Accu check and minute clinic in CVS pharmacy are doing free diabetes monitoring program. They do free A1c, glucose and cholesterol tests. Check with your local minute clinic to see if they are offering that service. This is just a one time deal though. Your best bet is to get insurance though. The medications, doctor visits and lab can be pretty expensive and  diabetes requires constant monitoring. If your parents have been on diabetes medication for a while now, have the doctor do a kidney test as well. Sometimes they provide ACE inhibitors which are usually used for blood pressure but in people with diabetes, it is used to protect kidneys. GOOD LUCK