Do Diabetes Test Strips Really Expire? | RetinaRisk

There has long been the debate of whether people with diabetes can use expired test strips. So, can you?Rather than simply answering yes or no, it is important to first understand what exactly a test strip is, and why the argument over expiration first came to pass.The key aspect is enzymes. Enzymes, which are proteins made by cells in all living organisms, coat the end of the strip, which is made of plastic. These enzymes are either glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase.The enzyme reacts wit