Hi peeps,
I was diagnosed at the beginning of the month and this was my first query. I went back one week later to the "diabetic specialist" who told me the exact same "We dont recommend / you dont need one yet" come back in 3 months for a retest.
Luckily i had already signed up to loads of sites where they send you out a free meter. I have a Caresens N. I went back the day after and spoke to a different doctor (the one who actually told me i was diabetic) and he wrote me a repeat script straight away without question as he agreed with me, i cant manage this without knowing what i eat is good or not.
anyways heres where i went to try and get free meters.
http://www.spirit-healthcare.co.uk/
http://abbottdiabetescare.co.uk/
http://www.glucomen.co.uk/
I got one from each of them thankfully as my mum and a good friend of mine are T2 and the GP told them the same but they didnt argue. i called Abbott Care & Glucoman and explained that i had recieved several meters and could i register the other meters for my mum and my mate, they said OK.
They then went up the GP anad got a prescription for strips and lancets.
the NHS in this country is backward they are more about controlling it afterwards than preventative measures. (I had to go out of my way to get a meter and see TWO doctors before i got a script for it.
My dad had T2 diabetes and it caused him to have his leg amputated due to infection and slower healing, I'm bigger than he was and younger i cant afford to have my leg amputated as i have drive to work and i cant stand not working so DLA and sitting on my todd all day isnt an option for me. Basically i feel like they dont care about their patients. Literally 3 weeks after his amputation he died. i havent forgiven the NHS for that and i dont think i ever will.
So you can see why it is VERY important to keep on top of this and even if your GP doesn't give you a meter, go get one anyway and see a different doctor and tell them straight how can you keep on top of diet and exercise when you only know if what you are doing is good / not good every quarter of half year.
Kind regards
mark.