How do you guys get free meters and strips?

[Mom2Deacon]

I have heard many talk about getting free meters and that they never have had to pay for their meters and sometimes the first month of test strips. I am wondering how do you do that? Are the companies that willing to give out free meters and sometimes strips?

--Sara

[Christopher]

Some companies, if you contact them directly will send you a free meter, and sometimes strips. I know several people who have gotten Freestyle meters and strips for free.

[clb1968]

Most if not all meter companies will give you a free meter if you call and ask for one. They usually come with 10 or 25 strips. Accuckeck has always been good at sending out extra strips. I have always gotten at least 50 more in the packages.

[badshoe]

The endo has samples too.

Call One Touch.

[kyleesmom]

We left the hospital with multiple free meters. In fact, one of the things one of the diabetic educators we spoke with said was never pay for a meter. They encourage you to have one at each place your child will be(home, school, sitters) as well as an extra at home and are happy to provide them. Also, when we go to our endo appointments, they first thing the nurse asks is what we need. Last time, we were waiting for our first shipment of strips to come from our prescription company and I was getting nervous and told her so. She gave me probably 60 strips that come in the little 10 pack sample things. Contact your local JDRF, they can probably help you out.

[BrendaK]

I get free meters from my endo and from diabetes trade show/expos/walk events. They don't usually come with many strips, though -- that's the big catch -- they of course want you to BUY the strips!

[Twinklet]

We have 7 meters from different companies and haven't paid for one. Endo gave us 2 to try (One Touch and Freestyle), also gave us a Precision for blood ketone testing. The others we got in the mail and from JDRF. Drug Reps give meters out like candy. The real way they make money is from the strips. See if your Endo has freebies left by the drug company or call the company and ask them to send you one.

[owensmom]

Most of ours have been free at the pharmacy level - you buy the strips from them and they register meter for you.

[Hollyb]

Yes, in Canada it seems all the meters have a "free with purchase of strips" deal printed right on the box. We've never paid for a meter.

Free strips though -- never seen that.

[Mom2Deacon]

Wal-mart had freestyle meters with free coupons without any strings attached. So I grabbed a Freestyle Lite but it came without any strips including the small ten pack. I am just wondering if I should contact Freestyle about this or just leave it alone since I have two Freestyle Flashes.

--Sara

[Mom2Will]

Sara, it never hurts to ask, call Freestyle, I would.

[liasmommy2000]

We've gotten most from the endo's office. But I have gotten others at diabetes events and through the manufacturer. Often people will post links to free meters on this board.

We've probably have gotten amost a couple dozen. Most are Contours which is what we use. But we also have a few others.

Unfortunately they only come with a few strips. However the endos office has given us several sample bottles of the kind we use, back when we weren't getting enough via insurance. Finally got that straightened out.

[My_Dana]

Well, since those wonderful strips run to the tune of $1000-$2000 per year per kid...here have a meter!
Have another, they're small!

[Schpoodle's Dad]

We have over a dozen meters that we have either gotten form the Endo's office or as part of a free deal when you get 100 strips. It is very common up here in Canada.

We use the Ascensia Contour, which was recently upgraded, so we have about 5-6 of the old ones and 6 of the new ones. We keep them in both cars (temperature permitting), one in the diaper bag, one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen.

I read on another site that the strips cost less than 10 cents to make, but we get charged at least 75 cents. I don't feel bad about the extra meters.

[Momof4gr8kids]

For kindergarten we got the (I can't even remember the name of the dang thing) meter that the strips are 10 in a cartridge and you load the wheel into the meter. We got it at a diabetes event. The rep knew that we were one touch users and didn't want to change our script so she gave us 50 strips plus a bunch of coupons that reduced the price of the following strips we bought to about half. I really think you should get a hold of someone and see if they either have some coupons or will send you some strips.

[Ryans-Rock]

Hi,
Our free meter is on its way. I just called the 1 800 # for abbott. Talked to customer care. Their sending us the Freestyle Freedom.
I had a family member give us several hundred of the freestyle test strips, but we didn't have a meter to use them with. So i called abbott and had no problem with them sending us a free one. They where great!!!!!!