What to Do With a Loved One's Diabetic Supplies
We buy sealed diabetic supplies for cash. We do not sell supplies.
If you're clearing out a loved one's diabetic supplies, sort them into four groups: medicine, sharps, sealed supplies and everything else. Medicine like insulin goes to a drug take-back site. Used needles go in a sharps container. Sealed, unexpired supplies can often be donated or sold.
Selling? See everything we buy.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own care.
There's no rush. Take the time you need, and use this guide when you're ready. If your loved one moved to a care home and may still need supplies, check with their care team before you sell or give anything away.
Start by sorting into groups
Lay everything out on a table, away from kids and pets. Then sort it:
- Medicine: insulin, pills and other drugs
- Sharps: used needles, lancets and pen needles
- Sealed supplies: unopened boxes of sensors, pods, strips or pen needles
- Everything else: opened boxes, meters, readers and expired items
Wear gloves if you're handling used sharps or loose needles. Keep a trash bag and a sturdy container nearby.
Look in more than one place. Supplies often end up in kitchen drawers, bathroom cabinets, nightstands, cars and travel bags. Check the fridge too, since insulin is often kept there.
Also call the pharmacy or supply company to cancel any refills. Otherwise, new boxes may keep arriving at the house.
What about insulin and medicine?
Don't sell or give away insulin or other prescription medicine. We don't buy it either.
The FDA says the best option for unused medicine is a drug take-back location or a prepaid mail-back envelope. Take-back sites can be at a pharmacy or police station.
If neither is available, the FDA explains how to throw most medicine in the trash. It says to mix it with something unappealing, like dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds, and seal it in a bag. Scratch out personal details on the empty package, too.
How do you get rid of sharps?
Used needles and lancets go in a sharps container. Don't put them in the trash or recycling.
California offers a free mail-back sharps container through Sharps Take Back California. Your county may also have drop-off sites. For example, Riverside County has free sharps kiosks.
Our guide on disposing of sharps in California lists more options.
Selling a loved one's diabetic supplies
Often, yes. We buy sealed, unexpired supplies, including:
- Dexcom G7 10-day and 15 Day sensors, and Stelo
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus, Libre 3 and Libre 2 Plus sensors
- Omnipod 5 pods and starter kits, and DASH 5-packs and 10-packs
- Tandem AutoSoft and TruSteel infusion sets
- BD pen needles
- Contour, Accu-Chek, FreeStyle Lite and OneTouch Ultra strips
There are a few limits. We don't buy anything paid for by Medicare or Medi-Cal. Check the pharmacy receipt or ask the pharmacy before you sell. Medicare Part B covers blood sugar test strips and may cover CGM sensors.
We also don't buy expired or opened items, or anything marked "NOT FOR RESALE." See what we buy for the full list.
What about donating?
Donating is a kind choice. Call free clinics, community health centers or your loved one's doctor's office. Ask what they accept before you drive over, since rules vary.
You can also split things up. Some families sell part of the supplies to cover costs and donate the rest.
When you call a clinic, ask whether they take opened or expired items. If they don't, those go in the trash, with sharps kept in a sharps container. Ask about meters and readers too.
A real-life example
Say your father passed away, and you're clearing out his home in Redlands. In a hall closet, you find four sealed boxes of Omnipod 5 pods, a vial of insulin, a sharps container and some loose test strips.
You take the insulin to a pharmacy with a take-back kiosk. You seal the sharps container and order a mail-back box for the rest of the used needles. The loose strips go in the trash.
Then you check the pod boxes. They're sealed, with a year left. You call his pharmacy, and they confirm his work plan paid, not Medicare.
You send photos and get a written quote. We meet you at a nearby shopping center and pay you by Zelle on the spot. You use the money toward his final bills.
If you lived far from us, the steps would be the same until the end. You'd mail the boxes after accepting the quote and get paid by Zelle within 48 hours of delivery.
What about meters and readers? We only buy G6 receivers that are sealed and never set up. Used meters, readers and controllers can't be sold to us.
Take care of yourself, too
Clearing out a loved one's things is hard. You don't have to do it all in one day. It's fine to start with the medicine and sharps, since those matter most for safety, and leave the rest for later.
Ask a friend or family member to help if you can. A second person can read dates and keep track of piles while you sort.
If you have questions about any item, call or text us at (909) 619-5262. We'll give you a straight answer, with no pressure to sell. Even if we can't buy an item, we'll try to point you in the right direction. Leave the pharmacy stickers on the boxes. We remove and shred them ourselves.
Keep reading
Questions
Can I sell a loved one's diabetic supplies?
Often, yes, if they're sealed and unexpired. We don't buy supplies paid for by Medicare or Medi-Cal.
What do I do with leftover insulin?
The FDA says the best option is a drug take-back site or a prepaid mail-back envelope. Don't sell or give it away.
How do I get rid of used needles?
Put them in a sharps container. California offers a free mail-back sharps container through Sharps Take Back California.
How do I know if Medicare paid?
Check the pharmacy receipt or call the pharmacy. They can tell you how each fill was paid.
We're here when you're ready
When you're ready, send a photo of each sealed box of your loved one's diabetic supplies. We'll send a free written quote, with no pressure to accept.