Getting needle free prescriptions

[EmJJ]

Hi all,

I've been dx with type 2 for some time but recently my HbA1c has spiked. I was in hospital on 4th and discharged with just the disposable pens. Trouble is I am very badly needle phobic and I've resisted insulin for years because of the needle thing. Now I have no choice but to be on insulin. When I was discharged no one checked I could self-administer and I felt like I was being kicked out.

Cut a long story short, the hospital has (eventually) agreed that a needle free device like the insujet would be appropriate but they claim it is 'political' and the GP should fund it. The GP refuses on the grounds that it is not for primary care to prescribe as they have no practice of managing someone on the device. (Even though the hospital said they would show me it and titrate me.)

I cannot administer myself, and have no one who could do it for me. Currently the district nurse comes out twice but I should be having a dose in the middle of the day too. So my BG is much higher than they want.

Does anyone have any experience of a similar situation and how did you resolve it? Does anyone have any advice for me?

Thank you.

Em

 

[abs]

I'm needle phobic same as you nurse had to do mine however they stopped doing it so I came off insulin which made me very ill and had to go back on left to do it myself I've got the BD auto shield needles so can't see the actual needle which helps can take me a hour at a time to do it on bad day.

If you ask for cbt it may help you as well. I know how you feel it's rubbish to be so afraid of something so important that we need and can't deal with.

 

[EmJJ]

Hi abs,

I'm sorry to hear you struggle too. If you can convince them of the benefits there are at least two needle-free versions - insujet and injex. My hospital are now agreeing to getting a needle-less device for me which will be ideal as I simply can't use a needle especially not in public as it turns me into a wreck.

I've had CBT in the past for other things, so I know it can help but this would not be a quick issue to fix and in the meantime I'm going to struggle with work because they won't let me be reduced hours forever... also my partner's mother is a psychiatrist so I asked her advice and she said I'd need to be much calmer to even begin the therapy... it's all time which I don't have. My job won't wait forever and the nurses won't come forever.

It is worth you going back to your GP or hospital and seeing if you could be prescribed these devices too. I can't wait for mine - I want to be independent again!

Em