I buy a lot of diabetes testing kits. I was excited about the first couple I bought. I have sort of wanted one for a long time because I have a strong family history of diabetes, as well as personal risk factors and indications that my body is a bit insulin-resistant.  It has never once been "off" when I tested it, but it’s always good to keep an eye on things like this. 

So, the first one I got free after coupons was great.  The second and third and fourth, I figured I could find homes for.  After that, though, I was at a loss.  They don’t sell particularly well (I have sold maybe seven or eight in four yard sales) and they take up a bit of space.  But I keep buying them because the manufacturers keep giving incentives to do so–coupons that make them free stacked with promotions that give Register Rewards at Walgreens or ECBs at CVS, or that allow you to use purchase-based coupons (like a $5 off a $25 order) at Rite Aid. 

What to do with all these meters?  People online talk a lot about donating them, but it always seemed to me (based on their reports) that there is more of a problem with finding people to take them.  If you have some you want to donate, you can try nursing homes, women’s shelters, vets and animal shelters, or find a donation place on this website: Islets of Hope.

My original plan, after I started accumulating them, was to donate, but I’ll be honest with you and say that I just never got around to it. Then I thought about ripping the boxes open and sell the included test strips on eBay.  (Not all boxes include test strips, but Bayer Contour and Breeze both do–for now, anyway.) After that plan was hatched, one thing led to another and I found out that even after insurance, my mom pays something like $60 for 100 test strips.

Let’s see now.  I have a gazillion meters that I can’t figure out what to do with, and meanwhile, my mom is paying out of pocket for strips. What could I possibly do to solve both of our problems?

100_2253I feel REALLY BAD about the waste involved in this.  It is terrible from an environmental standpoint, and I actually do care about that. My parents came down to visit last Friday, and the above is a picture of my floor before they left.

100_2256

But I feel REALLY GOOD about sending my mom home with 460 testing strips.  I believe she tests her sugar about five times a day.  That is enough to last her for nine months. At approximately $0.60 a strip, that is a savings of $276 in the above picture.. not counting the meters themselves. 

(Oh, and they cleaned up the boxes for me before they left.)

This is the second time I’ve donated my strips to her.  I wrapped up a bunch of them for her at Christmas in her stocking, along with all the Zantac I got from Walgreens.  :) She was actually using a different meter before this got started, but I think it was worth switching. :)

Now I have two reusable shopping bags full of meters and the accompanying carrying cases and instruction manuals. I have a few small ideas on what to do with some of them but I’m open for suggestions.