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Test strips, Blood Pressure and Diabetics.

S

simply_h

Well-Known Member
Messages
201
Location
The north
Hello All,

Well I just been to see the nurse and I asked for strips so that I can self-test, as I told her I was given a Blood Sugar meter…

Well Guess what I got told - that I don’t need them.. No surprise there I guess.!!!

I discussion about this with her and she wanted to know WHY I needed to test myself, I told her so that I know how my BS raise and fall with regards to different foods, so that I can keep them as close to possible to a non diabetic person…

She said I did not need to know as she does an expensive test HbA1C test to see, what my levels are, I questioned this and told her how does this help me on a daily basics, she just told me if I was not eating lots of sugary foods I will be ok and do not need to test on a daily basis… WHAT A BIG CON and a load of CR*P (sorry I am not happy at all) She then when on to tell me, they do not give out test strips due to cost… ( This really got me going inside, as the amount of TAX I pay and what do get for it – NOTHING at all..!!!)

Also, I have never ever had what you would call a high Blood Pressure reading that I have been told of from my doctor or the nurse, so when I got told I was diabetic in Feb this year, and got put straight onto drugs for control (Metformin, Simvastatin and Ramipril).

By the way my 1st HbA1c test result was 6.6, so why the need for DRUGS?????

Well I looked them all up for what they did and wondered why I was put on tabs to control Blood Pressure, well I found out today, it was because when she told me I was diabetic she took my blood pressure and it was high (by high I mean slighty high), its been taken twice since then and its normal.. Today it was 138 / 88, which again is slightly high, but it was taken in the afternoon.

My BP has always been very normal, the doctor told me that is at the bottom end of normal.. SO WHY is it then when a person become a diabetic they think that we better get them on Blood Pressure tablets as well. Why why why…

Anyway I guess lifes goes on.

Have a nice weekend.

Simply_h
 
she just told me if I was not eating lots of sugary foods I will be ok and do not need to test on a daily basis… WHAT A BIG CON and a load of CR*P (sorry I am not happy at all)
Click to expand...

I totally agree.

What I'd advise though is not setting up a 'you vs nurse' situation. I'd find ways to make it so you and your nurse work together.

Explain the effect that certain foods have on your blood sugars. If, for example, unsweetened porridge raises your blood sugar -show your nurse the before and after readings (preferably over two or three times to reinforce reliability).

You can then say that you need to test because avoiding sugary foods is not enough to help you avoid high blood glucose level readings.

You may have to accept that the NHS is too tight and that you may have to self-fund your test strips ... however, do what you can to get strips for free.

Advice for getting strips prescribed is available on a number of threads including this one
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20064&hilit=access+to+test+strips
 
Hello All,

I would never want to upset the doctor or nurse as they are only doing there job within the guidelines they have been set by the NHS. It’s not there fault etc.

But is so dam frustrating as well, I have just been on e-bay and bought my own test strips for now.

I will start writing down what I eat and do before and after tests to show the nurse and see what she says.

Thank you.

Simply_h (May have to change that to Simply_sweet. )
 
Good for you S_h ! The more you can show the nurse that you are :

(a) Very knowledgable in your understanding of Diabetes and what the readings mean and what you can do with these readings. i.e. reduce your portions or cut out the foods that are making your levels high the better.

(b) Show you are being very proactive in your own Diabetes care.

It MAY get you test strips, I would ask the Doctor rather than the nurse and blind him/her with your knowledge and understanding of your Diabetes and show him/her how the foods have been affecting your Bg levels etc.

We keep plugging away at this. It is no use someone just asking for test strips, they need to be able to demonstrate that they will use them and give value for money !
 
I have never been denied test strips but don't want to push my luck as I am taking Januvia and so have never asked for more han 50 per month. I know that some of the GP's in my practice don't like issuing them at all but noone has as yet challenged my usage . Last month my prescripion was delayed for a time but evenually issurd.
I have only been asking for monthly prescripions for about 6 months. Prior to this 50 would probablly last for several monhs as my readings were always high and noone seemed o know what o do about it . so I just stopped bothering.
Now the opposite is the case. I am trying to balance food and exercise and nedicaion. Sometimes it goes wrong. As yesterday when my walk redulted in readings of 2.8 etc.

I have therefore been using more strips than usual and decided today that I needed to buy strips from the pharmacy. This led to the pharmacisrt becoming rather upset and wanting to know why I was not geing them from the Dr. I explained that I wanted a op-up. That didnn' go down well either. Why didn' i ask the Dr. he could only say No! As the pharmacy is very near o my house and they know me I decided it migh be best not to pursue he matter.

Then I went shopping in a own some miles away. I tried again. Practicaly the same response.
In he end I was allowed o buy them but i was obviously painful to them. I explained hat I had had my prescription and used it up, They asked how manty and were horrified when I told them.
They said hat most f their diabetic customers wheher on insulin or not had 150 or 200 per month on prescription. I old them that many t2s were not prescribed any . Even some T1s were denied or restriced and hat he newly diagnosed were not even given meters. they couldn't believe it.
Some shocks in store i hink.
 
Simply-h,

Never been on the relieving end of ''don't test'' being a type 1 but can well understand your frustration and annoyance at your nurse saying this. Read the link Cugila give regarding 'Tips for Strips' and go back and put a good case forward for wanting to test. Good luck!

Nigel
 
Its a shame your nurse apparently does not know that it is carbohydrates that raise blood glucose of which sugar is just one of the culprits.

As for the Ramipril, dont discount it out of hand as it does have the ability to help protect your kidneys against the ravages of diabetes, you might regret not taking it if the worst were to happen.

Seems odd to me though that some doctors will hand out meds like Ramipril and simvastatin without question but refuse test strips which in my opinion if used correctly will help stave off complications far more than the ramipril and statin combo if bg is not controlled
 
Some companies, Abbotts for example, sell the test strips so no need for prescription. However seeing the Bayer Contour USB I liked the idea of having the records available on computer and I decided to buy a unit.

What Bayer don't tell you, until you have bought the device and it arrives with 25 test strips, is that future strips are only available on prescription!! So, if your GP won't provide a prescription that's £24 wasted once the initial supply runs out.

I advise anyone to check with their GP before buying a Bayer Contour device.
 

Bayer and other manufacturers do not sell everything direct to the Public, I know it does seem daft not to have them listed in the online shop !

There should be no reason why you cannot buy the strips from your local Pharmacy at the VAT reduced price or even from suppliers on Ebay, which is what many Members on diet only, who do not get a prescription do.
 
Before you go print off this exemption form for the VAT to be taken off. Some, even larger Pharmacies don't always know much about the exemption for some reason. Take it with you and offer it if they are difficult about the exemption. It is a Diabetic's right to obtain the exemption.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/downloads/gui ... abetes.pdf
 


Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.
 
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