Test Strips stopped

[Lucozade]

Hi Stoke bloke, I have spare machines and a ton of strips I bought cheap off the bay when my doc thought I had diabetes but they were wrong so now going spare, I was going to resell on the bay, but you seem like a deserving cause.

I am disgusted,no, horrified, at the fact that doctors are being financially incentivised not to treat patients.

I have other health issues which cost a lot of money to manage, but if I can help someone else, gladly I will.

I live near Stoke, drop me a line and the whole lot is yours.

 

[steve_sandy]

my practice has banned the strips for T2, but under the care of a hospital doctor who was keen to know the before.... readings to allow her to gauge the adjustments

currently on this for a few weeks and suspect the glicazide might get upped to 2x2 in a few weeks
Gliclazide M/R = 1 morning, 2 evening
Metformin = 2 morning, 2 evening
Januvia = 1 morning

weight seems to be dropping more than I thought it might, as for the OP worth getting hospital involved

 

[davey b]

I was expecting to have to pay for test strips, but I'm able to get everything free - including replacing my monitor if it packs up. The only thing not on it is the Control solution - and that's because I haven't asked for it as I got some free from Roche anyway. That said, I do seem to have a great Doctor and Diabetic Nurse.

 

[Ardbeg]

I recall getting a letter from my GP recently saying that they are recommending strips to test your urine from now on, not blood test strips.

I'll have a hunt for the letter and see exactly what they are saying. I seldom check my BG now TBH, but did so today and was 8.1 :shock:

Been a bad boy for weeks now I'm afraid; two week all inclusive holiday in Mexico eating and drinking normally (well in excess TBH) and eating chocolate, etc.

 

[noblehead]

Been a bad boy for weeks now I'm afraid; two week all inclusive holiday in Mexico eating and drinking normally (well in excess TBH) and eating chocolate, etc.

Naughty boy! :x ...............did you have a nice time! :wink:

Nigel

 

[hanadr]

Hobs and co
The glucoflex R strips don't have the who;le range of readings. i prefer to be in the 4.5 - 5.5 range and I can't use them, because the give just one colour for this whole range.
Otherwise these are the cheapest strips around. they don't need a meter.
I buy my Freestyle Lite strips direct from Abbott Diabetes Care at 14.90 per pack including P&P by firstclass post with usually next day delivery.
My GP thinks that all strips will be stopped soon as the NHSs runs out of money.
Hana

 

[Ardbeg]

Been a bad boy for weeks now I'm afraid; two week all inclusive holiday in Mexico eating and drinking normally (well in excess TBH) and eating chocolate, etc.

Naughty boy! :x ...............did you have a nice time! :wink:

Nigel

Fantastic time thanks Nigel.

Celebrated my 25th Wedding anniversary whilst over there too

 

[Hobs]

Hobs and co
The glucoflex R strips don't have the who;le range of readings. i prefer to be in the 4.5 - 5.5 range and I can't use them, because the give just one colour for this whole range.
Otherwise these are the cheapest strips around. they don't need a meter.
I buy my Freestyle Lite strips direct from Abbott Diabetes Care at 14.90 per pack including P&P by firstclass post with usually next day delivery.
My GP thinks that all strips will be stopped soon as the NHSs runs out of money.
Hana

You should re read my posts .. I was writing about GlucoRx wich is a meter based test strip blood monitering system, where the meter gives a full range of readings to aid management of diabetes.

If you check below you will get more info

glucorx.co.uk/

and if you search for Pharmacylink uk you will find they sell a meter kit for a low £4.79 and a pot of 50 strips for £9.65 inc VAT ...a lot less that you pay for your Abbott strips .. especially if you bother to claim VAT exemption.

 

[theblokefromstoke]

Test Strips Reinstated.

I had a great meeting today with the PCT. I met with a lovely lady and explained to her how i manage my eating, excercise and medication on a daily basis to keep my BG control real tight. I took all of my diaries showing what I eat per day, how I measure all my food, carbs and cals and how this relates to tablets, excercise and my daily BG levels.

She was over the moon with what i was doing and what i'd achived in the 11 months since diagnosis.

I am absolutly committed to managing my Diabetes and not letting it ruin my life.

Test strips have been reinstated.

Thanks for the help guys.

carl

 

[sugarless sue]

Great news Carl, well done.

 

[cugila]

Great news Carl !!

Perseverance pays in the end.

 

[anniep]

victory!!

 

[iHs]

So will I that is cheap - lets hope.

Yes Sue, that price of £9.65 for 50 strips is a retail price including VAT, so it would be a lot less to the NHS procurement list and leave all the others in the shade. If they were to offer them at say a NHS prescribed price of £8 for 50, the national bill for prescribed strips would be reduced by well over a third, as the average strip price as given in BNF is £14.50

Well done Hobs

For bringing up this meter again. Looks to me as though it will sing and dance like all the other more well known makes of bg meters. If it wasn't for the fact that I need to use Aviva strips to go in my bg remote for my Combo pump, I wouldn't at all object if my GP asked me to change meters so that a saving could be made on the strips.

People should also look at Tigris Healthcare

 

[anniep]

looks a good cheap sytem worth considering. One question I thought as diabetics we didn't have to pay VAT how does that work?

 

[Hobs]

looks a good cheap sytem worth considering. One question I thought as diabetics we didn't have to pay VAT how does that work?

If you suffer a chronic medical condition and need to buy something to aid treatment of your condition, then you can claim VAT exemption at the point of sale by signing a declaration form.

 

[anniep]

looks a good cheap sytem worth considering. One question I thought as diabetics we didn't have to pay VAT how does that work?

If you suffer a chronic medical condition and need to buy something to aid treatment of your condition, then you can claim VAT exemption at the point of sale by signing a declaration form.

Can that be done online?

 

[Hobs]

I cannot state if all on-line sales are the same, but I bought a new nebuliser from a Pharmacy and signed an on-line form to be exempted from VAT.

 

[gbswales]

Re: Test Strips stopped - I do not understand this

I would have thought that insulin dependent type 2's are in much greater need of testing than tablet control. For those of us on rapid insulin doses especially. I find that my levels peak and drop often for no apparent reason so I consider it essential to test before driving for example. This is best indicated by my daily routine of 2 weetabix for breakfast and nothing more until lunchtime. Even when starting from approximately the same morning reading my pre lunchtime level can vary by as much as 4-5 (this may be because I had pancreatitis a few years ago)

I tried for 3 years to control by diet and novamix and was running with HBA 1c at levels of 10 -14 - then I followed advice here on low carb dieting and with the help of my clinic moved to using nova rapid and regular readings - result is that my levels have been 7 or lower on the last four occasions which both my doctor and my clinic are very pleased with. This has only become possible through testing on a regular basis - at least once a day. If I dont see what the levels are doing then I lose control quickly - I realise that is like a will power issue but the fact is that I dont have the kind of routine mind that allows me to control by diet without warnings.

I also want to make sure that my diabetes has as little affect on my lifestyle as possible - I have never let my hemophilia dictate my lifestyle and I am not about to let diabetes do it! Make too many changes to the life that you enjoy and it means the illness/condition has beaten you!

I am fortunate in that my medical centre have continued to prescribe test strips but I am not complacent enough to think I am not at risk (they tried to cut them down a year ago and I fought to get them maintained on the basis that I didnt order them other than when I really needed them)

What the Health service should be doing is screwing the manufacturers to provide test strips at a reasonable price rather than them giving away meters left right and centre as they do on here.

 

[peter7]

I am cautious about my reply because my experience is probably unlike most peoples situation, I find it very difficult to tell whether it is a problem caused by warfarin or diabetes when out on the golf course. My surgery warned me last time that I would be unlikely to have further supplies of strips when they last issued them. In the meantime I purchased a Contour usb meter which I think is the best ever with recording and usage convenience. Unfortunately the contour strips are considered too expensive by my surgery who gave me an inexpensive meter and strips to continue monitoring. My surgery and staff are excellent. All the support services are in place but it is the constant cycle of medical checks and hospital visits for an at risk patient that begins to make me wonder, is it really worth it.
I now have a choice of monitoring using the new meter, or to purchase the contour strips myself. It is a small price to pay relatively, but it is close to the straw breaking the camel's back, there are so many other price rises. I have seriously considered giving up golf but I need to walk and can only manage short bursts due to circulatory problems and the contour USB seemed to be the perfect solution. After years of fighting health issues it really seems to be all too much and it would be very easy to give up, especially so since the official line seems to be that there is no need to monitor type2.
There are three issues to the note, one how fortunate I am to receive care and treatment, two a possible solution to the issue of monitoring and three the depressive nature of a constant battle for fitness. I think I will take up a Zen religion and perspective in the future.

 

[searley]

Re: Test Strips stopped - I do not understand this

I am T2 on insulin, currently quite low doses, but they are going up.. i have now problem getting test strips, just had my prescription changed so i can have strips for my contour usb

at request of Diabetic specialist nurse & consultant i am currently testing 4 times a day whilst my long acting insulin is fine tuned, then when sorting the doses for slow acting they will want me to test pre & post meal, so about 7 strips a day, for a while at least

I would have thought that insulin dependent type 2's are in much greater need of testing than tablet control. For those of us on rapid insulin doses especially. I find that my levels peak and drop often for no apparent reason so I consider it essential to test before driving for example. This is best indicated by my daily routine of 2 weetabix for breakfast and nothing more until lunchtime. Even when starting from approximately the same morning reading my pre lunchtime level can vary by as much as 4-5 (this may be because I had pancreatitis a few years ago)

I tried for 3 years to control by diet and novamix and was running with HBA 1c at levels of 10 -14 - then I followed advice here on low carb dieting and with the help of my clinic moved to using nova rapid and regular readings - result is that my levels have been 7 or lower on the last four occasions which both my doctor and my clinic are very pleased with. This has only become possible through testing on a regular basis - at least once a day. If I dont see what the levels are doing then I lose control quickly - I realise that is like a will power issue but the fact is that I dont have the kind of routine mind that allows me to control by diet without warnings.

I also want to make sure that my diabetes has as little affect on my lifestyle as possible - I have never let my hemophilia dictate my lifestyle and I am not about to let diabetes do it! Make too many changes to the life that you enjoy and it means the illness/condition has beaten you!

I am fortunate in that my medical centre have continued to prescribe test strips but I am not complacent enough to think I am not at risk (they tried to cut them down a year ago and I fought to get them maintained on the basis that I didnt order them other than when I really needed them)

What the Health service should be doing is screwing the manufacturers to provide test strips at a reasonable price rather than them giving away meters left right and centre as they do on here.