Paul520785
Well-Known Member
My first struggle was what was the best title for this question - One thought was ~ best approach to ? lower moron grade surgery staff and incompetence with ignorance as well ?
My write up to explain the feeling of despair!
Background -
Type 1 on twice daily insulin and diet -
Now retired for 2 years and have been on insulin for just over 59 years.
Conclusion - Must have been doing it right as have no diabetic related issues.
Test strips - daily use
1) 7.00 - Before breakfast & injection
2) 8.50 - Before driving/using powered tools
3) 10.30 - before midmorning snack and with opportunity to eat more when appropriate
4) 12.30 - before lunch usually sandwiches with a sticky cake if activity levels are significant!
5) 13.15 - before driving - DVLE rules (before and every 2 hours) and wise if using power tools - Chain saw / tractor etc etc
6) 15.00 - driving rules
7) 16.45 - driving rules
8) 18.00 - before large evening meal & injection
. .. . 19.00 - relaxing in warm room on settee - TV is then an instant sleep switch!
9) 21.00 - test to verify BG level before going to bed
10) 23.00 - test to confirm BG is at a level to leave a 4 t0 5% BG at 7.00am on the following morning. If too low then a sweet drink and >>>
11) 23.45 - Retest to verify level if required
Note - if not driving then the use of powered equipment means that these test times will be wise.
Facts -
Vehicles driven regularly - 4WD - 2 x cars - ATV - tractor - small fast boat (fishing and regatta rescue)
Power tools - bench drill - bed saw - grinder(s) - planer(s) Chain saw(s) Hydraulic log splitter cement mixer
All of these have the ability to cause major injuries if anything affects the level of concentration or judgement.
Hypo awareness - for me first signs are apparent at 4.1% but this can be masked / misinterpreted due to numerous factors
- Warning / fully aware at 3.6% essential to eat at this level
- at 2.4% a shaky / confused / hungry idiot!
- at 1.8% a conscious idiot wanting to eat but only just able to walk (last time this level experienced was about 8 years ago!)
Test strips -
For many years 300 ordered monthly and an almost good/brilliant HbA1cmaintained.
>>>>>> Arithmetic 30 days per month at average of 10 per day = 300
Jan 2012 - strips suddenly reduced to 50 per month - 2 phone calls and turned out that local NHS trust had a junior clerk who had sent instruction that the max level was set at this level. My consultant taught me 4 new swear words and fixed in 48 hours!
Feb 2015 - quantity reduced to 200 per month without any consultation
Mar 2015 - changed to 250 per month after I complained politely
May 2015 - changed to 250 then 200 on alternate months - was told that a letter from my consultant had stated that only needed that many - I was not offered or able to get verification of this.
Aug 2015 - puzzled that only able to order 4 and checked quantities over next 2 months.
Sep 2015 - visited surgery to determine what was going on - then told that my GP had reduced the quantity to 200 per month - on basis that was the correct diabetic quantity without advising / talking to me. I only just resisted the reaction to go ballistic and the dispensary manager issued an extra 250 strips to cover shortfall up to end of the year.
Oct 2015 - unable to order any strips on monthly schedule so called at surgery to get 200strips before 3 weeks away on a sailing trip. None in stock so agreed to pickup when I got back.
Nov 2015 - surgery lost the 200 strips held and refused to re-issue!
Now wondering which action first -
Visit the surgery and go ballistic - I have tried telephone and a brief visit to the surgery just to get told by the dispensary manager that what I remembered she arranged was not correct -
- - - - - - - - - Probably not the best first step!
Find out where and to whom to complain (in and out of the surgery)
Accept that NHS wants the bill if I have a major injury
Accept that NHS wants the bill if I have an accident which injures other people.
Wait till next see consultant in January
Change surgery in March when my 3 year driving licence has been renewed.
Suggestions and / or information would be helpful.
My write up to explain the feeling of despair!
Background -
Type 1 on twice daily insulin and diet -
Now retired for 2 years and have been on insulin for just over 59 years.
Conclusion - Must have been doing it right as have no diabetic related issues.
Test strips - daily use
1) 7.00 - Before breakfast & injection
2) 8.50 - Before driving/using powered tools
3) 10.30 - before midmorning snack and with opportunity to eat more when appropriate
4) 12.30 - before lunch usually sandwiches with a sticky cake if activity levels are significant!
5) 13.15 - before driving - DVLE rules (before and every 2 hours) and wise if using power tools - Chain saw / tractor etc etc
6) 15.00 - driving rules
7) 16.45 - driving rules
8) 18.00 - before large evening meal & injection
. .. . 19.00 - relaxing in warm room on settee - TV is then an instant sleep switch!
9) 21.00 - test to verify BG level before going to bed
10) 23.00 - test to confirm BG is at a level to leave a 4 t0 5% BG at 7.00am on the following morning. If too low then a sweet drink and >>>
11) 23.45 - Retest to verify level if required
Note - if not driving then the use of powered equipment means that these test times will be wise.
Facts -
Vehicles driven regularly - 4WD - 2 x cars - ATV - tractor - small fast boat (fishing and regatta rescue)
Power tools - bench drill - bed saw - grinder(s) - planer(s) Chain saw(s) Hydraulic log splitter cement mixer
All of these have the ability to cause major injuries if anything affects the level of concentration or judgement.
Hypo awareness - for me first signs are apparent at 4.1% but this can be masked / misinterpreted due to numerous factors
- Warning / fully aware at 3.6% essential to eat at this level
- at 2.4% a shaky / confused / hungry idiot!
- at 1.8% a conscious idiot wanting to eat but only just able to walk (last time this level experienced was about 8 years ago!)
Test strips -
For many years 300 ordered monthly and an almost good/brilliant HbA1cmaintained.
>>>>>> Arithmetic 30 days per month at average of 10 per day = 300
Jan 2012 - strips suddenly reduced to 50 per month - 2 phone calls and turned out that local NHS trust had a junior clerk who had sent instruction that the max level was set at this level. My consultant taught me 4 new swear words and fixed in 48 hours!
Feb 2015 - quantity reduced to 200 per month without any consultation
Mar 2015 - changed to 250 per month after I complained politely
May 2015 - changed to 250 then 200 on alternate months - was told that a letter from my consultant had stated that only needed that many - I was not offered or able to get verification of this.
Aug 2015 - puzzled that only able to order 4 and checked quantities over next 2 months.
Sep 2015 - visited surgery to determine what was going on - then told that my GP had reduced the quantity to 200 per month - on basis that was the correct diabetic quantity without advising / talking to me. I only just resisted the reaction to go ballistic and the dispensary manager issued an extra 250 strips to cover shortfall up to end of the year.
Oct 2015 - unable to order any strips on monthly schedule so called at surgery to get 200strips before 3 weeks away on a sailing trip. None in stock so agreed to pickup when I got back.
Nov 2015 - surgery lost the 200 strips held and refused to re-issue!
Now wondering which action first -
Visit the surgery and go ballistic - I have tried telephone and a brief visit to the surgery just to get told by the dispensary manager that what I remembered she arranged was not correct -
- - - - - - - - - Probably not the best first step!
Find out where and to whom to complain (in and out of the surgery)
Accept that NHS wants the bill if I have a major injury
Accept that NHS wants the bill if I have an accident which injures other people.
Wait till next see consultant in January
Change surgery in March when my 3 year driving licence has been renewed.
Suggestions and / or information would be helpful.