Keto-Diastix

[KeltonsMom]

I have a prescription for these but insurance won't cover them..Now how important are they? Insurance will pay for both Ketostix and the Precision blood ketone test strips..I am not sure why my Endo wants me to have the Keto-Diastix

[Mom2Madi]

The only thing I use Keto Diastyx for is testing soda when I'm unsure of whether it's really diet while eating out. Just dip the stick in the soda and if it's not sugar-free, the test area for sugar in the urine will turn brown after about 15 seconds. I read about it on another web site with this saying: If it goes brown, put it down, if green stays bright, its alright.

We are military also and get these free on base but I hardly ever refill them or the regular ketostyx. I just keep a box of Precision strips on hand.

[KeltonsMom]

I find something interesting about Tricare, I guess it depends on where you are in the country to whether or not they will cover certain things :mad: I can get the Precision strips through Express Scripts but not the Keto-Diastix and I can't get them on Base either :confused:

[Mom2Madi]

I find something interesting about Tricare, I guess it depends on where you are in the country to whether or not they will cover certain things :mad: I can get the Precision strips through Express Scripts but not the Keto-Diastix and I can't get them on Base either :confused:

I know...this is not right at all. Tri-care should be Tri-care anywhere you are. We are all with the U.S. military and we should all be entitled to the same exact benefits. But when I applied for the CGMS I learned that Tri-Care is divided up into three different regions and each one has a different insurance underwriter. Twinklet guided me through the Tri-Care CGMS maze. She'd been fighting for it long and hard in California with no luck - we are in the same service and our husbands are the same rank. Once I requested my CGMS in Texas it was on my door step in one week. I was grateful to have it but did call and complain to Tri-care telling them they really needed to standardize this care for everyone....plus what happens when we move to a new state where what we are used to getting is not covered?!

I buy my Precision strips at any pharmacy (Walmart, Target, CVS, etc) for the $9.00 co-pay but got the Keto-Diastyx on base w/out asking. The endo wrote it up and I went downstairs and got them. But honestly...I really never use them that much so IMO you aren't missing anything. I was able to test soda on my One Touch meter too. It shows up as LO when it's diet or HI or error when not.

[KeltonsMom]

Yeah I too am trying to get the CGMS for both Kelton and myself with no luck at all :mad:
I no longer feel my lows until I am in the 30's and on the floor:eek:

[Mom2Madi]

Oh that's horrible...I just now noticed you were in California too. It absolutely inflames me that everyone is not getting the same thing - when they approved ours in Texas it was with a prescription only. In your region they should at least go on a case by case basis because you really need this. Going to the ER and having paramedics called is way more costly than the the CGMS. I'm so sorry you have to go through this - esp with a young son to look after too and having him be responsible for you if needed. I guess you can just keep appealing and hoping - maybe you'll move soon too because, unfortunately, your region is the only one right now not approving them. I do think enuf people are going to make a big stink and change that cuz it's not right at all. I hope it's soon for you!

[KeltonsMom]

My husband is retired Navy and is now working as a Defense Contractor for the Navy..We considered moving once, but he has a son from a previous marriage and the boy did not want us to move because he would only come see us on holidays and we would have to give up the joint custody..

So until this child reaches the age of 18 we will not be moving anywhere..

One good thing that is going on now is that one of my dogs starts to act strangely when I go low and she alerts me by trying to get her 55 pound butt in my lap..:D

[frizzyrazzy]

can't think of any real good reason why you'd need all of them - the meter will check the sugar, the ketostix OR the precision will check the ketones, the ketodiastix are just old, unreliable and like Jo-ann said, the only good use is for testing soda.

Anyway, we are northeast tricare and I haven't tried to fill the ketodiastix since DX but I do get the precisions in large quantities (but was also are using USFamily Health instead of tricare prime, but same coverage applies)

[jules12]

We do not have ketones very easily and so I have not tried to fill the precision strips - it's more $$$ and the Ketostix are $10-15. For now, I just use them. Our endo said it doesn't make a difference for either one.