has anyone been refused test strips for type 2

Hi nannybee,

Welcome to the forum.

I live in the North East of England and my nurse has said my "allowance" for the year is 4 tubs (50 strips per tub).

I was tired for the whole of last year (before diagnosis) and frequently fell asleep when I sat down (virtually anywhere :shock: ). Sunday lunches invariably saw me going for an afternoon nap afterwards.

I feel much better now I'm diagnosed, low carbing, eating lots of fruit. veg and salad with NO sugar, chocolate, etc.

I have to test a minimum of twice a day, and have to say my diabetic nurse provides me with prescriptions for everything, which includes test strips and lancets and even the little books for writing it in. It might be worth enquiring through a local diabetes group to see what other people in the area do to get theirs

Hello Nannybee , I`m Type 2 and also am refused strips . i have tried every arguement possible but no avail , they wont budge . I`m not on any meds , am controlling with diet and exercise but am struggling, not for lack of effort but simply because to truly find out what suits me, I surely need to test ! I was fortunate enough to be given a load of strips by a friend who has changed monitor but will run out before long so am rationing them and not testing as often as I would like to . My nurse offered me Metformin but I said no as I wanted to try and controll myself but, as strips are given freely to those on meds by my nurse , its now tempting to take them in order to get the strips .

For anyone in a similar situation, I have 2 unopened boxes of Optium plus test strips, they are in date till march 2011, my nurse changed my meter today to a different brand and the pharmacy wouldnt accept these back despite the fact they are unopened.

So if anyone out there has an Optium meter, and would like the strips (100) in total, would be happy to mail them to you

The PCT's tell the doctors what they can prescribe.

These are the NICE guidelines for self monitoring of blood glucose.

1.4 Self-monitoring of plasma glucose

1.4.1 Offer self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education. Discuss its purpose and agree how it should be interpreted and acted upon.

1.4.2 Self-monitoring of plasma glucose should be available:

• to those on insulin treatment
• to those on oral glucose-lowering medications to provide information on hypoglycaemia
• to assess changes in glucose control resulting from medications and lifestyle changes
• to monitor changes during intercurrent illness
• to ensure safety during activities, including driving.

1.4.3 Assess at least annually and in a structured way:

• self-monitoring skills
• the quality and appropriate frequency of testing
• the use made of the results obtained
• the impact on quality of life
• the continued benefit
• the equipment used.

1.4.4 If self-monitoring is appropriate but blood glucose monitoring is unacceptable to the individual, discuss the use of urine glucose monitoring.

Ask them to justify why they are not following the guidelines.

Unfortunately these are just guidelines not rules!

My spare test strips have now found a home, ty to everyone who asked about them

I was dx Dec 20th 2009 with type 2 diabetes and am on diet and excercise until end of March when I will have another blood test to see if I need medication. I have been refused test strips and they want me to test my urine. One fasting result and one 2 hours after a meal. I said that testing on a morning was pointless as it nothing has ever shown up or do they mean before a meal when I havent eaten for a while. And if so, how many hours do they mean when they say fasting. They couldnt tell me. I discovered after eating shredded wheat or granary bread, my sugar levels show and this is the only time I ever get a reading on a urine strip. They didnt know why and just told me to carry on testing. What is the point??? If they would fund even one lot of strips, I could work out for myself what food is causing me problems and not eat it but they wont. I despair.................. I live in Hartlepool by the way

Debbie

I think that I would have been refused strips if my consultant had not told me to ask the GP for them because she wanted me to test. It was clear that my GP was not happy so I may not have them for long. :roll:

It is such a short-sighted policy that it really makes you wonder why? Is there some reason why people cannot be allowed to get to grips with diabetes? :evil:

Thrifty - If you cannot persuade your GP to give you a prescription you may well have to splash out and get your own meter and strips. The DNsoften have meters given to them to hand out to patients or you can get one from the 'competition' thread on here - if it is still going. Controlling your diabetes is probably the most important thing you can do for yourself at the moment.

Just written you a long post which has disappeared Synonym. Anyway. .... will prob buy strips myself as I bought a meter with 10 strips and lancets and can tell by using that that my bg levels are fluctuating wildy. Angry that I have had to teach myself how to do this as they will only consider urine strips. Fortunately, Youtube has plenty of videos showing how to check your bg but ridiculous when you consider how much money we could save the NHS in the long term by getting our bg levels under control.....

Best wishes
Debbie

hi, i have been diagnosed since nov last yr, & at first was refused strips, but as my levels are still high i have been allowed a tub off strips :lol: been told to write a food diary for a couple off weeks and record the results, and come back. i asked how often to test & dr said TWICE A WEEK whats the point in that?? to me that is a waste off strips. there is no point in bothering

I was told twice a week too Sue but with urine strips. What a waste of time and money. I get free prescriptions anyway as I am receiving treatment for breast cancer too and I know that urine strips are much cheaper than bg ones but for what they tell you..it is a pointless exercise. Maybe they think that I will think that I am being proactive....lol
Debbie
:lol:

Hello again Debbie

There might be a chance of talking them round if you prepare your arguments very carefully and perhaps even print them out so they can’t just shut their ears – what do you think?

Thats a good idea. I have downloaded various documents from this site which help you state your case and managed to get 100 test strips from ebay last night for £20 and free postage so will continue to self monitor using those. Hopefully, I will be able to determine which foods are not good for me through a process of testing and elimination. Have also bought a carb counter and intend to try to lower my carbs. Any idea what level of carbs I should be aiming for?

Many thanks for your posts by the way. Always find this site really helpful

Regards
Debbie
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Just realised. Looks like I am permanently on the comp but just logged on and you have just posted by coincidence...lol

Hi Debbie

If you start it off and post it on here as a separate thread you will undoubtedly get some valuable input and it could become a valuable resource. 8)

Then when you have it sorted it could make a good thread for others to refer to who are in the same position as you.

I expect that someone will now come along and tell us it has already been done - and where we can find it! :lol:

Thanks Synonym, I might do that.

Debbie
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