Appalling Advice from my GP!

CarbsRok

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Yes I could reuse over and over, but why would I if I don't have to??
As the NHS is on the verge of bankruptcy due to the high cost of wastage it wont be long before we are all having to pay for our supplies so make the most of it while you can.
 
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donnellysdogs

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As the NHS is on the verge of bankruptcy due to the high cost of wastage it wont be long before we are all having to pay for our supplies so make the most of it while you can.

Totally agree...
 

latvianchick

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Being told "you are diabetic, what do you expect?" or "You are stupid or you would be able to control your bloods perfectly!" Hypo unawareness and its consequences!
Yesterday I went to my GP to ask for an increase on the quantity of needles I am prescribed (my current prescription is 100 needles every 4 weeks which equates to 3.5 needles each day). As a minimum I use 5 needles per day or 140 needles in a 4 week period (I use levemir twice a day & Apidra 3 times a day if I have 3 meals, no snacks & need no correction doses).
I was astonished when the GP REFUSED to increase the prescription & recommend I REUSE MY NEEDLES!!!
He said there was no problem in reusing my needles & told me to use just one needle on my Apidra & one on my Levemir for each day!!!
I was speechless. I couldn't believe the advice I had just been given. One of the first things I was told when I was diagnosed T1 seven years ago, was NEVER REUSE NEEDLES.
I want to take this issue further because I'm disgusted with this appalling advice... does anyone know what the best course of action would be, who I should report it to & should I ask for a prescription review with another GP at my surgery (it took me over 3 weeks to get the original appointment in the first instance)?
Hi, I am also having problems with my GP. They do not treat my diabetes and will never usually discuss it. I went yesterday about something and asked for more needles - I use 5 a day too and would NEVER re-use. From being prescribed 200 per month for some years following a similar earlier fight which ended up me having to go to my DSN and diabetes doctor who wrote to the GP surgery telling them that they HAD to give me more. Not only need them for 5 injections but for extras and mistakes or a bent needle! Was told "the average diabetic does not need 100 per month!" Erm, what is an average diabetic? Suggest you contact your hospital nurse/doctor and tell them what is happening and NEVER re-use just because others do! Not worth the risk! Some people might have gotten lucky, but many more from whom we have not yet heard, have not! The needles I use are triggered by pressure and cannot be re-used! The person I saw yesterday did not even know the difference between LANCETS and NEEDLES! Had to explain it 4 times!
 
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donnellysdogs

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I'm unfortunately going back on to a pump and wheras most people can do steel set changes every two days.. Well when I came off the pump I was having to change everyday.
I've already warned my consultant and nurses about the extra costs.. I feel guilty but actually when I now think about it.. Well, I've saved a ton of money for the NHS by not changing needles regularly.. So my guilt is less if I am going to need to change them daily as previous..
 

Garr

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b.jpg


Each to their own.
 
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mibby

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I use two a day - one for all the Novorapid injections and one for the Lantus. Never had a problem. As for Lancets ...
 

Zoot

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Here in Australia, we have a National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) which supplies all lancets & needles for free and you don't need a prescription from your GP. I use a new needle for each injection, except if I am taking a bolus and a basal at the same time I use the same needle. I replace my lancet every month or so whether I need to or not! I like the St Swithens Day change over but will have to check my calendar!
I might add that since going low carb last November (2015) I have lost 10 kilos and rarely need any fast acting insulin. I still take my Levimir twice a day, but when I see my Diabetes specialist in September I am hoping to reduce that. Before LCHF my BS was rarely below 10 mmol now I am in the 4-8 range all the time.


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Diamattic

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It is not the best advice from a doctor - but to be honest I always reused my needles, but only for the same day, and never more then once. I never had a problem aside from the second use stinging a bit more then the first, but that's all, and it wasn't even that bad lol I would recommend reusing, its the easy way, and honestly its no different from reusing your finger lancet, its actually probably better then the finger lancet because it doesn't draw blood.

The manufacture suggests not reusing them because you use more needles and they get more money and a second use is basically the same as the first except the lubrication on the needle is no longer there. Just throw them away if you drop them lol
 
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gillkin

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I now have a pump but when using syringes, have to admit only changed if needle felt blunt, that could be up to two weeks or more of using one four times a day. No bruising, infections etc and used them for 44 years before the pump.I'm the same with lancets, can't remember the last time I changed them in the two meter sets I have.

The needles today are a million times sharper and finer than they used to be so probably felt sharper even if they were slightly blunt :)

Its personal choice of course, I just felt it was a waste not to use them if they were still usable but I don't think they should be rationed.
 
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prancer53

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Around 30 years ago we had to pay for our syringes and drug addicts got them for nothing. I did a lot of campaigning at the time to get this changed.

I only change my needles when I change my vials in my pens...

Totally uneccesary to change everytime from my point of view...and a waste of insulin priming the needles each time too..
I agree and also only change needles when I change vials. A couple of years ago doc prescribed wrong pen & I asked Boots for some syringes until the correct script was issued. They told me I would have to pay for them--I became quite angry because drug addicts are just given syringes but I needed them so I could eat and be well enough to work and carry out normal activities--had a bit of a rant, truth be known!!!. They issued me with a pack of 10 syringes at no cost. There really is something wrong somewhere...............
 
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Lizzie2

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Yep, St Swithins day, according to tradition:cool:

Gosh, there's me been wondering if it wasn't time for me to open a new Accuchek lancet thingy - I use the one where you can dial up another needle. From what CollieBoy and Grant Gam are saying I've been wildly extravagant so far, I'll need to get a grip of myself.
 

therower

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I change needles maybe every 2/3 injections, and have no reason to change. As for used needles causing pain, I've found new and used hurt like hell when you hit the right spot. With 25 yrs of injections I've never had any sort of infection, lucky? maybe. Never had any issues with supply from GP, lucky? maybe. With all its faults and criticism I've still got the NHS, free prescriptions, DSN's, regular check ups, free eye testing and more. I know people will not agree with me but i count myself lucky to get what I get. Just one more question.
How many use your prescription exemption certificate to obtain medication for non diabetes related issues?
 

Lynz84

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Goodness this has polarized opinion a bit!! I change needles when they feel blunt so usually every other injection. I've never had any trouble and i only bruise when i manage to hit muscle (brings tears!) I think we have all earned a certain right to choose when we change needles, after all, health professionals have to keep on the side of caution. If we followed every bit of professional advice we'd change needles every single time, change lancets every time and use alcohol wipes on our fingers before we check. Thats a lot of precautions!

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oopsie

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As the NHS is on the verge of bankruptcy due to the high cost of wastage it wont be long before we are all having to pay for our supplies so make the most of it while you can.

You just have to look on Ebay or Amazon for strips or lancets.. Average people selling these. I have to purchase mine yet they collect their prescription for free & sell them.
 

noblehead

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You just have to look on Ebay or Amazon for strips or lancets.. Average people selling these. I have to purchase mine yet they collect their prescription for free & sell them.

If you suspect a seller is doing this then report them to eBay or Amazon, here is eBay's policy on prescription items:

Any substance or item that requires a prescription from, or the supervision of, a licensed practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, optometrist, optician, pharmacist or veterinarian) to dispense isn’t allowed on eBay.

http://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/medicine-and-healthcare-products-policy

I'd imagine you'd be able to tell if the item has been prescribed, the prescription labels are quite hard to remove and often tears the packaging when trying.
 

oopsie

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If you suspect a seller is doing this then report them to eBay or Amazon, here is eBay's policy on prescription items:

Any substance or item that requires a prescription from, or the supervision of, a licensed practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, optometrist, optician, pharmacist or veterinarian) to dispense isn’t allowed on eBay.

http://sellercentre.ebay.co.uk/medicine-and-healthcare-products-policy

I'd imagine you'd be able to tell if the item has been prescribed, the prescription labels are quite hard to remove and often tears the packaging when trying.

Will update as I'm 4 days diagnosed & bought the cheapest I found (strips expensive, then I found this site) I won a bid & should receive them tomorrow
 

Propertyoflife

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I had a reply from my DN today.
As I expected, I had been given incorrect advice from my gp & she has had to write up an incident report to ensure the gp is given more teaching on the importance of a new needle for every insulin injection.

My needle prescription is now at 200 every 4 weeks .
I'm pleased this has been sorted

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So we should start to reuse our needles over and over to save the NHS money.
Interesting view, but no thanks.

Hi there, as I said in a previous post, I did have an infection, a nasty one and a very painful one. Maybe I was just unlucky, or maybe because of my mum in hospital and dying of heart failure, my immune system was down (I had had a sinus infection)
I would rather use a new needle every time and we shouldn't be made to feel guilty, by some, for doing this, to save a few bucks for the NHS, because not only is having an infection on your stomach area extremely painful, especially looking after a 18 month old, I had to have two lots of antibiotics, which cost money and my exemption card covered that.
If people want to constantly reuse their needles, then that is fine, but just remember that the smallest micro bug on the end of that needle, could cause other problems.

This is a winner of a post from @Garr
b-jpg.19916


Each to their own.
 
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clareb1970

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Yesterday I went to my GP to ask for an increase on the quantity of needles I am prescribed (my current prescription is 100 needles every 4 weeks which equates to 3.5 needles each day). As a minimum I use 5 needles per day or 140 needles in a 4 week period (I use levemir twice a day & Apidra 3 times a day if I have 3 meals, no snacks & need no correction doses).
I was astonished when the GP REFUSED to increase the prescription & recommend I REUSE MY NEEDLES!!!
He said there was no problem in reusing my needles & told me to use just one needle on my Apidra & one on my Levemir for each day!!!
I was speechless. I couldn't believe the advice I had just been given. One of the first things I was told when I was diagnosed T1 seven years ago, was NEVER REUSE NEEDLES.
I want to take this issue further because I'm disgusted with this appalling advice... does anyone know what the best course of action would be, who I should report it to & should I ask for a prescription review with another GP at my surgery (it took me over 3 weeks to get the original appointment in the first instance)?
When I read how many needles you go through in a month I nearly dropped my iPad! When I was a T1 diabetic (before my transplant) we were actively encouraged to make needles last, primarily due to the cost. I was more than happy with this as it meant not having to change a perfectly decent needle every time I needed insulin, but also I didn't need a sharps bin the size of a wheelie bin! In over 25 years of using my needles multiple times, I never had a single problem or any signs of infection. I often used them until they got blunt!!
My diabetic consultant was a professor, extremely knowledgeable AND a T1 himself and he always advised his patients to reuse their needles. Not a single diabetic at my hospital had any problems by reusing needles and I would say that there is no reliable evidence to suggest reusing has had a detrimental affect. Remember, there are plenty of diabetics in very poor areas across the globe who just wouldn't have the luxury of this amount of clean needles. We need to get real where NHS costs are concerned and save money on needless items so there is more money for the more serious problems.
 
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