Meet Your Meter night in Porirua

People with diabetes are being encouraged to take advantage of information and training to help them change over to three new fullfunded blood glucose meters.

Pharmac began funding the meters and test strips from the CareSens range in September last year for those people entitled to the subsidy.

From March 1 only the CareSens range of blood glucose meters and testing strips will be funded in New Zealand.

For most people who use a blood glucose meter, this means changing to a new meter.

Pharmac chief executive Steffan Crausaz says during the lengthy phase- in period, information and support is being provided to meter users and health professionals.

‘‘It is really important that people have their new meters and new test strips, and are confident about using them before their old test strips run out,’’ he says.

He says the change will free up $10 million in funding each year for Pharmac to invest in other medicines for New Zealanders.

A Meet Your Meter meeting, to give people a chance to choose which of the three funded meters suits them best, and learn about using them, is being held at the Community Baptist Church, 13 Sunlight Grove, Porirua, between 5.30pm and 8pm, on Monday, March 11.

It will include a 45-minute presentation at the start, and people can also ‘‘drop in’’ to learn about the meters at any time during the session.

Pharmaco, the supplier of the meters, is visiting health centres and pharmacies around New Zealand providing information and training so doctors, nurses and pharmacists are well placed to help patients.

People can also find information online at www.pharmac.govt.nz and wwwcaresens.co.nz; or they can talk to someone on 0800 GLUCOSE (0800 458 2673).