Anonymous Question Is this right? Testing...

[Anonymous Question]

I attend a diabetes check up every 3 months and now the nurse has left and a new one taken over, when I saw her last she removed my testing strips from my repeat prescription and said I only need to test once a week, I used to test 4 or 5 mornings and any time I felt unwell, is this right? I saw her in April and she said come back in August, she started me on another tablet, Januvia but they are finished now and they are not on my repeat, I'm actually glad of that cos they made me nauseous and my joints ached badly. I have type 2 diagnosed 7 years ago.

 

[GrantGam]

Hello,

This issue seems to crop up time and time again, regarding type 2 diabetics and their eligibility for prescription test strips. It's pretty unfair...

Fight your corner and try and get them back on your prescription. Failing that, apparently the CodeFree meter has the cheapest test strips currently available at £6.99 or so for x50.

You should test as much as you feel the need to. It's easy for a non-diabetic to tell you to test once per week, but it's definitely in your interest to test more regularly. Especially when you are unwell.

The below link is for reference only, you may or may not find them the meter or strips cheaper elsewhere.

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/

All the best,
Grant

 

[jonnoras]

What a sham!!! How the hell are people with diabetes supposed to manage their health (blood) without the information needed to do so. The "diabetic epidemic" is all over the news surely the NHS would want people to reduce their chance of diabetic complications? Testing equipment and strips should be made available.
J

 

[GrantGam]

What a sham!!! How the hell are people with diabetes supposed to manage their health (blood) without the information needed to do so. The "diabetic epidemic" is all over the news surely the NHS would want people to reduce their chance of diabetic complications? Testing equipment and strips should be made available.
J

Most definitely.

However, it's something you may have to argue your case strongly for. Fingers crossed your new nurse is prepared to listen.

Good luck,
Grant