Recent Blood Glucose Monitoring!

[Libby3781]

Last week I had my first appointment with the diabetic team at my local hospital. The specialist nurse decided going forward I needed to be put on insulin.

Therefore, before leaving the hospital I was kitted out with a blood glucose machine and insulin. The machine I was given only came with 25 test strips. I have now gone through the strips in less than a week (testing 3 times a day).

Obviously, I handed in my new prescription to my surgery on the day. So I’ll be picking up my new prescription today or tomorrow.

My concern is that I won’t have enough test strips with my new prescription. I am going away next week for 3 continuous weeks. So I’m obviously going to need enough strips to last. I’m afraid if the prescription doesn’t have enough test strips my surgery won’t amend it.

I think, I’m a little apprehensive for the reason I previously bought a blood glucose monitoring kit myself, and on asking my doctors to supply me with test strips they refused.

Have you had this experience or similar? How has you’re surgery/doctors reacted issuing test strips for you going forward once a hospital Specialist has entered the equation???

Thanks in advance for you’re responses xxx

 

[Deleted Account]

As you are now being treated with insulin the story should have changed: you are at risk of hypo and, therefore, it is considered more important that you check your BG.
As for your holiday, you should be able to request additional strips. If you have already submitted your prescription request, once you get your strips, immediately submit another selecting just the strips. If the doctor queries it, explain your additional needs for your trip and assume you need more strips than usual whilst you are aware in case they get damaged, lost or because you are likely to have a different lifestyle which may impact your BG differently so need to test more,

 

[jackois]

When I was diagnosed as type 1, my initial prescription was for 50 test strips per prescription. I sat down and worked out how many strips I would need for a month, then wrote a note to my doctor, dropped it into the surgery.

The note pointed out that each prescription filled carries a charge to the surgery from the pharmacy. I laid out, in the note, how many times a day I was expected to test, before each meal, two hours later, driving and so on.

As long as the request is presented in a sensible manner your doctor will weigh up the pros and cons and, I'm sure, amend your repeat prescriptions.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Libby3781]

Well it seems like I worried for nothing. Just phoned my surgery to check prescription is ready.

Prescription done, sent to local chemist. I asked how many test strips had been issued, and was advised 200. So the doctor has obviously anticipated the need I’ll have for testing especially with being new to insulin.

Therefore, they will hopefully last July and August