GLICLAZADE

@Carlton14 - Hi . Due to NHS cutbacks Meters and Test Strips are not automatically issued on Prescription free now.
Afraid you are going to have to buy your own.
A lot of Forum Members use the SD Codefree Blood Glucose Meter as the Test Strips are the Cheapest to buy, even cheaper if you buy in bulk.
Here is the link for you to take a look:

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose/

If you decide to purchase? In the UK we use mmol/l and state you are Diabetic for vat exemption.
If you buy in bulk these are discount codes.
5 packs = 264086. 10 packs = 975833.

Are you a driver? If so, you need to test before you drive and regularly during longer journeys. This is law for people on your medication. Your doctor should prescribe the strips.

If you are not a driver, this doesn't apply and you will need to buy your own.

Carlton14 said:

I have been prescribed Gliclazade as well as Metformin for my T2 diabetes, my GP has just doubled my dose, I am concerned that this can make me Hypo as all the information I have received via websites and a recent Desmond course appear to suggest that I should test my bloods, I asked my GP to prescribe test strips ans pricks for my TEE 2 meter but was told that T2 could not have these on prescription and should buy my own if I wanted to test.
Surely if he is giving me medication that can cause me to go hypo I should be entitled to get the strips and pricks on prescription
I use the TEE 2 as the strips are less than a quarter the price of most others I live in WIGAN if this makes a difference.

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I too am a T2D on Met (2000mg) and Glic (2 tabs) per day, and yes, it gives me hypo's. Having said that, I find the hypo's from that doseage is relatively mild and easy to deal with, Being on a ketogenic diet helps, in that I burn fat to keep the brain working even if bgl is on the low side due to low carb intake. At present I am dropping regularly into the 2,5 to 3,5 mmol/l bgl some 4 hours after my main meal, but that is close to the bottom of the trough, so a small snack brings me up quite easily/ Glic starts to lose its effectivness at 4 hours, so the risk for me is low. I used to be on 4 tabs a day of Glic, and this was causing deeper hypo's so I had to cut 2 tabs out.

You need to find out what your optimum dose of Glic is and, yes, test regularly. Discover your early warning signs of low bgl and develop your hypo awareness. Glic is gentler than insulin, and more forgiving, so you should not need to panic when the meter bleeps at you.

Although there is a Postcode Lottery effect in our care system, I am not aware that Wigan is a particular problem area. Remember that as a 'registered' PWD you can claim the VAT back from the pharmacy or retailer. You may need to fill in a declaration form for the refund.

My understanding is that meter and test strips MUST be prescribed if one is on an insulin-promoting medication, of which Gliclazide is.

I've been refused a meter at my surgery until I was prescribed Gliclazide, then Glipizide, and now that I've recently been stopped the Glipizide, the GP has left the test strips on my repeat prescription.

I am a car driver but I think the need to test is to prevent/deal with hypos, regardless of being a driver or not.

Is there not something in the NICE guidelines?

Carlton14 said:

Is there somewhere I can find out about that as my GP does not agree

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Have a read of this

https://diabetes.ascensia.co.uk/sta...or-life-pdfs/Driving-and-diabetes-leaflet.pdf

also if you Google something like DVLA diabetes you will see many similar things.

Carlton14 said:

I have been prescribed Gliclazade as well as Metformin for my T2 diabetes, my GP has just doubled my dose, I am concerned that this can make me Hypo as all the information I have received via websites and a recent Desmond course appear to suggest that I should test my bloods, I asked my GP to prescribe test strips ans pricks for my TEE 2 meter but was told that T2 could not have these on prescription and should buy my own if I wanted to test.
Surely if he is giving me medication that can cause me to go hypo I should be entitled to get the strips and pricks on prescription
I use the TEE 2 as the strips are less than a quarter the price of most others I live in WIGAN if this makes a difference.

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NICE guidelines on Self Monitoring
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/1-Recommendations#self-monitoring-of-blood-glucose

The nitty gritty bit from the NICE guidelines, and this does apply to Gliclazide :

1.6.13 Do not routinely offer self-monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes unless:

• the person is on insulin or
  
  
• there is evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes or
  
  
• the person is on oral medication that may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery

miahara said:

The nitty gritty bit from the NICE guidelines, and this does apply to Gliclazide :

1.6.13 Do not routinely offer self-monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes unless:

• the person is on insulin or
  
  
• there is evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes or
  
  
• the person is on oral medication that may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery

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Bullet 3 reads while driving or operating machinery So it is conditional

No it reads may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery the may means it only has to be a possibility.

I am on Metformin and Gliclazide and have been prescribed a meter and strips by my GP. It' annoying that the NHS does not treat everyone the same across the whole country.

JohnEGreen said:

No it reads may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery the may means it only has to be a possibility.

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No, it does not say hypo while walking down the street, or sitting in the bath, or picking uour nose... It is specifically in conjunction with driving or operating machinery, Whether this applies to operating a food processor at home is a moot point that the lawyers can argue over, (or even driving home a nail in the wall). BUT, if you have evidence of hypo events then this overrides clause 3, Think this is an event needing medical assistance that has a logged entry on the medical records. However, those type of events are a reportable incident, and then 2 strikes in a year and you're out (DVLA that is),

RosieLKH said:

I am on Metformin and Gliclazide and have been prescribed a meter and strips by my GP. It' annoying that the NHS does not treat everyone the same across the whole country.

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The word you are looking for is, I think, "Criminal".

Sorry where did I mention anything about having a hypo on the street the bulleted point refers specifically to driving or operating machinery if there is the possibility of a hypo caused by medication.

This obviously would not apply to a non driver but most certainly would apply to someone operating dangerous machinery and I can think of one or two other industrial situations where it should.