Blood glucose test strips

This page describes BC PharmaCare coverage of blood glucose test strips (BGTS).

On this page:

• Eligibility
• Annual quantity limits

Eligibility

PharmaCare covers blood glucose test strips if:

• Blood glucose testing has been deemed medically necessary for you, and
• You receive diabetes management training from a diabetes education centre (DEC) or a designated Primary Care Network (PCN). The centre or network must fax your training certificate to Health Insurance BC (HIBC), and
• You are enrolled in one (or more) of these plans:

In some circumstances, people who are unable to monitor their glucose levels due to disabilities may have a caregiver complete diabetes management training on their behalf. This could be a family member, friend, or professional caregiver who monitors their levels for them. If a family member, friend, or caregiver completes the training on behalf of a patient, a training certificate must still be faxed by the DEC or PCN to HIBC.

Once you receive your training, your DEC or PCN will give you a printed voucher. The voucher will allow one-time coverage of blood glucose test strips (to a maximum of $100). Use this voucher at the pharmacy if your eligibility information is not in PharmaNet when you make your first test strip purchase.

Find the types of blood glucose test strips that PharmaCare covers at Diabetes devices and supplies PINs. For more details on PharmaCare coverage of blood glucose test strips, visit PharmaCare Policy Manual, Section 5.16: Blood Glucose Testing.

Annual quantity limits

PharmaCare covers a maximum amount of blood glucose test strips for an individual each calendar year. The amount is based on the diabetes treatment they are receiving.

Research shows that most people with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin do not need to test their blood sugar routinely. There is little evidence that frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose, without a medically valid reason, improves diabetes care.

Most people can test at the recommended frequency within the quantity limits. If you need more than the annual limit, visit If you need to test more often. 

In the table below, if you are in more than one category, and not using a CGM/FGM, the higher limit applies.

How your limit is tracked

Each time you pick up a prescription, your pharmacy records it in PharmaNet. PharmaNet determines the proper test strip limit. If your treatment changes, PharmaNet automatically updates your annual limit of test strips.

Each time you buy test strips, the number of strips you bought is deducted from your annual limit in PharmaNet. Your pharmacist can let you know if you have exceeded your limit. You can also contact us to find out how many strips you have left for the year.

Pay attention to expiry dates. Make sure you don’t buy strips that will expire before you can use them.

How often you should test your blood glucose levels

If you aren’t taking insulin, you should test your blood sugar levels only when you have a reason to test.

Your doctor and diabetes educator can answer your questions.

A few helpful online resources:

• Diabetes Canada: Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Interactive Tool - this tool helps you determine the best testing pattern for you
• PharmaCare Blood Glucose Test Strips - information sheet available in 15 languages

If you need to test more often

In certain circumstances, you may need to test more often.

Your doctor—or a health professional at a diabetes education centre or primary care network—can send a request to PharmaCare for coverage of additional strips if you are not using insulin or are using a CGM/FGM  and you have:

• Not met blood sugar level targets, as determined by a physician, for three months or more
• An acute illness or other condition that may affect your blood glucose control
• Had changes in your drug therapy that may affect your blood glucose control (such as starting or stopping medications that induce hypo- or hyperglycemia)
• A job where hypoglycemia presents a significant safety risk (e.g., pilots, air traffic controllers, commercial drivers)
• Gestational diabetes

Children under a nursing support service using a CGM/FGM may qualify for additional strips. Your physician can submit the request to PharmaCare for additional strips at the same time that coverage for the CGM/FGM is requested.

Note: In the rare case that you have a medical need to test even more frequently, or if you take insulin and need to test more frequently, your endocrinologist can submit a request to PharmaCare for additional strips. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.