test strips

Hi louiseb,

I think the advice you see about testing is aimed at newly diagnosed and those who have been unable to bring their numbers down because their eating habits have not been addressed by the NHS and/or themselves and they are trying to gain control. Because the person is giving the advice it does not mean that they are obsessed by testing. They are just explaining how to gain control.

IMHO there is no need to go on testing frantically once you have decided what works for you and a couple of tests a week will suffice unless you are a Type 1 or on hypo inducing meds. The other times you need to test are when you are ill or have been prescribed medication for other health reasons as some of these medications can send your blood sugars into orbit. It is also prudent to keep an eye on things because how would you know if your numbers have started to climb? Even the best controlled diabetics can get a shock some days. The HBA1c is only given every 6 months for most of us and a lot of damage could be done in that time.
I do read posts on here sometimes where people keep retesting the same food item and it would seem that they are loathe to change their diet. There are some foods that some of us have to abstain from and to keep eating them and testing to see if a different result can be obtained is a waste of strips.
I suppose if you are prescribed them you will use them and if you have to buy them you will use less unless you have no financial worries.
Human nature does play a part.

The advice here on the forum is excellent and you have to decide your way forward. My advice would be to always have a few strips in your possession.

Mmmmmh.......great answer Catherine. No argument just a discussion, that's all.

Louiseb.
I am a little confused here.....are you Diabetic or still pre Diabetic as in your very first post. It's not clear from your profile ??

You may have seen the advice for newbies by myself or Sue. No matter. That is general advice to help them better understand what is happening. Ways that they can take control. Nowhere in that advice does it say you have to test frequently for life .....

Many of the newly diagnosed have just been told, "You are a Diabetic, now come back in 3 or 6 months." that's it ! No advice other than the usual, stay away from sugars. Basically they are 'hung out to dry.'

Now you have your opinion and it is as valid as anybody elses. However, most of us on here are experienced Diabetic's and have been through all of this, WHY routine before. At some point it was brought home to us by a personal experience just why you need to test frequently, at least in the early stages and at other times as in Catherine's post.

Most Diabetic's are told you don't need to test......it will stress you.....might do to some, they are usually the ones who will get stressed about a cold, anything in fact ! Well that is an individual repsonse, personally I don't get stressed about testing. It helps me better understand what happens in my body on a daily basis. Let's me react to the ups and downs of Bg levels. They are never the same every day and after the same foods, every day is different. I lost a lot of weight and medication is now too much so I need to test to work out what I can drop and what I need to keep taking. I have to test.

A HbA1c is only an average reading over around 3 months, it will hide many spikes and lows so it shouldn't really be taken as the only thing to take note of, that is why many advocate testing as a routine. That is my advice. What I do. I recently had 6 months of Cancer treatment and it threw my Bg levels into turmoil, if I hadn't tested I would have known nothing about it. During that time I frequently had Bg levels from 2.4 to 24.6 mmol/l, yet the HbA1c only moved up to 7% and then dropped back to 6.8%. If I relied on that I would think that things weren't too bad, on their way back down.

Testing only once a day or even not at all is in my opinion futile, it tells you nothing other than at that point in time your level was x or y. My Endocrinologist and SDSN all say the same.....they are real experts, people I trust rather than some Practice Nurse who has a diploma or similar. Not in the same league.

I have a friend who only tests once a day. He was told to by his diabetic nurse. He is ill, has complications and will not look at any readings other than a morning fasting one, his Nurse told him that's all he needs to do. One of these days I will probably be going to his funeral....he is in a bad way and will not test to see what his levels are during the day, after meals. He is exhibiting the classic symptoms of high blood sugars but just thinks he is doing everything right .....because that's what the Nurse told him to do.

What do we know, us Diabetics who have had it for years, test frequently, control it well....surely we can't know more than some HC professionals.....can we ???

So, you go your way and I'll go mine....as they say. We advise, you read, you ignore, you choose ! Seems fairly simple to me. Nobody is forced to do anything, personal choice. However, neither I or Sue plan to change the advice we give out anytime soon.......... :wink:

Ken

I am diet controlled and have been for three years. I was lucky enough to find this forum soon after I was diagnosed and took on board the advice here.

I did test frequently for many weeks till I got the hang of what the foods I ate did to my blood sugar levels and now, do not need to test so much.

However, this is a condition for life and, as we move forward, then our bodies change. I have lost a lot of weight so I have found that some of the foods that I could not eat before I can now tolerate in small amounts this is because my insulin resistance has changed with the weight loss.

It is always advisable to have a week’s testing every now and again to check that the foods are still reacting as they were before and that your portion control has not slipped !

If you have an illness or perhaps are prescribed medications, non diabetes related, then these can affect your blood sugar levels. I had to have steroid injections for instance which sent my blood sugar levels into orbit for a while. Stress and other factors can affect you as well so it is always necessary to test and have the ability to test when you need to.

Our bodies are not static units and therefore the ability to check on our levels must always be an ongoing thing.

I do get strips on repeat prescription because my GP realises the benefit to me of them. If i want to test more frequently then I buy my own.

I reckon that by keeping control of my diabetes I will probably save the NHS on the treatment of any complications that I would have certainly developed.

Hi Louiseb.

I think the first thing to understand is that not everyone is fortunate enough to be prescribed strips at all, even if only for 6 months after diagnosis as you say that you have been.
Other people don’t even know about self testing at all and I realise this is so because I was totally unaware of any aspects of diabetes before I discovered this forum.

I really haven’t noticed anybody on the forum showing signs of ‘obsessive’ testing but I have noticed advice being given, and have given advice myself, to people who clearly do need to test. Giving advice to someone who needs to understand their condition does not necessarily mean that the adviser is finding it necessary to do the same themselves at all times!

Some people have a need to lose or gain weight and find it can be very helpful to know what their food plan is doing to their BG levels.

I would agree that there is little need to test before and after every meal and at 1,2,3,and at 4 hour intervals once you know how your body reacts to that particular food unless your condition has given cause for concern.
Of course, what might concern the patient may not be what concerns the doctor or nurse but usually the patient will be the first to notice that something is amiss. Testing can be the thing that makes the difference between working out that something is amiss or not and enabling a correction to be made to prevent complications. Sometimes if you leave things until the next appointment it takes much longer to regain control, if indeed that is still possible.

You may also notice the posts where a forum member may be certain that something is wrong and been brushed aside but eventually, and unfortunately, been proved right; it can and does happen.

Some people get more infrequent Hba1c tests than others and these can vary from 3 month to 6 months or even annually. Since these tests only give an average over the previous 120 days or so and don’t give any indication of how high the spikes have been in this time, clearly there is a great deal of time where there is no record or knowledge. Personally I like to know what is going on in my body. My body - my health - my life!

Of course there are always people who don’t want to know anyway but there are others who want to ensure that their condition is stable. They want to test so that they know if they need to adjust any part of their lifestyle and some people do a minimum of a fasting test to enable them to plan their day better. The problem with the minimum is that is there are many things which can affect your BG levels, not just the food which you eat so that you need to look at all aspects of your life.

I sincerely hope that your own health condition is stabilised, and remains so, as it seems that if you have any health concerns and those concerns are not shared by your health care team then you will need to pay for your own testing.

When you are denied the chance to test so that you can look after yourself, if necessary and if you can afford it, it seems you have to pay out your own money on test strips so that you can give yourself the best health options.

It is such a pity that the prevalent attitude in many PCTs regarding care does not look to the future and prevention but merely at the past 120 days - if this was not so regular testing would be enabled by prescription.

Hopefully you didnt get an Accu Chek Aviva Nano meter...

I have dealt with Type 2 for 18 months and a few weeks ago picked up a leaflet at the diabetes clinic in Edinburgh for this mete....all the advertising rubbish less invasive...easier needle handling etc etc.

What they did not tell you is that it takes 7 tester strips to get a reading! The all come up with e-1 or e-6 before you finally get a reading....


Has anyone else had the same problem..I would not have wasted 7 strips in 18 months with the old system.


Willie

This is an extract from the User Manual for the Accu-Chek Aviva Nano. These are printed inside the user manual along with other error codes.

E-1 error message.

Your blood glucose may be extremely low, or the strip may be damaged or not properly inserted. If you see this error message after you applied blood to the strip, see Chapter 2, "Unusual Blood Glucose Results." If you see this error message before you applied blood to the strip, remove the strip and reinsert it, or replace it if damaged. Verify that the code number printed on the strip container matches the code number printed on the code chip currently inserted in the meter.

If the message re-appears call Accu-Chek Customer Care.

E-6 error message

Blood or control solution was applied to the strip before the flashing drop symbol appeared on the
display. Discard the strip and repeat the test.

I have an aviva monitor and have had no problems except when I didnt put enough blood on the strip but that was my fault.As cugila said the manual explains all the error messages if it is not working properly ring the customer services and explain the problem I am sure they will replace the machine if it is faulty . They prefer happy customers. CAROL

don't forget that what made you high one month will not make you high the next, it can all depend on soooo many factors. in the past I've been able to eat apples and get spikes but now they don't seem to affect me much?! this is why I test, it's a moving target and I'd quite like to die with my vision and feet intact Good question though

Willie, it sounds like you have a faulty meter or faulty tub of test strips if you're getting so many error messages. We have two Aviva Nano test meters (one for home and one at school) and we've never had a problem with them. The only error message we've had is when the battery goes flat and it doesn't pre-warn you as the battery is going low so it's a good idea to carry a spare set of batteries (it takes two) if you rely on the meter for detecting hypos.

Hi I am new to all this as I was only diagnosed Type 2 (food controlled) in early April. I followed religiously the instructions in the diet information pack I was given from the diabetes nurse but lost little weight and felt terrible.

I decided to buy a monitor and my GLs were between 11-14 all through the day. I tested 6 times a day just to see how they moved. it was an very interesting learning curve.

I then read the Low Carb thread and decided to give it a try. After two weeks my readings are around 6-7. I tested 6 times a day just so I could gain experience on what foods created spikes and what did not and how exercise actually helped. I now feel great and much better informed.

I ran out of strips that came with the monitor so requested some more from the GP as I felt I was helping them to monitor my diabetes.

Armed with a visual chart showing how my GL had dropped (thanks to an ipod app) and 7lbs lighter I attended my 2nd scheduled Diabetes appointment yesterday. Only to get told off. I should not be monitoring, I should not be reducing carbs, I should not be getting the strips on the NHS. I let her go on for a few minutes and then I admit it I had to let rip.

I pointed out if I had followed the advice given I would not have lost half a stone, I would not have reduced my GL and I would not know that my GL levels were still high. I would also not know what food was causing this and it would have gone on for another 3 months until my blood fast test was due, after which I am sure I would have been told off for not "trying more".

I pointed out it was MY diabetes, MY eyesight, MY feet and MY death and as such I was taking charge of MY illness.

She then said the NHS could not afford to pay for strips if everyone with Type II monitored in such a way. I asked what would she prefer the NHS to pay for a few strips in the first three months of diagnosis or patients not improving and having to be put on tablets sooner than was absolutely necessary.

It seemed to totally throw her that a patient could take responsibility for their illness and react on findings - it almost seems as if she resented having the power of control taken away from her.

I admit I will not be testing now as often as I have been, perhaps once a week, as I feel I know basically what to avoid. I am happy about this as having pin cushions for fingertips is not my idea of fun. But the testing has made me feel in control of the illness and has made me very aware of what foods to avoid. Yes I can imagine it could be compulsive but for me it was just an educational exercise. Can this really be a bad thing in a newly diagnosed diabetic?

I have just received my second pack of strips in six months so you can tell I don't really test.
My consultant asked if I test and I think they expect me too but my clinic is stingy and the nurse asked me lots of stupid questions and lectured me last week before writing up some.

I've got an Aviva Nano and have had no problems with it, except when I've done something wrong.

I think the NHS practice of not allowing people with type 2 diabetes to test their own blood sugar is terrible. How else would you need to know what foods to avoid, or if your medication needs adjusting? relying on hba1c means you could have high blood sugar for 3 months.

I'm glad I don't have to pay for my own test strips, I accidentally dropped about £20 worth in a sink full of water last week...

crystalsue said:

It seemed to totally throw her that a patient could take responsibility for their illness and react on findings - it almost seems as if she resented having the power of control taken away from her.

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Hi crystalsue and welcome to the forum.

I have had that reaction myself and would say that you could well be right! Incidentally, did you get a prescription for testing strips :?:

You are obviously on the right track – so keep doing what you are doing! It is wise to keep an eye on your levels as prevention is better than cure and you stay in control! 8)

hi louiseb

i am type 2 and diet only and i am also epileptic, i buy my own test strips and lancets, have done since i was diagnoised, the doctor has refused to prescribe them,even though my epileptic consultant neurologist wants me to test, as she thinks my seizures have something to do with my blood sugar.

the other reasons i test is that it helps me to understand what foods raise and lower my blood sugar, at the moment my blood sugar is rather erratic

i think you are entitled to your opinion, but not all of us go overboard, nor are we obsessive, some of us have genuine reasons for testing.

angie

Hi Angie,

I'm sorry to hear that your GP won't prescribe your test strips especially in your case. I hope that you can find a correlation between your sugars and your seizures and more importantly prevent them from occuring. It really is a shame that your GP sees fit to ignore the neurologist's idea.

For what it's worth a close friend of mine kept having SVT (Tachycardia) attacks and near fainting episodes, shortly after being reffered for cardiology tests it was found she was diabetic (Initially thought to be type 2 but then diagnosed as late onset type 1). A 7 day holter, diary and combined blood sugar tests revealed that every time (without exception) she went into SVT she had low readings. I know this is not your circumstance but without her test strips and the support of her GP she has got to the root of what could have been a masked complexity ... just for the sake of a few test strips. Her team were on the ball and willing to provide the patient with the ability to take control. In the long run its a better outcome for my friend, the cardiologist, the GP and her Diabetic team they all know exactly what they are dealing with and how to deal with it.

I hope you prove your GP wrong (harsh as it may sound) and your Neurologists idea proves to be correct and that you can progress from there with amazing success :wink:

Fingers crossed and all the best

Richard.

I'm sure no one was offended Louiseb, we've had no complaints! .

If we don't ask questions we don't learn. This is a subject that generates quite passionate responses at times, especially from those denied the means of testing.

Hi Louise, as I'm sure you have gathered, strip supply is sometimes very taxing, especially if you see some getting shed loads and others getting none at all! Makes no sense. Even for me as a type 1, I've recently had a major issue where I was prescribed one type of strip for years, no questions asked and repeat 'script dispensed every month, without fail. Then I moved to a pump and needed different, compatible strips and now all of a sudden, I'm using too many according to my GP?! Don't even get me started on the irony of that, restricting my strip supply AFTER I move to a pump :lol:

I say test if you need to. If you feel able to manage your diabetes and are happy with your control without testing, then go for it! It's not what I would recommend (but then I have zero experience with just diet control) but you have to try these things before you know for sure.

Debloubed said:

Hi Louise, as I'm sure you have gathered, strip supply is sometimes very taxing, especially if you see some getting shed loads and others getting none at all! Makes no sense. Even for me as a type 1, I've recently had a major issue where I was prescribed one type of strip for years, no questions asked and repeat 'script dispensed every month, without fail. Then I moved to a pump and needed different, compatible strips and now all of a sudden, I'm using too many according to my GP?! Don't even get me started on the irony of that, restricting my strip supply AFTER I move to a pump :lol:

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I also tried to order the Aviva strips instead of my Freestyle ones and got told that they are not on the NHS. I thought that can't be correct so queried it with my pharmacist who said it's a load of rubbish and of course they are. I then rang Accu Chek and asked for the pip code. Hope I'm not going to have the same trouble as yourself :roll: