test strip refusal

[praxis]

Diagnosed 2010 as T2 and got a tub of 25 strips with an integrated throwaway meter. Put on Metformin 1g, gliclazide and Simvastin. Had an initial two day course of diabetes (DAFNE) at the hospital clinic along with other newbies and was left alone for about a week with gliclazide being removed from my meds at the same time as I couldn't tolerate Metformin I asked for the slow release version. After a year, had the usual check up with a nurse...feet and my 'goals to achieve' for the coming year, an eye test at the hospital (which I now have to remind them annually about by the way) and that has been that to date. Oh, I did manage to get from my GP a box of test strips some time ago. Since then I don't test regularly except when I feel 'low' or under the weather, so I'm not a big user of test strips.

However, at my last check-up with a D/N my HbA1c was 6.5% Chol. 3.5mmol/L. I explained that this had been no accident and I had been monitoring my B/C levels to try and get them down. I asked if I should reduce my 1g to 500mg of Metformin and she agreed. After about two weeks I saw my levels creeping up almost into double figures so I told her I would be going back to 1g even though she had changed my scrip to 500mg. I asked for more test strips (the last lot I had were over a year out of date) and was phoned by surgery staff to say 'no' but I could buy them VAT free myself. I wrote to the surgery puting my case and got a reply from a doctor whom I have never met.

Extracts from his letter include...Quote, "I am responding to an internet print-out which you have sent which looks like it was probably sponsored the makers of test strips...It is clear from the fact that you are only on Metformin which cannot cause hypoglycaemias...sugar control is excellent and is right on the cusp of not having diabetes at all...you are not somebody who needs to be testing your blood sugars...if you would like to test your sugars I'm afraid you will have to buy them privately...The NHS is in dire financial straits and cannot afford for GPs to be prescribing unecessary items to patients...this policy is in keeping with the Nice guidance..."end quote. I wrote to the Practise manager about Practise policy and now almost a month later I still await a reply.

As I'm over 75 I have a designated doctor I have known for over 19 years, unfortunately he has now recently retired unexpectantly and will soon be replaced so I cannot talk to him about the situation. I would be interested in learning whether or not anyone else on the forum has met with such a barefaced refusal of test strips and attitude. Perhaps I have been 'red-lined' because of my age?

 

[Shar67]

Help Sparrowhawk
Unfortunately this is not a new thing, most type 2 diabetics don't get test strips prescribed to them, although in the long run it should save NHS money by not having to treat people with diabetes complications. So no it isn't your age
I will tag @daisy1 to post some information about the site for you.
Others who have found themselves in this situation have bought theirs
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0068JAJ...m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1DMFRMS9EFGKX5NBRBMF

 

[David_A_Hughes]

If you are on gliclazide, you may be required to test your blood every time you drive. That was the advice I was given and so I receive test strips whenever I need them.

 

[daisy1]

@sparrowhawk

Hello and welcome to the forum It seems to be a constant battle to get test strips. You may have to pay for the cheapest ones yourself. Many members on here use SD Codefree meter and strips as they have found these are the most reasonable. As mentioned above, here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions and someone will be able to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.