Onetouch Ultra Test Strips

[DunePlodder]

I renewed my prescription yesterday & the pharmacist warned me that OneTouch Ultra test strips would no longer be available on prescription from January.
I've queried this with my GPs surgery & am awaiting a reply.
Anyone else heard this?
Robert

 

[Fallenstar]

Hi Dune
I used to use these, have done for years and was told a while back that they were being phased out. I was given a few meters over the years to try and was told this one was not the best. I stuck with the one touch out of laziness to be honest .
I got a new Accu-check Aviva expert recently on DAFNE and wished I had changed to this one earlier, it is fab. Comparing the two and another one I had ,I found looking back the one touch a bit wasteful,I used to get a lot of errors with it and it was a bit of a pain to use really.
There are a lot of really good new meters out there now, have a look at some on line and see what your DSN suggests
I can certainly recommend the Aviva, it is a great meter and so easy to use ,and let's you know how much active insulin you have working in your system in between injections and works out your dose to carb ratio..it's a winner
Good luck.

 

[DunePlodder]

Hi Fallenstar,

My Diabetic Nurse has now called me to say that she knows nothing about this, but will contact the pharmacist in question. He was very definite about the change.
I actually use a OneTouch Ultra 2 which has been OK. If I need a replacement I'll take a look at the Aviva, very interesting to hear about the dose to carb ratio feature.
Thank you.
Robert

 

[DunePlodder]

Just a quick update:
Lloyds pharmacy still say that OneTouch Ultra test strips are not now listed on the "Drug Tariff".
However I had no problem getting them from Boots.
Mystified!
Regards
Robert

 

[CarbsRok]

Just looked on the BNF listings and they are still there.
Llyods have a habit of doing things like this. Looking at things realisticly though lifescan would have told all of their customers if there was a problem. Otherwise it would put peoples lives at risk.

 

[lisaw24]

Can't see a problem as One Touch has recently brought out a few new monitors which use the same strips. One Touch is one of the meters recommended by my diabetes team as well. If its only lloyds that's stopping them, I would complain to their head office- they are a dispensing pharmacy so if they are still being prescribed by GPs and Lifescan hasn't stopped them, then Lloyds should not stop them. One thing that someone in admin may have got confused with, is the One Touch ultra lancets have discontinued and been replaced with One Touch Ultra Soft lancets!

Hope you get it sorted!

Lisa

 

[jaykjay]

Hi All,

As a Type 1 working for Lloydspharmacy (and a OneTouch Ultra user!) I picked up on this thread and asked around internally to clarify the situation; we are still filling prescriptions for all blood glucose testing strips, including OneTouch ULTRA; however, the OneTouch test strips (not ULTRA) have now been discontinued by the manufacturer, LifeScan so this is probably where the confusion has arisen.

We have spoken with our pharmacists to make them aware of which test strips are still available and you shouldn’t have a problem in the future. If you would like to let us know which pharmacy gave you this incorrect information we can ensure that they are informed as to the availability going forward.

 

[DunePlodder]

Hi Jaykjay,

The pharmacy in question was the Lloyds near Sainsburys, in Worle, Weston-super-Mare.

Robert

 

[jaykjay]

Hi Robert,

thanks for the info; we'll make sure the store is brought up to date with the situation (if it hasn't already). Sorry about the confusion!