Is this correct

I've had diabetes since 1995 and have been on insulin for about ten years. Only once have I had any ketone testing sticks and have never been given any glucose injections. The reason I had the ketone sticks was because I have been through several phases of high sugar levels but they have settled down now I am on the Novorapid and Lantus insulins. Why do you want these items? Is it because your sugar levels are regularly very high for the one and in case you have a hypo for the other? As I sometimes get hypos I always carry a small testing kit in my handbag as well as a mousli bar and either glucose tablets although I have recently found a small bottle of liquid called Gluco Juice in a measured dose of 15g of carbohydrate which is handier than carrying a larger bottle of Lucozade or can of Coke etc. and it obviously works quicker than the glucose tablets.

As for the testing sticks, it depends on how many you are getting through. If you are testing four or more times a day then obviously you will get through a lot far quicker than if you do it a couple of times a day. Have you recently been diagnosed and that's why you are a bit anxious about either being too high or too low? I get two tubs of 50 testing sticks about every month, or whenever I ask for them. My surgery has changed all diabetics over to one particular testing kit as the sticks are much cheaper but the testing kit I use for my handbag is a small one that I bought myself and can buy the sticks from the local pharmacy for about £6.80 for ten which is OK as I don't need to test very often. I test my levels sometimes twice a day, or may go two days without testing and also test sometimes two hours after meals rather than before meals, just to see how certain foods affect me. I just find it strange why you want ketone test sticks as well as glucose injections.

When my 9 year old was diagnosed 6 months ago the Nurse gave me a keytones testing meter and test strips to check it using bloods and also keytone strips for her to wee on.also was given by the docter the glucose injection which we keep in the fridge for emergencys we go three 50 strips a week as she injects for each meal and snacks and so they have upped the perscription to 300 strips a month.if you need anything speak to the docter with your concerns and needs


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

I'm very gratefull to have the glucose injection my worse nightmare would be to find Chloe unconscious and be helpless to help her .i hope we never have to use it but I feel safe that's we have one


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Hi Tizzy!

I've been on basal/bolus for more than 3 years and never had ketone test strips or gluclose injections. However, when i was at the hospital a few weeks back, I was talking to my DSN about how high my BG goes when I'm ill even with a minor illness and she said I should always test for ketones in times of illness. She prescribed me the ketone testing sticks immediately and said she would update it on the computer so the GP will have to put them on my repeat prescription.

As for the BG testing strips - if they try to limit them, complain to the practice manager. They are not allowed to restrict them for those on basal/bolus - they have been issued guidelines explaining this.

Smidge

All people with type 1 diabetes should have access to glucagen hypo kits (hypo) and ketone strips (hyper) to stay as safe and as well as possible. I would complain to your GP. Even if the expiry runs out and they have not been used by you, you should be able to order more of both for that 'just in case' reason!

I agree with Type1Jim. You should have access to these at ALL TIMES.

Put simply Your Drs are playing God!

GloucsterGirl this is different for type one, a musli bar is not sufficent. a Glucogon kit is a last resort and what paramedics carry.

Tizzy Get a referal to the hospital consultant and also get a prescription for 200 sticks a month - its the least your entitled to on whatever monitor you want.

HI. If your diabetes is under reasonable control you should not need ketone strips or glucose injections; I have glucose tablets available. Ketones only tend to develop when you have readings in the 20s/30s and/or your carbs are so low you are often in Ketosis? 200 strips a month sounds very high to me and I'm not surprised the surgery is trying to control that as the cost would be around £80/mth. I'm on Basal/Bolus (a LADA) and do drive but usually only use 1 strip a day; occasionally up to 3. I do have good BS control which obviously helps.

Ketone testing sticks for urine are very cheap at the pharmacy and , according to the vet, glucose by mouth acts faster than glucose injected intravenously. I have a box of glucose powder and one of those syringes[without a needle] you use to give medicine to children. I can use this if T1 husband has a SEVERE hypo. just make up a very concentrated solution in water. I've not had to use my hypo curing kit since I got it. T1 rarely has a hypo and only once in several years something he can't sort out himself. Jelly babies are useful for this, or Lucozade. Why would you need to have injectable glucose? An untrained person wouldn't be able to give it anyway.
Hana

Daibell...
All insulin using persons should be able to have test strips, glucose injections etc to keep safe and well. Tbh I think you are in a minority to be able to get away with using 1 strip a day on a basal bolus regime..
Howevee, hypo and hyper kits should be available to all insulin using people.
Crikey, I think some GP's / nurses are so shortsighted in their thinking of nhs budgets...

Wow!! Demand these items and don't feel you can do without! Ketone sticks are very handy to have incase of illness, if sugars creep up you will beging to get ketones, the strips recognise these quicker than urine dip sticks. As for the glycogen injections, heaven forbid you ever were hypo you might need this, better being safe than sorry!! I follow dafne and check sugars before each meal/snack and sometimes after depending on what I've eaten. If you are type 1 I think have the correct equipment is half the battle


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Just think I should clarify glycogen pen can be given by any1 not just a medically trained person. Correct me if wrong but I believe it releases glycogen for you liver if you are severely hypo. I had to be given this when I was pregnant and lost Hypo awareness, my husband found me when he came in from nightshift collapsed on floor, I'd gotten up to get hypo treatment and didn't make it. If we didn't have that injection I could of went into coma, after that inject i came round quickly, checked over by paramedics and other than exhausted was ok. exhaustedefelt reasonably ok next day.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Hi,
Absolutely shocked and stunned by some of the answers! If you're on a bolus/ basal regime you should be testing blood sugar levels before every meal, before driving, before and after exercise and before bed and any other time you think you may be going low. Every Type 1 should have ketone testing strips, no matter how well you control your levels, when you become ill, you need to check your ketones if you can' t keep your levels down. And every type 1 should have a Glucagen HypoKit and Dextrogel and your nearest and dearest should know how to use them, as it's for them to use if you become unconscious. sweeties and juice aren't much use then. I also have to check my levels every 2 hours at work, I get 200 strips every 3 weeks or so and haven't had any problems getting them so far. And I wouldn't recommend the vet for advise on hypos... :?

Rockape671 said:

Hi,
Absolutely shocked and stunned by some of the answers! If you're on a bolus/ basal regime you should be testing blood sugar levels before every meal, before driving, before and after exercise and before bed and any other time you think you may be going low. Every Type 1 should have ketone testing strips, no matter how well you control your levels, when you become ill, you need to check your ketones if you can' t keep your levels down. And every type 1 should have a Glucagen HypoKit and Dextrogel and your nearest and dearest should know how to use them, as it's for them to use if you become unconscious. sweeties and juice aren't much use then. I also have to check my levels every 2 hours at work, I get 200 strips every 3 weeks or so and haven't had any problems getting them so far. And I wouldn't recommend the vet for advise on hypos... :?

Click to expand...

I agree completely. I also cannot believe people who aren't type one are believing the treatment for their diabetes is the same as ours! It's the same in name only I'm afraid. I get through about 150-200 strips a month but it makes no difference to my control - it's awful. Would people say a pump costs too much the same as strips? At the end of the day type ones need to use every tool at times just to function. Go be forceful and get what you need.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App