I was just talking to Abbott and they will no longer replace the newer butterfly strips with the older test strips. They will only send out a Freedom meter so you can use the new test strips.
I called Insulet and last they heard the only places to get the old test strips were Liberty Medical and minipharmacy.com. They are still waiting for FDA clearance to use the new strips with the PDM.
Just FYI for everyone.
Does anyone use the new butterfly strips in the PDM despite the fact that the FDA approval hasn’t come thru?
Butterfly strips in the “standard” version are acceptable/comprable to the old standard square ones. Any strip with “Lite” on it is bad news - DO NOT USE ANY LITE STRIPS!
CCS medical has been sending me the old strips. I am currently in the process of switching pharmacies just for my test strips and insulin because the billing will be less expensive through future scripts but as of last week CCS was sending out the old freestyle strips for use with the Omnipod.
Been using the new strips in the PDM and loving them… No issue w/them… I heard it is not that they don’t work… it is something to do w/ wording in a phamplet or some silly thing like that.
Lots of people are using them with no issues. I tested several times against the old ones and also with three different kinds of control solution before I was satisfied that they were fine. You can ask Abbott to send you the solutions for normal, low and high. There is no charge for it.
Why are lite test strips bad? They work fine if i use the code. tested with 3 different meters
Hey Jimmer - Here’s my understanding: only the standard, square, not qwik-zip strips are approved in the pdm by the FDA. The new standard, qwik-zip, not lite, butterfly strips are comparable to the old ones and therefore work in the pdm but are also not FDA approved. Any strip labeled “lite” uses different mechanisms that may not be compatible in the pdm.
In full disclosure, I have not tried any lite strips. However, when I started with the omnipod and got really confused about what strips to use, the local rep sat down and drilled it in my head not to use lite strips. I’m not comfortable with risking bad readings and making insulin decisions off of that. YDMV 
Side note - Just got back from a group meeting with the local reps and they indicated that the new pdm (that goes with the smaller pods) may use lite strips! Here’s hoping!
The Abbott people I talked to told me that the lite strips and the regular strips are exactly the same, and they only market two types so they get more shelf space. Even to the point that they roll off the same “assembly line” into differently marked containers. I’m not claiming this is true, but it’s what I was told “off the record.”
My son feels that they are the same also and was going to do some side by side testing, but I don’t think he ever did. There was a dad on CWD that was using them though and once he was told not to, he did some testing and found them to be very different results. I just wouldn’t want to try them until I was sure, but I did enough of my own testing that I am confident with the new strips, but not the lite. There is so much confusion about the different ones. Abbott made another big mistake in my opinion. One of many. If we didn’t have to use their strips, I would change because I have no confidence in anything that Abbott touches after the Navigator failure.
And confusion abounds! I really hope all this is cleared up with the next generation pdm! I agree that it is Abbott’s issue with poorly identifying which product works in the pdm. It also is unfortunate that no one can give a straight, definitive answer.
To all frustrated pod/strip users:
I know this may be old news to many, but to me, it is as frustrating(almost) as the pods not covered by Medicare.
I was aware of the issue with the "butterfly strips and FDA approval, but not too concerned because for the past several months I have been able to use the old strips from my supplier( Solara).
I am now told there are no more strips around and Abbott ceased making them. I called Abbott to inquire why or who made such a stupid, ignorant, callous decision impacting all Omnipod users. Frankly, I do not know how Insulet did not have the ability to convince its partner in this device to continue to manufacture the strips. What happens, I asked Abott, if FDA does not approve them? Did Abbott consider the inconvenience of now using 2 meters? Did it consider keeping enough around so we could use them since the PDM, even if FDA approves strips, could still use old strips? Once I threatened a lawsuit, I was put thru to a supervisor who agreed with me, agreed one or more dropped the ball, and would take my comments to higher ups for a quick reply. I explained we use Pods because they were compatible with Freestyle meters and convenience. We made an investment and now that convenience is diluted with the new procedure until, if at all, FDA makes its decision. Where was Insulet in all this? Why didn't it compel Abbott to continue for a while? it has been almost a year for FDA as I was told.
I think Insulet should take affirmative and forceful action or are its customers going to do it? I told Abbott the publicity alone will hurt it more than cost to manufacture strips. What do you think? maybe a stong letter/ phone call campaign?