CGM Sensors on prescription for Type 2 diabetics

[fiona35]

I just wondered if there were many type 2’s on MDI that have actually managed to obtain CGM sensors on prescription?
I’ve previously asked if I can have them and been told no, but wondered who I needed to contact to try and fight for it?
I live by myself and also have Long Covid chronic fatigue and it’s exhausting finger pricking all the time. When I can afford it, I will buy them but it’s a treat and not a regular thing!
My family are concerned about me having hypos and so far I’ve been able to treat by myself due to the fact jelly babies are stashed everywhere!
Is there ‘specific wording’ I should be asking the diabetic nurse?
Thank you

 

[KennyA]

I just wondered if there were many type 2’s on MDI that have actually managed to obtain CGM sensors on prescription?
I’ve previously asked if I can have them and been told no, but wondered who I needed to contact to try and fight for it?
I live by myself and also have Long Covid chronic fatigue and it’s exhausting finger pricking all the time. When I can afford it, I will buy them but it’s a treat and not a regular thing!
My family are concerned about me having hypos and so far I’ve been able to treat by myself due to the fact jelly babies are stashed everywhere!
Is there ‘specific wording’ I should be asking the diabetic nurse?
Thank you

Hi - basically it depends on what your local NHS is prepared to pay for. As CGMs (and blood monitoring generally) are still not thought (officially, via the NICE guidelines) to be an absolute requirement for T2 management, it's unlikely that they would pay for them. This is (part of) what the current NICE guidelines say:

Continuous glucose monitoring​

1.6.17​

Offer intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM, commonly referred to as 'flash') to adults with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily insulin injections if any of the following apply:

• they have recurrent hypoglycaemia or severe hypoglycaemia
• they have impaired hypoglycaemia awareness
• they have a condition or disability (including a learning disability or cognitive impairment) that means they cannot self-monitor their blood glucose by capillary blood glucose monitoring but could use an isCGM device (or have it scanned for them)
• they would otherwise be advised to self-measure at least 8 times a day.

The full guidelines are here:

Recommendations | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

Your argument would need to demonstrate that you fall into one of the above categories - from what you say you might be able to convince them of the "recurrent hypoglycaemia" one.

 

[fiona35]

Hi - basically it depends on what your local NHS is prepared to pay for. As CGMs (and blood monitoring generally) are still not thought (officially, via the NICE guidelines) to be an absolute requirement for T2 management, it's unlikely that they would pay for them. This is (part of) what the current NICE guidelines say:

Continuous glucose monitoring​

1.6.17​

Offer intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM, commonly referred to as 'flash') to adults with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily insulin injections if any of the following apply:

• they have recurrent hypoglycaemia or severe hypoglycaemia
• they have impaired hypoglycaemia awareness
• they have a condition or disability (including a learning disability or cognitive impairment) that means they cannot self-monitor their blood glucose by capillary blood glucose monitoring but could use an isCGM device (or have it scanned for them)
• they would otherwise be advised to self-measure at least 8 times a day.

The full guidelines are here:

Recommendations | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

Your argument would need to demonstrate that you fall into one of the above categories - from what you say you might be able to convince them of the "recurrent hypoglycaemia" one.

Thank you, appreciate your help.

 

[Davidden]

I am 2 weeks into using Freestyle Libre 2 Plus, prescribed by my GP. I have my next review in 9 days when they will decide whether to keep me on it.

 

[Davidden]

I am 2 weeks into using Freestyle Libre 2 Plus, prescribed by my GP. I have my next review in 9 days when they will decide whether to keep me on it.

At my review they were pleased with my progress, but more needed! As for getting the sensors, mine is showing on the App as being on repeat, but ordered it 5 days ago, and still not approved by my GP surgery! They say to allow 5 working days for "collection" at Pharmacy, but as mine closes on Saturday (half day on Sunday) my current sensor expires on Saturday. Prescriptions used to take them a couple of days, but now online it takes 5 working days!

 

[grantg]

At my review they were pleased with my progress, but more needed! As for getting the sensors, mine is showing on the App as being on repeat, but ordered it 5 days ago, and still not approved by my GP surgery! They say to allow 5 working days for "collection" at Pharmacy, but as mine closes on Saturday (half day on Sunday) my current sensor expires on Saturday. Prescriptions used to take them a couple of days, but now online it takes 5 working days!

if its on your repeat slip, i would ask the pharmacy itself to order for you that way should be done in plently time, rather than ordering yourself via online form. other added advantage of above pharmacy usually orders every 28 days so every few months you get an extra sensor more or less. (as 15 days for libre2/3) just remember to rotate 'stock' should also endeavour to keep at least one spare sensor been advised to from DSN as find very difficult fingerprick tbh i wouldnt fingerprick at all if could get away with it

ps 5 working days: is standard for likely weekends dont count either ... surprised ur pharmacy open on sundays dont know of any that do near(ish) to me. libre sensors is not something any pharmacy i'm aware of keeps in stock. couple of days deliverly ontop of couple of days for drs to sign.

 

[lovinglife]

Not all pharmacies do re order prescription any more, I know Boots don’t you have to go via your GP. Even if ordering via a pharmacy they have software that sends a check to your surgery so if it’s not approved by your GP so you are still in the hands of your GP surgery

 

[grantg]

Not all pharmacies do re order prescription any more, I know Boots don’t you have to go via your GP. Even if ordering via a pharmacy they have software that sends a check to your surgery so if it’s not approved by your GP so you are still in the hands of your GP surgery

maybe its location dependant or something? i use boots each time collect repeat prescriptions they ask if they re-order for me i say yes . staff usually pop to dr's surgery drop off then pop back again after lifting the newly signed prescriptions. knew gp or gp's pharmacist had to sign them. agree still in gp surgery hands. i also receive a txt msg from boots to let me know when its ready for collection. saves having to nip down several times incase its not ready (which happend a fair bit before signed up to that service)

 

[lovinglife]

I get the text messages from Boots but I have to order via my GP app

 

[Jaylee]

Hi,

Back when not all T1s were getting the Libre I managed to self fund & push for prescriptions for over 2 years.
One angle I came from at the time was I happened to work on a free range chicken ranch & “blood letting during tests being inappropriate in the food industry?”
Seemed to work for me…

If you’re dealing with food prep or catering. Could be worth a try..
Even for someone working in engineering or mechanic? As an insulin user..

Hope this helps?

 

[Davidden]

Even on repeat I have to go through the GP's online request service. It "should" be a formality, but recently there have been delays, though usually within the 5 working days. This morning - 4 working days! - it was still showing as outstanding (not yet approved), so I called and explained that my current sensor expires on Saturday. My pharmacy closes Saturday, but opens half day Sunday instead. They said they would try and sort it, but later the meds I ordered at the same time had been approved, and sent through to the pharmacy, but the sensor was still outstanding. My pharmacy can usually get items not in stock the next day - delivery is around 10.00 - but not if they don't get the approved prescription through!

 

[Davidden]

My GP do not give out physical prescriptions any more, at least not in my case, but they go through digitally to the pharmacy. I still have to sign in to the App and request them, though, but there is always a "cannot re-order before date"! They do, however, give me 2 months supply of almost everything - except insulin and, now, the sensors!

 

[grantg]

My GP do not give out physical prescriptions any more, at least not in my case, but they go through digitally to the pharmacy. I still have to sign in to the App and request them, though, but there is always a "cannot re-order before date"! They do, however, give me 2 months supply of almost everything - except insulin and, now, the sensors!

is there something in place for when go on holiday if collection date is during time away?

 

[Hopeful34]

My GP do not give out physical prescriptions any more, at least not in my case, but they go through digitally to the pharmacy. I still have to sign in to the App and request them, though, but there is always a "cannot re-order before date"! They do, however, give me 2 months supply of almost everything - except insulin and, now, the sensors!

It's been like this at my surgery for a long time, apart from I have to order every month. If it falls over Christmas or Easter, there's always a few days 'leeway' which enables me to order a number of days before I need them. If you order a day early occasionally, you'll build up a week's 'safety net'.

 

[Davidden]

is there something in place for when go on holiday if collection date is during time away?

I did manage to arrange this once as I was going to Brazil for a month, but stayed away for almost 2! I was OK for insulin, fortunately (as they issued double for me), but managed to source the others locally there without prescription!