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Prescription Lancets

M

macaroni

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Hi, I have been newly diagnosed and was started on Metformin. I also have angina and take a drug called Ranolazine which I am told can increase the effects of the Metformin. the symptoms for a coronary event like a silent heart attack are indistinguishable, so the lancet test helps me see quickly if the problems that I am experiencing are likely due to a hypo or the angina and yet I am told that I cannot obtain lancets on prescription as my diabetes is type 2. Does anyone else have a similar issue?
 
macaroni said:
Hi, I have been newly diagnosed and was started on Metformin. I also have angina and take a drug called Ranolazine which I am told can increase the effects of the Metformin. the symptoms for a coronary event like a silent heart attack are indistinguishable, so the lancet test helps me see quickly if the problems that I am experiencing are likely due to a hypo or the angina and yet I am told that I cannot obtain lancets on prescription as my diabetes is type 2. Does anyone else have a similar issue?
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Lancets -the stabby sharps- are cheap. (I have a box here that's lasted me these 8 years or so. I think I'll never see the bottom of it in my lifetime.) It's the test strips that are expensive. Most T2's don't get testing materials, as the NHS would go bankrupt if they had to fund everyone, so people basically get told they don't need to test. Which most people here would beg to differ about.

I don't know what medication you're on otherwise, but metformin isn't a drug that usually causes hypo's. It increases your sensitivity to your own insulin a smidge, and it stops your liver from dumping more glucose than you need. But hypo's are more commonly due to other medications like gliclazide and insulin for example. And it is a known side effect of Ranolazine, I see, with or without metformin. That alone should be a reason to argue for strips being funded, but that's my personal opinion. Your blood sugars were high, now they're normalising, so if Ranolazine was causing lower blood sugars before, they might tip you lower than you want to be. Something to be cautious of.

Mind you, when you are new to all this and the treatment is lowering your blood sugars, you can also experience something called a false hypo, and that can make your heart do terrifying loop-de-loops in your chest too. Feels exactly the same as a real one, they're indistinguishable, save for not having the mmol/l's to back it up. So yeah... Testing would help, so you know what's going on. Real hypo, false one, or your heart going properly bonkers. Your body, in case of false hypo's, needs to get used to them, which only really happens if you let it get used to the new normal; the reduced blood sugars, especially after having been high for a long time... If you are lower than you're used to, and not *actually* hypo (under 3.5 mmol/l), just have something to eat that's fats and protein, not carbs. Like a cube or two of cheese, some olives or walnuts. It should keep your levels stable, but pull your body out of the panic it is in and stop the hypo-like symptoms. Once your body realises it's not dying due to low blood sugars, it'll stop the freak-outs eventually. In case of a real hypo, hit the carbs and drag yourself out of the lower numbers. (Honey, sweets, orange juice etc would help get you back up in a hurry. Liquids faster than solids.) Test, test, test so you know whether to call in the cavalry. @Rachox has some information on test strips and meters, so you know which ones won't break the bank while you're going through this.

In the meantime, maybe send a message to your diabetes nurse to explain your predicament, and ask for strips. The similarity between a hypo which can be brought on by your meds, and a cardiac event, which you explain rather clearly, might just get you some strips to go on. Maybe. Worth a shot, anyway.

Good luck,
Jo

PS: I wanted to babble less, which I still seem to be unable to quit. If I talked too much or gave too much info, I do apologise. I'm working on it, and feel free to ignore me.
 
Thanks for the tag @JoKalsbeek . Hi @macaroni , here’s some info with links for UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.



HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/



Links to the strips for future orders:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/



Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/





SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793



The strips are to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097



If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.



Don’t forget to check the box if you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)
 
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