Back on January 6 (it seems so long ago), I wrote a piece in which, among other things, I lamented the fact that I have to waste time going from my truck back into the house when I forget my meter. In fact, I do the opposite a lot too. Anyway, that post sparked this banter between myself and a reader:
Yes, I was sufficiently shamed. I took to the internet a short time later and ordered up these:
So, for the record, I now own four Accu-Chek Nano® meters: One for the downstairs (it has its own place in the kitchen), one next to my bed upstairs, one for my truck, and one for my desk at work. Granted, with the cold temperatures we’ve been experiencing here in the Land of Pleasant Living, I’ll have to perform sort of a mouth-to-meter resuscitation in the truck to get it to work right now. But the weather will soon turn again, and before we know it, we’ll be back into the balmy upper 30s (single digits Celsius). Given the cost, it was ridiculous for me to not get an extra meter or two. As we all know, the meters are cheap. The test strips, the things most of us use the most, are probably our single largest expense next to the cost of an insulin pump or CGM.
Why the Nano® again? I know I could go out and get a OneTouch® Verio™ IQ, or an iBGStar®(though I don’t have an iPhone), but the fact is: I’m comfortable with the Nano®. The readings, to me, seem pretty accurate. And most of all, they’re consistent. If I see a 191 on my meter and I don’t believe it, I’ll put another strip in from a different lot right away and check again. Always, the next reading is within five points of the previous one. I guess that’s all I can ask for right now, although a light on that thing would be a very nice plus.
The other consideration, of course, is the fact that my strips are still covered by my prescription provider (ExpressScripts). Unfortunately, my 90 day cost for strips, which was $80.00 a year ago, is now $180.00. For the same thing. That’s $400.00 extra per year, if you’re counting, and it’s only about a $60.00 per 90 day discount over the lowest retail price most recently found on Amazon. You’re welcome, ExpressScripts executives. Enjoy your tropical vacation and your sportscar and whatever else your big friggin’ bonus brings you. At least I’m not paying full price. Yet. And I mean that in the most professional way possible.
Now I only have one more problem: I don’t drive to work most days. I take the local subway, which means unless I carry one around, I won’t have a meter in between the office and arriving back at the station near my home. As someone who had a terrible low on the train home one day a few years back, this is not acceptable. So… do I buy a fifth meter? Do I carry one of the ones I have already? I obviously don’t carry a purse, I don’t carry a “murse” (hate that word), or a backback, or a briefcase. I like to keep moving, so I don’t like carrying anything extra. I don’t know. This sounds like the whining of an already spoiled person. I’ll figure something out, but I will have a meter on the train with me.
Where was I? Oh yes… You comment, I listen. Sometimes it might not seem like it. But I try to put myself in the shoes of everyone who makes a comment here, positive or negative. The one above was a good suggestion that got me to make a good decision. Keep ’em coming.
Diabetes Blog - Happy-Medium.net 
Comments
This is just awesome!
I love the , “ExpressScripts executives. Enjoy your tropical vacation and your sportscar and whatever else your big friggin’ bonus brings you”
I don’t keep spare meters anywhere does that make me bad?
Why don’t I do it? because it’s cold as balls out there. There’s no way -25C is good for meters left in my car.
I am a one meter all the time girl. Everywhere I go, it goes with me. That is until I throw It across the room (then I go into my home stash and grab another one). Keeping track of multiple meters is too much for my poor brain.
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I tend to associate things with one place all the time, so if I have one in my truck, I think of it being there. If I have one at my desk, I think of it being there. I only freak out if I expect it to be there, and it isn’t. Which happens sometimes. Thanks Scully!
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What you need, Stephen, is a Batman utility belt for the subway. 🙂 Unlike you, I have five different meters and three different strips (long story), so while I may have meters all over the place, I wonder about the variance…
Batman Utility Belt.
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Great idea!! I have one meter that lives in my purse all the time, so I never forget it when I go out. The other one just follows me around the house.
Hmmmm, for the subway? Could you remember to stash your bedroom meter in your pocket when you get dressed every morning, and then at night when you get your pj’s on you could put it back by the bed? I don’t know if that’s a good suggestion, because if it were me I’d either forget it in the morning or end up washing it in my pants . . . . but I’m giving you more credit than I give myself!
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Right now, I’m leaning toward taking it from the desk to home every day. But I’m bound to forget it now and then, and I certainly do. The goal is to have it at hand and make the process forget-proof. Thanks for the suggestion!
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My meter practically lives in the inside-pocket of my fall jacket or winter coat. Leaving home without that subtle but noticeable bulge makes me feel naked, so I tend to remember to take it with me. (Summertime is a different story). And like Scully, I just use one meter for everything-use, but have a stash of spares at home.
If I recall from some earlier photos, you have an ID badge that you wear to work… maybe you can loop a really small meter (like a True2Go) around that? It may be a bit clunky, but you’ll have it. (I never said it was a GOOD idea!)
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I am somewhat okay (like it matters what I think!) with you leaving meters exposed to the temperature variations in your car, I think it would be a very bad idea to leave strips there. I see a man purse in your future! 😛
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Good point. I can’t do a murse, so I think I’ll be stuffing my meter in my pocket at least until Spring. Hopefully, I’ll figure out something else by then.
And what you think definitely matters.
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