If you are a diabetic who must regularly check your blood sugar levels, FreeStyle test strips and blood glucose meters are commercially available so you can perform coulometric measurements without going to your doctor. You can find freestyle test strips
How to test with freestyle test strips
No less painful that in your doctor’s clinic, you only need to prick your fingertip to draw a few drops of blood out. Get a chemically treated FreeStyle glucose test strip to absorb the blood enough to have the meter do a reading. Abbot Labs, which started the products, offers precise capillary action its FreeStyle test strips which wick off just the exact amount of blood for a reading – 0.3 microliters.
Insert the bloodied freestyle test strips into a FreeStyle glucose meter or glucometer which automatically turns on and you get a reasonably accurate blood sugar or glucose reading. The lightweight hand-held glucose meter usually emits an audible beep to indicate a successful reading which is usually done within 3 to 60 seconds depending on the model. It is suggested to get newer glucometers since older models often require large amounts of blood samples and take longer to read.
Most glucose meters are powered by AAAA batteries and shuts off for about a minute or two before the next reading can be made. Many are equipped with an in-built data port so you can upload the readings from your freestyle test strips to a suitable PC software via a data connection cable.
Good Options for Generic and Branded FreeStyle Test Strips
Online as well as brick-and-mortar drugstores and pharmacies carry brand name FreeStyle test strips which are often costly while just about every convenience store has them along with cheaper generic alternatives that follow the same standard electrochemical qualities. FreeStyle test strips generally fit all glucose meters except those with the “Lite” designation which require a smaller test strip. Always check with your local drugstore pharmacists which type of test strip to purchase that is compatible with your glucose meter.
In general, branded FreeStyle test strips can cost about $47-$50 for either regular or Lite test strips and are usually packaged in a box of 50 strips. You get significantly better bargains with larger 100-strip boxes which are priced at the $70 price point. Then there are excellent discount drugstores online which you can fist to check that many are offering as much as 50% off their regular price when getting bulk purchases of $100 or more. The American Diabetes Wholesale not only offers such discounts, but you also get free shipping for domestic points.
Other excellent online drugstores are Overstock Drugstore, Allegro medical and AmericaRX.com which offer from 20% to 50% off on volume orders of two or more boxes of Freestyle test strips. In general, online drugstores offer better value than your mall or corner drugstores. Shipping charges can add to the cost but if you are getting three boxes of 50-strip content, you can easily exceed the $100 purchase value for free shipping. The only caveat is the wait – typically 2-3 days or more between order time and getting it. A little planning can benefit a diabetic.
