that are uninsured or underinsured. It’s one way for people with the disease to obtain the test strips needed to help them stay alive.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

People with diabetes often have difficulty choosing or preparing meals at home. It’s a balancing act to obtain required nutrition, while limiting carbohydrates. The solution may be a diabetic meal delivery service, but many individuals don’t even know the services exist.

Before signing up for one of the services, make sure the meals are created by a registered dietician. The meals should be low calorie, but low-calorie counts shouldn’t translate into potions so small that people find themselves ravenous 2 hours later.

Individuals should have the option of including healthy snacks and choose the meals they receive. Some services require that customers pay extra for the ability to make personal choices. There should also be options for individuals that are vegan, gluten intolerant, and those that must be mindful of their sodium intake. Ideally, meals should be packaged in microwave safe containers.

The plans can be pricy, ranging from $7 to $8 per meal and as high as $11 to $14 per meal. Some services charge a flat fee per day or week and others require customers to order a month’s worth of meals at a time. Shipping may or may not be included in the cost.

An additional consideration is if the meals come pre-cooked, if they have to be cooked at home, and how much preparation clients must perform. Some services simply provide the ingredients and recipes, but prep and cooking are left to the customer.

Diabetic meal services can be ideal for those that don’t like to cook, live busy lifestyles, or are having a lot of trouble maintaining appropriate blood glucose levels. Meals are designed to help people manage their glucose levels throughout the day, but not all plans enable customers to choose the meals they want. The plans can cost more than eating at home and before signing up for any plan, read all the fine print.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

There are dozens of myths about sugar and diabetes. One of the most prevalent, especially among those advocating for natural solutions, is that honey is better for diabetics and can be eaten without ill effects. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Honey is a form of sugar and the body doesn’t differentiate between different types of sugar. The body treats all sugars in the same way and honey is actually sweeter than granulated sugar. There’s no advantage to using honey over other types of sweeteners, but diabetics can eat it if they prefer. Honey should never be given to a child under the age of 12 months. There’s a risk of infant botulism.

The only difference in honey and sugar is that people may be able to use a lesser amount of honey than cane sugar in a recipe. Honey is slightly higher in calories and carbohydrates than regular sugar. Diabetics can use honey as a sweetener, but should do so in moderation.

For those that prefer honey, use pure, raw or organic honey. One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories compared to 49 in a tablespoon of sugar. Both sugar and honey contain carbohydrates comprised of two types of sugar – glucose and fructose. Honey contains 40 percent fructose and 30 percent glucose, along with water, pollen and some minerals. Sugar contains 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose.

While honey elevates glucose levels as efficiently as other types of sugars, research has shown that it does have some benefits. Honey has natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It’s one of the reasons that it’s used in cough syrups and in wound healing preparations.

The bottom line is that honey isn’t a wonder sweetener and is no better than traditional sugar. Both types of sweeteners will increase and even spike glucose levels. The body doesn’t care which sweetener is used. It metabolizes all sugars the same way.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

There’s a potential problem that could be lurking around the corner for people with diabetes. It’s called gastroparesis and makes it exceptionally difficult for individuals to control their blood glucose levels no matter how diligent they are about their diet.

Gastroparesis, also known as slow digestion, is more common in those with diabetes and the disease is the most commonly known cause of gastroparesis. It’s a condition is which the muscles in the wall of the stomach don’t push food out of the stomach and into the intestines in a timely manner.

It’s more common in individuals that have had poor blood glucose levels and have had diabetes for 10 years or more. Even when patients tell their physicians they’re experiencing slow digestion, many doctors are quick to dismiss it, often placing the blame on eating habits or the types of food being consumed.

People with slow digestion typically feel full after eating very little and are unable to finish a regular meal. They may also experience nausea, vomiting, bloating, heartburn, a lack of appetite, and/or abdominal pain. They typically feel full long after they’ve eaten and slow digestion.

Slow digestion makes it difficult to maintain normal blood glucose levels. It can also result in weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration. Many medications can contribute to slow digestion. Undigested food can harden into a solid mass, called a bezoar, that can be life-threatening if it prevents food from entering the small intestine. Gastroparesis affects quality of life.

Gastroparesis is diagnosed through any number of tests, the most common of which involves radioactive dye that a specialist will monitor as it passes through the digestive system. There’s also a breath test and the doctor may utilize a small camera to examine the upper digestive system.

There’s no cure for gastroparesis, but there are steps that can be taken to remediate the disorder. Try eating smaller portions more often and be sure to chew thoroughly. Eat fruits and vegetables that aid in digestion. Soups and pureed foods are easier to digest. Take a leisurely walk after meals. Don’t lie down for at least 2 hours after a meal, avoid carbonated beverages, and take a multivitamin every day.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!

People with diabetes have a lot to deal with. They must monitor their blood glucose levels, contend with a weakened immune system, and premature aging. What they may not foresee is a battle with hair loss. Diabetics are far more likely to experience alopecia areata, a condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. It can result in hair loss in patches on the head and other parts of the anatomy.

Even with careful blood glucose monitoring, diabetes causes damage within the body. When blood vessels are damaged, they can’t transport oxygen or nutrients throughout the body adequately – and that includes to the scalp. High glucose levels impact the hair’s regular growth patterns.

Hydration is especially important for diabetics. Without sufficient hydration, hair becomes dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage. A variety of nutrients are required for hair growth and a lack of vitamin D contributes to hair loss and stunts new growth.

Additionally, oral medications that lowers blood glucose levels may increase the potential for hair loss. The medications can prevent the body from absorbing vitamin B12 that produces red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to the scalp. An iron deficiency also affects hair loss and is associated with obesity. Vitamin B7 is also needed for hair growth.

The good news is that when glucose levels are under control, some hair regrowth will occur and fewer hairs will be lost. In most instances, the hair follicles retain the ability to regrow hair. However, that’s small comfort for diabetics that are losing their hair. Hair loss can be gradual and occur over time or suddenly increase in noticeable amounts.

Hair loss due to alopecia areata isn’t life threatening. The psychological and emotional toll is devastating, affecting confidence and self-image. It can be especially detrimental to people with diabetes who may withdraw and discontinue their exercise regimen. The expertise of a dermatologist that’s familiar with hair loss due to diabetes can be especially helpful.

If you would like to find out about earning cash for your unwanted, unused and boxed test strips, complete our online quote form today.

If you have extra, unopened and unused boxes of diabetic test strips – whether you have switched brands, no longer need to test or test less frequently, or have a loved one who has passed away – don’t let them gather dust until they’ve expired and end up in the trash. We’re the best place to sell diabetic test strips online, and if you want to sell your test strips, we’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable!

Visit us at Sell Your Test Strips and get your free quote today!