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Had my appointment - need advice.

C

caroluk

Active Member
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30
Good Morning all,

Firstly thank you for all the fantastic advice this forum and members have already given me it really is appreciated.

I had my appointment this morning for my ECG full bloods and a "chat" with the nurse practitioner who is monitoring my diabetes. ( lost 6lbs too whay hey ) :)

I asked her for testing strips and was refused :shock: she said " we will talk about monitoring at your next appointment" I politely told her i know about testing due to having had gestational diabetes where i was on insulin and she said the PCT ( Think thats who she quoted ) said newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics who are controlled by diet need only test once a week!

I said i wanted to test so i can get good control she then went on to tell me the strips cost £15 for 50 and that the practice alone spent £20,000 on strips last year and they had been told to cut back!

Now i have an appointment on Friday with my GP who is lovey but i feel i may now need to convince him that i need to test a lot being newly diagnosed to find out which foods affect my sugar levels.

I called in at the chemist to check how much the strips for my monitor are and almost fell on the floor when he priced them at £22.80 for 50.

Can some one please arm me with the info i need to present to my GP on Friday so that i get the strips.

Oh the nurse also told me she thought i had made too many changes too quickly and that as i had only just slipped into diabetes ( fasting 7.2 ) then if i wanted a treat i should allow myself treats.

Confuddled Carol x
 
Hi
Not type 2, but maybe check National Institute for CLinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on testing for type 2's, I've saw others mention it as a way to gain leverage - maybe threaten to take it further?
Also quote to your GP about the UKPDS study on type 2 - google it and see for more detail

If the worst case scenario arises and they refuse, ask for some strips to start off with just to see what effects you and in the worst worst case scenario - check ebay. My strips are also about £24 quid but ebay are doing them for £10 - though i do get my free.
Just check expiration date, and feedback of the seller if you are doing this.

Its hard being insistent with health profs, irrespective of how much you advocate for yourself and consider yourself capable they have a knack at times of making you feel silly for worrying about your diabetes so much. Your DSN sounds like mine, suggesting you carry on as before in terms of foods and portions if I want it (sugary stuff, high fat stuff aside).

Hope this helps
 
Carol,

See this post for a summary of NICE guidelines and link to the latest full NICE guidelines and this one for a response to the first post. I've made an FOI request for the advice issued by Sue Roberts.

NICE argue that although studies show that testing does nothing to help a patient control blood glucose levels, self testing should be offered to newly diagnosed type 2s. Your PCT may argue that by allowing you to test once a week that they are providing you with the capability to test. But you need to be able to test effectively, and once a week cannot be, in anyone's mind (except that is for an accountants) be effective.

PCTs argue that studies show that self testing causes stress and anxiety, so presumably you will need to demonstrate that you are able to interpret results and act upon that interpretation. My GP visibly relaxed when I took a little graph of the previous 30 days readings in and demonstrated that I knew what had caused the spikes and had a plan to avoid repeating those spikes (i.e. avoid that food or decrease the portion size, or walk that extra yard).

You're on diet and exercise control aren't you? If so, by paying for your prescription, you are meeting half the cost to the NHS - so strips may cost the NHS £14.53 but (presuming you are in England) you are meeting 49% of that cost directly and, it could be argued, the remaining 51% indirectly. Testing should be viewed as preventative medicine, by allowing you to better manage your BG you are delaying the onset of complications.

Hope this helps. Regards, Tubs.
 
Thank you so much for all your replies and i feel much better armed now.

I may not have to fight my GP for the strips ( hoping not ) But i do feel so strongly that i should be testing and monitoring what foods do what to me especially in these early weeks.

The reason i didn't fully challenge the DN is because it was obvious to me she really didn't want to be the one scribing to me - you could almost see the £££££ signs in her eyes when i mentioned the strips!

I have copied all the info i need and will go in to him head held high and ready to do battle lol I will let you know ow i get on Friday.

Once again thank you!

Carol x
 
If I were you I would buy an Accuchek Compact meter - this comes with a drum of 17 strips as opposed to the 5 or 10 which are supplied with other meters (but check the prices first)

Use the strips thuswise

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

print that information out, or there's a short version here

http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2008 ... blood.html

Also see

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2007/ ... udget.html

Take the numbers in to your doctor

You probably won't succeed in getting any strips prescribed but at least you'll show you know what you are doing!

Bear in mind the DSN has probably been indoctrinated into believing that you caused the diabetes yourself by being fat and lazy and therefore don't deserve any better. Also bear in mind she has probably never seen anyone NOT progress rapidly and therefore doesn't believe it is possible
 
Thanks for the links! lots more reading to do when the little one is in bed :)

Have sent my other half back to the chemist as we decided £22.80 was worth my sanity for a few days besides i don't actually see it as a waste of money as i must be the most irritable c*w on the planet at the moment to live with and think i will feel better once i actually have an idea of what my numbers are doing.

Will take my readings/mealplans etc to the GP's on Friday to show him i know what i'm doing.

Thanks everyone!

Carol x
 
Ok so if i have this right as someone new to testing i should roughly be looking at...

Morning time under 6

before meals under 6.5

2 hours after meals 7.5 or under

Is this correct? just tested ( oh that feels good to actually test!! i feel like some kinda adrenalin junkie that just got a kick lol ) and my before tea reading is 5.9

I will start a food diary tonight and list everything.

Oh if i could hug you all i would !

Carol (x feeling much less irratable and othr half is giving huge sighs of relief )
 
just to add my tuppenceworth

i got strips from ebay £20 & post for 100 and they are sound

i think we have to be able to work out what our body is doing regardless of the HPs and for me it was worth the costs, especially as i now think i have got the hang of it so i am not wasting them as i did the first week :evil:

let us know how you get on with the doc and give it to them girl!
 
Your GP/Practice is essentially acting unethically by denying you testing strips. The very fact the nurse dared to bring economics into it shows their complete lack of understanding and/or caring.
 
I aim for non-diabetic numbers at all times and if I'm buying strips, I get them ddirect from Abbott Diabetes Car3e, who supply them for half the retail price and include p&p
 
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