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Visit to the doctors this morning.

B

BioHaZarD

Well-Known Member
Messages
771
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I had a trip to the docs this morning to get more metformin, he asked me how I was doing, and showed him my own test result and my own blood pressure results, etc. and he was very impressed and a little amazed I had got it to the levels I have. I told him I was not taking the 2nd pill too and he said great carry on what I am doing.

Now unfortunately due to new rules at my surgery I am to loose my free test strips soon. He is pro testing but the other partners are not overly pro testing and have voted to follow the rules which is 1 test per week. He was really sorry and said so, I told him I was going to change test strips. He did give me another prescription though for another 50 of my old strips (he kept it on) and a further 50 of my new strips + a repeat 4 more times (and said don't tell anyone) lol, so you I have not said that....

;0)
 
Brilliant news on getting your levels down and reducing meds!

The fact that your are eating to your meter and have (thru doing that) got you numbers down absolutely negates the adoption of the new policy "He is pro testing but the other partners are not overly pro testing and have voted to follow the rules which is 1 test per week"

Isn't it sad that generally the NHS would rather spend their money on your extra tablet than on your extra strips

Gilly x
 
Absolutely, but not a lot we can do other than petition. I did not reduce my meds though, I never took more than 1 to begin with. I refused to when the nurse said (she will find out next week) , doctor agreed with me :D

It would save much more money, pills will lead to more pills, more pills then maybe insulin. So a lot cheaper for strips in the end.
 
It's preposterous that T2s are being restricted to one test per week. What will that tell you - not very much. When I was first diagnosed (and i was not on insulin the first 8 years) it was the other way round, the docs telling me I had to test and me not wanting to (I was only 15 at the time). Now people want to test and take responsibility for their health and are being told they can't.
With all this NHS restricting of test strips it is only a matter of time before a more feasible alternative becomes availble on the market - I believe there is already one tester with cheap strips (SD codefree) but surely at some point when the others realise they can't continue to price stips at £28 odd per box, because the NHS won't buy and neither will joe public, they will realise they are pricing themselves out of the market and bring the prices down?
 
But will they as if you still get then for insulin dependant then surely they still have no interest in lowering the price! I have a codefree too but am using the freestyle lite at the moment as I quite like this and I am still getting free strips for the next 4 repeat prescriptions.
 
the_anticarb said:
It's preposterous that T2s are being restricted to one test per week. What will that tell you - not very much. When I was first diagnosed (and i was not on insulin the first 8 years) it was the other way round, the docs telling me I had to test and me not wanting to (I was only 15 at the time). Now people want to test and take responsibility for their health and are being told they can't.
With all this NHS restricting of test strips it is only a matter of time before a more feasible alternative becomes availble on the market - I believe there is already one tester with cheap strips (SD codefree) but surely at some point when the others realise they can't continue to price stips at £28 odd per box, because the NHS won't buy and neither will joe public, they will realise they are pricing themselves out of the market and bring the prices down?
Click to expand...

I read last week Walmart in the USA are lowering their test strips to $9.50 for 50 strips to help T2s, hopefully this spreads to the UK.
 
the east man said:
the_anticarb said:
It's preposterous that T2s are being restricted to one test per week. What will that tell you - not very much. When I was first diagnosed (and i was not on insulin the first 8 years) it was the other way round, the docs telling me I had to test and me not wanting to (I was only 15 at the time). Now people want to test and take responsibility for their health and are being told they can't.
With all this NHS restricting of test strips it is only a matter of time before a more feasible alternative becomes availble on the market - I believe there is already one tester with cheap strips (SD codefree) but surely at some point when the others realise they can't continue to price stips at £28 odd per box, because the NHS won't buy and neither will joe public, they will realise they are pricing themselves out of the market and bring the prices down?
Click to expand...

I read last week Walmart in the USA are lowering their test strips to $9.50 for 50 strips to help T2s, hopefully this spreads to the UK.
Click to expand...

Maybe ASDA may then as they are Walmart.
 
That's given me an idea :idea:

I'm going to the US on business next month. I might pop into WalMart and buy a few packets! :D
 
Yeah, what's to stop people buying amercian strips online and getting them shipped over here if they are cheaper? Then they are bound to bring the prices down eventually.
 
ursus262 said:
That's given me an idea :idea:

I'm going to the US on business next month. I might pop into WalMart and buy a few packets! :D
Click to expand...
Remember you will need the meter as well and that it will give readings in mg/dl not mmol/l (you just have to get good at your 18xtable )
 
phoenix said:
ursus262 said:
That's given me an idea :idea:

I'm going to the US on business next month. I might pop into WalMart and buy a few packets! :D
Click to expand...
Remember you will need the meter as well and that it will give readings in mg/dl not mmol/l (you just have to get good at your 18xtable )
Click to expand...

I was talking about the strips - not the meter. The strips are the same. Only the meters are different. Therefore the strips will work in both UK and US meters.
 
ursus262 said:
phoenix said:
ursus262 said:
That's given me an idea :idea:

I'm going to the US on business next month. I might pop into WalMart and buy a few packets! :D
Click to expand...
Remember you will need the meter as well and that it will give readings in mg/dl not mmol/l (you just have to get good at your 18xtable )
Click to expand...

I was talking about the strips - not the meter. The strips are the same. Only the meters are different. Therefore the strips will work in both UK and US meters.
Click to expand...

Which meter are you going to use the strips in ursus? The manufacturer of the cheap Walmart ReliOn strips stated that they had no intention of selling this meter in the UK.
 
It's the Abbot Freestyle that I use. I can get the strips for this meter in the US at a much cheaper price from any pharmacy. So, basically, I'm quids in :)
 
When I was in Walmart in New Jersey last summer, the strips for my One Touch machine were more expensive there :thumbdown:
 
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