Where can I mail order XYZ?

XYZ is most often blood glucose measurement strips, especially for those who
don't live near discount pharmacies. Mail order prices are not always lower
than local prices. Remember that there is an advantage to going to a single
pharmacist for all your drugs, if that pharmacist is knowledgeable about
interactions and tracks all the drugs you use. Adjustments will be slower if
you mail order. Never mail order unless you are certain about what you need.

That said, here's a list of mail order firms specializing in diabetes
supplies (and one for the blind). Aside from those listed below, I've not
heard of any outside the US, perhaps because the health care systems
elsewhere don't encourage the practice. Most of these advertise in _Diabetes
Forecast_ (see section on journals). This list is presented with no
recommendations, pro or con. Each issue of _Diabetes Forecast_ also contains
a column summarizing recommendations for ordering health supplies by mail.
Most will send a catalog or price list on request.

Many of these now have an online presence on the WWW. Jeff Hitchcock's
Children with Diabetes (see "Online resources: World Wide Web") has links to
quite a list on suppliers with information online.

* A R Medical Supplies         1-800-525-8362
*@American Medical Supplies    1-800-434-3536
  Chronimed Pharmacy           1-800-876-6540
                           or +1 612 546 1146
  Diabetes Supplies            1-800-622-5587
* Diabetic Care Center         1-800-633-7167
 @Diabetic Depot               1-800-537-0404
  Diabetic Emporium            1-800-231-6827 sugar-free foods
  Diabetic Express             1-800-338-4656
  Diabetic Promotions          1-800-433-1477
                           or +1 216 943 6185
* Edwards Healthcare Svcs      1-800-793-1995
  GEM Diabetes Supplies        1-800-793-1995
  H-S Medical Supplies         1-800-344-7633
  Hospital Center Pharmacy     1-800-824-2401 part of the Joslin Diabetes Ctr
                                              ask for bg meter comparison chart
* Liberty Medical Supply       1-800-762-8026
* National Diabetic Pharmacies 1-800-467-8546
                           or +1 703 389 0201
* Patient Care Svcs            1-800-882-5238
* Preferred Rx                 1-800-843-7038
  SugarBusters Diabetes Ctrs   1-800-867-8020 http://www.iquest.net/sugarbusters
                                                   /sugarbusters.html
* Suncoast Pharmacy            1-800-799-1991
*@Thriftee Home Diabetes Care  1-800-847-4383

* = specializes in insurance or Medicare billing
@ = advertises "Hablamos Espanol"

in Canada:

  Diabetes Specialty Shop      1-800-465-3336 (Canada)

In Australia:

  Diabetics Australia    149 Pitt St    Redfern NSW 2016

On a slightly different note, Associated Services for the Blind (919 Walnut
Street, Philadelphia PA 19107, +1 215 627 0600, fax +1 215 922 0692) runs a
nonprofit store specializing in supplies for the blind. See their home page
at

   http://www.libertynet.org/~asbinfo

or email them at asbinfo(AT)libertynet.org.