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Same Old Story...

Sirzy

Sirzy

Well-Known Member
Messages
266
Location
Glasgow
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Insulin
Just been to see my GP, and while I was there I brought up the subject of test strips, and asked if I could have some on prescription. I explained that I'm past the frantic testing of the first few months were I was going through about 3 pots a month, and that I now only test occasionally to make sure my fasting numbers aren't creeping up or if I eat something new or feel unwell.

Unfortunately I was given the same old story about how I don't need to be testing at home and should be leaving it up to the diabetes clinic and just relying on my HbA1c results :crazy:

She did give me a prescription for one measly pot, don't think they're on repeat prescription though. Ah well, I was kind of expecting it because of all the similar experiences other people have had with their own GPs. It was worth asking, I thought my GP might have had more of a progressive view on diabetes management, as she's really good about most other things. It just goes to show how ingrained the resistance to self testing is in most medical professionals :?
 
Reading other type 2's experiences with their gp's you did well to get a pot of strips on the day! :)

Test strips should be made available to all diabetics wanting to monitor their condition closely.
 
I agree!

I tried to argue that as I have a form of diabetes which generally involves a rapid progression to insulin, I would like to test occassionally to see if anything was changing. But she said that any changes would be picked up by my HbA1c test :(

Back to buying off ebay when these strips have run out then! :evil:
 
The nurse acknowledged the logic of testing after meals to see how combinations of foods and amount affected my blood sugar. But still cant/wont prescribe them.
 
It defies all logic doesn't it?! Particularly if they can see the benefits of testing, it's just utter madness :crazy:
 
You could try asking your Gp how HbA1c detects spikes [it doesn't], but it would probably not get you anywhere. I think NICE guidelines say we stable t2s should test once a week and have 2 pots of srips per year. I buy directly from my meter supplier it's cheaper with brilliant service
Hana
 
Pain in the neck this postcode lottery NHS. Somehow, and i dont know why, my surgery gives me what i ask for every time at the moment. Just asked for another pot of Bayer contour strips this morning and they even had them in stock [they are a dispensing surgery] and gave them to me there and then. How long this lasts i know not but will grab them while i can.

Andy
 
It's very frustrating that some healthcare workers are so against prescribing strips. I said to my GP that I understood it was a money issue, but it's the fact that they refuse to aknowledge the benefits of testing that annoys me.

I won't argue the issue with my GP as I don't have the energy for it just now, I'm dealing with other health issues (mine and other peoples), but the complete stonewalling on prescribing strips is ridiculous!

Hanadr,

Is buying directly from the supplier cheaper than ebay? I know that there's been some debate here about the ethics of buying strips from ebay recently, but as a student, and with money being very tight, I don't have an alternative. I tried the SD meter as the strips are so much cheaper than all the others, but I just couldn't get along with it and ended up going back to my Aviva Accu-Chek meter and it's expensive strips! :?
 
I still can't believe how they have done a complete turn around on self-testing since my diagnosis less than five years ago.
Then you were bullied into testing three times daily - even had to produce your diary like homework.
There was no education given ,however, and you were told the information was for the doctor's use in deciding upon your medication.

Now all that is forgotten and self testing is verboten and potentially harmful!
 
I put in for a repeat of 100 test strips & was told by the receptionist that my next lot of 50 were due in May. I asked how I could control my BGs with infrequent testing - & how many D patients had HbA1c around 6. She said the Dr would phone me. He didn't, so I went to pick up the presc. 100 strips! That is one a day.
 
I still creep in with my repeat prescription because the surgery has forgotten about me and haven't cancelled YET........I was even afraid to ask for lancets 'cos that would remind them I existed, so was making them last a month each until I found out you could buy a hundred for about £6! :roll: My last sneaky "drop the repeat into the postbox" was last october when I got 100 strips. I'm putting it off (don't test nearly so much now 'cos I know what I can and can't eat) but will need to face it again soon.
 
I went for my hba1c yesterday and again asked about testing.
Initially I asked how often I should get hba1c done and she said it depends on your control.
She said if BG is well controlled then only need hba1c once a year. :shock:
I then asked her how I know it's controlled if I can't test
"Oh the hba1c results will tell us" was her reply!! :roll:
I would hate to go for a full year with no testing.
Just imagine the horror of the complications that could be happening throughout the year without knowing about it or being able to do anything about it.
No thanks. I will just need to keep buying my strips.
 
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