I just read the reason why. According to what the VA writes, it is taking care of 25% of the people with Type II diabetes in the US at a price tag of $1.5 billion per year. They have to cut corners. What they do is concentrate on exercise, diet, and medication for people who do not take insulin. They do A1Cs with the blood work, but do not operate under the A1C model of diabetes care. This is mainly because they cannot afford to micromanage the huge number of vets that have non-insulin dependent diabetes. This would not preclude a person getting their own testing supplies if they are lucky enough to find an affordable way to do that. The cost of test strips now is highway robbery.
What would you do differently if you could test your sugar level? If you were on insulin you might need to know the sugar level to adjust the insulin dose. But you are not adjusting any of your meds based on your reading, are you?
Do you experience highs or lows a lot? If you feel low it could be important to verify, know how low, and test whether your treatment is successful.
What is your current A1C? Does the clinic test that every 3 months?
I can see why the clinic might not want you to be testing every day, but it also seems prudent to have a tester on hand, with training on when it might be useful to use it.
What is the clinic's explanation for not providing a tester?
Do you experience highs or lows a lot? If you feel low it could be important to verify, know how low, and test whether your treatment is successful.
What is your current A1C? Does the clinic test that every 3 months?
I can see why the clinic might not want you to be testing every day, but it also seems prudent to have a tester on hand, with training on when it might be useful to use it.
What is the clinic's explanation for not providing a tester?