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New Blood Monitor Meters

T

TinaOX29

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I returned home the other evening to find TWO new blood meters on my doorstep - both sent by my GP. On calling my GP I was told that the NHS are needing to save money and so everyone has to use the new meters (GlucoRX Nexus). - the reason being the blood strips and lancets are cheaper, AND that everyone's prescription has been changed with immediate effect.

I pointed out that they had sent me TWO - and so a bad example of how to save much needed money ! I said I would return one (and was advised I could keep it !). This really is a good way of saving money don't you think !

On explaining that my current meter (which is less than 1 year old) is a OneTouch Verio and it gives far more information than this new one. This was a good way to keep better control and surely this was a good thing. I was told I had to have the new meter - and to get on with it.

My real worry (if all that isn't bad enough) is the fact that I checked my glucose levels using both meters and there was a difference of 2.0. I was amazed.one said 8.1 and the other 6.1. The new meter being the lower reading. My question to whoever is listening, is how are we supposed to know which meter is giving the correct reading ! Have I been using a defective meter for the past year, or is the new one defective ? What a worry. I've read a few articles and each say that both meters are great. Obviously there is a difference, and this shouldn't be ........ surely.
 
Tina, try making a case to your gp surgery why you want to keep your OneTouch meter, explain to them that it gives you more information so that you can better manage your diabetes, not saying they'll change their mind but some members have done just this and have been allowed to continue using their existing meter. Its worth a try anyway............
 
Not great but that difference is within an acceptable limit of ±15% (average of 7.1, difference of ±1.0 / 7.1)

The major cost to the NHS is in the strips, not the meters. Meters cost the price of a few boxes of strips. Giving you a spare meter is a good idea for all kinds of reasons - so you can keep one in the car, or at work, or by your bedside, or in case one breaks or you run out of strips.
 
Thanks for the responses. I did argue my point - but got nowhere. It seems money is far more important than health !. I do realise the expense is the cost of the strips. I don't need a spare meter as I keep it with me at all times. I don't run out of strips and in 19 years never broken a meter (perhaps I'm lucky but long may that continue).........I can understand some people may need a spare though. It was a waste of money, postage, packing etc to send this to me. (along with the 30 other people they did it to). It may be only about £30 for the meter, but add that to the packing and the postage and multiply it by 30......... great idea guys in the NHS. In 19 years I have never been advised of any "acceptable limit for differences in readings with different meters" - WOW. The question still going round in my head - which meter is correct ? I'm just trying to keep healthy.
 
@TinaOX29, you should always have a spare meter, this was probably the gp's reasoning for sending two.
 
In fact, I've just been offered a smaller meter, as the one provided is rather like a brick ! I'll take your advice and I'll keep the brick size one as a spare.
 
Are you under a care of a hospital team? My nurse advised me that I can use any meter I like (the argument of "it's more convenient for me" was good enough for her) and she advises my GP which strips they should prescribe. My GP doesn't have much to say in the matter. So if you're under a care from a DSN at a hospital clinic, it may be worth talking to them. Or if you're not - ask your GP to be referred.
 
TinaOX29 said:
Thanks for the responses. I did argue my point - but got nowhere. It seems money is far more important than health !. I do realise the expense is the cost of the strips. I don't need a spare meter as I keep it with me at all times. I don't run out of strips and in 19 years never broken a meter (perhaps I'm lucky but long may that continue).........I can understand some people may need a spare though. It was a waste of money, postage, packing etc to send this to me. (along with the 30 other people they did it to). It may be only about £30 for the meter, but add that to the packing and the postage and multiply it by 30......... great idea guys in the NHS. In 19 years I have never been advised of any "acceptable limit for differences in readings with different meters" - WOW. The question still going round in my head - which meter is correct ? I'm just trying to keep healthy.
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You'll probably find that the meters have been dished out to the NHS for free anyway. As has already been said, the money is in the test strips.

I can't argue with their logic though but I'd like to see more done by way of the price of test strips being reduced, or the savings from having people on the same meter being passed on to allow more T2's access to free strips.
 
Maybe it's a two phase plan and the next phase will be to use the savings made, and the lower base cost, to provide free testing to (at least some more) T2s?
 
Have you tested the 2 new meters against each other to see if there is a diffo in them as there is with your old 1?
 
I wonder what it would actually cost. And if DUK could fund it, at least for T2s who actively want it, and they could advertise the benefits of it.

Or at least fund a study demonstrating to NICE the benefits of motivated T2s doing multiple daily testing.
 
Spiker said:
I checked my glucose levels using both meters and there was a difference of 2.0. I was amazed.one said 8.1 and the other 6.1.

Not great but that difference is within an acceptable limit of ±15% (average of 7.1, difference of ±1.0 / 7.1)
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I see what you've done there, can you just explain from what reading is there an acceptable limit of ±15%. Isn't it within the proper reading and not another meter's reading.
Either way, as I'm type II, I'll just go on the way I am. Although I'm tempted by the Freestyle Libre, I'm on their list, somewhere, just waiting.
 
The acceptable variation is the same whether it's between two readings of the same sample on the same meter, or between two different meters on the same sample. In practice we expect variation on the same meter to be less than this range, but it's always a possibility that readings could be this far apart, on the same sample. Let alone when you add in the variation between samples.

If you look in the leaflet that came with the meter, and possibly the leaflet that came with the strips, it will have this variability information.
 
I have just been given two new glucomen meters, I have had a one touch ultra for years and am happy with it but as they were free I thought "don`t look a gift horse in the mouth" ...... and then I tried them out. The lancet proved so painful on even the lowest setting that I went back to my old lancet and on comparing the two machines I discovered a difference of 4 points, I also found a difference of 2 points in one machine using the same blood sample. Doesn`t fill me with confidence and I wish they had just left me with my old machine. However Tina, you can use the meter to check for bg patterns and spikes and your Hba1c will give a good average picture, not ideal I grant you but I`m just trying to make the best of it.
 
I am type 2 for 7 years now and my GP says I can't have any more free testing strips or finger prickers on the NHS - so I don't understand why they are issuing free test meters even if they are a new model. Doesn't seem consistent - or am I misunderstanding?
 
SkintDiva said:
I am type 2 for 7 years now and my GP says I can't have any more free testing strips or finger prickers on the NHS - so I don't understand why they are issuing free test meters even if they are a new model. Doesn't seem consistent - or am I misunderstanding?
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The OP is a Type 1 so she gets free strips on the NHS. Type 2s have a struggle getting free strips - some get a limited amount, some get none.

Meters are different. Manufacturers often give away their meters for free, since they hope to earn money on the sale of the strips to the NHS.

In order to reduce the cost of strips, many NHS areas are standardising on meters that use cheaper strips.
 
Thanks Spiker. I am new here and there are lots of things I don't understand. Am really glad to have found this forum with so many helpful topics and posters.
 
SkintDiva said:
Thanks Spiker. I am new here and there are lots of things I don't understand. Am really glad to have found this forum with so many helpful topics and posters.
Click to expand...

Worry not.
We were all where you are now, once upon a time.

and never forget - the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. ;)
 
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