PETITION THE SELF-TESTING CONCLUSIONS

[Administrator]

Dear forum users,

The recent conclusion that self-testing reduces quality of life and even causes depression didn't go down very well with some of the forum users, with good reason. Diabetes treatment, in our opinion, needs to be decided on a case-by-case basis, and self-testing could be enormously beneficial for some people.

So, to help draw together a petition against this, we've added in a new section to Diabetes.co.uk. Please let your opinion be known:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-petitions/

We will NOT display your email address on the site, or share it with anyone else.

Regards,

Admin

 

[mrcadburysparrot]

But the government said for some people self-monitoring could be very useful....
...Libby Dowling, care advisor at Diabetes UK, said decisions on self-monitoring must be made on an individual basis and patients must be educated on what to do with the results.

you are right SarahQ - the government isn't 100% behind the findings of the study,
but we all know how sneaky the government can be with making these kinds of decisions(when saving money is involved), so where's the harm in having a petition ready if or when a decision is made.

"Preparedness makes us powerful"

 

[dillydog]

Thank you for making it so simple to get together to petition against the non prescribing of strips and lancets. I have duly put my thoughts on paper. Appreciate your hard work.

 

[Administrator]

Ok, appears I just read the posts on this subject, from which appears this was a govt conclusion. As Sarah said, the Government were not involved in these independent studies. However, the message of the petition remains the same: self-testing is important. We are editing the petition to reflect this, thanks Sarahq.

 

[Dennis]

I fully support anything that will ensure that all diabetics are able to get test strips and lancets on prescription so that they can test when they need to.

However I do have reservations about the wording of the petition. I don't believe that simply saying that we disagree with the government will achieve anything. I disagree with much (in fact most) that this government does, but my telling them that will not change a single one of their decisions.

I think that we need to give them solid reasons for allowing prescriptions, not just say that we disagree with them. We should be emphasising that:
a) there is a legal requirement for Type 1 drivers (and presumably T2's whose medication makes them prone to hypos) to test their BG EVERY time they commence a journey
b) the NICE guidelines state that Type 2s should be encouraged to manage their BG levels. T2s cannot do that if they are denied the means to do so.
c) there are 3 million diabetics in the UK, plus a similar number as yet undiagnosed. That's a lot of votes to lose at the next election.

 

[Administrator]

Hi Dennis, We've edited the wording of the petition:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-petitions/

Please add your perspective into the comments as it is very valuable, particularly stressing number 2 in relation to this petition.

We can use this page to set up petitions on anything, and if we get a good enough response they could be very influential I think - the reason we've created it is to help give the community a voice.

Regards,

Dan

 

[mrcadburysparrot]

if we all keep posting:

BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT

this will at least put the wind up Mi5 if not Gordon Brown :mrgreen:

"you'll never silence the voice of the voiceless" :wink:

 

[Pattidevans]

Can I ask you who you are going to send this petition to? It is pointless sending it to the Government who will simply write back to you and tell you that anyone restricting test strip prescriptions is not acting in accordance with the new NICE guidelines which were put into place this month. The NICE guidelines clearly state that strips should be prescribed (see page 12 of http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/T2DN ... 5B1%5D.pdf ) They also state that diabetics should receive education - which they patently don't, or they would be using said strips to good effect in managing their diabetes, rather than getting depressed when they see high readings.

So, as Sarah said, it is NOT the government's policy to restrict strips. The problems come further down the chain when the individual PCTs, who cannot manage their own budgets, start issuing directives to Doctors telling them not to prescribe in order to save money. The majority of GPs are not diabetes specialists and many are extremely pig headed.

Rather than sending this petition to the Government (which as I said) will prompt a predictable reply, (see the response given to a similar petition I organised a year or so ago http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/peti ... ponse.html ) you would be better off getting a list of all the PCTs in the UK and sending it to them.

 

[timo2]

"BRING DOWN THE PRIMARY CARE TRUST!"
doesn't quite have the same ring to it though patti :mrgreen:

we need our angry lynch mob to be taken seriously :evil: :evil: :evil: :roll: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[Pattidevans]

:lol: No...it doesn't have quite the same ring to it does it? However, the PCTs are where the trouble starts. My own Dr (who has never restricted my strips) showed me the letter from the PCT advising the practice to cut down on prescriptions for them.

 

[Administrator]

Hi All,

The other thread gave me the impression that people feel very strongly about the right to self-testing. Gathering collective perspective on this subject allows considerable force of opinion. A few options exist for how to make the best use of the petition, these include:

1.) Presenting the data on a Diabetes.co.uk page
2.) Printing the petition and sending it to PCTS as you suggested, and also sending it to parties who agree that testing should be on an individual basis to give them greater leverage
3.) Creating an article to run in the national news voicing concerns over this issue.

All of these I see as positive, just as confronting the government with the petition adds weight to the issue regardless of their response. If anyone has other ideas we'd be happy to consider them. We are simply doing this because it was asked of us and we think it could help the community. We also have the potential to set up a petition on any subject - so fire away.

Regards,

Admin

 

[Pattidevans]

I also feel very strongly about the right for every diabetic who wishes to test to have access to prescribed strips.

I think the avenues presented in your points 1, 2 and 3 are all excellent ideas.

If you feel it necessary to aim it at the Government, you may find it more valid to re-word it asking them to take action against the PCTs who are flouting NICE guidelines, rather than asking the Government not to restrict the prescription of strips which they are not doing.

 

[IanD]

Have we made any progress in 4 years?

 

[Grazer]

Have we made any progress in 4 years?

YES! we produced another petition................ :wink:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/