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
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.
This post has grabbed my attention plus bunkeys retinopathy post .For several years after I was diagnosed with T2, I was prescribed strips and lancets and all went well in using them. Then suddenly i was told by my GP that it wasn't really necessary to test T2 diabetes and strips and lancets were no longer offered on prescription. However, I had a major shock a few months ago when I started feeling really unwell, having flu-like symptoms. My GP said that there was nothing organically wrong and just take paracetamol. I knew how I felt and went to a local branch of Lloyds' pharmacy where I knew they would check my BG level. It was 25+ and I was horrified. I went straight back to my GP and was immediately taken to hospital to be put on insulin. I'm now an insulin-dependent patient. So, do not listen to those who say you don't need to test for T2 - keep doing it (at your own expense) and you might avoid the situation I ended up in.
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.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
yes it's the early stage that is the most important time, [the learning sstage] 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.
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!Prescribing test strips to all diabetics would be a complete waste of money. 99% of diabetics don't join forums and the vast majority are not interested in adjusting their diet or lifestyle. How many people still smoke knowing the harm it causes ? Also, testing for the sake of if is pointless. How many people test their levels and don't track them or use the data to adjust food ? A blanket rule is pointless. I think ir should be done on a case by case basis. Convine your doc that you understand the importance of testing and prove it will make a difference. This should be for any diabetic, T1, T2 or any other. Education and good dietary advice should come before testing for it to work. Once you understand this, test strips are a necessary tool for better control. Handing a newly diagnosed diabetic a meter and strips with no guidance is ridiculous. Likewise, giving them to someone who's not prepared to make changes is pointkess.
Well said that woman! Hurrah!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 .
how do you know that your dosage is correct?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... :/
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.how do you know that your dosage is correct?
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.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.
Thats fab thank you.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
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I haven't assumed anyone is fat. Thanks.Dannyw. ......why are u presuming all diabetics are fat!!!!! I'm finding your posts a little presumptuous
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.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!
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