Just been told I should only test twice a day.

[lesleyr284]

I am not on metformin, but diet only, although the doc has threatened metformin as she says "it's about time"(???)... I test frequently. The reason - I got complacent and decided I had everything undercontrol, but I didn't. I have never scoffed half a packet of biscuits and don't know a diabetic who ever has, so take a little offence at that!! :?

I tested twice a week for a while after getting into a good habit and then had my HbA1c and nearly died when it had risen to 7.2. I was sitting at 6.6. I had to go back and find out why my diet/exercise plan was failing. I like control and when something goes wrong, I like to know why. I find I have a mad intense period of reassessment and then relax for a while. I don't see this as over use. I see it as good practice and keeping the condition under control.

Spoiling the pitch for those who really need them?? Unfair comment. We all need them.

I think it comes down to post code. Either you have a reasonable PCT or you don't. What I certainly don't understand is anyone on insulin being restricted.

 

[mikethebike]

From all the comments it is obviously COST COST COST.
Recently my nurse practitioner remarked I was an expensive diabetic. (been type 1 for 42+years).
I simply replied that quality is worth paying for isn't it.
I continue to get 200 test strips each prescription test a minimum 4 times per day.

However I guess the 'system might look at things the other way round.

I never test for the first 20 years of having diabetes because the testing kits weren't available!

NHS beancounter will argue it proves testing is not required so much.
When , not if, complications arise for me I can point to one probable cause!!!

We should all demand the test strips we need and fight hard for our rights in the NHS. :roll:

 

[jenrose]

I think I am a worrier but not allowing test strips makes me worry - if we don't have strips how do we know if we are too high when sick? Do we have to call out a doctor? How do we know if our tolerance to carbs has changed over time? I can't see what testing twice a week will really say. Newly diagnosed people need to test to before and after meals so that they have an idea of what foods affect their blood glucose. If they were mad enough to eat half a packet of chocky biscuits then perhaps the shock of a test would ensure they didn't again!

My father, who is 81, takes high doses of steroids for COPD at times and when he does his blood sugar goes in to double figures. The nurse at his surgery prescribed Metformin but he could not take this. He has had no advice with regard to diet and takes no notice of what I tell him with regards to his food intake. In fact I feel that he does the opposite and I feel that his bad moods are a result of eating way too much carbs. He had always had cereal with honey and a banana with orange juice for breakfast and they do not believe me that this is bad for him. My mum keeps buying him sweets such as chocolate raisins, liquorice allsorts, snicker bars and won't believe me these things cause him to have the bad moods. I was alarmed at myself getting very snappy with my husband when I had high blood sugar just before being diagnosed so know high blood sugars can do this. If he had a meter and strips etc they would be able to see for themselves the result of the high carbs.

 

[welshtony]

I went for a 6 month checkup last week, only to find that the blood results contained everything but my Hba1C levels. So I've got to go in tomorow for another test. :evil:

But when we were discussing my personal test results, the DN was horrified that some tioes I was testing up to 6 times a day.

She said I shouldn't be testing more than 3 times a week, once my results were stable, and the reason she gave.......... Cos I will probably go on insulin eventually, and it would be painful for me to test more often if my fingers had callouses from too frequent testing at this stage! :roll:

 

[cugila]

She said I shouldn't be testing more than 3 times a week, once my results were stable, and the reason she gave.......... Cos I will probably go on insulin eventually, and it would be painful for me to test more often if my fingers had callouses from too frequent testing at this stage! :roll:

Hi Tony.

As someone who has been testing 3 or more times a day for the last 5 months I can tell you that what you have been told is complete and utter rubbish. How are YOU supposed to know what your day to day Bg levels are ? How are YOU to find out just what foods affect your Bg levels.

I don't know that I would test as often as you do, perhaps only occasionally ? The DN has gone to the other extreme though. the previous posters and also elsewhere maintain you need to test, test , test ! Personally, there is no way I would accept that from any HCP ? I would point out my reasons for testing and provide the evidence if needed.

As for callouses ? I use the same three fingers on each hand and have no damage or callouses at all ? She is talking rubbish.

Ken.

 

[pillowbelly]

She said I shouldn't be testing more than 3 times a week, once my results were stable, and the reason she gave.......... Cos I will probably go on insulin eventually, and it would be painful for me to test more often if my fingers had callouses from too frequent testing at this stage! :roll:

My mum has been type 2 for 21 years. She is still on tablets only. My friends dad has been type 2 for more than 30 years and he too is on tablets only. So tell her that even though she thinks eventually insulin will be needed, it may not be for another 30 years as long as you can keep your BG under control.

 

[bunty]

The subject of testing strips and how often one should test is a perennial one but this is my view:

As a Type 2, you need when newly diagnosed, to test on a regular pattern until you learn how your body reacts to differing amounts of foods, exercise and types of foods.

Once that is established, providing you feel in your usual state of health and are within your normal level of activity, testing daily isnt necessary - in my opinion, i will stress.

But what i do is pick one week a month, for instance, when i will test myself twice a day for a couple of days and four times for a couple of days and once for a couple of days. That gives me a snapshot of where i am with my control and how my body is behaving.

Once a day per month, i test four times a day - this is a random day.

And avove and beyond all that, i test when i feel 'low' or have been exercising strenuously or if i am feeling unwell, tired or out of sorts.

One reason that Type 2s are restricted to very few test strips is because a Type 2 cant actually do anything immediate with a reading, unlike a Type 1 who would asjust their insulin appropriately. Many diabetics take a somewhat detached view of their disease and i suppose the surgeries, looking to eke out precious funds, chose test strips as one avenue of cost saving.

I would suggest you dont panic nor take umbrage at your current constraints, while you take stock of your life-style and food intake and buy a supply of strips for yourself.

Monitor yourself for one month then return to your GP or nurse and explain that you wish to continue monitoring, not so much as a reactive measure but more as a preventative and monitoring one. Reassure the GP/nurse that, faced with a reading higher or lower than one you find acceptable, your actions will follow a structured pattern - high; exercise and fluids and reduced/no carbs until normal levels return - low; sensible increase of foods - either case; review of what preceded the unacceptable reading with intent to minimise or prevent that reoccurance.

Of course, 'unacceptable level' is one which should be agreed between you and your GP and not based on anyone else's ideal. It is YOUR body, your disease and your choice.

Faced with a calm, reasond and intelligent strategy, i think any GP/nurse would find it harder to continue to deny access to free test strips but this would have to be balanced by a determined and proven effort by yourself to lower or maintain HbA1c levels to one which is within safe limits and ideally, one which is stable and modest.

I do hope you every success!

bunty

 

[dipsticky]

Stupid woman. Type 2s go blind, suffer heart attacks, suffer kidney failure, lose limbs and die. 10% of deaths over 35 are due to diabetes. I have an idiot diabetic nurse and doctor but I do get test strips. Type 2 diabetes is NOT a mild form of diabetes.

Testing is the only way forward for any diabetic. What is the point in testing once or twice a day, you might as well just pluck random numbers out of the air ? It means nothing. Same as relying on a HbA1c test. Just a snapshot, far better to go with the results from your meter taken at a time that mean something. When, and only when you are well controlled then you can cut back. You will still need to test when you get up, after food just so you can keep that good control going.
Ignore people who tell you you don't need to test. They do not know what they are talking about.

D

 

[kyoung09]

oh my god this is actually disgraceful? I test mine about 4 times a day, and i have also experienced trouble with stupid pharmacies saying 'i shouldnt need that so soon' just contact your GP or specialist nurse and on the repeat prescription forms she could probably change the repeat to a bit higher? i have 100 a time, but some days test less than others etc. i drive, ut dont test it as often as 12 times a day :-S its good but your fingers must be really sore?! i have one that i can test on my arm, legs, fingers, and palm of hands and generally arm hurts less. its the Freestyle lite- but i ca normally tell when im going into a hypo.

This is really bad, you should test it as much as you can especially if you are trying to control it. They don't have it so telll them where to go!!! complications are so serious that how can a professoinal nurse advise you to do such a thing its just unbeliveable. give her a piece of your mind and go and see your GP. eve though im type 1 and you are type 2 then.. so what? its not milder? must be even harder to control if you havent got insulin? jesus!!!!

Still can't believe that! test it four + times a day, this is your health at the end of the day. all they are woried about are the costs but.. its their job.

 

[Dennis]

They don't have it so telll them where to go!!! complications are so serious that how can a professoinal nurse advise you to do such a thing its just unbeliveable. give her a piece of your mind and go and see your GP. eve though im type 1 and you are type 2 then.. so what? its not milder? must be even harder to control if you havent got insulin? jesus!!!!

Hi kyoung09,

Unfortunately it's probably not as simple as an ignorant nurse. It is more than likely she was simply passing on instructions given to the surgery by the PCT. Seeing the GP won't necessarily be any more successful as GPs are all under instruction to reduce costs by refusing to prescribe test strips for type 2s. What is really worrying is that we are now starting to see cases where even type 1s are being denied test strips, again on instructions from the PCTs. There are a few GPs who are prepared to stand their ground and continue to prescribe, but unfortunately the PCTs hold all the aces - these little Hitlers are able to impose financial penalties on GPs who don't follow their orders.

 

[erroneous]

I'm a paranoid diabetic

Actually we were thinking of starting a new section here for just that.

Like to be the Founder member :?:

Not sure we could cope with the huge numbers though. :twisted:

I'm in cugi!!
Ok...i have some news..i had my yearly diabetic review at the hospital last friday and told the doctor i met there about my restriction to 2 test strips a day. My beautiful HbA1c was 9.7, which means my average blood sugar level is around freakin' 15mmol...very good indeed. Considering i just broke my nose after a nasty hypo because i was trying not to test too much, i wasn't surprised with the results.
She did me a letter saying she was "horrified" to hear about the restriction and told me she would call them and send the same letter to the surgery. She said i was supposed to test 4 to 6 times a day and more if i felt the need to.
I asked her if she could give me some strips as i'm going on holiday next week and i'm not even sure to have some from my surgery b4 i leave. She didn't have the one i needed but gave me instead a brand new tiny meter and 150 strips to go with. Lastly she told me that if they weren't changing my prescription i should change surgery and gave me the address of a much better one she knows in the area.
All this to say...if your doctor persist in being a ******** :evil: , try to make contact with another one that would be specialized in diabetes and try eventually to change surgery.
I feel slightly better after that.
Take care everybody <3

 

[Trinkwasser]

Lastly she told me that if they weren't changing my prescription i should change surgery and gave me the address of a much better one she knows in the area.
All this to say...if your doctor persist in being a ******** :evil: , try to make contact with another one that would be specialized in diabetes and try eventually to change surgery.
I feel slightly better after that.
Take care everybody <3

Excellent! Yes I once had a clueful consultant who did the same thing, advised me to change doctors ASAP and recommended someone. You may find the new doctor is equally restricted by the PCT's prescribing policy but it's certainly worth a try.

 

[annettemc]

I seriously think you need to report the pharmacist,gp or whoever is giving out this sort of limitation on what is a life saving requirement for many Type 1 Diabetics. There are a large number of patients (myself included) who do not have Hypo awareness due to complications of Autonomic & Sensory Neuropathy. It should not be a requirement of having to argue your corner for a few extra test strips a day in order to feel safe and in a conscious state. After all if less testing leads to more hypos and Hospital admissions it is hardly going to save money in the long term.