MY STRIPS REPEAT PRESCRIPTION HAS BEEN CANCELLED

[hankjam]

@13lizanne sorry to read about your strips, scunner. Really is a short sighted and then we've never been too good a prevention.
I started with a Codefree and I'm not sure if I got a duff one. I answered one the "Free Testing device" on this site and lo and behold a Bayer rolled up. For sometime I tested both side by side and most of the time they were pretty close, Bayer nearly always gave 90% of the CF. Then the CF started to be unreliable... cutting out at the vital time... blood having been taken and counting down... it could not remember the date.. and constantly low battery. There came a time when I wasn't testing so often, three times a day, so decided to stick with Bayer. Strips are not cheap but the device it's self is way better than the CF in terms of data downloads... which differs from my FitBitSpit...
Your recent numbers are looking pretty good. I hope things are more settled with you on the stresses front.
LipStick, less is more!

 

[Oldvatr]

News Flash: Scientists announce Lipstick is really bad for Scottish people due to their gene makeup (!)

You're just to good to be diabetic.

Also, lipstick on your collar can be Fatal!!!!

 

[Oldvatr]

Usually you can only use the strips supplied specifically for the meter so I think that the answer would be no. You can buy a codefree meter which comes with case, lancing pen, and a small amount of lancets and strips for under £12. I bought a meter plus an extra 5 pots of 50 strips for under £40 today

My NEO threw a fit when I tried to feed it Codefree strips.They are not interchangeable.

 

[Oldvatr]

I had a discussion with my GP about this. I am on scrip for my strips because (a) my DSN recommended it as being necessary for my treatment, (b) I am on Gliclazide, so met the NICE guidelines for this support (c) I am a driver, so need to adhere to DVLA requirements. As a final tick in the box, I was already self funding and had demonstrated that I understood my condition and had already succeeded in reducing my bgl by altering my meds regime from my test results.

My GP pointed out that self monitoring is an expense the Practice pays for from their budget, Having looked up what the NHS pays for my brand of strips this is £30 every 4 weeks. The drugs I am on cost less than £10 for same period, so even thoughI am able to reduce my dosage, I am saving them diddley squat compared to my test costs. I eventually won the argument by showing that if I was put on Insulin, then my test regime would have to increase along with other overhead costs, and since I had already proven that my HbA1c can easily exceed 100 on a good day, then it became a no contest.

 

[Catlady19]

I only had prescriptions for strips whilst on gliclazide NEVER during the 9 1/2 yrs when taking metformin. You were the "lucky" one getting a prescription while on metformin

Ahh, didn't know about the Gliclazide! It's ridiculous that you have lowered your BG by careful testing and low carbing, saving the NHS a lot of money and then they take the strips away which must be cheap compared to the meds!

 

[Oldvatr]

Ahh, didn't know about the Gliclazide! It's ridiculous that you have lowered your BG by careful testing and low carbing, saving the NHS a lot of money and then they take the strips away which must be cheap compared to the meds!

Unfortunately,as far as the GP practice is concerned, the big costs that I as a T2D on orals and diet represent is GP appointments for diabetes review, Health care appointments for diabetes screening checks, laboratory test reports (usually contracted out to private labs nowadays) and any specialist services (podiatary, diet, ). Then the cost of the meds we take are small compared to the share of overheads that are necessary to support the services mentioned above (GP salary, receptionist, heating, lighting etc) I have reduced some of my meds, but this has not really impacted on my footprint on the practice.

One could argue that by avoiding more serious complications is a saving, but this is borne by the NHS, not the GP practice budget, and also is not easily costed for since it is a 'maybe' not a regular monthly charge such as test strips.

It becomes a discussion when you add in the additional cost of supporting an insulin habit with A&E attendances for hypo, extra training support, and mandatory (?) test capability, and more consumables. Although we desevedly applaud those who have got their bgl down to reasonable levels, the economics this represents is not so significant to the prescriber who has to adhere to NICE and the Practice Manager, and the fund allocations for T2D.

 

[observer]

Hello folks,
I went to the GP to ask if I could do the blood sugar diet and was given the go ahead, with no back up.
The GP even said that sounded good she might try it. The following repeat prescription for test strips was cancelled.
Talk about stupid! I spend most of my time working things out for myself that's when I'm not sorting my Autistic daughter out who is very over weight and I've been told to get her to lose weight or she will be type 2 soon. They don't live in the real world!
Oh well onward and upward, at least I won't be screamed at this morning when she has to take her pill, she's worked out why she needs to have it, more than gps and test strips!

 

[phila]

Being in Ireland we have to get used to little being free, although diabetics do get diabetic related meds free, and one test strip per day, we have to pay for every visit to GP, consultant & clinic. My GP is very good and says that people with type 2 can use bm strips initially to understand what diet is best to keep levels down but as I am on oral meds there is no quick fix for a high reading as oral meds take a while to take effect. Therefore he stresses exercise and diet if I want to keep my fingers and toes. 3 monthly hba1c is a good enough guide in his eyes as it is what you do with any of the results that counts otherwise the results and the outcome will remain the same no matter how often it is tested. Sorry bit of a ramble.

 

[v4victory]

Being in Ireland we have to get used to little being free, although diabetics do get diabetic related meds free, and one test strip per day, we have to pay for every visit to GP, consultant & clinic. My GP is very good and says that people with type 2 can use bm strips initially to understand what diet is best to keep levels down but as I am on oral meds there is no quick fix for a high reading as oral meds take a while to take effect. Therefore he stresses exercise and diet if I want to keep my fingers and toes. 3 monthly hba1c is a good enough guide in his eyes as it is what you do with any of the results that counts otherwise the results and the outcome will remain the same no matter how often it is tested. Sorry bit of a ramble.

Hi @phila. I am in NZ where diabetic meds are not free but they are subsidized. At the moment I pay only $5 for 180 metformin tablets. Not sure how long this will be subsidized though. Test strips are not free, I pay NZ$24 for 50. I use a CareSens glucometer which was given to me for free by the GP. Which type do you use? I get free consultation with GP every 3 weeks.Your doctor is right about diet and exercise, and 3 monthly HbA1c. I walk and swim 3 to 4 times a week but since the weather is cooling down here (it's our autumn) I've slacked off on the swimming. I try to stay off carbs as much as I can, or at least minimise. Anyhow I hope all goes well with your diabetes management and health. Good luck.

 

[eddie1968]

Seems like a punishment for being proactive. I bought my own meter and strips for two years (was told not to test first year) and my diabetes just became unmanageable and was taken off oral meds. I was on heavy doses of Metformin and Gliclazide and they can cause hypos. Started insulin in 2014 under hospital supervision and now get free meters, lancets, needles, pens and strips but feel those on oral hypoglycaemics should get some free strips.

 

[dbr10]

I am now going to have a rave, prepare yourself! This is what happens when you take charge of your health- NHS stops supplying you with testing strips.

Totally understand your frustration. Not only do we have diabetes to manage the best we can, we also have the medical profession working against us.

 

[sujane]

I am now going to have a rave, prepare yourself! This is what happens when you take charge of your health- NHS stops supplying you with testing strips. Apparently, as I have now had two concurrent HbA 1c tests, 6 months apart, both showing me to be in the non-diabetic range my diabetes mellitus type 2 is now " in remission" and I no longer need to test my blood glucose levels. Screeeaaam! Could some kind soul please give me the discount codes for Codefree strips? and a sedative

First and foremost, can I add my congratulations to the throng for taking control and winning. x As for the "in remission" bit, I've been told by one of the foremost expert consultants in Diabetes in the UK that you cannot be in remission, or a borderline diabetic... just like you can't be a little bit pregnant or be in remission from your pregnancy..! You are either pregnant or not, and you are either diabetic or not. Similar to recovering alcoholics I guess, no matter how long they have been "non drinkers" they still remain alcoholic. And then on the point of testing strips.... don't get me started either! My surgery refused to give me any testing strips despite being on Metformin, Saxagliptin and Gliclazide. My consultant emailed the surgery, they didn't listen, he emailed the diabetic nurse directly, she didn't listen... so after experiencing a couple of hypos, I refused to take any meds from the consultant until the GP gave me strips.... That did the trick, the consultant rang the surgery, tore them off a strip ( no pun intended) and now I can have strips whenever I request them... Shame we have to do this .. and all in the name of cost cutting ..!

 

[13lizanne]

Well done @sujane, I recently had my strips reinstated, I forgot to update this thread. I have another chronic condition which, among other delights means I can't digest veg, pulses or indeed fibrous food of any kind. This means my meals need to be tested for every day as I eat according to the state my gut is in A chat with the senior partner at my GP surgery fixed the problem of the testing strips. Well done to you also, sorry you had to hold your GP practice to ransome

 

[Jordi77]

I'm using the bayer contour next usb meter and I get 100 test strips when I need them every one and a half months and I get them on prescription and lancets and I have a exception certificate but if I had to pay for them I would look around and get a one that I feel I am able to find and it is shocking that the nhs is not doing what they say they would do a long time ago and that is to look after the patient and how they feel not the other way around and I can remember when I had to pay for the pen needles to take insulin you don't now but you had to and that cost you up to £13 for a box of 100 and you had to use a needle twice before it went blunt but the gov has a lot to say and I am sick of hunt the pain

 

[berylc]

5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

I think that's the one I used few days ago.. from another thread.. I think it worked out at about £5.80 per box of 50 strips as I bought 10 packs..

virtual sedative enclosed .. hugs
M

Obviously the price of success.. you should be proud really but I know its damned annoying..

Looked on their site just now and 10 pks now £69.90 plus they won't send to the northern isles. I live in the Orkney Isles and so some companies class us as 'overseas' even though Royal Mail deliver here for the same price as the UK mainland. So will continue to get on Amazon at £6.99 a box

 

[13lizanne]

Goodness @berylc I bought some a fortnight ago 5 tubs and they worked out at £5.32 per pot, did you apply the code at checkout?

 

[bulkbiker]

Looked on their site just now and 10 pks now £69.90 plus they won't send to the northern isles. I live in the Orkney Isles and so some companies class us as 'overseas' even though Royal Mail deliver here for the same price as the UK mainland. So will continue to get on Amazon at £6.99 a box

The discount code only takes effect at checkout before you put in your payment details I think.. might be worth a try..? You have to copy it into the "coupon" area before you check out and "apply" then the £17.32 comes off the total.
Also they don't make any mention about not delivering to parts of the UK and they use Royal Mail so shouldn't be a problem.
Regards
Mark

 

[berylc]

The discount code only takes effect at checkout before you put in your payment details I think.. might be worth a try..? You have to copy it into the "coupon" area before you check out and "apply" then the £17.32 comes off the total.
Also they don't make any mention about not delivering to parts of the UK and they use Royal Mail so shouldn't be a problem.
Regards
Mark

Hi Mark Their home page states UK mainland only. Will try ordering and see what happens. Didn't get as far as check out.

 

[berylc]

Goodness @berylc I bought some a fortnight ago 5 tubs and they worked out at £5.32 per pot, did you apply the code at checkout?

Didn't get as far as check out as the home page said UK mainland only. Will have to try ordering....

 

[bulkbiker]

Didn't get as far as check out as the home page said UK mainland only. Will have to try ordering....

Maybe try phoning and asking? A friend of mine always does this with online purchases and tends to get much better service..
Just an idea..