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GD T2Ds on insulin have you managed to be prescribed the Libre?

NaijaChick

Well-Known Member
Messages
219
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi

I am wondering if any Type 2s on insulin have managed to get a Libre prescription.

I am looking at challenging my Health trust as I meet all their criteria’s except that I am not a T1D.

Im on insulin because it’s the only treatment that has worked for me but I can’t afford £70.00 a month.

I’m currently on 4-5 daily injections and my nighttime hypos are often without warning and severe.

Any advice would be useful.
Please can the low carbers stay away, unless you have useful advice.


Thank you!!!
 
Not exactly an answer to your question but, with T1, it took a lot of time for my CCG to decide to fund Libre and, like you, I could not afford to fund Libre all the time.
I found great value and insight in using a Libre for 2 weeks out of 6 which I was able to afford.

Are you doing many finger prick tests?
Between Libres, I was doing 10 tests per day and this convinced my team to fund the Libre - it is cheaper than funding that many test strips.
 
I’m currently on 4-5 daily injections and my nighttime hypos are often without warning and severe.
I notice that you have GD in your thread title. Are you pregnant at the moment? I would have (naively) thought that when pregnant and with hypo unawareness you would qualify. (My pregnancies were precgm and due to the requirement to keep my bgs low I lost hypo awareness and had some truly epic hypos).

The issue with cgms and T2s seems to be the funding - the NHS will pay for health funds to give cgms to 20% of their T1s but they have to pay for their own T2s. I take it you are definitely T2 and not LADA? (Plenty of LADA on these forums start with a T2 diagnosis.

Hopefully in the long term the NHS will make more funding available for the libre.
 
Hey Ellie, sorry I think I posted in the wrong section.
What tests do I need to have done to see, if I’m Lada??
Thanks for your reply.
 
I'm officially T2 and on insulin and get it on prescription, but I am in Northern Ireland which may make a difference as the criteria seems to be different in the four countries. Reading https://www.england.nhs.uk/publicat...ts-for-funding-of-relevant-diabetes-patients/ I don't think I would satisfy, but I was told that in NI it really came down to whether or not your consultant thinks you would benefit from it (and whether they had the budget for it.)

If you are in London, this may not be what you want to hear.
 
Hi @NaijaChick ,

Even as a T1, I technically didn't qualify?
However, I pushed for the case that "the bloodletting isn't apprpriate" with what I do for a living..
I am pretty much up to my elbows in muck most the time. & my self funding had demonstrated improved managment too..

I hope this helps.
 
It really is a myth that type 1s get it 'automatically' of course and when you read the NICE criteria, type 2s, even on insulin barely get a mention. @NaijaChick, all I can say really is keep pushing. Are you able to get your Diabetes Nurses on your side at all?, I attended a type 1 course at which the Nurses gave all of us very personal attention, by the end of the course they had secured a libre for just about everyone, obviously the criteria had to be adhered to but they knew exactly in what way and were able to write it up in a manner that matched the criteria exactly. It has become obvious to me over the years that the Diabetes Nurses hold all the power! Have you had the first conversation with them at all? x
 
@NaijaChick - I know of one T2 prescribed the Libre, but that was primarily due to other medication she takes that can render her blood sugars extremely erratic at times.

I must admit I was very surprised when I learned she had been prescribed the Libre, but more than anything else, I am just delighted she is being so well cared for.
 
I’m hoping there will be some competition soon that drives down the cost, ironically I got criticised for not zapping it enough by DSN this week lol, I pay for it, I’ll zap it as little as I like :)
 
I’m hoping there will be some competition soon that drives down the cost, ironically I got criticised for not zapping it enough by DSN this week lol, I pay for it, I’ll zap it as little as I like :)

Thank you all so much for your responses. I didn’t know that T1Ds were struggling to obtain it too.
There is defo the case that having it has led to better control and I am what the DSNs call in the pre diabetics range. Apparently I zap a lot and I need to calm down.

I’ll speak to my consultant at the next appt especially as I am about to start Ozempic as intermittent fasting has made me gain weight.I have a metabolic disorder associated with my PCOS, which means that fasting is not recommended.
I’ve been told that hypos are likely to increase.

Good luck to everyone ❣️
 
I’m hoping there will be some competition soon that drives down the cost, ironically I got criticised for not zapping it enough by DSN this week lol, I pay for it, I’ll zap it as little as I like :)

The cheeky devils! They always look to see how many times I zap it (around 15 a day) but I have to cooperate because as they like to remind me, I'm getting it on prescription! Fair enough I know because what would be the point in them giving it to me if I didn't use it. If I was paying for it I doubt if I'd even show them!!!!!
 
I’m hoping there will be some competition soon that drives down the cost, ironically I got criticised for not zapping it enough by DSN this week lol, I pay for it, I’ll zap it as little as I like :)

Interestingly, (from my own experience.) my DSN couldn't get her head round the self funded CGM set up I had with the BT bridge? "Oh, you got one of those...!"
The endo seemed to get it. & was quite satisfied I knew what I was doing.. Then instructed the GP to bang it on scrypt.
Lol, I felt like a "sales rep" for the kit I have...
The set up I used was litterally "zapping" (taking an NFC reading.) every 5 minutes.

By all acounts, only 20% of T1s get this lucky with NHS Libre funding?
 
I scan 3 times a day according to libre, I am very hypo aware though, hypos for me are like a bat round the head, I’m sure I used to over zap it so I’m sure you will relax a bit. Best wishes :)
 
My ex is t2 on insulin and is prescribed it

But the consultant had to seek special consent to prescribe it.. my ex had self funded and proved much better control with the libre
 
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