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Continuous blood monitoring

J

jacqueline perry

Member
Messages
11
Hello
My son who is 9 has type 1 diabetes. He was diagnosed 13 months ago. A friend of mine who lives in France has told me today that her husband has been fitted with the abbot freestyle navigator system. She says it has changed both his and her lives dramatically. It monitors his blood glucose every minute and gives an alarm if he has a hypo. Would anybody be able to tell me if it is available in the Uk as I would love for my son to be able to have this.
 
Hi Jacqueline

welcome to the forum,

I can't answer your question but it sounds brilliant esp for children and their parents, it must be a nightmare.

Someone will know

Mary x
 
Hi,
I'm glad you mentioned this because I was interested in trying CGM over a few days for myself a few years ago shortly after I was diagnosed type 2. It seemed the most sensible way to find out how blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day and night after foods, drinks and exercise are taken without testing umpteen times a day. It wasnt available to me on the NHS as I'm not on medication and I think privately, at a London diabetes clinic it worked out at something like £200 - £300 for about 2 or 3 days use, a bit steep but in my opinion what price do you put on controlling your diabetes?

I just checked the website http://www.abbottdiabetescare.co.uk and it would appear this system is available in the UK. You can make further enquiries through that web site. Good luck, I'm going to call them next!
 
Hi

Thank you so much.

I have contacted Abbot Diabetes Care and they have told me the continuous monitoring system it is not available on the NHS but it is available to buy at £980.00 and then a monthly cost of approximately £240.00 per month. It makes me really cross that in France you can get it for nothing!
 
Yes thats the figures I was quoted. Bit steep isnt it?! I guess the costs will come down over time but I think it might be a long wait. I dont know where you are based but I contacted London Medical, a private clinic in London and they can fit you up with a CGM for a week for £325 inc consultation. Thats ok if you just wanted to give it a trial but still a lot to fork out!
 
I have heard of a few children and adults in the UK have managed to get funding for a cgms in the UK . I think most have had a lot of difficulty in getting it.
http://www.input.me.uk/cgms-how-do-i-get-one/

They are, as far as I know still pretty rare in France. I have read of some people getting them because of frequent severe hypos and poor control despite pump therapy. I understand that it depends upon individual application to the CPAM (bit like the PCT in the UK) If they are funded it is possible ( TBH don't actually know) that this will not be at 100% so it would then depend on how good the persons top up insurance
There is certainly no-one on one in my area. The hospital has a couple of devices for loan (2 weeks at a time) the sensors for these are paid for by a local diabetes association.
I've used one and it was very useful but I wouldn't like to wear one all the time; it just felt too much to have pump cannula and sensor.
There are also NHS hospitals in the UK that will put people on one for a short time.
 
There are a few T1's with funded CGM's but not many... As there's no NICE guidelines for CGM's you've got to make an application to your PCT Special Fund Committee or what ever they refer as.. As applications for funding are treated as one off's...

But if you are able to self-fund, or want more information about funding etc... www.input.me.uk they have a lot more information and if you contact them they be able to help you
 
As has been said CGM funding is not covered by NICE guidelines and therefore is considered a special case, in all honesty it is extremely unlikely that your son would receive funding on the NHS.

I am in the process of getting an NHS funded pump and as part of this I have been looking at self-funding a CGM... If you put in a private order for a CGM in conjunction with the NHS order then things are a little cheaper for the transmitter.. I have been quoted £475 for the transmitter including 3 sensor and then £525 / 10 sensors... so around £2500 / year in sensors..

Now if you compare that cost vs. the 'high street' price of my test stripes which is around £2200 / year (12 per day @ £25 / 25) then actually the different is not that great... I know the GP price for my strips is £7.89 / 50 or £700 / year. If the NHS were to purchase pumps and CGM's in bulk then I am quite certain the cost would be a lot less that what we have to pay as private individuals and wholly worth while. The fact that the CGM has many benefits over straight blood testing would make CGM seem like an entirely sensible option to offer to those on a pump.
 
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