Before I was discharged from hospital, I was given a Contour NEXT blood glucose monitor and associated kit (test strips, lancets for drawing blood, etc). When I went to my local pharmacy with my prescription for test strips, they gave me a OneTouch Verio Reflect blood glucose monitor and kit. The main reason for this is my pharmacy doesn’t stock the Contour test strips, and you have to use the same brand of test strips and monitors. As a side-effect, it means I have a main blood glucose monitor – the OneTouch – and a backup – the Contour. I have attached AirTags to both of them.
Both monitors have apps that record your blood sugar readings automatically. This is really handy: it means I have a record of my readings stored automatically on my phone. The user interface on both of the meters is great too. For me, I need to know if my blood sugar is in range, low, or high, and both meters make this really clear with colours and emojis. For my doctors, it is important to know the actual numbers, and both meters make this really clear too.
What has this cost me? In Ireland, we pay for our GP appointments. The only out-of-pocket medical expense I have had was the €60 to see my GP. The hospital stay did not cost me anything. The blood glucose monitors did not cost me anything. The medication to control the diabetes did not cost me anything. I am profoundly grateful that I live in a country with a healthcare system like that.