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UK healthcare and meters

serenity648 said:
Do many GP's advise their patients to come here?

Anyway, that wasnt my point. My point was that, given the usual NHS=backed advice about what to eat etc, testing will not help anyone who hasnt been instructed in how a meter can help them make different food choices.

Its a bit like being given a computer, with no manual or softwear. The potential for good is there, but without the information to use it affectively, it isnt going to do any good.
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I have personally heard of general practitioners advising their patients to seek "advice" (and advice only) from this forum.

Rgds,
Grant
 
So let's be clear here. T1s are advised to test regularly for multiple reasons but the ones that GPs tend to apply are to avoid hypos and for driving.

The NICE guidelines for T2 have used a fairly large evidence base to conclude that T2s don't need to test because SMBG has little effect on outcomes. But the way in which SMBG is applied in these cases is not the way that the majority of people on the forum use it. As a result, user experience doesn't match up to the evidence base.

The issue is the data that is being used by the medical community is not that which gives benefit to T2s so they can't, under government and NHS guidelines, issue them on prescription. A wholesale change in approach is needed for T2s to get test strips, but as @catapillar mentioned, if 60% of T1s who struggle to control insulin and bg levels don't test more than once per day, even with the best advice from the medical profession, why would T2s be any different. I agree that's not a reason to deny access, but it's one of a few as to why they won't get prescribed when taken alongside the way to use testing.


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The last post from @tim2000s will probably put an end to excited members on this thread. I'm hoping, from the information given, we can agree as oppose to not - but not only because a moderator has made a post.

The information on this forum is given with the best interest at heart and not from a stereotypical point of view. Something we're all trying to prevent.

So to those who I may have "rubbed up the wrong way" as such. All the best in your successful diabetes management and I hope you can take some of the information I've/we've given to you, away and benefit from it.

Regards,
Grant
 
GrantGam1337 said:
The last post from @tim2000s will probably put an end to excited members on this thread. I'm hoping, from the information given, we can agree as oppose to not - but not only because a moderator has made a post.

The information on this forum is given with the best interest at heart and not from a stereotypical point of view. Something we're all trying to prevent.

So to those who I may have "rubbed up the wrong way" as such. All the best in your successful diabetes management and I hope you can take some of the information I've/we've given to you, away and benefit from it.

Regards,
Grant
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Are you aware how patronising your post seems?

I am happy to accept that you probably don't intend it that way, but it reads to me as though you think you have all the answers and that everyone else should just accept your opinion as being right.

That isn't how forums work.
 
I, in no way intend to be patronising but will not post anymore in the forum.

Apologies to all.

Regards,
Grant
 
I must be the exception as I was given a meter and told to test when diagnosed T2. This enabled me to work out what I could and couldn't eat, But as soon as my levels came right down I was then told I only needed to do 3 tests a week. I was also told I was only given a meter as it was obvious that I was going straight onto insulin. It must be saving the NHS a lot as my diabetes is under control just with diet and exercise.
 
Hiitsme said:
I must be the exception as I was given a meter and told to test when diagnosed T2. This enabled me to work out what I could and couldn't eat, But as soon as my levels came right down I was then told I only needed to do 3 tests a week. I was also told I was only given a meter as it was obvious that I was going straight onto insulin. It must be saving the NHS a lot as my diabetes is under control just with diet and exercise.
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Thank you. Good luck!

Grant
 
tpaz said:
Hi everyone,

I'm not from the UK, but know that most of you on this forum are. I keep reading that T2s aren't provides with a glucometer for testing. Can anyone explain why? This seems a little nuts to me.
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Hi,
Speaking as a T1, I would agree it's crazy anyone in the D zone other than insulin dependant would be denied a meter..
Incidentally. I spoke to a D nurse regarding this issue over a year ago...? (Not my usual DSN.) Just conversation. Her answer was that "they (referring to T2s.) would be testing all the time." & "get obsessive." But then this professional also thought my HbA1c was too low.. Lol
Now funnily enough. My dad was a T2 on metformin was prescribed a meter & strips..
 
Jaylee said:
Hi,
Speaking as a T1, I would agree it's crazy anyone in the D zone other than insulin dependant would be denied a meter..
Incidentally. I spoke to a D nurse regarding this issue over a year ago...? (Not my usual DSN.) Just conversation. Her answer was that "they (referring to T2s.) would be testing all the time." & "get obsessive." But then this professional also thought my HbA1c was too low.. Lol
Now funnily enough. My dad was a T2 on metformin was prescribed a meter & strips..
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Yeah I'm sure that "obsession" would wear off with time. Testing all the time becomes a chore - for me at least anyways.

To everyone else - I didn't mean to start a debate here, I was genuinely curious, as I've really only heard wonderful things about the UK healthcare system. We have a similar system in Canada, although prescriptions are not covered by the government, we pay those out of pocket. This includes meters and strips.

Most full time jobs here provide health benefits, however, and my strips are covered that way. Does your healthcare system cover everything, or do you have the option of insurance and benefits, as well?
 
GrantGam1337 said:
I, in no way intend to be patronising but will not post anymore in the forum.

Regards,
Grant
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That would be a pity. This place is a wonderful tool for us to meet and exchange ideas with people like us - same problems, same worries, and often same solutions. Sometimes it is the only place. But sometimes it takes a while to settle in and get the feel for the place, and sometimes it takes a while to realise how different the experiences of having T1 and T2 are.

Hope you stay.
 
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I know this post has been fairly well discussed but I am a type 2 having a 1 X basal insulin injection per day and supported by tablets and my community DN said that less than 5% of the NHS budget and s spent on medication and if testing meant better control (revolutionised my ability to eat appropriately) then she is happy for me to test as much as I need to get a grip of what and what doesn't provoke poor bs control. I know I have to avoid simple starchy carbs now so don't need to test as much on a normal day, but will test more regularly on holiday. She said - just compare the cost of meter and strips to that of having to perform an amputation and all the care that would involve. Seems a very practical way of looking at it to me. Common sense in fact - something sadly lacking in some parts of the NHS.


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I think even if meters and test strips were given as standard to T2's only a very small minority would actually use them especially the more elderly would not want to I was talking recently to two lady pensioners who both have T2 one had had it for 15 years the other for about 2 years neither had a meter so had never tested their blood their self and they thought that was something only a doctor or nurse could do and of course they had never heard of the LCHF way of eating. Apart from sugar stuff they had no idea of which foods could raise their blood sugar to high.. I asked how they controlled it and both said they took tablets and just tried not to eat to much sweet stuff. I told them how many diabetics now tested their blood before and 2 hours after eating for a while to tell them what foods raised their BG to much and then they avoided eating those but they just laughed and said they would not want go to all that palaver they thought that was ridiculous They had no idea that certain foods like bread potatoes rice and pasta could raise their BG to high but they thought as long as they kept taking the magic tablets they are ok and nothing was going to change their minds. Neither had any diabetes complications and apart from some arthritis they were both in pretty good health for their age and they had no intention of changing to what they said was.. newfangled.. ideas
 
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Pinkorchid said:
I think even if meters and test strips were given as standard to T2's only a very small minority would actually use them especially the more elderly would not want to I was talking recently to two lady pensioners who both have T2 one had had it for 15 years the other for about 2 years neither had a meter so had never tested their blood their self and they thought that was something only a doctor or nurse could do and of course they had never heard of the LCHF way of eating. Apart from sugar stuff they had no idea of which foods could raise their blood sugar to high.. I asked how they controlled it and both said they took tablets and just tried not to eat to much sweet stuff. I told them how many diabetics now tested their blood before and 2 hours after eating for a while to tell them what foods raised their BG to much and then they avoided eating those but they just laughed and said they would not want go to all that palaver they thought that was ridiculous They had no idea that certain foods like bread potatoes rice and pasta could raise their BG to high but they thought as long as they kept taking the magic tablets they are ok and nothing was going to change their minds. Neither had any diabetes complications and apart from some arthritis they were both in pretty good health for their age and they had no intention of changing to what they said was.. newfangled.. ideas
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Some of us pensioners do test our bloods! Plenty on this site.
 
Hiitsme said:
Some of us pensioners do test our bloods! Plenty on this site.
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Yes the ones that are members here but there are so many more that are not members here that don't use a computer have never heard of low carbing and only have their DN and Doctor's advice to go on
 
In Canada, as soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes, the doctor would insist you used the meter to test as having the HBA1C too often is taxing on the healthcare system. We are tested only once every three months. The meter is free but some people have to pay for the strips which is very expensive $80 for a hundred strips. Senior do get discount but still have to pay a little.


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