Diabetes Technology Blog

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Quick Poll - Sales tax on Diabetes 'stuff'

I recently realized that I'm paying sales tax to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for each box of Dexcom supplies that I purchase. The sales tax is not reimbursable, so if I order 10 boxes a year for a total of $2,400 I will support our glorious Commonwealth to the tune of $120.

I'm starting to raise some issues about this with my local reps and the tax office here in Massachusetts, or Taxachusetts as some of us fortunate enough to live here will call it.

So I thought I should gather some information from my readers. If you live in the US and you've purchased either Dexcom sensors or blood glucose strips please let me know the following.

Note: This is for non-prescription items. Massachusetts has different rules for test strips if I get them on prescription, versus if I buy them over the counter. So please let me know if you're purchased these items without a prescription.

What US state you live in
Whether you paid taxes on these diabetes items.
And if you did, what the tax rate was.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Diabetes365 day 9 Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - Fire drill

I was sitting at my desk working this morning and the fire alarms went off! What a racket!

Diabetes365 day 9 Oct. 16th 2007 - Fire Alarm

Whenever there's a fire alarm at work the first thing I reach for is my diabetes supplies. After that I'll take my camera and personal laptop, but those are a distance second in importance.

There's nothing worse than being stuck in an unusual situation without a means of testing my blood sugar and correcting it if it's low. That's why the diabetes supplies are so essential. If there was a real alarm and we were outside for more than 10 minutes those supplies might make the difference between a single alarm and two!

Over my lifetime with diabetes I've taken many ambulance rides as a result of severe low blood sugars (hypoglycemia). It's never pleasant waking up in a strange place and not knowing how you got there. So diabetes supplies are essential.

Yet another thing to think about because of diabetes. (And another reason why you're not likely to see me on a future episode of Survivor).

See other diabetes365 project photos here.

See my diabetes365 photos here.

Labels: diabetes365, emergency, firedrill, supplies