Is anywhere prescribing the Freestyle libre?

Hi Marc

That is a common but short sighted approach by CCGs. There is good evidence that Freestyle does enable users to lower HbA1c substantially and there is also good evidence that lower HbA1c results in lower complication rates - but after many years. The evidence will eventually be there but it takes a while to generate. In the meantime damage is being done to the long term health of T1 diabetics by denying them this very effective technology. I have self funded for a year and a half and have reduced my HbA1c to 6.5 (it was previously 8+).
I suggest you write to your MP and to the chairman of your local CCG pointing out the long term cost saving as well as the reduced cost of blood testing strips (using freestyle you will only have to finger stick test a few times a week and before you drive. Before I started on Freestyle I was finger sticking 8 or 9 times a day.
I also suggest you sign the on line petition to Government. (Go to the Government Petition website and search for "Diabetic". It will come up as the top petition. It is getting close to the numbers required to force a Government response. Encourage your family to sign as well.

Good luck

Hi again Marc

here is a link to the petition:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/204550
Please post this link wherever you post.

All the time I'm getting strips I can see a lot and enough for me to know.
I wouldn't want to be tagged by my consultant but I am a type2. I can definitely see why type1s would like it.

Hello all. If your willing to pay for the pods then give Abbotts a call and ask them where locally do they do their information sessions. I told my DN that I was Willing to pay but that I wanted a trail first, she has booked me into an information session. I’ve been told that I’ll get the machine and one pod and it will be up to me to purchase the Pods after.
I know this might not be an option for everyone but for those of us that can afford them this might be the best way to trail before spending the big money.

MarcTurner83 said:

Is anywhere prescribing the Freestyle libre because my area deem is not 'cost effective'?

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I live in France ,and I have been using the freestyle libre for 2 month,its free here on prescription ,as long as a consultant Diabetic specialist give it to you,the software is also fantastic ,I used 360 degrees by Roche before but this is better in my opinion ,my HA1C has come down from 8,8 to 4,8 ,I also use the medtronic 640 G pump also on prescription , I think this combination has made a big change to my life, and think it should be on prescription for all in the UK, after all I noticed the Prime minister Teresa May has a Freestyle monitor on her arm ,good enough for her good enough for all...

I have enquired about it from Rotherham Clinical Commissioning group and have been informed that to get it on prescription you must be testing your blood 6 to 8 times a day and go before a panel

I spoke to my diabetes team in B&NES yesterday.
They say that although the Libre is approved at a high level in the NHS, it is not approved by the local management yet. In fact, they were initially told that it would not be approved but that has got back for a rethink.
The expectation is it will be approved for people with high Hb1AC (but only type 1) for the first year. Then, when improvements are seen, they expect this may be relaxed. Hopefully, Abbot will have sorted out their distribution by then.

My diabetes team did not seem to be happy with this approach but did not have much control over the accountants.
I guess it is a case if making decisions where to spend money and, reading posts on the forum, pumps seem to be more readily given here than other areas.

It's incredibly frustrating that certain areas of the UK will fund via the NHS and other areas won't.
Not only is the personal cost £100 per month, you can now only order two at a time, pay delivery and then wait circa two to three weeks for them to arrive......
Come on British Diabetic Association, this is one of the best break throughs for years. What action is being down to ensure all Type one and others can benefit from this?

I spoke to the people where you order the sensors from, they said since the NHS have started funding to some areas (not mine ), they've become inundated with requests and are struggling :/