Supplies questions

Morna & Hester Sue

Morna & Hester Sue

Member Since 2026
I am having a hard time finding and affording the basic supplies. I am using U100 syringes. The big box I got with the insulin had only whole unit markings. I was able to find ones at the Haggen pharmacy counter last week that had the half unit markings. I went to get more yesterday and they were out. I probably need to order online, but I have major anxiety about ordering online, and I do not want to ever have an Amazon account. Going into stores is hard because I am chemically sensitive, and many places, especially drug stores and Walmart make me very sick. The syringes on Chewy are hard to tell if they're half unit marked or not, nor haw well they work. When drawing miniscule doses, a sticky plunger makes a huge difference.
Best source for affordable but good quality syringes? I am getting bogged down in needle length and size info and my head is swimming.


A friend the Contour Next Gen meter and the box of 70 strips at Walgreens. I braved going into Walgreens yesterday and they were out of the strips. The box of 70, had it been there, was about $40. I went to Haggen and they had them, but prices at $120+. Same with Costco. I gave in and ordered from Ascensia estore. Those will not be here for another 10 days, and I will be out before then. Is there any source for the strips better than the manufacturer?

I am home today, which is good because her numbers are way down, but it also means I am testing frequently.
 
If you want to private message me your address, I’ll send you some strips for free. They’re part of the starter kit we have here (why I have a bunch of brand new boxes). I’m in NY though so for shipping it might take a few days.

If you need something quicker could you try one of the delivery services like DoorDash? I’ve heard of people ordering supplies through them to be delivered, and if anything goes wrong you’re protected and get your money back.
 
Tim & Pookey said:
If you want to private message me your address, I’ll send you some strips for free. They’re part of the starter kit we have here (why I have a bunch of brand new boxes). I’m in NY though so for shipping it might take a few days.

If you need something quicker could you try one of the delivery services like DoorDash? I’ve heard of people ordering supplies through them to be delivered, and if anything goes wrong you’re protected and get your money back.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the offer. I had hoped to go back to town and see if Walgreens go their delivery, but am not willing to leave Hester Sue right now while i am monitoring her BG numbers closely.
 
Would Walmart pick up/delivery be a option for supplies you need asap? I personally use the ReliOn Platinum meter (Walmart exclusive, $20 kit comes with 25 strips) and pay $10 for a box of 50 test strips.

For syringes from Chewy, here's the brand I use that have half unit markings.
 
Sara & Khloe said:
Would Walmart pick up/delivery be a option for supplies you need asap? I personally use the ReliOn Platinum meter (Walmart exclusive, $20 kit comes with 25 strips) and pay $10 for a box of 50 test strips.

For syringes from Chewy, here's the brand I use that have half unit markings.
Click to expand...
I guess if I got those i would need to go to caliper dosing for sure, though. I looked at the reviews on Chewy and the dosing with calipers thread here. Has anyone found a more reliably marked syringe?
 
I'm on my 3rd or 4th box and use calipers. I find UltiCare to be pretty accurate for most of the syringes, of course there's a odd ball here or there that has slightly incorrect markings (which is probably true for all syringe brands) but easy to catch with the calipers. I personally would suggest to use calipers for any brand to guarantee consistency.
 
Sara & Khloe said:
I'm on my 3rd or 4th box and use calipers. I find UltiCare to be pretty accurate for most of the syringes, of course there's a odd ball here or there that has slightly incorrect markings (which is probably true for all syringe brands) but easy to catch with the calipers. I personally would suggest to use calipers for any brand to guarantee consistency.
Click to expand...
Hi. Thanks for the reply.

Which calipers do you use and where did you get them?
 
I am sort of hyperventilating here. I just called the Walgreens in the town farther away, and they have the 50 and 100 count test strips, but priced at $75 and $145. I thought the 70 count just last week was $39, which was bad enough.
 
Morna & Hester Sue said:
I am sort of hyperventilating here. I just called the Walgreens in the town farther away, and they have the 50 and 100 count test strips, but priced at $75 and $145. I thought the 70 count just last week was $39, which was bad enough.
Click to expand...
Do you have a Walmart by you? For whatever reason I think Relion strips are cheaper. I see 100 strips for $19.

I use Contour only because we don’t have one near us… on Amazon it’s $27 for 70 strips.

Edit - sorry I didn’t see your first post. As Sara and Khloe mentioned - any chance you could either get Walmart delivery or pick-up at the parking lot (so you don’t have to go into the store)?
 
Connie & Parker & Moonie said:
Do you have a Walmart by you? For whatever reason I think Relion strips are cheaper. I see 100 strips for $19.

I use Contour only because we don’t have one near us… on Amazon it’s $27 for 70 strips.

Edit - sorry I didn’t see your first post. As Sara and Khloe mentioned - any chance you could either get Walmart delivery or pick-up at the parking lot (so you don’t have to go into the store)?
Click to expand...
I actually ordered 210 strips from the manufacturer, but I will be out before they get here.

I think we have a Walmart, and I guess they deliver, though maybe not as far away as I am. But my chemical sensitivity is such that anything permeable that has been in Walmart very long will make me sick. I'm also not sure I want to switch devices at this point -- my brain is already overwhelmed with data.
 
Do you have a FSA or HSA account for your own health care related needs? If you do and have enough funds (or can add more if that is an option), you can buy the Human diabetic supplies your cat needs: U100 syringes, test strips, Lantus, etc. You can use the account card to buy the supplies or pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. Keep all receipts in case you're asked to confirm a purchase.
 
squeem3 said:
Do you have a FSA or HSA account for your own health care related needs? If you do and have enough funds (or can add more if that is an option), you can buy the Human diabetic supplies your cat needs: U100 syringes, test strips, Lantus, etc. You can use the account card to buy the supplies or pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. Keep all receipts in case you're asked to confirm a purchase.
Click to expand...
I have no such coverage nor accounts. I have no income and am living on fast-dwindling savings for reasons I will not be going into here. I already spent all the money I had in my own unofficial "saving for medical stuff account" on vet bills in the past 2 months.

But why do the prices vary so wildly? Did Contour strips just quadruple in price?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top