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Why do GP recommend not to test blood sugars with glucose meter?

I a
Avocado Sevenfold said:
What really gets my goat is when I am told not to test even when I am buying the kit myself. It is my diabetes and if I want to monitor it in my own home, it is none of the NHS's bloody business. Have just been reading another thread in which a person was told to stop testing otherwise s/he would get infections and lose feeling in fingertips. If the issue is about budgets then the nurses should at least be honest about it. Telling scare stories is just evil IMO.
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I am prediabetic but I still test by buying my own I do not see any diabetic HCP at the moment as not classed diabetic yet but if the time comes when I am I don't think I will tell them I test thats up to me if I do it and nothing to do with them Same with diet we don't have to do it the way they say we should do that the way it helps us the best
 
AnnieC said:
I a


I am prediabetic but I still test by buying my own I do not see any diabetic HCP at the moment as not classed diabetic yet but if the time comes when I am I don't think I will tell them I test thats up to me if I do it and nothing to do with them Same with diet we don't have to do it the way they say we should do that the way it helps us the best
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On the other hand, if you don't tell them that you have achieved success through testing and not following the NHS carbfest diet, how are the HCPs ever going to learn? ;)
 
Andy12345 said:
i believe testing for all diabetics types 1, 2 and pre diabetics is essential, i do however believe there should be a charge to prevent wastage by people just accepting the meters as they are free and there is defiantly a feeling of oh if its free ill have it, there would be waste for sure, people getting the strips on repeat prescription and having a huge stock of strip pots happily going out of date in the medicine cupboard due some peoples lack of interest in their condition, but i think they should be heavily subsidised, available at the chemist, you go on a register or something and when you pick up your scrippy you can buy them but at a hugely reduced price
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We are very lucky in Australia to have exactly the sort of service you're describing, Andy. I'm grateful every time I read the rigamarole you poor sods have to go through just to get them prescribed.
 
AnnieC said:
I a


I am prediabetic but I still test by buying my own I do not see any diabetic HCP at the moment as not classed diabetic yet but if the time comes when I am I don't think I will tell them I test thats up to me if I do it and nothing to do with them Same with diet we don't have to do it the way they say we should do that the way it helps us the best
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i agree with you testing is a choice and diet to, and what matters to you most for your health should be a decision and choice for you that you see important and can do, i think to many demands and pressures can be harmful from others sometimes, your body will have been used to the foods and anything drunk over the years and quickly switching to new things it may not be used to can sometimes be like a shock to the system, so doing things carefuly and in stages is just as important than rushing it all on at once.
 
Indy51 said:
We are very lucky in Australia to have exactly the sort of service you're describing, Andy. I'm grateful every time I read the rigamarole you poor sods have to go through just to get them prescribed.
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I am very happy to hear your very well looked after in austrailia and yes that is how it should be, just wish in england it was the same,sadly it is not like this for everybody,whether a person pays or not for the treatments they should have a say in there own health what they want.
 
desidiabulum said:
Diabetes UK has produced an 'advocacy pack' for diabetics who wish to appeal against a decision not to provide them with a meter and test strips. People may find it helpful:
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Advocacy/test-strips-advocacy-pack-0613.pdf
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yes i seen this weeks ago on that site and not sure how many other people will have known it was there, sharing the link can be useful to get word out about this how important it is for all diabetics, thank you for posting this link very grateful and appreciate you for taking the time to do this hugs x
 
I asked about getting strips again at my last appointment. I was told that, due to financial cutbacks, they are only available for all T1s and T2s with very poor control. Ironically, it is through using strips that I don't have very poor control :confused:
 
here is a link on the diabetes uk site about registering for voicing out for the fight for type 2 diabetics and for all who have concerns should https://www.diabetes.org.uk/MyProfile/Diabetes-Voices-Registration/

and there are failings in the system to help prevent type 2 diabtes or diagnosing and sadly it is all about cost and cut backs and the rise for more people who will be diagnosed with diabetes, they will provide for type 1 at the moment not as much for type 2 link is here http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us...ing-to-prioritise-Type-2-diabetes-prevention/
 
Avocado Sevenfold said:
I asked about getting strips again at my last appointment. I was told that, due to financial cutbacks, they are only available for all T1s and T2s with very poor control. Ironically, it is through using strips that I don't have very poor control :confused:
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sorry for late response just added another post before, sorry you are going through it and sorry for everyone going through it, and we must all pull together and talk about this and do all we can to fight for our health and rights what is important to us as each individuals needs, I hope you can get a meter there are links in here for a meter and strips that work out affordable to others on the net that if you have to buy your own you may consider getting one though you will still need to know how to use the meter and what to look for in your glucose testing, all people will have different levels of suger to each other all you need to be looking for levels applied to your suger depending on how high or low you go,follow the 15 health care check and if you do not get all 15 things you must address it as it is important for you. big hugs xx i hope there is a way to help you get your sugers under better control and there will be, and talking helps so others can guide you to.
ebay amazon sell these to http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/diabetestest.htm Codefree Blood Glucose Monitoring System - mmol/L or mg/dL
there is a diabetes free education on the diabetess uk site and i would advise anyone to use it even for a recap on diabetes this is also helpful this is the k=link register and once joined log in and do type 2 diabetes and me. and because there is months sometimes waiting list to go to a diabetes education for 2 hours on one day and 2 hours on a nother day in some areas this is helpful for immediate start before you attend one face to face, what you need to know right now not months down the line, and it gives other links to to get info and contact numbers for immediate support http://www.type2diabetesandme.co.uk/lnt/Login.aspx?ts=635377366073142500
i won't get my education till august, i nearly had to wait september for one then second november that is too long so i am glad diabetes uk have it on the internet to access immediate.
 
Around here (Denmark) we can only be subsidized for testing strips if we are on meds, hmm - so I am almost tempted to ask to be put onto them They cost me a fortune - more than one usd per strip.

annelise
 
annelise said:
Around here (Denmark) we can only be subsidized for testing strips if we are on meds, hmm - so I am almost tempted to ask to be put onto them They cost me a fortune - more than one usd per strip.

annelise
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I feel sorry for you annalise, it is not easy dealing with diabetes and the cost of everything that goes with it,if the price was a lot easier for people to afford it would not be so bad, the test strips and depending on what meter you use can be very high for some, and like others who have been using the below,find it better and affordable,maybe that be another option for you if you get no where with your gp, and like i pointed out and some one else pointed out earlier, you got to know how to use any meter and what to look for in suger results,everyone will have reactions to food and drink different to each other and food levels will go higher or lower for some, the idea when using them is to get in the normal range or close to it for you and it is a good idea to look at the blood chart on this site what ranges to expect or aim for when checking blood, if food and drink you have is causing a higher reading then you can work on how to either cut back on the food or drink causing it or give that food up and test again for another meal. good to test just before you eat and then 2 hours after a meal, and just before you go to bed at night to sleep.And first thing in morning on waking check blood.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
Codefree Blood Glucose Monitor/Monitoring Test/Testing Kit+Strips+Lancets+Case - in mmol/L

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CODEFREE-...isability_Medical_ET&var=&hash=item336ee68f12

http://www.type2diabetesandme.co.uk/lnt/Login.aspx?ts=635377366073142500
education on diabetes
 
Avocado Sevenfold said:
What really gets my goat is when I am told not to test even when I am buying the kit myself. It is my diabetes and if I want to monitor it in my own home, it is none of the NHS's bloody business. Have just been reading another thread in which a person was told to stop testing otherwise s/he would get infections and lose feeling in fingertips. If the issue is about budgets then the nurses should at least be honest about it. Telling scare stories is just evil IMO.
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I read the same thread and was horrified. What an exceptionally stupid woman!
 
annelise said:
Around here (Denmark) we can only be subsidized for testing strips if we are on meds, hmm - so I am almost tempted to ask to be put onto them They cost me a fortune - more than one usd per strip.

annelise
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Hej! What meter do you use? If you use the link I put up earlier and the following code then you can get them very cheaply at around £5 per pack if you order 5 packs at a time. The promo codes are as follows:
5 x 50 is 264086
10 x 50 is 975833
Starter kit is £13.92 but once you have the meter then you're just ordering the strips.
@spirits and @AnnieC
Annie if you use the sd code free you can go on their website and get them even cheaper with the above codes!
I bet they would ship to Denmark as pp is free or 50p for first class in the UK.
Hope this helps folks!
 
I think it's the NHS that wastes money, far more than the patient. Yes, look on Ebay and you will see test strips and monitors for sale that have most probably been prescribed to someone already. However, look at the NHS budget and how much they spend on strips/meters etc. Would it not be wise for the NHS to put the contract out to tender ? Deal with 1 company, provide 1 sort of meter and test strips. This could save huge amounts of cash. Currently the NHS supply a variety of meters and strips which, business wise, doesn't make sense. Sure there will be a few who will be upset because they are used to their meter but it makes sense to standardise equipment. You can still ask for certain features and accuracy but dealing with a single manufacturer would provide huge savings. Renew the contract every 3 years or so to ensure we get the latest technology available.
 
Scandichic said:
Hej! What meter do you use? If you use the link I put up earlier and the following code then you can get them very cheaply at around £5 per pack if you order 5 packs at a time. The promo codes are as follows:
5 x 50 is 264086
10 x 50 is 975833
Starter kit is £13.92 but once you have the meter then you're just ordering the strips.
@spirits and @AnnieC
Annie if you use the sd code free you can go on their website and get them even cheaper with the above codes!
I bet they would ship to Denmark as pp is free or 50p for first class in the UK.
Hope this helps folks!
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it is a better testing kit i agree on that scandichic i will be buying the product
 
They are so massively underfunded that they try and save money by not giving out strips but what they don't seem to realise is that by combining testing with diet and weight loss then I'll cost them less if my metformin is reduced and I don't have complications later on. Shame really.
 
spirits said:
it is a better testing kit i agree on that scandichic i will be buying the product
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Glad I could be of assistance. Really happy with mine. Paid 50p for first class postage and came within 2 days of ordering it. Ironically, went to docs as I was ill and got given a free monitor and strips! For how long, I don't know but will see if I can get more! ;)
 
mo1905 said:
I think it's the NHS that wastes money, far more than the patient. Yes, look on Ebay and you will see test strips and monitors for sale that have most probably been prescribed to someone already. However, look at the NHS budget and how much they spend on strips/meters etc. Would it not be wise for the NHS to put the contract out to tender ? Deal with 1 company, provide 1 sort of meter and test strips. This could save huge amounts of cash. Currently the NHS supply a variety of meters and strips which, business wise, doesn't make sense. Sure there will be a few who will be upset because they are used to their meter but it makes sense to standardise equipment. You can still ask for certain features and accuracy but dealing with a single manufacturer would provide huge savings. Renew the contract every 3 years or so to ensure we get the latest technology available.
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It is messed up with how many different meters there are yet people want a reliable accurate meter that they can benefit from and the results are correct, some companies who ever got the opportunity to be the main ones to work with nhs providing meters and strips may at times get carried away with pushing prices up even higher or may fail with the brand if faults happen with meters there must be ways round all this and something to fall back on so nothing costs or puts lives at stake, i agree with you though the nhs is wasting money not focusing on things sensible as they should using common sense, i think it is easy for them to say type 1 diabetes can have the meters yet type 2 can not yet it is type 2 that is becoming a major concern on the health as more people are being diagnosed with it and they are getting worried they can not afford to fund all patients so there priority over diabetes most urgent even though type 1 and 2 are deadly and serious number 1 at this time has the upper hand and we all know all diabetes types need equal health treatment ,choosing one above the other is not the way.if they can not let type 2 people use meters then they need to look at something else to help them deal with there suger levels safely so no ones health is at serious risk.
 
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