 Standard Care Guidelines typically involve the diabetes center distributing a handbook of sorts to the patient upon diagnosis or as part of the initial visit to your center. In terms of ongoing care, patients are responsible for acquiring tools on their own for managing diabetes. In addition to insulin, patients must purchase their own glucose meters, test strips, lancing device, lancets, alcohol, fast acting sugar of some sort to treat low blood sugar, glucagon for severe hypoglycemia, etc... Depending on the form of insulin therapy, the patient must also purchase syringes or an insulin pump with disposable cartridges and infusion sets. 