Non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetics could pay up to $60 for a box of 100 strips, which were previously available for as little as $1.20.

Diabetes nurse practitioner Natalie Smith said the government lifting the subsidy could affect a number of local diabetics.

“Talk to your GP or diabetes educators about the changes,” Ms Smith said.

“There’s certainly options and the eligibility is up to us health care professionals.”

Ms Smith runs a private practice out of Narrabri, offering diabetes support to patients in Tamworth, Gunnedah, Moree and Narrabri.

Tamworth kidney specialist Dr Stephen May said “if the cuts were happening, it would be a very short-sighted cost-cutting measure".

Dr May said the sugar tests were still valuable for non-insulin dependents because it kept the disease at the front of their mind and encouraged better management.

Dr May said the price rise may impact diabetics in regional areas where there aren’t as many specialists.

The federal government lifted the subsidy on blood glucose strips on July 1, but there is a six-month transitional period.

Diabetes Australia chief executive officer Greg Johnson said the move “sent the wrong message”.

“If the government wants people to take responsibility and it wants them to look after themselves, you’ve got to give them access to these things,” Mr Johnson said.

“The risk is that some people who no longer have access, their diabetes management will suffer and that may have a cost to the health system in the future.”

The Seniors United Party of Australia (SUPA) said the increase in cost would see more elderly patients forego regular testing, due to the increase.

“What we are going to see in the future are large numbers of seniors with Type 2 diabetes end up in hospital with preventable conditions, which will inevitably lead to higher health costs to the community,” SUPA spokesperson Chris Osborne said.

“The cost of these extra hospital admissions will be much higher than the cost of subsidising the test strips, so it just doesn’t make sense.”