Diabetics and pre-diabetics use blood glucose meters to monitor the concentration of glucose in their bloodstream. Many insurance companies will pay for some, if not all, of the cost of diabetic testing supplies. But if you don't have insurance, the cost may be prohibitive. Companies that sell blood glucose monitoring supplies make most of their money off the "soft" disposable goods, i.e. the test strips, so offering a free blood glucose monitor saves you the cost of the monitor, and the company will have your ongoing business for the test strips.
Step 1
Keep an eye out for free glucose meter coupons at your local drugstore or pharmacy. They'll either be displayed along with the glucose-monitoring supplies or prominently located near the pharmacy windows.
Step 2
Visit the diabetes or glucose meter-related websites (see Resources) and fill out the form in order to receive a free blood glucose meter. Be prepared to enter your shipping information, details about your diabetic condition and your blood glucose testing habits. Click "Submit" to file your information with the company. In most cases you will receive a coupon good for a free blood glucose meter.
Step 3
Print out the coupon and take it to your local pharmacy to redeem it. While you do not need a prescription to purchase a blood glucose monitor in the United States, but some offers, such as the Free Bayer Contour Meter, may require you to show a doctor's prescription for a blood glucose meter as a condition of redeeming the coupon.
Tips and Warnings
- You can fill out the free blood glucose meter forms for someone else who has diabetes. Some web sites will even offer you the chance of identifying your relationship to the person in question that has diabetes.
- If you're not actually diabetic or writing on behalf of someone who is diabetic, there's a chance that your request for a free blood glucose meter will be denied. By receiving the free meter or coupon for a free meter, you're usually signaling your willingness to let the manufacturer contact you, and may receive mailings or product offers.
