Having diabetes means constantly monitoring blood glucose levels. In fact, almost all people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes spend an average of between 3 to 5 hours a day testing their glucose levels. What happens if you have extra test strips from your last meter? The truth is that many users follow the advice to keep a four-month supply on hand, even though they may only need a month’s supply at a time.
Having a surplus of supplies on hand is never a bad idea, especially if you’re on insulin. However, there are some things that you can do with your extra test strips other than letting them sit in your medicine cabinet for months or years at a time. Here are some of the best ideas on what to do with extra diabetic test strips.
1) Don’t Throw Them Away
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is throwing your test strips away. Although most users will have plenty more on hand, it still seems wasteful to simply throw them out when they expire. However, there are things that you can do with these supplies, such as donating them to charities that help provide testing supplies to those who cannot afford them.
Another option is to offer free testing in your community. This can be a great way to teach people about diabetes, while also providing diabetes supplies that might not be available otherwise. Be sure that you check with local health officials before trying something like this, however, or you could risk the safety of others if the testing conditions are not safe. Diabetic supplies are not cheap, which is just one reason why throwing them out is such a waste.
2) Don’t Sell Them on eBay
One of the most common mistakes made by people with extra diabetes supplies is selling them online. While you might be able to get a small amount of money for your test strips, there are plenty of risks that come with selling medical devices online. For starters, it’s nearly impossible to know where your supplies came from, which could put you at risk for counterfeit supplies. Diabetic supplies are also one of the most commonly trafficked goods on the black market, which means your goods are more likely to be stolen if you try to sell them via online auction sites. Selling diabetic test strips is also against eBay policy, so you could potentially get in trouble if they are caught.
You could also run the risk of health inspectors tracking your diabetes supplies down and asking about where they came from, which can lead to difficulty in obtaining future test strips. The best thing that you can do is avoid third-party sellers entirely or seek out an alternative way to get rid of your surplus supplies. Seek out a reputable, licensed buyer, like us here at Tampa Diabetic Exchange. Diabetes supplies should always be distributed safely and responsibly. We work with most major brands and can take your supplies off your hands.
3) Don’t Hold Onto Them for Too Long
It’s easy to keep a four-month supply of supplies on hand, but if you find yourself with extra test strips way before that time is up, you should take action. First of all, expired test strips can provide false readings, which means that you may accidentally give yourself too much or too little insulin. Diabetic supplies that can no longer monitor your glucose levels become virtually useless, so do all that you can to keep the test strips in good shape. Extra diabetic supplies on hand are great for emergencies, but not when they expire on you before you need them!
The longer that your diabetic supplies are in storage, the more likely they will expire before you get a chance to use them, meaning that there’s simply no point in holding onto them. With so many things that you can do with your extra test strips, there is no reason for you to waste them on letting them sit in their boxes. Here at Tampa Diabetic Exchange, we offer you generous compensation for your unused test strips. Our buyers are trained in the proper ways to handle your diabetic supplies, which means that you can trust us with your extra unused diabetes supplies. Fill out this form to speak with a representative today! The process is quick and easy, and you can get paid as soon as a few hours after you ship your supplies.
4) Don’t Give Them Away for Free
While giving away your extra test strips may seem like a great idea, it can also be illegal in some states to simply give them away without some kind of compensation. This is because you could be receiving reimbursement from prescription providers such as Medicare or Medicaid, and those agencies track how many test strips you use.
If you give away your extra diabetic supplies for free, this could make it look like you are receiving unlawful medical reimbursements from outside agencies, which is a serious criminal violation. Always think twice before giving away unused diabetes supplies that may be reimbursable.
Thinking about what to do with your extra test strips? Here at Tampa Diabetic Exchange, we offer you compensation for your extra unused diabetic supplies. For more information on how to get free cash for your extra test strips, please fill out this form.
5) Don’t Let Them Go to Waste
It’s a shame to see all of your diabetic supplies expire before you have a chance to use them. If you have unused test strips that are about to expire, talk with your doctor about whether or not they can still be properly used. In some cases, expired test strips may be helpful for training purposes to give you an idea of what your blood sugar levels are before using a new meter.
Depending on the conditions that your diabetic supplies are stored in, they can last anywhere from one to three years before expiring. However, don’t count on them being just as accurate after this time period is up.
Do you have any unused test strips that you’re just not sure what to do with? We offer free shipping and guaranteed compensation for all of your extra diabetic supplies!
Final Thoughts on How to Get Paid for Your Extra Test Strips
We hope that this article has helped you think about what you can do with your extra test strips. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us via this form. We look forward to hearing from you and to supporting you with making extra cash from your unused supplies!