Refused BG testing strips.

TallGiraffe said:

I am so angry. Just been to pick up my repeat prescription, of which one of my items should have been 2x boxes of 50 BG testing strips. Get home to find no test strips. Check my online account. Rejected for BG testing strips, with no reason given.

Last prescription was 22nd May, latest order was put in 1st June. That is 10 days between. I have to get new testing strips every 14 days otherwise I run the risk of running out.

I am so angry that a Dr surgery can refuse me access to testing strips. I am not testing my BG for fun.

Does anyone know how I can get any help with this? I have asked them before if I can put my prescription up to 4x 50 strips, but I was told that due to NHS cuts I am not allowed. This means I have to go every two weeks to collect more. I find this an absolute joke.

Any ideas? I know there was things on twitter/email about refused access to testing strips a month or so ago??

Thanks for any help.

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This happen to me too!

It ended up with me not being able to test my blood sugars for a week and me nearly collapsing in the pharmacy with sugars I have no idea how they were as I was unable to test! I went to the pharmacy to ask for an emergency box and was refused there too! (luckily the pharmacy took firm action against the person who refused me emergency strips, as I was in clear distressed, in tears, confused and desperately asking for help!)

I ended up going to hospital with suspected DKA (luckily it wasn't, just high bloods making me feel very unwell). However this time made my HbA1C raise a lot which has loads of potential health problems!

I sorted this out by having a diabetic appointment at the hospital who wrote a very angry letter to the GP/ pharmacy about how I need to get blood strips to check my blood sugars. I also changed GP surgeries as it was not the first time things like this had happened to me.

It is dangerous for a type 1 diabetic (or any diabetic) to not be able to check their blood sugars!

If you go to a hospital/ diabetic clinic for your annual checks ask them for help. Places that are specialised in diabetes care seem to be more understanding about getting blood strips. They may be able to get your GP to prescribe more strips?

If not maybe make an appointment with your GP to get a once off prescription to make sure you dont run out of strips, and to also sort out the problem of being refused strips.

I hope you get everything sorted!

I drive regularly during the day and often have to test for this rather than food, if I didn't do this I could loose my license and because of this I would loose my job, then my home and family would be at risk.

Do these g.p.'s not realise how stressful coping with diabetes can be without adding to the problem.

It's all across the country! I cannot have any at all either. I have to buy mine online now its the only way.

Opposite with me. Am type2 and was given bg tester but advised no need to check every day just on occassions. Use about 5 a month yet am given 2xpack 25. Probably be out of date before i use them all. Lancets...have 200 if anyone wants. Queried with Dr and pharmacy... thats minimum size box they can do.

paganlass said:

It's all across the country! I cannot have any at all either. I have to buy mine online now its the only way.

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You should be prescribed them if you're on insulin.

Hi guys,
I attended the DAFNE course last week and it was really helpful and pretty much kicked me into gear again after a few months of laid back diabetes -
During the course one of the diabetes nurses wrote letters for us all, intended to encourage/force our local GPs to add the strips and glucagon kits to our prescription. For me the strips would be for my new Accu-Chek Expert meter

My question is - should the GP not be willing to add these strips to my prescription (I was taken off Accu-Chek and put onto a GlucoRx meter/strips about a year ago because my GP at the time said Accu-Chek is too expensive) - what is the best approach to convince them that I really need these strips and this is the meter I prefer using due to the bolus advisor and being able to see trends and reports etc ?
Is there an option to have the strips for my back-up meter (the contour next) put on prescription too?

I would love to hear your guys' approaches for tackling difficult GPs!

Kevlar87 said:

Hi guys,
I attended the DAFNE course last week and it was really helpful and pretty much kicked me into gear again after a few months of laid back diabetes -
During the course one of the diabetes nurses wrote letters for us all, intended to encourage/force our local GPs to add the strips and glucagon kits to our prescription. For me the strips would be for my new Accu-Chek Expert meter

My question is - should the GP not be willing to add these strips to my prescription (I was taken off Accu-Chek and put onto a GlucoRx meter/strips about a year ago because my GP at the time said Accu-Chek is too expensive) - what is the best approach to convince them that I really these strips and this is the meter I prefer using (bolus advisor) ?

I would love to hear your guys' approaches for tackling difficult GPs!

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Did the letter you received from the nurse during DAFNE specify the brand of strips that should be prescribed? Are you under the care of a hospital consultant and DSN?

I was given an Expert meter by my DSN when I started carb counting and a prescription advice form was sent to my surgery detailing what I needed. They also sent a letter for me so that I was prescribed more strips each time so that I wasn't having to request and collect repeats as often.

If the surgery ask why you need this brand of strips explain how it will benefit you in your daily management of Type 1. It shouldn't take more than that really.

Hi db89,

Yep I am under the care of a consultant and DSN. The letter I was given included all of the new items that should be added to my prescription, and yes I was put on the expert meter so that it would help with my ratios, carb counting, and insulin dosing requirements! I love the machine already! haha I'm not sure whether the amount of strips needed per prescription was detailed in the letter though? hmmm
also I'm not sure if a separate letter was sent to the surgery but I hope that's the case so that they know what to expect!
I guess I know exactly why I need the things I do so I just approach it with honesty and explain my reasoning thoroughly!
Thanks!