Homeless Diabetes Patient

Notes from talking to a homeless diabetes patient:
-Strips are the most expensive part; Medicare pays for strips
-Tests twice a day, at least once a day. Because he has Diabetes I, he can't use pills and can only use injections of insulin.
-Background: He used to be a drug addict, now he's off. First in his family to get diabetes I. Has hypertension. Used to work at Shaws. Wants to get out of the homeless shelter, but not sure if he can because of medical issues.
-Has had diabetes for 18 years. Now familiar with the numbers (highs and lows). Knows what can eat, what food causes fluctuations. If number goes over 300 (did not know it was mg/dl), he will have to go to the hospital. He may have to stay in a hospital for 4 or 5 hours - sometimes even 4 to 5 days. Records glucose measurements for nurses to check. When levels are low, nurses personally make sure he uses the glucometer and monitor levels properly.
-He has to worry about glucose levels getting too low as well. He can recognize symptoms of it being too low. He may have trouble walking or operating. But sometimes the complications occur too fast for him to do anything about it. He may pass out or get seizures - doesn't know if it is due to glucose level being too high or too low. He said he'd be lucky it he only had seizures once in four or five months. One time he was in the bathroom when he had a seizure, fell on a urinal, and broke half his face. He was unconscious for 6 days.
-Regarding lancet: not painful, used to it. Just need 1 drop of blood. Finger seemed to heal very well, not need bandaid- just put on some alcohol. The strip never touches the meter so the meter doesn't need to be cleaned.
-When asked if he would test more if the strips were cheaper, he said maybe and maybe not because sometimes he doesn't want to know, fear that it might be high.
-Teared up with appreciation for the nurses at the shelter - saving his life, regarding seizures and being unconscious.