Ok, so what about diet? many here do diet and/or exercise alone, no meds.
What do you normally eat?

No, you don't get it. If you attacked your current high bgs, so that
you could maintain normal bgs on your current meds or maybe drop the
sulph, it would cost you maybe that $100 dollars ONCE. When you've
worked out what you can safely eat, and a supporting exercise routine,
you can drop back to minimal testing.

But if you go on insulin, you'll have to extensively test every day,
or you'll end up dead in a ditch from a hypo or in hospital through
wild swings.

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.6%  BMI 25

As you seem to be ignoring my posts I'll make one last try:

Testing on a Budget

I'm very lucky to be in a country where diabetics in the
past have successfully lobbied for specific support within
the government health system to assist good diabetes
control. I'm eternally grateful for the pioneers who created
Australian medicare and the NDSS.

However, I'm daily reminded that others overseas are not so
fortunate. Consequently, some have difficulty following the
full "test, test, test"  
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm
regimen as Jennifer suggests because of strip cost.

For them, I suggest a "one strip a day" method. This works
more slowly than following Jennifer's advice completely -
but it can still work. When I say "one strip a day" I'm not
counting the FBG or other tests the doctor wants - discuss
with the doc if you can cut back there. In hard economic
circumstances I can't see that doing FBG every second or
even third day is going to be a problem for the doc - but
check to be sure. Let's face it, the "average" type 2 out
there is testing FBG maybe once per week, doing absolutely
nothing with the result, and wondering why their A1c goes up
every 3-6 months.

This other daily test strip is purely to let YOU know what's
happening when you eat.

First, it will take a few extra BG tests for two or three
days to discover when your peak timing is. Once you know
that for each meal, you can focus on that timing. Some
reckon you also need to test before meals to see what the
rise was; in these circumstances I would see the pre-meal
test as a waste of a strip. Just concentrate on the absolute
peak level. Target one meal per week. Most of us have
problems with breakfast, so I'd recommend starting there.

Test at the peak spike time, just for breakfast, until you
have modified your breakfast to the point where the spikes
are acceptable to you. I use Jennifer's guidelines:

FBG under 110 (6.1)
One hour after meals under 140 (7.7)
Two hours after meals under 120 (6.7)

which are similar to the AACE, but check with your doctor if
in doubt. Concentrate on that meal for one week, by that
time you should have something workable. I've given some
alternative breakfast ideas here,
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/breakfasts.html
but think outside the square and find what works for you.
There is no law that decrees cereal, juice, milk or toast
before noon.

Then concentrate on Lunch for week two, Dinner for week
three and so on. Then repeat over the next three weeks. Over
time you will find a range of foods that are OK - and a
range of foods that aren't - and slowly build a safe menu
base.

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
--
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com
Latest: Motivation, Likes and Dislikes

Where is "here"?

Reread what you wrote above.  Under those conditions it would be
dangerous even for a newly diagnosed type 1 to be under medical care
in your community.  It would be damned stupid and bordering suicidal
for a type 2 to be on insulin receiving that level of non-quality care
from the medical profession in your community.

Combine that with your obvious reluctance not test correctly while
using insulin and you guarantee failure.

you're complaining about the cost of test strips.  Most people are
twice what you have available.  And yes without insurance.  Unless
they live in a country where medical expenses are subsidized through
their taxes.

If you start having hypos while on insulin do you understand that you
will have to increase testing at the time of each hypo to once every
15 to 20 minutes until the BG returns to normal?  

If you are not fully prepared to do what it takes then you should not
go on insulin.

How do you plan to burn off the fat that insulin produces?
What do you think insulin does with all that sugar it takes from your
blood stream?

Tom,

As a new user of insulin, you would be better off going with one shot of
a long-acting insulin like Lantus or Levemir than using either R or NPH,
also known as (N).

The advantage of Lantus or Levemir is the avoidance of roller coaster
highs and lows due to dosage errors with the other insulins.  The body
doesn't do well with roller coaster highs and lows. Painful neuropathies
due to oxidative stress are the likely result of too much variability in
blood sugar readings over time.

By the way, you'll need your doctor's approval to get Lantus or Levemir.

They're worth the extra money.