SewK8 said:
Hi I am having huge issues with my gp about prescriptions for starting on my pump. (I start on Thursday)
Anyway, one new thing to worry me is I have been given 2. X 10 ml vials of novorapid . How long is this supposed to last me. Do you only get 2 at a time? I have been refused my optimum ketone strips and aviva strips for the blood machine and have been given an icare/sense test machine and been told that is all I need!
I am very worried about this and am going to speak to my DSN on Thursday. But what do you all get on prescription?
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Hi
Try not to get yourself into a 2 and 8 over this.
The two x 10ml vials will probably last you about 1-2 months but this depends on how much insulin you will need in the pump cartridge every week. Usually about 20% less insulin is needed every day in a pump compared to what is needed as a total daily dose using mdi so you'll be able to calculate from that as your guide.
Regarding the problem with the prescribing of Aviva strips...... get your hospital pump dsn to liase with your GP surgery either by phone or email and then they will be able to explain the necessity for you to have Aviva strips instead of the Caresense. Unfortunately, the Spirit Combo pump and meter will only work accurately with the Aviva strips because of the bolus wizard being on the meter and not on the pump itself. I'm sure that communication from the pump dsn will sort it all out for you. In the meantime though, so that when you get the pump and insulin in it etc...... take 50 Aviva strips with you (from pharmacy or that well known online market place and forget morals etc) as the pump rep wont have any (mine didn't) and then you'll be able to do a bg test, eat some carb, enter the amount in the bolus wizard and heyho press the bolus delivery button and away the insulin goes through the tube and into the infusion set - amazing is what I felt as I thought there was nothing to using a Flexlink set in the inserter (easy .....) and the rep showed me (quickly mind) how to prime the tube and the set and the pump dsn set up the beginner basal rates for me and I programmed them in the pump and after about 1.5hrs with the dsn and rep, they were happy, I was happy and it was bye bye and I was off out of the hospital making my way home carrying what seemed to be a suitcase full of pump stuff and manuals.
Although the pump dsn will want you to have a blood meter to detect keytones...... unfortunately, its not the hospital that dispenses the keytone strips through the hospital pharmacy, the buck is passed to the GP and the CCG they come under to prescribe and question are raised because they are costly and often expire without ever being used.... but its sensible to get something to act as a prevention and take the correct action rather than have a diabetic becoming very unwell and needing to be admitted to hospital. But let your pump dsn sort this out for you and don't worry.
All the best
(Ive sent you a PM... pse look at it and then have a think)