by Reverend Ashira Goddard

Created on: February 12, 2008

Diabetes can have a financial price tag that is astronomical. In comparison to the cost of uncontrolled blood glucose levels and all the complications that can go with it, the financial cost is worth it. Any free supplies that a person with diabetes can find is advantageous to the pocket book.

Glucose meter units are usually not that expensive, rather the test strips themselves that cost the most. Most diabetics with any health insurance can get free supplies including the meter and the test strips. However, Medicare will only cover about 80% of the total cost. So where do you turn to for the other 20% if you are on a fixed income to begin with.

Free-glucose-meter.com offers a free glucose meter with 9 different brands to choose from. They have a few conditions that need to be met, but anyone with diabetes, on Medicare, and has a Rx from a doctor can take advantage of this offer. Some of the brands they offer come with free test strips as well.

The Foundation for Diabetes Education offer a variety of diabetes supplies at no charge. They have a simple form to fill out that ensures you are eligible and then finds the best source for funding your diabetes supplies from either insurance, private, pharmaceutical or government funding programs. It only takes three days to become approved. Once approved the have meters, test strips, lancets, injection pens, skin care products, accessories, control solutions, pump supplies and even some free prescription medications for glucose control. They can located at www.thefde.com.

The American Diabetes Association offers free glucose meters. If you have Medicare or many of the private insurance companies, the ADA will send you a free meter and supplies (they even pay the shipping). There is no paperwork to fill out once you have an account set up with them, they bill any of the insurance companies directly. They can be contacted at www.americandiabetes.com.

Some pharmacies will offer free meters to customers without insurance providing that you buy all your testing supplies through them. It is a free meter with conditions.

There is a company called Freedomed that also offers free meters and diabetes supplies. They will work for you to find a way to have your supplies shipped directly to your home at no charge. They even offer the new pain-free and alternate site testing units to the drum and disc systems that are preloaded with strips. They can be reached at www.freedomed.com.

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