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Element Blood Glucose Monitor.

Alisonjane10

Alisonjane10

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,671
Location
England. (North East)
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Bullies, discrimination of any kind, bad manners, parents who let their kids run amok & spoil things for everyone else, unkind spiteful people, being a clumsy clod, toast crumbs in the bed, cold feet!!
Hello folks. My Primary Care Trust now issues only Element Blood Glucose to newly diagnosed Diabetics. Their policy, & those of other local NHS Foundation Trusts is to phase out other prescribed meters & to replace them with the Element meter. This is to standardise BG meters across the board, as well as address the cost issue. In the North East, Northumberland & Cumbria, this meter has become the meter of choice. It's quite a basic meter. Nothing particularly fancy. Easy to use & appears to be accurate. Not particularly robust, but it serves its purpose. I've never known anything different, so wasn't aware what other meters were out there...until my Type 1 friend showed me her prescribed meter. It does EVERYTHING bar wipe her nose. I'm now wondering if anyone else using the Element meter has encountered any problems or shortcomings with it. I'd like to collect a little bit of data from other users, and their idea of how this particular meter could be improved. Your input, ideas & opinions will be much appreciated.

Here's a photograph of my personal meter. Not rocket science!

Thank you everyone. X

image.jpg
 
Which trust are you? Just I know others are near Northumberland are still giving out other meters
 
I'm in Cumbria had the element for since November and found it fine and adequate for my needs. Up until I was given this I had an accucek but was only allowed 4 pots of strips a year so was funding it mostly myself, I now get a pot of 50 on every script. I did quite a few comparison tests and had negligible differences so I'm happy enough with mine and a wee bit better off in my pocket!
 
lovinglife said:
I'm in Cumbria had the element for since November and found it fine and adequate for my needs. Up until I was given this I had an accucek but was only allowed 4 pots of strips a year so was funding it mostly myself, I now get a pot of 50 on every script. I did quite a few comparison tests and had negligible differences so I'm happy enough with mine and a wee bit better off in my pocket!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that bit of information @lovinglife. It's reassuring. I am well aware that the cost of testing equipment needs to be closely monitored by Foundstion Trusts & PCT's. It makes sense that the NHS try to standardise countrywide meters etc, & use the most cost effective brand that has also proved to be reliable. I have a first class DSN who prescribes me 100 strips at a time. When first diagnosed, & whilst I was still establishing which foods were "safe" for me, I was using 100 test strips a week. There was NO quibbling at all. Six months later, I don't need to test as often now. I know what works for me. And I avoid what doesn't. I know I'm lucky having such marvellous support.

BTW...Your weight loss is remarkable. I imagine the world is now your oyster. Amazing. X
 
You get given a meter??? Down ere in Cider country we get to pick apples and sing
Where be that meter to? I know where he be,
He be up yon Cumbrian tree, And I be after he!
Now I sees he, And he sees I,
******** if I don’t get ‘en
With a gurt big stick I’ll knock ‘im down
Meter I’ll ‘ave he!

Sorry, my sense of humour gets the better of me sometimes.

How can they standardise something if they don't even prescribe it in some places?

I've just ordered the Accu-Chek mobile - out of my own pocket ;)
 
photognut said:
You get given a meter??? Down ere in Cider country we get to pick apples and sing
Where be that meter to? I know where he be,
He be up yon Cumbrian tree, And I be after he!
Now I sees he, And he sees I,
******** if I don’t get ‘en
With a gurt big stick I’ll knock ‘im down
Meter I’ll ‘ave he!

Sorry, my sense of humour gets the better of me sometimes.

How can they standardise something if they don't even prescribe it in some places?

I've just ordered the Accu-Chek mobile - out of my own pocket ;)
Click to expand...
I know what you mean about not getting one in the first place. I only got mine because I was diagnosed whilst in hospital and they thought at first I was T1 as my bs was 28 and I had keytones - GP said I was lucky to have a meter and grudgingly allowed me 50 strips every 3 months, now all T2s in my practice have them with 50 strips a month so hang in there you may get lucky!
 
Thank you @Alisonjane10 - at the risk of sounding ungrateful whilst I am happier, fitter and healthier it has its down side, I still have to wear baggy clothes because of all the loose skin and I am a completely different shape and struggle to get clothes that fit all areas at once! But I do feel 1000% better! The challenge is keeping it off!
 
lovinglife said:
Thank you @Alisonjane10 - at the risk of sounding ungrateful whilst I am happier, fitter and healthier it has its down side, I still have to wear baggy clothes because of all the loose skin and I am a completely different shape and struggle to get clothes that fit all areas at once! But I do feel 1000% better! The challenge is keeping it off!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can imagine that once you've lost such a huge amount of weight there is a nagging worry that if you're not vigilant, it'll creep back on before you know it. I've been a yo yo dieter for 20 years. About 5 years ago, I asked my GP to consider me for Orlistat...the so called "fat busting" drug. I had to attend a weight loss & lifestyle course that was one morning a week for 10 weeks. During that time, you had to demonstrate the ability to lose weight through diet & exercise only. So, I got stuck in. Started walking everywhere & followed the British Heart Foundation eating plan. After 10 weeks, I'd lost almost 2 stone and my GP agreed to prescribe me the Orlistat. It's not a quick fix. I had to continue with the diet & regular exercise. But the Orlistat then helped me lose another 1lb more every week on top of what I was losing anyway. So, over the following 12 months, I lost a further 4 1/2 stone, making a 6 1/2 stone weight loss total. I felt great. I looked good. And I was full of energy, enjoying life to the full. My husband said I was a "complete babe!" Lmao. BUT, after becoming unwell (broke my neck in an accident) I began to regain the weight as I wasn't able to do my regular walking. Before I knew it, I'd piled on most of the weight I'd lost. I was disgusted with myself & feeling so awful, I used food to make myself feel better. Of course it all became a vicious circle.

So, I know your concerns completely. Somehow I don't think you're going to go through the self destructive mindset & resulting behaviour, as I did. You're too grounded & proud of your fantastic accomplishment. That trait won't allow you to fail. I for one, wish you all the very best with your continued weight loss effort.

My own weight loss journey began again in late January when I discovered I was Diabetic. Since then, I've lost almost 4 stone. This time I'm older & wiser...and have NO intention of ever going backwards weight wise. This disease does change you. Losing weight is not just for cosmetic reasons anymore...it's the difference between a reasonably happy, healthy life, or a life that could be shorter due to complications. I owe it to my family not to let that happen. Apart from anything else, my other half keeps telling me I'm a complete babe again. Lol. I can live with that.

My very best wishes to you @lovinglife. You're a fantastic roll model. Good health to you & yours.

AJ. X
 
Thank you so much @Alisonjane10, you brought a lump to my throat with your kind words, it felt like a hug. Well done on your own weight loss you have achieved so much too, and yes your right it's a whole different form of motivation - health reasons rather than vanity is so much more motivating - keep up with the good work you are doing so well
 
photognut said:
You get given a meter??? Down ere in Cider country we get to pick apples and sing
Where be that meter to? I know where he be,
He be up yon Cumbrian tree, And I be after he!
Now I sees he, And he sees I,
******** if I don’t get ‘en
With a gurt big stick I’ll knock ‘im down
Meter I’ll ‘ave he!

Sorry, my sense of humour gets the better of me sometimes.

How can they standardise something if they don't even prescribe it in some places?

I've just ordered the Accu-Chek mobile - out of my own pocket ;)
Click to expand...
I guess you're in the same part of the world as me - Somerset?
 
I know Element BG meters are used by patients in Newcastle & throughout Cumbria. How widespread is its use throughout Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, including neighbouring counties such as Durham, North Yorkshire, Teeside etc. If you use the Element meter too...can you tell me how you find it & what feature would you like it to have that it doesn't right now. Thanks. X
 
photognut said:
You get given a meter??? Down ere in Cider country we get to pick apples and sing
Where be that meter to? I know where he be,
He be up yon Cumbrian tree, And I be after he!
Now I sees he, And he sees I,
******** if I don’t get ‘en
With a gurt big stick I’ll knock ‘im down
Meter I’ll ‘ave he!

Sorry, my sense of humour gets the better of me sometimes.

How can they standardise something if they don't even prescribe it in some places?

I've just ordered the Accu-Chek mobile - out of my own pocket ;)
Click to expand...
Hi have you contacted to see if you can geta freebie ??
 
Alzebra said:
I live in SE Northumberland and haven't been given a meter by my DSN. I self-fund all my testing.
Click to expand...

Hi @Alzebra. There appears to be a lack of regional consistency regarding the prescribing of a BG monitoring meter, testing strips etc. Though, I am aware that unless you are on Insulin or any other blood glucose lowering medication, except Metformin, NHS guidelines say NOT to prescribe. Their theory behind this is that Metformin in itself has minimal impact upon blood glucose, & testing would cause unnecessary stress for the patient. In reality, I have no doubt that it all comes down to cost implications for individual Trusts and PCT's.

Upon diagnosis, I was immediately prescribed Gliclazide to address my very high blood glucose. Because this medication can cause Hypo's, I had no problem getting a meter, lances, sharps box, 100 test strips a month & a prescription exemption card. Had I been prescribed Metformin only, it would have been up to me to present my DSN a reasoned argument in order to obtain the testing equipment. Certainly at my own large multi-GP practice, Diabetes management is co-ordinated completely by the Senior Sister/Nurse prescriber. Who just so happens to be quite willing to bend the rules & does prescribe to patients who are newly diagnosed & wish to self monitor their blood glucose. I guess I'm lucky to have an enlightened, fair, first class DSN. I've heard some truly shocking tales of some nurse specialists since being on this forum.

It must seem so unfair to you that some diabetics get everything prescribed....and some, like yourself, have to self fund. I support the option that ALL Diabetics, regardless of whether it is managed with diet alone, Metformin or something else. They should be encouraged, AND allowed, to have all of the testing equipment prescribed free. Surely being proactive in the management of their disease is desirable, and reduces their risk of associated complications in the future. That's got to be cost effective when looking at the bigger picture.

Best wishes. AJ. X
 
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