When you have diabetes, ignoring your illness is not an option. Proper maintenance and treatment of your diabetes is a matter of life and death. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the US, and the reason the disease is so deadly is that many people do not take the proper care of themselves – the care that starts with the help of a glucose monitor.
Why do many diabetics not use their glucose meters as they should? In many cases, the reason is financial. Glucose meters can be extraordinarily expensive. In fact, they can cost in the range of a few thousand dollars, depending on the type of meter you hope to get. The cost is simply unmanageable for many diabetes patients.
There is hope, however. There are cheap glucose monitor systems to be had. You simply need to know where to look to find them. One of the best places to start looking for a great deal is on the websites of the manufacturers of the meters.
Believe it or not, some companies offer free meter promotions on a regular basis. In the interim, many manufacturers have coupons for discounts on meters on their sites that you can print before your buy. You can also look at the websites of diabetes research fundraising groups, who often partner with manufacturers to offer discounts to diabetics in need of financial aid to buy meters.
If these options don’t work, check with your doctor. Most doctors have access to used meters, and while they might not be ideal, they can get you through a hard time.