Wal-Mart Launches Private-Label Diabetes Products

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores has introduced ReliOn, a private-label line of diabetes products.

Aimed at providing an affordable option for diabetes patients, the line includes the ReliOn Prime meter for $16.24, and ReliOn Prime blood sugar test strips at $9 for 50-count strips, or 18 cents per test. The line also includes insulin products sold at the everyday low price of $24.88 per bottle, as well as reduced-cost gloves, lancets, syringes and other supplies.

READ MORE: Pricier Private Labels

People with diabetes spend as much as $1,000 each year on blood glucose monitoring test strips alone, regardless of whether they have insurance. Switching to ReliOn Prime test strips can save each diabetes patient as much as $784 a year, according to Wal-Mart.

“Many people with diabetes struggle to manage their disease due to its terrible financial burden,” John Agwunobi, president of Wal-Mart U.S. Health and Wellness, said in a statement. “We’ve worked closely with our suppliers and found a way to significantly reduce the cost of diabetes products for all of our customers, whether they have insurance or not, so they can better manage their disease.”