Glucose Monitors & New NHS Guidelines

[bkr]

Morning folks,

A quick one I wanted to ask about glucose monitors.

When I was diagnosed type 2, 5 years ago I had a HBA1C of 142, from which I was given a monitor to assist me in adjusting my lifestyle. I managed to bring it down to 45 through learning and tweaking diet/cutting out the negatives as we all do going through the learning curve after diagnosis.

Anyhow, 5 years on my meter is giving out crazy readings, from 25 to 13 in the space of 5 minutes testing. Im aware that they dont run forever so asked my medical centre if it could please be exchanged for another, although Im told that because Im only on metformin I shouldnt/dont need to be testing and new guidelines state they arent to be distributed anymore to anyone solely using metformin.

Its frustrating as Im a full time (skint) student, and eligible for medications and suchlike (which Im grateful for) although due to what I believe is stress, and an extremely testing 6 months my HBA1C has risen 11 to 56 which is a concern to me that I'd like to keep an eye on. I did explain this but they said their hands are tied.

Has anyone else come across a predicament like this? (I wondered how best to tackle it)

Many thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts

 

[DCUKMod]

Morning folks,

A quick one I wanted to ask about glucose monitors.

When I was diagnosed type 2, 5 years ago I had a HBA1C of 142, from which I was given a monitor to assist me in adjusting my lifestyle. I managed to bring it down to 45 through learning and tweaking diet/cutting out the negatives as we all do going through the learning curve after diagnosis.

Anyhow, 5 years on my meter is giving out crazy readings, from 25 to 13 in the space of 5 minutes testing. Im aware that they dont run forever so asked my medical centre if it could please be exchanged for another, although Im told that because Im only on metformin I shouldnt/dont need to be testing and new guidelines state they arent to be distributed anymore to anyone solely using metformin.

Its frustrating as Im a full time (skint) student, and eligible for medications and suchlike (which Im grateful for) although due to what I believe is stress, and an extremely testing 6 months my HBA1C has risen 11 to 56 which is a concern to me that I'd like to keep an eye on. I did explain this but they said their hands are tied.

Has anyone else come across a predicament like this? (I wondered how best to tackle it)

Many thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts

bkr -this is a link to the relevant guidelines, so that you can peruse them for yourself.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/1-Recommendations#self-monitoring-of-blood-glucose

 

[bkr]

Thank you for the link

 

[HSSS]

Try calling up the manufacturer. I dropped mine, broke a cover piece, and they replaced it free of charge.

 

[jjraak]

Try calling up the manufacturer. I dropped mine, broke a cover piece, and they replaced it free of charge.

same story here

remember it's the strips that make them the money, for me i went Codefree,
reasonable price for strips,
other choose the Tee2..
more and pricier available.

@Rachox has a nice page on Meters

i doubt you'd get a meter on prescription nowadays if NOT on insulin,
though happy to be proved wrong.

good luck hunting.

 

[Rachox]

Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free which has the cheapest strips available. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable, although I hear reliability may have improved now. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go:

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)


Home Health have recently bought out this one too, but I haven’t heard any reviews yet:


https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/gluconavii-blood-sugar-meter-glucose-monitor-starter-kit/

 

[JenniferW]

I thought my first one was expensive because I'd never had to buy anything like it. Now I've got my overall levels down, I'm using it less, and so it's costing me less. My guess is that that works for a lot of us. But at the beginning, it's an enormous help.

 

[bkr]

Try calling up the manufacturer. I dropped mine, broke a cover piece, and they replaced it free of charge.

Thank you, thats a good call.

same story here

remember it's the strips that make them the money, for me i went Codefree,
reasonable price for strips,
other choose the Tee2..
more and pricier available.

@Rachox has a nice page on Meters

i doubt you'd get a meter on prescription nowadays if NOT on insulin,
though happy to be proved wrong.

good luck hunting.

Thank you, I just had a look and the prices are fantastic! If you find them to be accurate/reliable thats reassuring.

Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free which has the cheapest strips available. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable, although I hear reliability may have improved now. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go:

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)


Home Health have recently bought out this one too, but I haven’t heard any reviews yet:


https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/gluconavii-blood-sugar-meter-glucose-monitor-starter-kit/

Brilliant, some fab information to check later. Much appreciated!

I thought my first one was expensive because I'd never had to buy anything like it. Now I've got my overall levels down, I'm using it less, and so it's costing me less. My guess is that that works for a lot of us. But at the beginning, it's an enormous help.

So true, it was a godsend as I didnt know what I was looking out for. With my HBA1C rising again, and the meter's in-accuracy, a new one will help me pull myself back on track I think

 

[carty]

I can't find any information about the cost of strips for the new home health meter any help please ?
Carol

 

[Rachox]

I can't find any information about the cost of strips for the new home health meter any help please ?
Carol

There you go Carol:
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/

 

[DCUKMod]

I can't find any information about the cost of strips for the new home health meter any help please ?
Carol

Carol, the new strips are on the website, with the meter. The prices is the same as the "old" Codefree, and there are codes for discounts - again, just like the Codefree, though I think this time around, there is a slight financial advantage to buying 10 pots, over 5.

The range is here: https://homehealth-uk.com/?s=Gluco+navii&product_cat=0&post_type=product

The discount codes are navii5 (for 5 tubs), and navii10 (for 10).

Apparently, there should be a small busin s card in all the meter boxes, with the code on, but my card wasn't there.

Apparently, if anyone uses this link, then the cost of the meter will be deducted if they buy 100 strips, which is 2 pots.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/

I don't have. Any interest in HomeHealth-UK, other than as a long standing satisfied customer, but should any of the above not go to plan, just drop them a note, or make a call. As you likely know, the are very customer satisfaction focused.

 

[jjraak]

@bkr .. As to accuracy, I wouldn't want to steer you wrong, but they all have a degree of inaccuracy.. Add in that you could take the blood from the next finger a minute later and get a different reading, with any of them. So for me it's all about trends.

Try to keep to a routine for the fbg in the morning.

If you take the read in the same way each morning..eg I boil Kettle, use loo, come back make tea, do blood while brewing, all before eating or drinking anything, then you'll have a trend you can follow quite easily.with fewer variables.

For the pre and post food tests, if it's out by any amount, it will be out by the same amount each time... So again I have a trend to follow.

Do some reading up on them, it's quite illuminating how many differ, and how much difference from one machine to another.

But what they all do I record how the food eaten impacts you .. An essential if you want to reduce and eliminate the food that causes the highest rises when eaten.

 

[carty]

Carol, the new strips are on the website, with the meter. The prices is the same as the "old" Codefree, and there are codes for discounts - again, just like the Codefree, though I think this time around, there is a slight financial advantage to buying 10 pots, over 5.

The range is here: https://homehealth-uk.com/?s=Gluco+navii&product_cat=0&post_type=product

The discount codes are navii5 (for 5 tubs), and navii10 (for 10).

Apparently, there should be a small busin s card in all the meter boxes, with the code on, but my card wasn't there.

Apparently, if anyone uses this link, then the cost of the meter will be deducted if they buy 100 strips, which is 2 pots.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/

I don't have. Any interest in HomeHealth-UK, other than as a long standing satisfied customer, but should any of the above not go to plan, just drop them a note, or make a call. As you likely know, the are very customer satisfaction focused.

Thanks I have just ordered some more strips for my codefree but I may have a look at the new one later ,be interesting to see how it performs
Carol

 

[DCUKMod]

Thanks I have just ordered some more strips for my codefree but I may have a look at the new one later ,be interesting to see how it performs
Carol

I've found it to be fine. It's easy to use, and very like the Codefree in many regards, but HH understand it to be more accurate.

Time will tell!

 

[Ricky]

Morning folks,

Has anyone else come across a predicament like this? (I wondered how best to tackle it)

Many thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts

Phone up the supplier of the monitor- if you still have the box and leaflet the phone number will be on there. If you don't ask one of us. The profits for the company are from the sale of the strips and they will send you a brand new monitor and then you will send them back their faulty one. I have done this myself!!

 

[bkr]

Phone up the supplier of the monitor- if you still have the box and leaflet the phone number will be on there. If you don't ask one of us. The profits for the company are from the sale of the strips and they will send you a brand new monitor and then you will send them back their faulty one. I have done this myself!!

Thank you Ricky, I'll definitely give that a go! Positive task for the morning

@bkr .. As to accuracy, I wouldn't want to steer you wrong, but they all have a degree of inaccuracy.. Add in that you could take the blood from the next finger a minute later and get a different reading, with any of them. So for me it's all about trends.

Try to keep to a routine for the fbg in the morning.

If you take the read in the same way each morning..eg I boil Kettle, use loo, come back make tea, do blood while brewing, all before eating or drinking anything, then you'll have a trend you can follow quite easily.with fewer variables.

For the pre and post food tests, if it's out by any amount, it will be out by the same amount each time... So again I have a trend to follow.

Do some reading up on them, it's quite illuminating how many differ, and how much difference from one machine to another.

But what they all do I record how the food eaten impacts you .. An essential if you want to reduce and eliminate the food that causes the highest rises when eaten.

Some good tips/advice, thank you. Food for thought as I press on

 

[bkr]

@Ricky - I followed your advice, and Verio are sending a new updated monitor that works with the strips I have! Many thanks

 

[Ricky]

@bkr So pleased. I thought they would.