Disagreement with doctors about testing strips

[LizzieNI]

Are there no NICE guidelines for t2 on insulin, like there are for t1 on insulin?

My brother is restricted even though he's T1. Living in a different town I am not. It's a sham.

 

[Lunarteddy]

Letter from GP secretary saying that ALL diabetics must now use RxNexus strips and meter and were ‘invited’ to a special session to give up their old meter and ‘be issued’ with a new one. The new meters cost £10 on Amazon so I said that rather than pay for a taxi and come to a ‘session’ I’d buy the new meter. No choice as my prescription for strips was already changed. When I next visited the consultant he said ‘I see you’re using that cheap meter. We tell GP’s it’s only suitable for Type2s bit they don’t listen’.

 

[LooperCat]

Letter from GP secretary saying that ALL diabetics must now use RxNexus strips and meter and were ‘invited’ to a special session to give up their old meter and ‘be issued’ with a new one. The new meters cost £10 on Amazon so I said that rather than pay for a taxi and come to a ‘session’ I’d buy the new meter. No choice as my prescription for strips was already changed. When I next visited the consultant he said ‘I see you’re using that cheap meter. We tell GP’s it’s only suitable for Type2s bit they don’t listen’.

I’ve been put on that meter now as I’ve been prescribed Libre. They’re trying reduce my strips, even though I drive a lot.

 

[clifft]

Hi @akindrat18 If your GP is refusing to issue more test strips please speak to your practice manager at the surgery and make an official complaint, state you are insulin controlled and need more test strips, they should not deny you this, let us know how you get on ?

If your gp wont provide the test strips, ring your hospital diabetic dept and ask for an appointment. The doctor there I'm sure will back you 100%. I'm sure the test strips are cheaper than the consequences.

 

[William1296]

If you are a driver refer him to the law that you check your BS level to see if it is 5 or more be assertive write to the media your MP minimum has to be a 100 a month! william 1296

 

[jap_smith]

I'm type1 and i test about 9 times per day,i order online along with the rest of my meds.There are tick boxes next to each one and the doctor agreed to leave it open so that i can order whenever i like so i never run out.

 

[deb1960]

This morning I went to see my doctor to get my blood test results, which I did. Everything is fine apart from my hba1c and when I asked for more testing strips, he denied my request and said that the 50 a month I already get is enough. I'm expected to test once or twice a day, even though I'm on insulin.

When I went for my yearly diabetes check the dn asked me to change my meter, I declined as I use the Accucheck mobile which I think is brilliant. Everything is all together in one little machine. She was fine about it and told me that the practice want to get everyone onto a cheaper machine with much cheaper test strips. I am currently doing lchf and have personally reduced my insulin from 120 units daily to 30 units daily and plan to be off insulin completely by the time I go on my cruise at the end of April. Fingers crossed. My latest hba1c was 37 so it's looking promising.

 

[Crocodile]

My practice has point blank refused my request to supply any strips

Find another practice. My GP told me not to test over a year ago and just rely on 3 monthly HbA1c and eat the stuff on the poster the nurse gave me. After a while I told him it was not satisfactory and I want to take control of my condition myself so please sign the form. At first he resisted but I stood my ground and demanded them. He signed the form.

 

[MCL]

I am type 2 and my surgery has stopped prescribing test strips. I am supposed to rely on 6 monthly HbA1c results.
I use a One Touch Select Plus tester and have to purchase my own test strips at around £15 per 50. (I claim my VAT exemption)
I am achieving good control through regular monitoring and adapting my diet accordingly, but this doesn’t appear to count for anything with my surgery. I wonder how they would feel if they were diabetic?

 

[Perfumeflower53]

I am type 2 and my surgery has stopped prescribing test strips. I am supposed to rely on 6 monthly HbA1c results.
I use a One Touch Select Plus tester and have to purchase my own test strips at around £15 per 50. (I claim my VAT exemption)
I am achieving good control through regular monitoring and adapting my diet accordingly, but this doesn’t appear to count for anything with my surgery. I wonder how they would feel if they were diabetic?

Hi,

May I suggest a cheaper meter for you which is the SD Codefree. The strips are currently just over £7 for 50. You can purchase both the meter and strips from the homehealth UK website.

Hope this helps..

 

[KeithT 2]

This morning I went to see my doctor to get my blood test results, which I did. Everything is fine apart from my hba1c and when I asked for more testing strips, he denied my request and said that the 50 a month I already get is enough. I'm expected to test once or twice a day, even though I'm on insulin.

This is so annoying. It hasn't happened to me though. I have my lances and strips on repeat prescription along with all my medication. I think what you are experiencing here is local surgery cost cutting but it is a short sighted policy in my opinion. This is your health we are talking about here and testing is part of keeping on top of it. My advice for what it is worth is to go to your nearest hospital or diabetic clinic and tell them what is going on. They will give you a temporary supply and hopefully have a word with your doctor. In the meantime cut down on all carbohydrates to ensure your levels are in the safe zone.

Edit. I only test first thing in the morning and just before bed. As long as my nighttime test is 6 mmo/l or below I am happy. If it goes below 4 mmo/l I have a quick snack - usually a tangerine - just to raise it above 4 and that seems to work for me. The liver will do the rest. If it's above six I need to adjust the amount of carbs I have eaten that day.

 

[Sooty62]

This morning I went to see my doctor to get my blood test results, which I did. Everything is fine apart from my hba1c and when I asked for more testing strips, he denied my request and said that the 50 a month I already get is enough. I'm expected to test once or twice a day, even though I'm on insulin.

Yes I’ve had this said to me by my GP. He said I wasn’t to test so aften. I’m a diabetic 1 and am always testing before and after meals because I feel more in control doing this but like you was told to cut down . I was aghast at this attitude. I still test and have to put in repeat prescription just more often and so far there’s not been a problem perhaps he re-thought such s ridiculous answer.

 

[KeithT 2]

Yes I’ve had this said to me by my GP. He said I wasn’t to test so aften. I’m a diabetic 1 and am always testing before and after meals because I feel more in control doing this but like you was told to cut down . I was aghast at this attitude. I still test and have to put in repeat prescription just more often and so far there’s not been a problem perhaps he re-thought such s ridiculous answer.

I think testing straight after a meal may be too soon because of the spike phenomenon. Every one spikes after a meal, even normal healthy people. I think a month of testing can usually reveal what foods you need to be very careful of and then eradicate them from your diet. For me it is potatoes, so they are now a vegetable of the past for me and eaten in very small quantities only as a daytime treat if out and about. That way I have cut down my testing to twice a day.

 

[Wjohn]

This morning I went to see my doctor to get my blood test results, which I did. Everything is fine apart from my hba1c and when I asked for more testing strips, he denied my request and said that the 50 a month I already get is enough. I'm expected to test once or twice a day, even though I'm on insulin.

Dear akindrat18 ,
Luckily I was slightly better position ,I was getting 6 tubes a month ,but due to an unstable type 1 was having to test 13 timesdaily to find a reasonable stable area ,this was continually refused inspite of consultants recommendation ! Finished up by having to go onto Libre ,self funded .A great system ,but a bit expensive ,Not having a go at GPs or NHS ,they can only do their best with the reduced funding ,they now get .
Wjo

 

[rogbert]

i have to have the bog standard machine issued by my doctor which is pointless as the difference in price is minimal i get 100 test strips a month which is adiquate for me i live in hertforshire

 

[lucylocket61]

I think testing straight after a meal may be too soon because of the spike phenomenon. Every one spikes after a meal, even normal healthy people. I think a month of testing can usually reveal what foods you need to be very careful of and then eradicate them from your diet. For me it is potatoes, so they are now a vegetable of the past for me and eaten in very small quantities only as a daytime treat if out and about. That way I have cut down my testing to twice a day.

@Sooty62 is a type 1 diabetic.

 

[lornalex]

This morning I went to see my doctor to get my blood test results, which I did. Everything is fine apart from my hba1c and when I asked for more testing strips, he denied my request and said that the 50 a month I already get is enough. I'm expected to test once or twice a day, even though I'm on insulin.

Yep this is pretty standard and makes me furious. I’ve had to have stand up rows with our gps about repeat prescriptions for test strips for my 16 yr old son who’s T1!!!! It’s clear to me that they don’t really get it when it comes to diabetes otherwise we wouldn’t have to put up with this nonsense. Again like someone else has said you have to get them to do the maths. We’ve always found our nurse specialist team to be helpful in these situations

 

[Benito1234]

That’s absolutely ridiculous! I’m a type 1 diabetic and have been for the past 7 years. Until I started testing on average 10 times a day I could not gain perfect control of my diabetes. My hba1c is currently sitting around 5 due to the fact I test every 2 to 3 hours, I’m on Noverapid and Levimear which has always worked for me. Unless you’ve tested 2 hours before driving your breaking the law and your insurance will not cover you in the event of an accident, your GP obviously doesn’t have a clue! I had an issue with the same thing a couple years ago and changed doctors surgery immeadiatley. It really winds me up when Doctors/Nurses that dont suffer with the condition undermine someone that’s been suffering with it for years!
I’m really sorry to hear the treatment your getting is so unfair and hope you get the issue resolved!
Regards
Benito

 

[zand]

We still don't know if akindrat18 drives or not. Perhaps the doctor knows something we don't.

 

[TTTE]

When I saw my GP last week and she agreed I could go onto metformin, she did say that she'd be taking both Levemir and Novorapid off my repeat prescriptions. Just checked to see if she's taken the test strips and the lancets off, but they're both still on there for the moment.

So they should be!
When you change the medication that is the most important time to keep a check on your blood sugar readings