Did they give you a reason for changing your meter OTHER than they think the strips will cost them/the NHS less money? For the most part meters are meters, some have fancier screens and nicer software...a few of the newer ones test for Ketones and have bolus calc's on them etc which are all good.
I had a Contour Next up until a few weeks ago when I switched to a Dario meter, I liked the Next, the onboard logbook allowing you to record insulin AND carbs made keeping a DAFNE diary (when I was testing enough to keep one anyway) much easier. =)
I get the feeling that all of your Doctors 'suggestions' are linked to them trying to 'save' the NHS money by reducing how much they spend on your strips. Which of course is very admirable of them trying, to save our precious tax pennies at the expense of your health. And we should all be very grateful to you for putting up with it so long and putting yourself at risk :|.
All of the other posts I've seen from you regarding this GP are a disgrace! If it was me, I'd book an appointment to go see them, but before I go I would write a very long, very scathing, but very accurate letter, which whilst containing lots of facts and detailing how these actions have made you feel, have very little in the way of your own opinion of the situations/advice in it, about all of the 'suggestions' this GP and their surgery have made about how to 'improve' your diabetes management.
You hit the nail on the head with your opening paragraph. The person concerned is purely trying to persuade me to switch meters so I can re-use strips.
I am sick and tired of it all. When I recover from an illness I will compose a letter worded in the strongest terms. I did try another meter when I was first diagnosed. A friend had a spare and I still prefer my present one. It is straightforward and efficient. I wish some other people were!
I am not going to change surgeries just because of this problem. It needs sorting out, not just for my purposes, but for others who may be experiencing similar problems.
Thank you for your interesting comments.
Thanks - you have hit the nail on the head with your opening comment. The person concerned is only concerned with trying to persuade me to change me
Bring a copy of this letter to your appointment and ask them to read it. Then ask them to note how the 'Dear Sir/Madam,' part is not filled in, as should things not improve, you will be writing to every national and local news outlet (tv, radio and paper), every online diabetes journal, AND your MP regarding this GP's particular brand of negligence and obtusity, unless there is a drastic and marked improvement in their attitudes toward your diabetes care and management >
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May be going off at the deep end, and whilst I realise you may not have been through the practises' official complaints process etc, and probably should give them a chance to respond before threatening them with reputation exposure issues like I've suggested...but from what I've seen allowing this person to continue to insist upon being your primary HCP in relation to your diabetes will only put you at risk based on their attitudes and opinions.
As I said that is how I would respond to this, it's not about being angry and shouting, it's about educating them about the consequences their behaviour will incur - they should be well aware of the impact poor diabetes care through lack of testing etc will have on you, but since they are not you, that doesn't seem to be bothering them...perhaps putting their career in jeopardy by exposing their attitudes to everyone and anyone who will listen will yield better results?
Good luck whatever you do though - hope things get better regardless! =)
