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Advice on GP refusing to give test strips?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 99312
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You are extremely worried about bsl of 11 to 12. To give you a different perspective, for me, those are acceptable numbers if not great. I start making adjustments to my insulin dose at bsl of 15 or higher. I don't even consider calling the nhs until bsl is over 25, and there are ketones present. (All consultant approved due to my medical conditions interacting).

I'm not trivializing your problem. If you aren't on medication that can bring your bsl down, then you have a problem that needs to be fixed. Just be prepared for another underwhelming response, both from nhs 111 and your GP.
 
111 haven't called back. Yes I'm sure you're right, I'll face an uphill struggle to get anyone to care.

As for your numbers, of course it's up to you what you consider acceptable and so on. If you mean that going to say 12 occasionally for a while is fine, then I could agree - especially when on insulin. Because the evidence I've seen says that it's better to go very high briefly then come back down quickly, rather than be high or moderately high for hours or days, regularly - the position I've apparently been in for the last few weeks. (I have to assume and infer that my sugars have been high, based on the symptoms I've had of dry mouth etc.)

At the end of the day, being content with a level of 12 won't prevent the complications occurring. Especially with all the evidence that spending long periods over 7.8 will lead to that, never mind 12, and never mind the 14.6 I had earlier. I tested myself a little while ago tonight too and it was still 12.3. Many many hours since I had a small, very low carb meal.

But you're right, the NHS doesn't care if our levels are dangerously high. So long as we're not in danger RIGHT NOW of dying, then to them it's all good. It's short-sighted and stupid, and is throwing diabetics under the bus, but nobody seems to care. So that's where we are.
 
Dave P said:
111 haven't called back. Yes I'm sure you're right, I'll face an uphill struggle to get anyone to care.

As for your numbers, of course it's up to you what you consider acceptable and so on. If you mean that going to say 12 occasionally for a while is fine, then I could agree - especially when on insulin. Because the evidence I've seen says that it's better to go very high briefly then come back down quickly, rather than be high or moderately high for hours or days, regularly - the position I've apparently been in for the last few weeks. (I have to assume and infer that my sugars have been high, based on the symptoms I've had of dry mouth etc.)

At the end of the day, being content with a level of 12 won't prevent the complications occurring. Especially with all the evidence that spending long periods over 7.8 will lead to that, never mind 12, and never mind the 14.6 I had earlier. I tested myself a little while ago tonight too and it was still 12.3. Many many hours since I had a small, very low carb meal.

But you're right, the NHS doesn't care if our levels are dangerously high. So long as we're not in danger RIGHT NOW of dying, then to them it's all good. It's short-sighted and stupid, and is throwing diabetics under the bus, but nobody seems to care. So that's where we are.
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Dave, when all is said and done, nobody will care more about your health than you, and that applies to me too.

On that basis, I have taken it upon myself to be engaged with my health care and set about learning about any conditions I encounter along the way. Where the NHS won't or can't (for whatever reason), help with what concerns me, then I have to help myself. This means I have invested money as well as huge amounts of time in myself and my health.

Do I resent it? Sometimes, as I pay a medical bill, or find myself with another long, technical paper to write, I do, but if that's what it takes, I just have to buckle down and get on with it.

I have a very good, candid and direct relationship with my GP who tells me when she's out of her depth, but also tells me when it's time to spend my pocket money again. She will support whatever she can, but not all avenues are open to her.

It's disappointing that we have to have these compromise conversations, but if I expect an honest 2-way relationship with her, the. I have to accept they will occur. I am less frustrated by this situation than I would be by waffle.

To be honest, I think it could be time for you to step back for a short while and consider your strategy, not so much for today, but for the longer term and take control of it. Invest in yourself.

If you want test strips, order some. If you want to see a different doctor, arrange it, but if you don't take whatever control you can, I imagine you will just become more and more frustrated.

That would be my take, but of course, you have to make your own choices.
 
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Jim Lahey said:
Having type 2 is much easier and far less stressful if you have the time and money to educate yourself and fund your own care. Yes it’s frustrating but honestly it’s all much more pleasant after you’ve accepted the reality.
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As is life generally eh?
 
My morning reading at 7.55am was 12.1. My mouth was very very dry on waking again. I went back to sleep as was very tired still, and tested again at 10.39am, it was 12.7.

So we can see it isn't a one-off high result, nor is it due to what I've eaten?

So what could be the cause? I'd like to know what to say to my GP on the phone tomorrow if she just tries to fob me off that it's nothing to be concerned about.
 
Dave P said:
My morning reading at 7.55am was 12.1. My mouth was very very dry on waking again. I went back to sleep as was very tired still, and tested again at 10.39am, it was 12.7.

So we can see it isn't a one-off high result, nor is it due to what I've eaten?

So what could be the cause? I'd like to know what to say to my GP on the phone tomorrow if she just tries to fob me off that it's nothing to be concerned about.
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Notwithstanding your dry mouth, have you checks your test strips/meter with a control solution, to ensure the strips are reading within range? Oh, and have you checked your strips are in date.

These are just things to rule out any technology hassles.
 
Dave P said:
My morning reading at 7.55am was 12.1. My mouth was very very dry on waking again. I went back to sleep as was very tired still, and tested again at 10.39am, it was 12.7.

So we can see it isn't a one-off high result, nor is it due to what I've eaten?

So what could be the cause? I'd like to know what to say to my GP on the phone tomorrow if she just tries to fob me off that it's nothing to be concerned about.
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Stress ?

Stress does strange things to our test results and can really elevate them if we aren’t careful. If you are worrying, sleeping badly etc, then yep, your result can be higher than expected.
As for dry mouth, please ensure you are always hydrated. Drink more water and keep some by your bedside so you can have a sip if you wake with a dry mouth.

Good luck.
 
I phoned 111 again and they got me in to see a GP today. He tested my blood and it was 15.7. Also my urine which had a low level of ketones.

He said the high blood sugars are due to coming off the Metformin and he's seen this in a number of patients before. He said I am obviously borderline in that my pancreas is working just well enough to cope when the Metformin is present to help, but without it, it can't cope. So I'm going to resume taking it today as he advised.
 
Yes I will certainly update the thread in a few days. I gather it can take as long as 5 days for it to take full effect (so says google). Hopefully the thread may help others diagnose or troubleshoot their own issues. (I've often found old threads on here which I've learned useful stuff from about various things.)
 
@Dave P. Just a random thought, but since you said your eyes are dry too, have you thought about the level of humidity in your home?
Heating can often dry out the air, especially since walls have become more insulated, and windows and doors are sealed to stop draughts.
I know that when we light the wood burner in the living room, it dries the air considerably.
 
Viv19 said:
@Dave P. Just a random thought, but since you said your eyes are dry too, have you thought about the level of humidity in your home?
Heating can often dry out the air, especially since walls have become more insulated, and windows and doors are sealed to stop draughts.
I know that when we light the wood burner in the living room, it dries the air considerably.
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From the opening post:

there has been no other obvious cause, like the room being too hot or dry, or me not drinking enough.
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We've established that it's caused by high blood sugar.
 
Dave P said:
From the opening post:



We've established that it's caused by high blood sugar.
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Has that been proven by brining the high sugars into line and the dry mouth abating?
 
DCUKMod said:
Has that been proven by brining the high sugars into line and the dry mouth abating?
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My bedroom has got no hotter or drier since the very dry mouth began, and my blood sugars have shot up since coming off Metformin, so unless you think it's all a coincidence, then yes, it has been 100% conclusively proven that the very dry mouth is not due to my room being too hot or dry.

Occam's razor anyone?

What has not been conclusively proven yet is whether going back on the Metformin will fix it. I'll update the thread in a few days. Though I can already imagine if I post and say my numbers have gone down to the normal range, people will be saying things like oh maybe your room isn't as hot and dry any more. Anything other than consider that the most obvious answer is probably the right one.

It's good to think, but one can go overboard and muddy the waters too much.
 
Dave P said:
My bedroom has got no hotter or drier since the very dry mouth began, and my blood sugars have shot up since coming off Metformin, so unless you think it's all a coincidence, then yes, it has been 100% conclusively proven that the very dry mouth is not due to my room being too hot or dry.

Occam's razor anyone?

What has not been conclusively proven yet is whether going back on the Metformin will fix it. I'll update the thread in a few days. Though I can already imagine if I post and say my numbers have gone down to the normal range, people will be saying things like oh maybe your room isn't as hot and dry any more. Anything other than consider that the most obvious answer is probably the right one.

It's good to think, but one can go overboard and muddy the waters too much.
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Dave, I was just asking if you "knew" or were concluding, based on your research and thoughts. Testing your hypothesis of course makes sense.
 
Dave P said:
So what could be the cause? I'd like to know what to say to my GP on the phone tomorrow if she just tries to fob me off that it's nothing to be concerned about.
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Just for completeness, do you have a grumbling tooth or any other possible source of infection e.g. UTI, or a stinking cold? I find an infection makes my bsl rocket. Worth ruling out.
 
Seacrow said:
Just for completeness, do you have a grumbling tooth or any other possible source of infection e.g. UTI, or a stinking cold? I find an infection makes my bsl rocket. Worth ruling out.
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Nothing like that. And IIRC the GP I saw on Sunday said there was no urinary infection.
 
Just to update then, my blood sugar is now back in the normal range. I tested daily after going back on Metformin and for the first week or so the fasting numbers were stubbornly in the 10-12 range. Then it went into the 9s, then the 8s, and now back into the 7s. All being well it will keep falling because I used to have very good fasting numbers most of the time (eg. 4.5 - 6).
 
I buy the genUltimate strips for my one touch ultra 2 machine.I get 300 strips for 37 dollars from walmart.com in the USA.
 
Dave P said:
Indeed there is absolutely no question I am diabetic, so this doctor telling me I'm not is quite infuriating. When diagnosed I was urinating frequently, my vision was blurry, my numbers were very very high, I was put on gliclazide, my vision later got better but it's permanently damaged, ie. long-sighted when it used to be perfect. If I eat more than say 15-20g of carbs in a meal, I will get high numbers. I can't tolerate more than the carbs in a greek yogurt at breakfast time (about 5.5g). Not diabetic though, according to the esteemed doctor!

I did get test strips off a previous GP where I used to live, and I understand it's basically a lottery. But the GP today will be able to claim he's following the guidelines, so I doubt there's any point in complaining at this point. I expect this particular GP (who isn't my regular one) wouldn't even give me Metformin. I am only getting that because I was able to convince my regular GP that the LAST time I stopped taking it, on the advice of my diabetic nurse at the time, my numbers started going high in the mornings due to the dawn phenomenon presumably. So... I've stopped again... dry mouth... what could be causing it, doctor? Hello? Bah. You can tell I'm frustrated with these people because this is our lives they're messing about with.
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You need to buy your own.With enough internet searching its cheap.I get 300 strips of genUltimate to 37 dollars US from walmart.com.Dont rely on someone who could care less,take charge and just get it done.To you ,you are very important,to the healthcare systems of the world you are a burden.I say that after 40 years of being an RN.
 
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