Testing Strips
- Thread starter LM
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bangkokdiabetic
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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Not in UK now so not relevant but wonder what he has allowed for daily use if you test on waking up = 1 and before and after meals 3 x 2 = 6 at bedtime =2 when feeling funny (Maybe hypo) 3 a week random testing of new foods etc 18 adds upto approx 400 a month seems reasonable to me. Now I for example test twice a day so use approx 120 a month but a newbie might test twice as much as it is a learning experience I know what to eat what spikes my blood sugar so dont need to test so often whereas a newbie has to learn this so tests more often. do not know which category you are in but talk to your doctor and explain why you think you need more. my figures are only guidelines and the more you test the less you should need too but we are all different
Guzzler
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Hello and welcome to the forum. Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.
Sadly this is happening more and more, cost cutting measures across the board, I'm afraid.
I self fund as I am diet and Metformin managed and consequently was never offered a meter/strips but many who need the drugs and/or insulin are feeling the pinch when it comes to strips.
Sadly this is happening more and more, cost cutting measures across the board, I'm afraid.
I self fund as I am diet and Metformin managed and consequently was never offered a meter/strips but many who need the drugs and/or insulin are feeling the pinch when it comes to strips.
mibby
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I have had this a couple of times, generally when changing prescription to a new strip. It has always turned out to be a combination of the receptionist and the NHS "computer says no" guidelines rather than a decision by an actual doctor. I have found writing to the Practice Manager always fixes it if you can't get a quick GP appointment.
daisy1
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@LM
Hello LM and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello LM and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
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Hi @ LM
Assuming you are type 1 or on a hypo inducing medication this is not on, but lots of us have faced it.
https://diabetes-resources-producti...f/1092C_Test_strips_advocacy report_WEB.pdf
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/downloads/Diabetes_Factsheet.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa.../Safe-care-of-people-with-type-1-diabetes.pdf
Assuming you are type 1 or on a hypo inducing medication this is not on, but lots of us have faced it.
https://diabetes-resources-producti...f/1092C_Test_strips_advocacy report_WEB.pdf
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/downloads/Diabetes_Factsheet.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa.../Safe-care-of-people-with-type-1-diabetes.pdf
I'm in Australia. I'm T1 and no problems. I know a number of T2's and they are severely rationed. I know of a T2 that has been told not to even get a meter and test, take metaformin and an annual HbA1c an job done.
I guess in some respects it makes sense as I assume a T2 on tablets doesn't take an extra tablet at night if they are a bit high and although possible a rare event for a T2 to have a hypo so knowing what your BGL is there is little that can be done to correct it, so apart from sore fingers the only control is changing diet and exercise the next day. I know in Australia a letter from the Dr and mention of insulin and you can have as many strips as you require (T1,T1.5,T2,T3,T?).
I guess in some respects it makes sense as I assume a T2 on tablets doesn't take an extra tablet at night if they are a bit high and although possible a rare event for a T2 to have a hypo so knowing what your BGL is there is little that can be done to correct it, so apart from sore fingers the only control is changing diet and exercise the next day. I know in Australia a letter from the Dr and mention of insulin and you can have as many strips as you require (T1,T1.5,T2,T3,T?).
