Postcode lottery?

P

Pandanose

Active Member
Messages
35
I haven't been on here long but I have noticed a lot of things I've been lucky not to experience. Namely access to medication, meters and strips and education. I've had the lot without fighting for them. I'm not yet on insulin but my diabetes unit are doing everything possible to help me. How come this isn't the same everywhere. Aren't we all in the same nhs? I have to admit if I had to fight for the basics I'd probably not take the medication at all. No wonder people are getting to the point of complications, surely it makes more sense to get things under control as early as possible to avoid the really expensive stuff coming to fruition. I've meandered a bit, but there's a point in there somewhere :smile:

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Andy12345

Andy12345

Expert
Messages
6,342
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Doctors
But then I am male and therefore know more than everyone else about everything, unless I meet another male who's bigger than me and then he knows best


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
L

Lealea83

Member
Messages
21
Re: Postcode lottery?

I've found when I was first diagnosed, when I was 12, my diabetic team were brilliant. And generally the hospital side of it all is great, it's my gp that is less helpful, they are more used to seeing type 2, so in the past, particularly when I get stomach bugs, that, I don't need to test as frequently as I am, I shouldn't inject if I can't keep any food down, (nhs direct also advise this) have been asked if I still need syringes??? They will also only prescribe 2 boxes of test strips at a time, but unlimited insulin?
 
D

))Denise((

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,588
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Re: Postcode lottery?

It is very much a Postcode Lottery to the standard of care you get and whether you get strips on prescription.

I was diagnosed Type 2 in 2007 and when I enquired about an education course, I was told there weren't any available (not funded by the PCT?) and was offered a chat with the practice nurse (you know the one - does the baby injections and the asthma clinic, no way a diabetes specialist), who told me I couldn't eat fruit and told me nothing about the role of carbohydrates but that I should eat lots of fibre.

I wasn't offered a meter, but enquired about 6 months post diagnosis and got one and strips on prescription. I don't abuse this and order 150 per year, even though I test more than this and fund the rest myself. My GP has said 'you don't need to test much do you'.

I'm sure if I was diagnosed today, I would get the line 'you don't need to test, we can see how well you are doing by your HbA1c test' or 'it will only worry you if you test' or 'you'll loose the feeling in your fingers', meaning 'the strips are too expensive and I'm not having them come out of my budget'.

I've learnt more from this forum on how to control my diabetes than I have from my GP or from Diabetes UK (the charity). GP's get extra money for every diabetic on their books - a figure that has been suggested is £2000 each. I don't think I get value for money with a once yearly HbA1c and an Annual review (partly done by the non-diabetes specialist) and my GP who says 'that's a good HbA1c, carry on with what you are doing!'
 
Top Bottom