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Test strip allowance,

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Neicy0412

Well-Known Member
Just curious, have any T1s out there been told they have a test strip allowance? I have received my new Onetouch VerioIQ meter and went to change my prescription, I test 4 times a day, more if I have any concerns, which means I need around 112 test strips a month, if not more. I was told yes I can have the test strips, I can have 100 a month! Do I test less and risk my already precarious control worsening? Or do I stand my ground and insist on more?
 
Indeed. 4 tests a day is the absolute minimum you can get away with, and you'll need more if you're driving, if a test fails, etc and you're not even getting that with 100/month
 
Luckily my doctor hasn't limited the number of test strips I am allowed...yet! If I were you I would explain to your GP why you need more than 100. If you drive to work and back, for example, that's two a day without your usual pre and post meal checking.

I know the NHS is all about cost cutting at the minute, but I do not agree at all with this limiting the number of test strips. Don't know about you guys but I certainly don't get a buzz out if testing multiple times each day. If I could get away with testing once a day I would! Rant over :)
 
i was told by my Dr that he had been told that he must cut down on precsriping test strips to diabetics.But he turned to me and said hmm will with the new driving laws you will need more then you can have them.luv my Dr he is great.XX :D
 
My doc prescribes me 50 a month, I just end up buying more from eBay. I suppose everyone is feeling the pinch, but truth be told I can afford to spend the extra £14 or whatever a month to buy more strips. My prescriptions are now free so I'm happy to go off and spend a little bit of my own money on test strips.

Of course this isn't ideal for everyone, its a bit alarming that they let people loose with Insulin, explain the dangers of hypos then offer an inadequate amount of test strips. Although I do wonder; once you have your diabetes/lifestyle balanced or consistent; perhaps then you could reduce the amount of times you test. Well that's the plan for me anyway.
 
My pharmacist was saying the other day about how each practice in our area has a limit for test strips. I get 200 a month the gp today has given me 400 because I'm going on holiday and saves me worrying near the time as repeat due week I go away.
 
Have a word with your diabetic doctor or nurse or gp and get their advise after all if you can not get enough sticks they will not get all your blood results for that month
 
Im pregnant and I was told when trying to order more test strips I couldnt.The dr said he noticed that my usage had increased.I told him of course it would during pregnancy because we would all want a healthy baby!He told me despite this he couldnt because he had a quota per patient.The only way I managed to get more was to get my diabetic nurse and dr to verify that I would need more.They were disgusted with my GP's attitude!
 
Hi think this is geting more and more common welcome to britain 2012. Iam type one been so for around 22 years i never used to test at all because i knew where roughly my sugars was at, and very hypo aware, as the years have gone by and my diabetes has gone abit **** at the minute i can test now on average 7/10 times a day, its not just about the control sometimes i just wana feel comfortable to know where my sugars are. After a long hard battle they was perscribing me one box at a time and i was at the doctors all the time. As it stands i now get a box issued once a week so i can get 50 a week and i have to collect it from the chemist. Iam on the Jazz wavesense and didnt realise how many errors i was geting changed my meter just, and to be fair i was on an optimum exceed which i had no problems its all about cash at the end of the day. So i get 200 a month and to be fair i can still buy a box once or twice a month just so i dont keep running out. You get the same **** speil if you test more than x amount its a lifestyle choice, every diabetic is different with different lives etc. So if youve got a problem with my testing put me on a continueous glucose monitor and once again down to cost. So when they start churning out about cost i simply reply an extra couple grand to improve my diabtetes per year and it costs the governant 36k a year to keep someone in prison to break the law. Its the way the things have got, iam a quite placid and sensitive guy but this government are tougherning us up without realising lol dont take no for an answer youve gota fight for everything these days.. soz for long rant lol. :thumbup:
 
hi, im type one and haven't been put on any type of restriction,on my usual prescription which normally is about every 4 weeks, i get 4 pots , each with 50 in, but have been advised from my diabetes nurse that the NHS are trying to cut back on everything and give out cheaper testing kits with cheaper testing strips,

i usually go through a pot a week and test on average 7 times a day , morning, lunch , dinner, before bed and just check in genral thru out the day for my own sanity!!
 
I get 200 strips every 4 weeks, gp did try to reduce the amount despite my objections but after a letter from my Endo he soon changed his mind.
 
I've just changed to the verio from my ancient ultrasmart. It's quite smart but not as clever as the ultrasmart. :) I get 200 strips each time I order, sometimes I order more than once a month and I've never been questioned. You want it you've got it.
I would ask the consultant to drop a letter to your GP explaining the minimum amount of strips required is enough to test 4 times a day, every day, after all how can you achieve good control if you are not aware of your level each time you bolus so you can adjust your insulin dose. Also if you jump in the car without testing your sugars first basically you are breaking the laws set by DVLA and risking losing your driving license. It's like saying you can only have x amount of insulin each month, it shouldn't be done.
Michelle
 
I'd be quite happy to go with a cheaper meter and cheaper test strips, but each time I raise the query I get told that the GP and the diabetes clinic have standard meters and that's what they stick to. Go figure...

My previous GP used to only prescribe one vial at a time (50 strips) but the intervention of my diabetes nurse meant that this got changed to 3 vials (150 strips) a month.

The choice seems very straightforward to me (though I'm a patient, not a GP!): provide the strips that your patients need and, if you need to reduce budgets, find cheaper strips and meters.
I'm already one of those that's seeing the impact of the old ruling that it was ok to use a needle multiple times and ok to use a disposable syringe multiple times. Cutting costs short term didn't help there and I doubt rationing strips will work here either.
 
Hi all im totally new to this. Your all lucky. My gp has refused to prescribe me test strips for the verio iq. Reason "they didn't recommend the machine to me"
 
I have just been told I have type 1 and also found that the test strips are restricted .I asked my diabetic nurse when I was at the clinic and she told me it can depend on your doctor it is all down to cost .
She made out a letter to the doctor and told him I would need about 200 for the month . so will see what I get .
 
Neicy0412 said:
It's never been an issue with my Freestyle Lite meter! Maybe the new strips are more expensive, just seems a bit odd!
Click to expand...

This is so silly! I have this meter too, have done for several years then my GP surgery decided they would only prescribe one (or 2) types of testing strips and told me I needed to make an appt to get a new meter as they wouldn't issue my strips any more. When I had my appt the nurse proudly offered me a new meter which was the same as I was already using! When I pointed this out she said, "oh well, have the new one anyway..." (and that is saving money how??) and promptly worked out how many strips I needed. They give me 250 strips which they work out to lasting me 2 months, which they more than do. We get there in the end... :lol:
 
Went through that too many times.... I had constant letters and phone calls form my gp saying that i need to reduce number of strips i use. The thing is that ive never used too many! My gp told me that one a day should be enough and some people test once a week and they are ok. When i went to my consultant i asked him to send a letter to my gp and he did. Recommended 2 or 3 per day and thats what i get. 100 per month and dont even try to order more :?
 
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