Monitor

Rachelpoppet said:

Hi all, I was diagnosed last week with type 2. The doctor has given me tablets 1 a day and urine test sticks.
Everything I’ve read said a blood glucose monitor is best so I’ve been out and brought one. Looking on the internet for the test strips and I noticed I could get them on prescription. I rang the doctors and asked and the receptionist said they could of given me a monitor free and I can get the test strips. She left a note for the doctor to do the prescription. They have just rung me back to say because I’m having 1 tablet a day I don’t need to monitor my blood glucose. Is this right?

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Hi @Rachelpoppet ,

That depends wholly on what tablet you're on. If it's metformin or something like it, then no... The doc isn't likely to prescribe a meter. The bulk of us here self-fund, so it's good to get a meter with the cheapest possible strips. The tee2 is good, from what I hear. Thing is, there's a LOT of diabetics out there, and if the NHS had to fund all of them, they'd be bankrupt in no time at all. So it's usually just given to T1's or variants thereof, or T2's who are on blood glucose lowering medication, like gliclazide or insulin, for example. It's not so much a matter of "You don't have to test", more one of "We can't afford for you to.".

I know, it makes little sense. With a meter, control is better, complications and progression of the condition might not arise at all, and medication could well be dropped, but there you have it.

Rachelpoppet said:

I’ve brought my own monitor with strips but I needed to order some more. Before I ordered more strips from Amazon I ring my doctors and Sadler did they do the strips on prescription. The receptionist is the one that said she would do a prescription but the doctor has said no as I don’t need to monitor my blood. This just doesn’t sound right. I take 1 meta form in a day.

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I suspect the receptionist has wrongly presumed that the GP will prescribe them for you, as @JoKalsbeek said not many T2's get strips prescribed unless they are on insulin or other blood glucose medication (metformin is not such a medication).

Also as Jo said blood glucose monitoring will help you control/manage it, but it sounds like you will have to self-fund them.

The manufacturer of the meter you bought cannot say that YOUR doctor would prescribe them for you as they just don't know.
Even as someone on insulin I do not get to choose which meter and strips I get, my doctor/CCG/hospital consultant decides which strips they will prescribe (the cheapest normally, unless there is a very specific reason for a specific set)

Rachelpoppet said:

I am paying for my own but my question is the doctor has said not to monitor my blood, just take the tablet and stick to a low carb diet. Surly I need to keep an eye on what my blood levels are?

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I suspect (this is just my view on it of course) they probably say that because if they said you needed to monitor it then they would probably need to actually prescribe said strips.
As Jo said the only way to see what's going on is to test, pure and simple

Hi @Rachelpoppet and welcome to the forums.

I agree with what has been said above about Drs saying type 2s don’t need to test their blood sugars, if you’re just on diet only or Metformin and diet for control. Many of us here do test but have to self fund it helps us learn, especially in the early stages, which foods cause us a problem. The main cost to you is the strips so that doesn’t necessarily mean going for the cheapest meter, rather go for the cheapest strips as they will be an ongoing cost.


Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.


Home Health have recently bought out the Gluco Navii, but I haven’t heard any reviews yet, links to strips and the meter:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/

There are also discount codes for when you come to buy more strips - "navii5" and "navii10" will give you 20% off purchases of 5 packs of strips and 25% off 10 packs of strips respectively.


Disclaimer, I haven’t used the discount codes that I have quoted recently so I don’t know if they are still current.





Spirit Healthcare have a meter called the Tee2 + found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793

with the strips found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097

Some members have got a free Tee2+ by phoning up to order, with a large order of strips they often throw the meter in for free:

Phone number 0800 8815423


With more expensive strips is their Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual


Edited to update the links


Don’t forget to check the box if you have pre diabetes or diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

Rachelpoppet said:

I am paying for my own but my question is the doctor has said not to monitor my blood, just take the tablet and stick to a low carb diet. Surly I need to keep an eye on what my blood levels are?

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As many of us have found our doctors are relatively clueless on what to do to put T2 diabetes into remission.
Obviously monitoring blood sugar levels is the best way to adjust what you eat to stop spikes.
However the "guidance" means that few will provide you with the way to do it or give the appropriate dietary advice.

Rachelpoppet said:

I am paying for my own but my question is the doctor has said not to monitor my blood, just take the tablet and stick to a low carb diet. Surly I need to keep an eye on what my blood levels are?

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As my own doc put it: "If you can self-fund and keep an eye on your blood sugars yourself, you can experiment all you like with diet. I'm all for it, and I'll order a HbA1c whenever you ask for one. But I can't give you a prescription for strips, as the insurance won't pay for them." (I'm Dutch, no NHS here, but same difference. They're not going to pay, so they can't tell you you need to test.)

Hi @Rachelpoppet

Welcome to the forum. It is a great resource and helped me significantly when I was first diagnosed.

I agree with most on here that the staring point to controlling and potentially reversing your diabetes is monitoring your blood sugars. It gives you control and enables you to modify your diet. It is a shame so many doctors seem to ignore this fact. It is well worth the cost. Look thru the forums and posts and ask any questions you may have. Low carb is good and there are other options as well

Let us know how you are going