Have you been told not to test your blood sugars?

bunkey

Member
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17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
Yes but not to the excessive extent some people do. If you are ill or on new meds or something that could affect their blood sugar then I totally agree. And periodical testing is wise. But not to an excessive amount stable diabetics do. I don't know if that's part of the reason why the withdrawal of testing strips etc are happening
 

smidge

Well-Known Member
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1,761
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LADA
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Insulin
This is drifting off topic. OP asked about people getting poor advice re: testing i.e were you told not to test and what reason was given. It is not about who gets test strips for free and who doesn't.

Clearly everybody needs to test initially to understand what their BG is doing and how things affect it. Some can then reduce the frequency of testing but still need to test occasionally to make sure they're still on track. Many of the best-controlled non insulin dependents test only once a day or even less once they've worked out what the foods they most frequently eat do to them, but at first they tested frequently. All insulin dependents have to test frequently. That's not being derogatory to anyone, it's just a fact. However, many non insulin dependents are told they don't need to test from the beginning and that is just plain wrong.

Smidge
 
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bunkey

Member
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I was told plain and spile that as I was type 2 I did not need to test and was told I couldn't have any more strips even though my sugars are not under control and my meds have bn increased
 
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bunkey

Member
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
What scares me the most is the fact that I have signs of retinopathy and am worried that if it's not under control then it will get worse
 

Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
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21,889
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Diet only
What scares me the most is the fact that I have signs of retinopathy and am worried that if it's not under control then it will get worse

And yet, if you had been testing you would have spotted that your blood glucose was too high, and could have taken steps to adjust your diet to prevent that retinopathy from developing. I think you just proved that testing would have been incredibly useful to you.
 
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Sam1970

Active Member
Messages
27
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I've been told that as a type 2 on metformin and linagliptin that i don't need to test....haven't tested myself since 2011... :/
 

Paul59

Well-Known Member
Messages
954
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
It's disgusting how the government can put a price on people well being, they should help those who have been unfortunate to fall into the diabetic trap whether type 1 or 2 & do more to stop the onset of type 2, when it's mainly due to the junk sold in shops etc.
 
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pavlovsdog

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Messages
907
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Insulin
It's disgusting how the government can put a price on people well being, they should help those who have been unfortunate to fall into the diabetic trap whether type 1 or 2 & do more to stop the onset of type 2, when it's mainly due to the junk sold in shops etc.

Totally agree Paul59. If only the NHS would allow peeps to test in the early stages and also provide the proper guidance as to how to use the results to manage their diet they would possibly save a lot of money that is being spent on medication, not to mention having to develop services to manage diabetics
 

anna29

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For several years after I was diagnosed with T2, I was prescribed strips and lancets and all went well in using them. Then suddenly i was told by my GP that it wasn't really necessary to test T2 diabetes and strips and lancets were no longer offered on prescription. However, I had a major shock a few months ago when I started feeling really unwell, having flu-like symptoms. My GP said that there was nothing organically wrong and just take paracetamol. I knew how I felt and went to a local branch of Lloyds' pharmacy where I knew they would check my BG level. It was 25+ and I was horrified. I went straight back to my GP and was immediately taken to hospital to be put on insulin. I'm now an insulin-dependent patient. So, do not listen to those who say you don't need to test for T2 - keep doing it (at your own expense) and you might avoid the situation I ended up in.
This post has grabbed my attention plus bunkeys retinopathy post .
If these members didn't use a meter and test strips - how can they know things need attending to ?
Just like the poor man akphoto above .

No diabetic should be without test strips .
Nor should ever be told to not test their own BG levels .

Another point I feel is a concern is - for those who are already self funding
their own test strips .
Once we are steered down this pathway - what else ? would the system/laws make
us start self funding ???
Easy for them to say - if they can pay for own test strips - they can start to
pay for more diabetic tools,aids,meds even eventually .

Please remember it is virtually impossible for any diabetic to accurately 'guess' their
own blood glucose levels !
Hence my feeling is the system/law needs a total reshuffle or relooking at for
all of us .
 
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Paul59

Well-Known Member
Messages
954
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Totally agree Paul59. If only the NHS would allow peeps to test in the early stages and also provide the proper guidance as to how to use the results to manage their diet they would possibly save a lot of money that is being spent on medication, not to mention having to develop services to manage diabetics
yes it's the early stage that is the most important time, [the learning stage], learning to know what your intake does to your blood glucose level, so you eat the right foods & cut the risk of diabetic complications. "oh cause can't get a meter or strips " oh well just have to hope I'm doing the right thing to decrease the risk of diabetic complications. Hmmm more distress if I do get it wrong. thanks NHS just cause you have no idea about diabetes unless you have it.
 
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pavlovsdog

Well-Known Member
Messages
907
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
yes it's the early stage that is the most important time, [the learning sstage] learning to know what your intake does to your blood glucose level, so you eat the right foods & cut the risk of diabetic complications. "oh cause can't get a meter or strips " oh well just have to hope I'm doing the right thing to decrease the risk of diabetic complications. Hmmm more distress if I do get it wrong. thanks NHS just cause you have no idea about diabetes unless you have it.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me Paul59?

I have to add though, that now I see a specialist nurse who seems to be a bit more open minded, when I told her my GP wouldnt prescribe testing kits she rolled her eyes heaven-wards!
 

Scandichic

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,708
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
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Michael Gove and his insane educational? policies!
Prescribing test strips to all diabetics would be a complete waste of money. 99% of diabetics don't join forums and the vast majority are not interested in adjusting their diet or lifestyle. How many people still smoke knowing the harm it causes ? Also, testing for the sake of if is pointless. How many people test their levels and don't track them or use the data to adjust food ? A blanket rule is pointless. I think ir should be done on a case by case basis. Convine your doc that you understand the importance of testing and prove it will make a difference. This should be for any diabetic, T1, T2 or any other. Education and good dietary advice should come before testing for it to work. Once you understand this, test strips are a necessary tool for better control. Handing a newly diagnosed diabetic a meter and strips with no guidance is ridiculous. Likewise, giving them to someone who's not prepared to make changes is pointkess.
In an ideal world I would agree with you. However it is now used as an excuse not to give out strips. I am an educated, intelligent woman. I am perfectly capable of understanding my meter. I use the data to inform my meal choices. I have radically altered my diet. Would my DNS/doc give me a meter? Err no! I had to buy my own. The only reason I got one 4 months later was because the locum prescribed one after I begged!
Many people don't change their diet (I work with such a person) but the advice I was given by the half wit DNS who spoke to me was to follow the eat well plate which allows you to eat what you want but control the portion size and that I didn't need to test. Utter rubbish. How can you know if the food you are eating is having a harmful effect if you cannot measure it's impact upon your bs? Many people follow the advice of their DNS or doc to their detriment. You only have to read the previous post where the posters bs was 25, having followed the advice of the doc!
 
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Scandichic

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,708
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Michael Gove and his insane educational? policies!
This post has grabbed my attention plus bunkeys retinopathy post .
If these members didn't use a meter and test strips - how can they know things need attending to ?
Just like the poor man akphoto above .

No diabetic should be without test strips .
Nor should ever be told to not test their own BG levels .

Another point I feel is a concern is - for those who are already self funding
their own test strips .
Once we are steered down this pathway - what else ? would the system/laws make
us start self funding ???
Easy for them to say - if they can pay for own test strips - they can start to
pay for more diabetic tools,aids,meds even eventually .

Please remember it is virtually impossible for any diabetic to accurately 'guess' their
own blood glucose levels !
Hence my feeling is the system/law needs a total reshuffle or relooking at for
all of us .
Well said that woman! Hurrah!
 

Scandichic

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,708
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Michael Gove and his insane educational? policies!
I've been told that as a type 2 on metformin and linagliptin that i don't need to test....haven't tested myself since 2011... :/
how do you know that your dosage is correct?
 

Sam1970

Active Member
Messages
27
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
how do you know that your dosage is correct?
At the moment having bloods taken every 3 months until the results are ok. Adjustments to meds are done after that. Am low carbing so it would be interesting to check results myself so will be ordering test strips soon.
 
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Scandichic

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,708
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Michael Gove and his insane educational? policies!
At the moment having bloods taken every 3 months until the results are ok. Adjustments to meds are done after that. Am low carbing so it would be interesting to check results myself so will be ordering test strips soon.
If they won't give you a meter then you can buy an SD code free meter from the following link. If you use the discount code you can buy the strips for £5 a pot but you have to buy 5 pots at a time. First class postage is 50p. It'll cost £12 for the meter so initial cost of £37 but you'll have about 5 months of strips.
http://www.homehealth-uk.com
image.jpg
 

Sam1970

Active Member
Messages
27
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thats
If they won't give you a meter then you can buy an SD code free meter from the following link. If you use the discount code you can buy the strips for £5 a pot but you have to buy 5 pots at a time. First class postage is 50p. It'll cost £12 for the meter so initial cost of £37 but you'll have about 5 months of strips.
http://www.homehealth-uk.com
View attachment 7904
Thats fab thank you.
 

dannyw

BANNED
Messages
430
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
In an ideal world I would agree with you. However it is now used as an excuse not to give out strips. I am an educated, intelligent woman. I am perfectly capable of understanding my meter. I use the data to inform my meal choices. I have radically altered my diet. Would my DNS/doc give me a meter? Err no! I had to buy my own. The only reason I got one 4 months later was because the locum prescribed one after I begged!
Many people don't change their diet (I work with such a person) but the advice I was given by the half wit DNS who spoke to me was to follow the eat well plate which allows you to eat what you want but control the portion size and that I didn't need to test. Utter rubbish. How can you know if the food you are eating is having a harmful effect if you cannot measure it's impact upon your bs? Many people follow the advice of their DNS or doc to their detriment. You only have to read the previous post where the posters bs was 25, having followed the advice of the doc!
Thanks. I'm not saying anyone should be denied strips. I was just saying prescribing them to everyone regardless is pointless as lots aren't interested. Also, unless they are accompanied by training so you understand the numbers and how they are affected it's a waste. Those diabetics that read and post on forums are a rare breed and are certainly not typical of the diabetic population. I'm well aware that most members here would benefit from strips.