How do we interpret this?
Dan Poulter, Health Minister says in this article,
People are taking greater control of their own health as they monitor and better self-manage conditions like diabetes with the help of blood pressure cuffs, pulse monitors and glucose monitors.
Does he think the NHS are supplying them or that they are available to buy? We know that BP cuffs and pulse monitors are self funded so he seems to be implying that glucose monitors are too.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/1...-on-the-brink-of-a-healthcare-revolution.html
Hmmm
I share your concern. It really does read as if people will be queueing up to take responsibility for their own health, 'empowered' by all the lovely shiny new gadgets available, doesn't it? but that would create an even bigger divide. I mean if doctors and surgeries are spending all that time supporting the well equipped, smart phone users, then resources are going into that, rather than supporting those who don't or can't keep up with the latest technology.
More people likely to slip through the cracks.
As a self funder for testing, I know what a profound difference it has made to my blood glucose control.
But I didn't even know that I could buy a test meter until I turned up at this forum.
The first one I bought I stood at the pharmacy counter in Boots wondering if I was going to have to provide some sort of evidence that I was diabetic before they let me buy one!
I completely appreciate that a fair number of type 2s don't want to know what their bg may be. they want to keep eating what they like and pretend they don't have diabetes. i get that. they are allowed free choice. but it ceases to be free choice if they have no idea that testing is available to them, whether it is self funded or on prescription. and that is tragic.