Hello
I was diagnosed Type 2 just before Christmas, and am struggling to come to terms with it. I have had my first appointment with the Diabetes Nurse, and she refused to give me a meter because "there is nothing you can do about it if your readings are too high". Personally, I would have thought that it would help you work out what causes you to spike and what doesn't. I know from the forum that testing is important, so I went to Boots this morning to buy a meter - a simple enough thing, I thought. I even printed out the VAT exempt form to make things easier. However, I ended up stressed and frustrated and came home meter-less due to the staff's unhelpful attitude and inability to sort out the VAT. First of all, I spoke to a trainee who then fetched another member of staff because she didn't know about meters etc. When the senior member of staff came she said that she thought the meters were already free of VAT because "only diabetics use them"! When she eventually accepted that I was right, she couldn't work out the discount so called someone else, who looked through a book to try and find out what to do. After 15 minutes with no apparent progress, and a need to catch the bus home with my elderly mother, I said that I had to go as it was taking so long. Only the trainee apologised. I felt patronised, fed up and annoyed that our leading chemists are so clueless when it comes to diabetes aids. I won't be going back, and have instead purchased the meter etc online.
I was diagnosed Type 2 just before Christmas, and am struggling to come to terms with it. I have had my first appointment with the Diabetes Nurse, and she refused to give me a meter because "there is nothing you can do about it if your readings are too high". Personally, I would have thought that it would help you work out what causes you to spike and what doesn't. I know from the forum that testing is important, so I went to Boots this morning to buy a meter - a simple enough thing, I thought. I even printed out the VAT exempt form to make things easier. However, I ended up stressed and frustrated and came home meter-less due to the staff's unhelpful attitude and inability to sort out the VAT. First of all, I spoke to a trainee who then fetched another member of staff because she didn't know about meters etc. When the senior member of staff came she said that she thought the meters were already free of VAT because "only diabetics use them"! When she eventually accepted that I was right, she couldn't work out the discount so called someone else, who looked through a book to try and find out what to do. After 15 minutes with no apparent progress, and a need to catch the bus home with my elderly mother, I said that I had to go as it was taking so long. Only the trainee apologised. I felt patronised, fed up and annoyed that our leading chemists are so clueless when it comes to diabetes aids. I won't be going back, and have instead purchased the meter etc online.