Heretic1
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 201
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Diabetes!
They are cheapskates basically and testing costs a lot of money. The official view is that people only need to test if they are in danger of becoming hypoglycemic due to medication powerful enough to bring that about. I agree with that attitude since a hypo can be life threatening for some of us.
The problem is the rest of us who are permanently hyper and have no medication that works. This is not considered life threatening and therefore no provision is made for us to test our blood.
I think it harsh to describe the NHS as 'cheapskates'. I'm sure it hasn't escaped everyone's attention that the NHS is under severe pressure and needs to put its resources where the NEED is most, which means hard decisions are having to be made. The principle of 'free at the point of need' I feel still endures. In an ideal world, under the original remit of the NHS glasses, dentists, prescriptions were all free ..... but we no longer live in utopian ideal world.
It would be 'ideal' if all T2Ds - who wanted (but not necessarily clinically needed to) were offered BG monitoring... but we don't live in thst ideal world. I fully concur those at risk of hypoglycaemia inducing medication 'clinically' need to monitor their and levels, and quite rightly for those who absolutely need it, it is provided, but for the rest of us it is a nice to have / desirable, not essential. For many months after being 'labelled' I followed all the 'good' advice (which is mostly the good living common sense I had ignored for years) offered by the NHS, and in here and by following it quickly turned the situation (and my life) around and all of my levels are now in the non diabetes range. I was not provided with nor did I monitor my BG outside of routine appointments - but I did it. I now declare my hand, that earlier this year I finally indulged and opted to check my BG levels and do so only a couple of times a day (sometimes not at all) and it has provided a degree of reassurance that I continue to do the right thing, and surprised me as to the flexibility of what I can eat safely ...... But that was a choice I made - so why should I expect an already resource strapped NHS to pay for this. I don't.... my choice, my cost.
A number of years ago I was told I had border line high BP. At that time I dashed out and bought a BP machine, which I used for a while (but then gathered dust for a long while!). The NHS did not suggest then, nor does it now that anyone diagnosed with high BP should test their levels at home or provide machines to do so ..... It is not a clinical need!
As above it would be nice to be provided with these things free, but consider myself to be s pragmatist, and realist. As and when (or if) I clinically need to be provided with BG monitoring I know it will be there ... until then I accept I need to buy it as a consumer, not a patient!