# Any blood sugar monitor device that isn't highway robbery? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922 "2013-07-08T06:30:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922/1 "2013-07-08T06:30:36Z")
Those blood sugar monitors operate on the inkjet printer principle. They give the device away for practically free, but they charge an arm and a leg for the test strips. And those newer strips have a chip with an expiration date hardcoded. I had to throw away a full box of strips just because the date had expired by a couple of months. So, is there any device that doesn’t screw you with exorbitant strip prices? ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922/2 "2013-07-08T08:09:06Z")
Because our nearly worthless health insurance refuses to pay for a monitor/test strips, I use the Walmart brand (Reli-On) BG monitor. The test strips are around $20 for a box of 50. A box of 100 is around $35. I use the Reli-On Micro monitor, which costs around $15. It’s been working for me just fine for several years. Quite accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922/3 "2013-07-09T04:51:55Z")
In the last year or so, _Consumer Reports_ had a story on blood glucose monitors. where they not only covered accuracy & ease of use, but also the periodic cost of using the meters. As I recall, nearly all of them came out to be acceptably accurate. There were some differences in ease of use. And significant differences in cost. I think the chain brands (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) were cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922/4 "2013-07-09T05:16:38Z")
I just got a ReliOn Prime at Wal-Mart. Meter was about $16.00 and 50 test strips for $9.00. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922/5 "2013-07-09T16:12:54Z")
I am not in the US. Can I buy the ReliOn device and strips online and have it shipped to me? ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-blood-sugar-monitor-device-that-isnt-highway-robbery/662922/6 "2013-07-09T16:20:04Z")
I don’t see why not! Go to [Walmart.com](http://Walmart.com) to find them. You can order online, but I have no idea if they ship to areas outside the U.S.