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Self testing on diabetes

A

Arfon

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Hi there, has anyone heard at all that all doctor's surgeries in the UK are going to stop giving you repeat subscriptions of self testing stips & needles (whatever machine you might have) as i was due for my repeat the other day and it was not on the list so I enquired why I hadn't had them and was told by the receptionist that when we self test ourself either daily or every other day like I do they are not accurate and are a waste of time people doing them so have to rely on healthy diets, daily medication & annual blood tests so how does someone know if they are low or high as I was only diagnosed in June this year and it still not regular so after I complained to my doctor he has agreed to allow me to have another 3 months of repeat strips/injectors and that is it no more, why does the NHS do this they don't care about peoples health at all only themselves.
 
No. Heard nothing at all about this. I would imagine that this is something peculiar to your practice at present.

As for the meters not being accurate, well in my Diabetic Clinic at the Hospital I have seen the exact same meter that I use in use in the Clinic. If they are using them then it is good enough for me.

This all seems like it is down to either the practice and/or local PCT trying to cut costs by killing off a few Diabetics..... :twisted:

Maybe we should also quote this from the General Medical Council guidance to Dr's.
GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE.
The duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council
Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health. To justify that trust you must show respect for human life and you must:

Make the care of your patient your first concern

Protect and promote the health of patients and the public

Provide a good standard of practice and care

Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date

Recognise and work within the limits of your competence

Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients' interests

Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity

Treat patients politely and considerately

Respect patients' right to confidentiality

Work in partnership with patients

Listen to patients and respond to their concerns and preferences

Give patients the information they want or need in a way they can understand

Respect patients' right to reach decisions with you about their treatment and care

Support patients in caring for themselves to improve and maintain their health

Be honest and open and act with integrity

Act without delay if you have good reason to believe that you or a colleague may be putting patients at risk

Never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues

Never abuse your patients' trust in you or the public's trust in the profession.

You are personally accountable for your professional practice and must always be prepared to justify your decisions and actions.

Pity this isn't pinned up in front of them when they are talking to Patients about why they are denying us things ?
 
Hi Lynne.

Unfortunately the Hippocratic Oath has been superceded by the GMC guidelines. It is still around but not really used anymore.
 
As I understand it ultimately so long as its NICE approved which test strips currently are then its down to the individual doctor not the PCT to make the final decision on treatment and what is prescribed. The PCT can query but so long as NICE guidelines are being followed its the doctors call. I suspect if the NICE guidelines had changed then someone would have posted on this forum.

Correct me if I am wrong here :D
 
Unfortunately this is not always so.

The PCT's can and do dictate to GP's and Consultant's that they cannot prescribe various treatments and medications, usually purely on cost.

It matters not about what NICE guidelines say ! GP's and Consultant's can certainly argue the case but ultimately it is the PCT's that the funding comes from.

BTW have you noticed that the latest 'excuse' for not prescribing test strips is to say that home testers are not accurate!! This despite the fact that these same meters are the ones that the doctors/nurses use to test your blood sugar levels at the Health Centre/Hospital !! :? :?
 
My PCT which has an abysmal record of diabetes care ( fewer than 50% of 14,000 patients hit the HbA1c target of 7.5%) freely admits that strips are denied on COST grounds NOT on HEALTH grounds.
Apparently they are pleased I fund my own. I buy direct from Abbott Diabetes Care at half the price at Boots.( and I don't pay VAT)
My GP told me I'm the bane of the diabetes Educator's life. I've never met this woman. All I did was question policies, such as lack of diabetes education courses and the test strip thing.
 
Arfon said:
Hi there, has anyone heard at all that all doctor's surgeries in the UK are going to stop giving you repeat subscriptions of self testing stips & needles (whatever machine you might have)
Click to expand...

I hope this is not going to apply to people who are dependent on insulin injections :( :evil:
If so, I for one, will have to stop using insulin as without the ability to regularly monitor what my bg levels are, day to day living is going to be somewhat difficult. :cry:
 
One of my neighbours is an insulin using T2 and has been told to test only once per day.
Is anyone, other than his GP, surprised he's had a few hospital admissions recently?
Hana
 
hanadr said:
One of my neighbours is an insulin using T2 and has been told to test only once per day.
Is anyone, other than his GP, surprised he's had a few hospital admissions recently?
Hana
Click to expand...

I think the time is now rapidly due for all types of diabetes to be grouped as 1) those who are insulin dependent either alone or combined with oral meds and those who come into group 2) can manage on just diet alone or with oral med to control bg levels.

All these different types of diabetes - type 1, type 2, Mody, Lada may seem good but is leading to vast confusion especially when it comes to insulin pump therapy and now bg monitoring.

I would like to think that most GPs are up to date on what insulin does to bg levels and the need for us all who are dependent on it to monitor regularly as no 2 days are ever going to be the same, even when eating the same amount of carb and injecting the same amount of insulin. So so many things can make everything go haywire.
 
Hi iHs.

Sounds like a good idea....but, as there is now a growing band of Byetta and Victoza users where do we fit in ? :?
 
Yes sorry I forgot Byetta and Victoza. Anyone who uses whatever medication that induces hypoglycemia fairly rapidly should be urged to monitor bg levels at least 5 times a day.
 
Hi iHs.

Sounds good to me. Could save an awful lot of confusion ?
I sometimes test up to 8 times a day especially when travelling long distances by car.
 
Both my gp and dn refused my request for a meter to test my bg on the grounds that it was not recommended by NICE; the cost was toomuch for the pct; it has been found that self-testing made patients upset by results and this meant that there was no benefit in improved bg levels.

Having been reading posts on here, I have decided to buy my own meter and strips so that I can be in control and know exactly what affects my bg. I am type2 and trying to reduce my bgs by following a low carb diet. I was diagnosed in 2004 and within a year, prescribed Metformin. The amount has gradually increased and I am currently taking 2 x 500mg twice daily.

I would very much appreciate any recommendations of which meter and where to buy it and the necessary accoutrements.

Thankyou
 
Hi Serena.

Try this link for this websites competition to win one. (Hint: Tell them you test loads of times a day !!)http://www.diabetes.co.uk/promotions/bayer-meters.html

As for meters there are many and it is all down to what you want. Compact, normal size etc. Try looking in larger branches of Boots or Lloyds Chemists. Remember as a Diabetic you should get the VAT element off at point of sale. You will have to ask though.

Personally, I use an Accu-Chek Aviva with a multiclix lancet. You get everything you need but will have to buy extra strips. They are expensive and many buy them off Ebay or direct from the manufacturers.
 
Serena51 I have an Accu-Chek Aviva Nano - still in the box, if you want it just pay me for the postage and its yours. :D pm me for details.
 
That would be amazing, only problem is I am a bit illiterate when it comes to computers - so could you please tell me how to make a pm?

sorry to be so ignorant but I'm a bit worried because I've already done something wrong in the Stevia link and now it's locked and Idon't want to be chucked off the forum.
 
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