Glucose Meters and Test Strip Tips for Diabetes Patients

PBIRx®
Intelligent Solutions in Pharmacy Benefits
12 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, CT 06461
(888) 797-2479

Follow instructions carefully. Glucose meters and test strips are sold with instructions for use. You can call the manufacturer of your device or your health care provider if you have questions.

Ask your health care provider to watch you test yourself to be sure you are using your device correctly.

Do quality control checks of your device. Regularly test your meter using a control solution to make sure the test strips and meter are working properly together.

Understand what the meter display means. Be sure you know how high and low glucose values are displayed on your meter. Sometimes they are displayed as “LO” or “HI” when the glucose level is beyond the range than the meter can measure. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions.

Know which test site gives the most accurate results. 

• Readings from alternate sites—such as your forearm or palm—can be less accurate than fingertip readings when your glucose levels change quickly (like after you eat or during exercise).
• Take a reading from a fingertip if you think your blood glucose is low, especially if results from an alternate test site don’t match how you feel.

Know when and how to clean and disinfect your glucose meter.  Always read and follow the directions in your manual.

Do not use pre-owned or second-hand test strips.

• Test strips should be properly stored to give accurate results. If you buy pre-owned strips, it is hard to know whether the strips were stored properly.
• Test strip vials that have been opened by another person may have small amounts of blood on them, which can put you at risk for infection.
• Pre-owned test strip vials may have been tampered with, which means that they may not be safe to use. (i.e., the expiration dates might have been changed or covered up.)
• Pre-owned strips also may not have been cleared by the FDA for sale in the United States.

Know when to report device problems. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, the FDA encourages you to report any issues to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program. (i.e., devices that don’t work, suspected incorrect results, or any other problem with your meter or test strips.)

PBIRx has been exclusively providing intelligent solutions to clients in the management of pharmacy benefit costs since 1993. With a staff that includes IT personnel, actuaries, financial analysts, clinical pharmacists, attorneys, HIPAA Compliance Officers and many more experts, PBIRx’s mission is to create optimal health care outcomes while minimizing overall health care costs. For more information, please visit www.pbirx.com or call (888) 797-2479.