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Laughed at for wanting test strips

I had a similar situation recently when my gp of 17 years asked me why I would want to use glucogel (formerly known as hypo stop gel)
 

IMHO being newly diagnosed you need to be able to test extensivly. Primarily to ensure that you are not eating the wrong things.

She sat there & actually laughed at me as if I was stupid. I'm fuming. How dare she?
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Sounds like you need a new GP. Probably also to make a complaint about your current one. If that is what actually happened.
 
"Sounds like you need a new GP. Probably also to make a complaint about your current one. If that is what actually happened"

Yes that's exactley what happend. I bought some myself now & use them sparingly.
 
I have never been prescribed strips/lancets since being diagnosed 4 years ago. I was told that it was a new NHS mandate and that unless you're on Insulin you cannot be prescribed them. Personally, I think it's stupid because I firmly believe that you need to test to find out which foods/activities affect your blood sugars so you can make the necessary adjustments.

I recently signed up for the Type2Testing program (https://www.type2testing.com) and got my new kit today. I received a new meter, 200 lancets. 100 strips and all the necessary literature. It's only costing £11.83 per month which is much better than having to pay out the full cost of it all up front. My first reading (before breakfast) was 11.5 so I need to work on it but hopefully with this kit I can lower these levels and get back on track.

Take care

Jayne
http://handmadebysujays.typepad.com/
 
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How very dare she laugh at you... you were quite right in what you said. She was very rude and unprofessional. You ought to report her... to somebody.
 
I have argued with my own GP's about the NHS wide policy of no testing strips for T2's. I think its appalling, neglectful and down right suicidal!

The NICE guidelines are that T2's should not be given testing strips unless on medications (like Gliclizide) which can cause random hypo's. Unfortunately Metformin does not fall into this bracket! That does not mean you cannot experience hypo's whilst on it, just that NICE does not consider it a problem.

I also believe that newly diagnosed should be given testing strips for a minimum of 6 -12 months in the period of adjustment on new medications and learning to control their diet and blood sugars. This also seems no longer to be policy.

As I am on Gliclizide I was able to argue with my GP for the need to have some strips but I still only get given 50 strips every 2 months. That's not even enough for 1 strip per day and if I have a day of bad hypo's then I use a bunch up in one go. But I am lucky I even get those.

You can buy testing strips yourself if you can afford to. Depending on which monitor you have, they vary in price. But I personally see self testing as a huge part of my diabetic control and cannot for the life of me understand how the NHS does not agree!!!

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Classed as T2 (hereditary gene on both sides of my family)
HbA1c at diagnosis (old numbers) 29.7
Last HbA1c (new numbers) 34 (told this is too low! I disagree)
500mg Metformin x3 (recently reduced from 850mg)
40mg Gliclizide x2
Low carb diet
 

I don't believe this is actually the case. Recommendation R23 (the third bullet point) of the guidelines clearly states that self monitoring should be available to newly diagnosed type 2's so that they can monitor changes in glucose control as a result of changes of either medication or lifestyle.
 

Yes you're right, NICE also states newly diagnosed should be given strips (not that they are being it seems), but I was talking about specifically medications like Metformin in long standing diabetics, not newly diagnosed.
 
Its down to the HCP and the GP whether or not they will prescribe strips for T2's, there is no overall ruling saying no strips.

I'm in very low dose metformin only, and have no problem getting strips from my GP for my Glucomon RX, shame its a rubbish meter because they wont give me strips for the meter I actually use and trust, so i still end up self funding.


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The type 2 testing quoted by Jane seems more expensive than the codefree but I am not at home so cant check the prices ? anyone ?
CAROL
 
bopeep12300 said:
"Sounds like you need a new GP. Probably also to make a complaint about your current one. If that is what actually happened"

Yes that's exactley what happend. I bought some myself now & use them sparingly.
Click to expand...
Your doctor just doesn't want to cough up for the strips. I had same to do with mine before he finally admitted the truth. It's like anything - the budget is not infinite. I would write a letter of complaint because her behaviour was unprofessional and unpleasant. I would also refuse to see her again. Can't recommend the sd codefree monitor enough. I bought mine from ebay and pay £7 per pot of 50 strips. They always arrive the next day and the postage is free. Please make sure that they arrange your annual eye test. They should test your feet regularly. Is their a clinic at the hospital? My dn was such a stroppy moo that when I refused to follow the healthy plate NHS model, she referred me to the hospital to get a ticking off. Unfortunately (for her) I was put on the wrong list and saw the consultant. He was absolutely furious about the lack of help I had received and made the appropriate eye referral and checked my feet. He also copied my doc in on the eye referral.
 
Diabetes care at the moment in the NHS appears to be somewhat of a lottery. If you are luck you get an understanding GP who has some decent knowledge of diabetes and will refer you for the necessary checks. Most still will not prescribe strips though and its now NHS wide like that for the most part. My Mum as a T1 even had her strips and monitor forcibly changed to a horrible inaccurate cheapo one and they then tried to limit her strips to one pot per 2 months. Until I reminded them politely that there is no restriction on T1 insulin dependents in the NICE guidelines. They were trying it on to see who would complain. Many wont im sure because they dont know their rights!

I get sent letters all the time about my retinopathy checks, even when I've had it! But I have never been voluntarily offered a foot check. I have asked for them (although my feet are fine at the moment). My local Diabetic nurse didnt even know how to work a blood glucose monitor so I dont bother seeing her, I just deal with my GP who is pretty good. But if you're not getting offered the checks you need and deserve keep banging on doors til they give them to you is all I can suggest and change the GP you are seeing if you dont get either the care or respect you deserve!

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Classed T2 (hereditary gene on both sides of the family, 4th generation diabetic)
HbA1c at diagnosis (old numbers) 29.7
Last hbA1c (new numbers) 34
500mg x3 Metforming (recently lowered from 850mg)
40mg x2 Gliclizide
Low carb
 
There are a lot of rigid mental attitudes and fossilized views in the NHS which is exacerbated by the left arm typically not knowing what the right arm is doing.

A lot like the House of Commons.

Look after yourself and don't rely on them. They will let you down.
 
Hi, I'm approx 8 weeks into having diabetes, as bg was so high I was put on gliclazide and metformin. After 1 week I was given a meter (GlucoRx nexus) this was great. I started to understand what causes highs and and lows in my bg. My doctor signed me off work for 7 weeks, this allowed me to start loosing weight going to the gym, controlling my food intake and getting fairly stable bg results (5.6 to 7.2).After 3 weeks gliclazide was stopped and metformin increased. Now I've had my strips stopped as I return to work due to my good results. Apparently this is all good now as I will get a yearly test. I tried to explain to the doctor and diabetic nurse that I'm away from home for 5 days a week, and my diet becomes more varied in hotels and less control over what is available. I was then given the usual talk, "metformin controls everything great you and are only type 2 so don't need to test. It will actually do more harm than good. You should not try to stay at your present levels as you will become far worse and will have more complications later". I thought being and staying high was more damaging to your health and that was why I was admitted to hospital at first. Anyway back to work and results range from 3.2 to 9.8. Maybe stress, diet, food eating times are involved but I'm not happy with this. I plan to remain testing and will stick 2 fingers up to my medical team and try to find a team that understands diabetes not just reading an out of date book as mine seem to have done!
 
What a shame! I thought you'd got a forward thinking doc! I'd just like to make it clear that metformin doesn't stop you going hypo at all. I was 16 stone 1lb and did what you did. Took it seriously and got my bs stable and seriously went to town on the weight. As a result of the weight loss and reduced bs the metformin ended up sending me too low. I ended up hypo and the parametric had to be called.i was 3. Something . Can't remember. You should do fasting bloods daily and I usually test 2 hours after food or if I feel funny. You should ask your doc for an hba1c test - ideally fasting so they can check cholestrol too. My doc does this (now I've got a decent one) every 3 months. I halved my bs levels in less than 3 months. I now weigh 14 stone 3lbs. My bs is between 6-7 fasting, goes down to the 5s by mid morning and starts to increase to 6-7 in the evenings. If my bs is 8 I feel really dizzy and rubbish. The same if it's below 4.
I would buy a meter if your doc won't give you one. Ebay is the cheapest - sd codefree. Strips are £7 - 2/3 cheaper than shops and pp is free. Have you considered LCHF if you are away from home. I don't eat pasta, rice, bread or potatoes. Obviously no cakes etc. cheese, nuts, meat, fish, fried brekkie all good. You don't have to weigh anything. If you like the sound of it, check out www.dietdoctor.com. (Website is written by a doc in Sweden who specialises in obesity and diabetes! ) good luck!
 
Ha ha, very funny. I've paid national insurance for 35 years and my doctor now has a budget and type 2 Diabetes is low priority as metformin is the only thing I need apparently. Time to reassess my doctors I think! Taking my health care seriously is important to me at least!

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mark51 said:
you and are only type 2 so don't need to test. It will actually do more harm than good.
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I cannot and never will understand these types of comments from doctors. Aren't they supposed to be scientists? Since when is any data bad, as long as you know the context of that data (e.g meter +/- 20%). It does them more harm because they like the control and don't want to see their dogma challenged.
 
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