Freestyle ketone/glucose strips

[Northerner]

Just been to collect my prescription. I asked the receptionist to read out what had bee prescribed as I didn't have my glasses. Asked her to read the 'Freestyle testing strips' line out twice, then strained my eyes and could just make out the word 'ketone' that she hadn't bothered to read out. Yup, they had once again prescribed ketone strips instead of glucose strips 😡 Why do they manage to get it wrong every time? Although they do look essentially the same on the form, one includes the words 'beta-ketone' and the number '10', the other doesn't, and has the number '50'. Now got to go back to pick up a new prescription!

 

[Caroline]

The receptionists at my surgery loose samples so when I need to do one I arrange a blood test too and hand it in atthe hospital myself. Lasttime they said they couldn't find my sample I said do you mean the results because I gave at the hospital...

 

[Lauras87]

Just been to collect my prescription. I asked the receptionist to read out what had bee prescribed as I didn't have my glasses. Asked her to read the 'Freestyle testing strips' line out twice, then strained my eyes and could just make out the word 'ketone' that she hadn't bothered to read out. Yup, they had once again prescribed ketone strips instead of glucose strips 😡 Why do they manage to get it wrong every time? Although they do look essentially the same on the form, one includes the words 'beta-ketone' and the number '10', the other doesn't, and has the number '50'. Now got to go back to pick up a new prescription!

wish my gp would give me blood ketone strips - am having to buy my own

 

[Northerner]

wish my gp would give me blood ketone strips - am having to buy my own

What? Do you get pee-sticks prescribed? I argued with the GP that, since I rarely needed to test for ketones, opening a tub of urine ketone sticks when I did need to usually meant throwing most of them away since once opened they have to be used within 6 months. The blood-ketone strips are individually sealed and last for two years and provide much greater accuracy for something that can be life-threatening. Blood strips cost the NHS about ?20 for 10, urine sticks are about ?5 for 50, but over two years I would probably get through four tubs of urine sticks, but only one lot of blood strips so there was no cost premium to consider and they would be more likely to save my life! 🙂 My GP agreed (but then again, she is very reasonable if you can argue a good case 🙂)

 

[Lauras87]

What? Do you get pee-sticks prescribed? I argued with the GP that, since I rarely needed to test for ketones, opening a tub of urine ketone sticks when I did need to usually meant throwing most of them away since once opened they have to be used within 6 months. The blood-ketone strips are individually sealed and last for two years and provide much greater accuracy for something that can be life-threatening. Blood strips cost the NHS about ?20 for 10, urine sticks are about ?5 for 50, but over two years I would probably get through four tubs of urine sticks, but only one lot of blood strips so there was no cost premium to consider and they would be more likely to save my life! 🙂 My GP agreed (but then again, she is very reasonable if you can argue a good case 🙂)

urine sticks are on prescription, have argued that waiting 4 hours for ketones to get into my urine on the pump is very dangerous.
have been told that unless i am a child or pregnant that i wont get them 🙄

 

[Hanmillmum]

urine sticks are on prescription, have argued that waiting 4 hours for ketones to get into my urine on the pump is very dangerous.
have been told that unless i am a child or pregnant that i wont get them 🙄

Laura you should be getting the blood strips because you are on the pump. There is the higher risk of DKA and you can't afford the 4 hrs post ketones starting to show in the urine strips!

 

[Northerner]

Laura you should be getting the blood strips because you are on the pump. There is the higher risk of DKA and you can't afford the 4 hrs post ketones starting to show in the urine strips!

A good point - I always forget since I'm not on a pump, but if the pump fails for any reason then you have no basal either which wouldn't be the case for someone on injections.

 

[PattiEvans]

Laura, ask your pump nurse to write to your GP with this issue. But note, you need an Optium Xceed meter to use them.

 

[Northerner]

Laura, ask your pump nurse to write to your GP with this issue. But note, you need an Optium Xceed meter to use them.

Or a Glucomen LX Plus 🙂

 

[Lauras87]

Laura you should be getting the blood strips because you are on the pump. There is the higher risk of DKA and you can't afford the 4 hrs post ketones starting to show in the urine strips!

i have argued that point & even written a letter highlighting the risks & dangers

Laura, ask your pump nurse to write to your GP with this issue. But note, you need an Optium Xceed meter to use them.

Or a Glucomen LX Plus 🙂

i've got a freestyle blood ketone meter - is that not a good one to use?

 

[Northerner]

i've got a freestyle blood ketone meter - is that not a good one to use?

That will be the Optium Xceed 🙂

 

[Austin Mini]

Yep that happens to me at least once a year. Always open the bag in front of the chemist assistant and take a look what they are giving you.

 

[pav]

Happened to me earlier as had been getting shortages, checked on one occasion and had a box of insulin pen needles as I don't use insulin wondered what the heck was going on.

 

[PhoebeC]

I have just moved to Tesco chemist and they are ace. So helpful and always make me check everything first I did think hue annoying but now I am reminded again how important it is x

 

[Northerner]

Yep that happens to me at least once a year. Always open the bag in front of the chemist assistant and take a look what they are giving you.

Happened to me earlier as had been getting shortages, checked on one occasion and had a box of insulin pen needles as I don't use insulin wondered what the heck was going on.

I have just moved to Tesco chemist and they are ace. So helpful and always make me check everything first I did think hue annoying but now I am reminded again how important it is x

My problem wasn't with the pharmacy (on this occasion!), so can't blame them, but with whoever made up the prescription and didn't read my request properly. The last time it happened I just got the ketone strips as I can still use them and was hoping they would get it right this time - no such luck! 🙄