Riesenburg
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 93
- Dislikes
- Doctors who know less about diabetes and endocrinology than their patients.
This whole thing about GPs and costs of test strips can really drive me up the wall sometimes. The simple undeniable argument is that the more you test the better your overall control, which means that you are at low risk of developing the complications associated with diabetes. And THAT is the key, a patient with neuropathy, live or kidney failure, eye problems is way WAY more costly then prescribing an extra box of test strips. Just look at the costs of an A&E visit, that alone will out do the cost of a box of test strips. So don't accept the argument about saving the NHS money on test strips, you are actually saving the NHS way WAY more money by keeping your diabets in check.
For testing I do a lot have always done, had type 1 for about 32 yrs now and so far not a single HbA1C over 6.9% (my current is 6.6% or 49 by the new scales). I wouldn't test every hour though, there simply isn't a need to, usually I test whenever I feel strange, so sudden fatigue, burning eyes, grumpy or feeling bloated and I test before I go out, before I exercise in the middle of my gym session and two/three times after as well as before going to bed. In total, about 10-15 times a day. I've been told that was too much but the end results in blood tests and the lack of any complication after such long term of diabetes speak for themselves.
Hope that helps,
Frankie
For testing I do a lot have always done, had type 1 for about 32 yrs now and so far not a single HbA1C over 6.9% (my current is 6.6% or 49 by the new scales). I wouldn't test every hour though, there simply isn't a need to, usually I test whenever I feel strange, so sudden fatigue, burning eyes, grumpy or feeling bloated and I test before I go out, before I exercise in the middle of my gym session and two/three times after as well as before going to bed. In total, about 10-15 times a day. I've been told that was too much but the end results in blood tests and the lack of any complication after such long term of diabetes speak for themselves.
Hope that helps,
Frankie