Have you been told not to test your blood sugars?

Yes but not to the excessive extent some people do. If you are ill or on new meds or something that could affect their blood sugar then I totally agree. And periodical testing is wise. But not to an excessive amount stable diabetics do. I don't know if that's part of the reason why the withdrawal of testing strips etc are happening

 

This is drifting off topic. OP asked about people getting poor advice re: testing i.e were you told not to test and what reason was given. It is not about who gets test strips for free and who doesn't.

Clearly everybody needs to test initially to understand what their BG is doing and how things affect it. Some can then reduce the frequency of testing but still need to test occasionally to make sure they're still on track. Many of the best-controlled non insulin dependents test only once a day or even less once they've worked out what the foods they most frequently eat do to them, but at first they tested frequently. All insulin dependents have to test frequently. That's not being derogatory to anyone, it's just a fact. However, many non insulin dependents are told they don't need to test from the beginning and that is just plain wrong.

Smidge

 

I was told plain and spile that as I was type 2 I did not need to test and was told I couldn't have any more strips even though my sugars are not under control and my meds have bn increased

 

Simple lol

 

What scares me the most is the fact that I have signs of retinopathy and am worried that if it's not under control then it will get worse

 

And yet, if you had been testing you would have spotted that your blood glucose was too high, and could have taken steps to adjust your diet to prevent that retinopathy from developing. I think you just proved that testing would have been incredibly useful to you.

 

I've been told that as a type 2 on metformin and linagliptin that i don't need to test....haven't tested myself since 2011... :/

 

It's disgusting how the government can put a price on people well being, they should help those who have been unfortunate to fall into the diabetic trap whether type 1 or 2 & do more to stop the onset of type 2, when it's mainly due to the junk sold in shops etc.

 

Totally agree Paul59. If only the NHS would allow peeps to test in the early stages and also provide the proper guidance as to how to use the results to manage their diet they would possibly save a lot of money that is being spent on medication, not to mention having to develop services to manage diabetics

 

This post has grabbed my attention plus bunkeys retinopathy post .
If these members didn't use a meter and test strips - how can they know things need attending to ?
Just like the poor man akphoto above .

No diabetic should be without test strips .
Nor should ever be told to not test their own BG levels .

Another point I feel is a concern is - for those who are already self funding
their own test strips .
Once we are steered down this pathway - what else ? would the system/laws make
us start self funding ???
Easy for them to say - if they can pay for own test strips - they can start to
pay for more diabetic tools,aids,meds even eventually .

Please remember it is virtually impossible for any diabetic to accurately 'guess' their
own blood glucose levels !
Hence my feeling is the system/law needs a total reshuffle or relooking at for
all of us .

 

yes it's the early stage that is the most important time, [the learning stage], learning to know what your intake does to your blood glucose level, so you eat the right foods & cut the risk of diabetic complications. "oh cause can't get a meter or strips " oh well just have to hope I'm doing the right thing to decrease the risk of diabetic complications. Hmmm more distress if I do get it wrong. thanks NHS just cause you have no idea about diabetes unless you have it.

 

I'm not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me Paul59?

I have to add though, that now I see a specialist nurse who seems to be a bit more open minded, when I told her my GP wouldnt prescribe testing kits she rolled her eyes heaven-wards!

 

In an ideal world I would agree with you. However it is now used as an excuse not to give out strips. I am an educated, intelligent woman. I am perfectly capable of understanding my meter. I use the data to inform my meal choices. I have radically altered my diet. Would my DNS/doc give me a meter? Err no! I had to buy my own. The only reason I got one 4 months later was because the locum prescribed one after I begged!
Many people don't change their diet (I work with such a person) but the advice I was given by the half wit DNS who spoke to me was to follow the eat well plate which allows you to eat what you want but control the portion size and that I didn't need to test. Utter rubbish. How can you know if the food you are eating is having a harmful effect if you cannot measure it's impact upon your bs? Many people follow the advice of their DNS or doc to their detriment. You only have to read the previous post where the posters bs was 25, having followed the advice of the doc!

 

Well said that woman! Hurrah!

 

how do you know that your dosage is correct?

 

At the moment having bloods taken every 3 months until the results are ok. Adjustments to meds are done after that. Am low carbing so it would be interesting to check results myself so will be ordering test strips soon.

 

If they won't give you a meter then you can buy an SD code free meter from the following link. If you use the discount code you can buy the strips for £5 a pot but you have to buy 5 pots at a time. First class postage is 50p. It'll cost £12 for the meter so initial cost of £37 but you'll have about 5 months of strips.
http://www.homehealth-uk.com

 

Thats

Thats fab thank you.

 

I haven't assumed anyone is fat. Thanks.

 

Thanks. I'm not saying anyone should be denied strips. I was just saying prescribing them to everyone regardless is pointless as lots aren't interested. Also, unless they are accompanied by training so you understand the numbers and how they are affected it's a waste. Those diabetics that read and post on forums are a rare breed and are certainly not typical of the diabetic population. I'm well aware that most members here would benefit from strips.