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Have you been told not to test your blood sugars?

D

desidiabulum

Well-Known Member
This is not about whether the NHS should, or can afford to, provide test strips on a permanent or temporary basis to non-T1 diabetics. Having read #EveryCloud ’s post, and so many more like it over the years on this forum, I wonder whether we could gather together examples of Healthcare Professionals who have told people that it is either unnecessary or just plain wrong to test their blood sugars. It is a scandal that needs highlighting.
 
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I worked hard to get my own Blood Glucose levels down and under control only to be told that I needn't bother to test anymore and that the test strips would not be available to me (I'm Type 2) on the NHS.
Unfortunately they are far to expensive to buy outright so I'm simply forced by the NHS to give up testing altogether.
The irony of this policy is that careful B/G monitoring saves the NHS money in the long term and if I were to let thing go out of control I would get my FREE B/G test strips and cost the NHS much more.
Seems to me like the lunatics have finally taken over the Asylum.
 
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desidiabulum said:
I wonder whether we could gather together examples of Healthcare Professionals who have told people that it is either unnecessary or just plain wrong to test their blood sugars. It is a scandal that needs highlighting.
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To what point, so you can have them shot after the revolution?


Just seems a totally pointless thread to me, its not going to change anything
 
Sid Bonkers said:
To what point, so you can have them shot after the revolution?


Just seems a totally pointless thread to me, its not going to change anything
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You are wrong, Sid. How often do newcomers arrive with that sort of question. DUK themselves advise & encourage testing. We are all in touch with health professionals, some of whom reject that advice because they know the value of testing, & the improved control it affords.

Rather than the having the problem reported on countless threads, it could focus on one thread the many who have experienced such bad advice.

Compare the poll on statin problems, which resulted in 60% of contributors suffering & giving up on the drug.

Can we convert this thread into a poll?
 
IanD said:
Can we convert this thread into a poll?
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Not sure that a poll would be entirely clear - for instance I wasn't told not to test because I didn't see my DN for three weeks after diagnosis, by which time I was already on the way to good control and basically they wouldn't have dared.

However, an open letter from DUK to the practices known to have told the newly diagnosed not to test would be useful.
 
Lazybones said:
I worked hard to get my own Blood Glucose levels down and under control only to be told that I needn't bother to test anymore and that the test strips would not be available to me (I'm Type 2) on the NHS.
Unfortunately they are far to expensive to buy outright so I'm simply forced by the NHS to give up testing altogether.
The irony of this policy is that careful B/G monitoring saves the NHS money in the long term and if I were to let thing go out of control I would get my FREE B/G test strips and cost the NHS much more.
Seems to me like the lunatics have finally taken over the Asylum.
Click to expand...
My husband was initially given a meter and 50 strips but 3 months later he was told he would not get any more strips on prescription because his BG levels were not high enough to warrant them
 
I intended this just as an unscientific attempt to get a rough sense of the nature and scale of the problem -- I'm sure that we can all agree that it is a serious issue. Anecdotal detail may be as useful as poll statistics in that sense. I'm very aware that the issue is only raised if the newly diagnosed know to ask about testing in the first place -- in most cases it is possible that the issue never arises as testing is never mentioned by the HCP. That makes a nonsense of NICE guidelines about diabetes management. There are plenty of ways of then raising it as a point of broader concern, both within DUK and elsewhere (I don't personally think an open letter would be the best way -- I would hope to use DUK Involvement Network in the first instance -- but others may think differently). I would hope that this is a matter where we can all agree that we need to help our fellow-diabetics.
 
I was told that only type 1s should test.
In the next breath I was asked what my highest reading was?
Then, if my readings ever go above 11, I am to make an appt immediately.

What makes this conversation even more bizarre is that I am not a diagnosed type 2. I'm still pre diabetic, according to the doc (but only because I low carb, AND TEST which keeps my HbA1c low).
 
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Not only was I told not to test ( the meds would take care of it all so there is no need) but the DNS actively prevented me getting a meter or strips from the doc. I found this out from the doc 3 months later! I was also referred to the hospital as I refused to eat the healthy eat well plate and she refused to see me so if it hadn't been for a fab member of this forum( yes @Totto I am referring to you!) and this forum then I would probably be very ill and considerably fatter!
 
Sid Bonkers said:
To what point, so you can have them shot after the revolution?


Just seems a totally pointless thread to me, its not going to change anything
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.

Soon after diagnosis with T2 I was told by a specialist diabetes nurse that testing would send me mad and I was to stop immediately. Luckily based on my progress my gp agreed with me and encouraged me by prescribing a reasonabke number of strips a month.

Edited by Mod. Personal remarks.
 
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I was 'diagnosed' as Type 2 and told not to test - they'd call me back in a year to see how I was doing. For 9 months I walked around trying to control LADA on diet and exercise - still, at least I didn't know I was killing myself - if I'd been testing it would have only stressed me LOL. The nurse was still telling me not to test when I went back really ill and weighing about 6 stone. Strangely, when I finally bought a meter and tested at 26mmol, they said to come in straightaway and were falling over themselves to give me test strips.

Smidge
 
IanD said:
I can't see how to make it a poll, but I've made it sticky.
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You could make a new thread that contains the poll then use your super mod powers to copy the posts from this one to the new one. Of course it would be polite to ask desi if he minds.

However poll threads should have a health warning as historically they've ended in tears with many well meaning posters being banned for setting them up and posting on them.
 
I'm allowed to test at my own expense if I do it as a Hobby. (According to our practice diabetic doctor!) My own doctor did at least admit after giving me some test strips when he saw my results, and then later refused when asked for, that the powers that be wouldn't allow prescriptions to type 2 diabetics - so at least he was honest.

I believe I've read somewhere that there was actually a petition requesting supply of meters and test strips to us - but this was before my time on the forum, so have no more information on this. I assume it must have been vetoed/ignored since it's still an ongoing issue...

Robbity
 
Robbity said:
I'm allowed to test at my own expense if I do it as a Hobby. (According to our practice diabetic doctor!) My own doctor did at least admit after giving me some test strips when he saw my results, and then later refused when asked for, that the powers that be wouldn't allow prescriptions to type 2 diabetics - so at least he was honest.

I believe I've read somewhere that there was actually a petition requesting supply of meters and test strips to us - but this was before my time on the forum, so have no more information on this. I assume it must have been vetoed/ignored since it's still an ongoing issue...

Robbity
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My gp gives strips, so it's nothing to do with the powers that be, more like saving from his budget so he can take more out.
 
Robbity said:
I believe I've read somewhere that there was actually a petition requesting supply of meters and test strips to us - but this was before my time on the forum, so have no more information on this. I assume it must have been vetoed/ignored since it's still an ongoing issue...
Click to expand...

There was, but it failed to get the required amount of signatures to be presented to Downing Street.
 
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