Individually wrapped ketostix no longer available?

[Momto3]

I just called Walgreens to get DD's Rx for individually wrapped ketostix refilled and the tech told me she didn't think they were being manufactured anymore. She is double checking and will be calling me back. I prefer to leave these at school because DD doesn't need to use them often.

Does anyone know for certain if these have been discontinued?

Thanks so much for your help!

[dzirbel]

Yes, I was told that last fall. I hate it because we used to use those too. What a waste the 50 ct is. Someone else needs to mfg these or they just need to make the blood ketone strips cheaper and more accessible.

[sooz]

Is this what you are looking for?
The second link has a better price. I love Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Ketostix-Reage...apped+ketostix


http://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Ketostix..._sim_sbs_hpc_1

[virgo39]

I am not sure, but I think that the foil-wrapped Ketostix can have an expiration date up to two years after manufacturing. You might want to keep that in mind when ordering from an online source -- not sure exactly months ago they were discontinued.

[swellman]

Isn't their use fairly limited since urine ketone levels lag so far behind blood levels? Wouldn't it be easier, more practical and perhaps cheaper to use blood ketone meters? You can get one for free and the strips are foil wrapped and last a year. Are the strips hard to get covered on some insurance policies?

$0.02

[Beach bum]

Originally Posted by swellman

Isn't their use fairly limited since urine ketone levels lag so far behind blood levels? Wouldn't it be easier, more practical and perhaps cheaper to use blood ketone meters? You can get one for free and the strips are foil wrapped and last a year. Are the strips hard to get covered on some insurance policies?

$0.02

Yes, yes and yes.

Use is limited and it's like a 2 hour lag time. Practicality wise, the meter is much easier and accurate. Some insurance companies don't cover them, or barely cover. Our school nurses preferred to use the Ketostix for some odd reason, so I always had to send a bottle in each year only to have 2 or 3 at most ever used. Now that my daughter is in middle, I don't even bother sending them in. If there's doubt, I will drive over with the Ketone meter and test her myself.

[Momto3]

Originally Posted by swellman

Isn't their use fairly limited since urine ketone levels lag so far behind blood levels? Wouldn't it be easier, more practical and perhaps cheaper to use blood ketone meters? You can get one for free and the strips are foil wrapped and last a year. Are the strips hard to get covered on some insurance policies?

$0.02

That's a great point, I will have to look into that at DD's next endo appointment. I just wanted the ketostix for school, but what you mentioned would be more practical for home.

[swellman]

Originally Posted by Momto3

That's a great point, I will have to look into that at DD's next endo appointment. I just wanted the ketostix for school, but what you mentioned would be more practical for home.

Well, you can get 2 free meters for the cost of one

[TheLegoRef]

Which meters do you like the best / work the best? Is there one where the strips aren't too expensive?

[swellman]

We have the Precision Xtra and they seem to work fine ... but almost never get ketones nor test for them often which is why I like the individually wrapped foil strips. I have no idea of the cost but I think one should be able to get one free from an endo or call them and get one or perhaps get a started kit with the BG strips for under $20 at a pharmacy. I haven't priced the strips because we get them through insurance and only order them when they expire.

Expiration is a bit of a pain if you want to cheat since they have a calibration stick that apparently has the expiry encoded so you would have to cheat and change the date on the meter to get them to work.