Not prescribing the test strips

[Valerie Ann]

I am a newly diagnosed Diabetic as some of you will know and i put in a repeat prescription for my meds including the test strips as the last lot i got were 100 lancets and only 50 test strips.
Receptionist rang me today and said that the doctor wants to see me regarding me having the test strips as she said that a new regulation has come in and they are not giving them out😱. So my appointment to see the doctor is on Monday and i see my Diabetic nurse yesterday and she never mentioned it.
How on earth do they expect us to keep check on our readings if they are not giving out the test strips. Just wanted to know if anyone else has heard anything regarding this.

Val x

 

[Sheilagh1958]

Unfortunately it seems to be the norm now. I got my first tub on prescription but since then have had to buy my own. I usually buy mine off ebay.

 

[margie]

I found this link - I am not sure if it will help as I don't know what meds you are on.
http://www.northeastessexpct.nhs.uk/Downloads/guidelines/GUIDELINES%20FOR%20HOME%20BLOOD%20GLUCOSE%20MONITORING%20FOR%20PATIENTS%20Sept%2010.pdf

 

[Northerner]

This is such a short-sighted approach. How can they have a 'regulation' that they apply to everyone when something as individual as the the desire and requirement to monitor levels is concerned? Many people prefer not to test, but for those who are motivated then strips should be made available. Read the following position statement from Diabetes UK and be prepared to argue your case:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our_Views/Position_statements/Self-monitoring_of_blood_glucose/

Doctors should review each patient's care individually. If you are able to improve your quality of life and reduce your chances of complications considerably by self-monitoring, then the doctor should welcome this and provide you with the means to do so. Question his/her arguments against testing. If they say that you would become dpepressed at seeing high numbers, then counter this by telling them you would feel more depressed NOT knowing and that is is the only means to discover what food you can tolerate and what you must avoid, to retain flexibility in your diet and identify where improvements can be made. The doctor needs to be made aware that people react differently to different foods, so there is no single 'healthy diet' for diabetics.

Make an appointment and be prepared to stand your ground, I wish you every success 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I don't buy the 'regulation' at all. Sounds like something official-sounding to say to avert the blame for fairly obvious budget-saving. If it is a regulation, it will only have been decided at your practice (and many others too sadly). The official NICE guidelines still support SMBG in T2 as part of a structured and systematic approach to improve control and quality of life.

 

[Carina1962]

I'm the same, I got mine on prescription to start off with but now I have to buy mine (which i too do on ebay) as apparently if you are on diet/excercise controlled (which i am) then i was told by my nurse and GP that there is no need for me to test - how ridiculous is that?

 

[trophywench]

It's probably the PCT as Mike says, just trying to save dosh.

But all the stuff from the NICE Guidelines says where a patient wishes to self-test and (this is the important bit!) has been taught to use the testing to beneficial effect then they should be prescribed.

So take your testing diaries and show the doc, and demonstrate how you are using the results to good effect eg -

I tested my blood before this meal and ate this; I tested after the meal and found my reading was 7 so I now know I should be OK to eat that thing at teatime. However I ate the same thing at breakfast a few days later, I was X before and Y afterwards - an increase of Z ! - so clearly I shan't be eating that in the mornings from now on!


Good luck.

 

[Ellie Jones]

A PCT can?t bring in ?New Regulations? that subverts the NICE guidelines to do so the PCT would be acting illegally..

What your GP/PCT are doing is assuming that most of the general public aren?t aware of NICE guidelines or if they are, they aren?t aware that the PCT are legally obliged to implement the guidelines as stated nor can they pick and choose what parts of the guideline the will or won?t implement!
What you need to do is provide a case based around the guidelines that shows that you use tests strips as an effective part of your management. Yes for a T2 it?s harder than a T1..

But if you work with you data, and show how you use your blood glucose reading either to change eating pattern, i.e avoiding foods that raises your bg?s too high or adapting your overall diet or exercise regime etc, by doing this you have gained either lower or more stable control over all?
I would also take a printout of the NICE guidelines, so that you can if needs be point out that this It?s a legal document that governs your treatment his refusal to supply test strips, when you can prove that you use them for effective management means he is breaking the law!

Good luck, expect and prepare for a battle.

 

[Robster65]

I thought the NICE guidelines were merely there to give guidance to PCTs rather than create a uniform policy.

If they won't give out test strips, then they should offer top-notch dietary and lifestyle advice so that you can avoid high BGs.

Maybe you could negotiate a testing regime so that they will prescribe a set number of strips and you can then return with steadily improving results.

Rob

 

[margie]

I posted the link to the guidelines in north east Essex - it may be the right PCT and was published late last year so should be fairly current.

 

[Ellie Jones]

I thought the NICE guidelines were merely there to give guidance to PCTs rather than create a uniform policy.

If they won't give out test strips, then they should offer top-notch dietary and lifestyle advice so that you can avoid high BGs.

Maybe you could negotiate a testing regime so that they will prescribe a set number of strips and you can then return with steadily improving results.

Rob

NICE was brought in to stop the post code lottery, but at first it was purely advisorary, the PCT were not under any obligation to follow the guidence, When many PCT's choose to ignore it, the government sussed that if they didn't do something to kick PCT's into action all the had was a very expensive quango, so changed it to the PCT's have to legally follow guidence given🙂

Otherwise things like insulin pumps would still be as rare as hen's teeth

 

[Robster65]

NICE was brought in to stop the post code lottery, but at first it was purely advisorary, the PCT were not under any obligation to follow the guidence, When many PCT's choose to ignore it, the government sussed that if they didn't do something to kick PCT's into action all the had was a very expensive quango, so changed it to the PCT's have to legally follow guidence given🙂

Otherwise things like insulin pumps would still be as rare as hen's teeth

I thought they were !

Rob

 

[mcdonagh47]

I am a newly diagnosed Diabetic as some of you will know and i put in a repeat prescription for my meds
Val x

What meds are you on ? People on gliclazide or other sulfonylureas are guaranteed test strips by the NICE Guidelines.

 

[Ellie Jones]

I thought they were !

Rob

Nah they've gone to the 4 leaf clover status now

 

[Blythespirit]

What meds are you on ? People on gliclazide or other sulfonylureas are guaranteed test strips by the NICE Guidelines.

I was refused them just after I was put on Gliclazide. Nurse told me to test more often and GP stopped my strips in the same week. Had a big argument with my GP where I told her about the Nice Guidlines but she said she took note of the PCT not Nice. I was getting 51 strips every 3 months prior to that. Not exactly breaking the bank. XXXXX

 

[AnnW]

Three months after diagnosis the doc refused my strips and took them off my repeat prescription list. The nurse now gives them to me when she sees me but I am only going to see her again in October.. 6 months after I last saw her. She gave me one pot of 50 strips. I can't understand the maths as she told me to test 2 or 3 times a week night and morning so that' s roughly 4-6 a week, multiply by 24 ( never mind any 5 week months ) and 50 will not quite cover it !

I've stopped testing , to be honest.

 

[Valerie Ann]

Thank you for all your replies xxxx
My appointment to see the doctor is this afternoon at 4pm so i will come back and update as to whether or not i can have the testing strips. Also why is it that they give you 100 lancets and only 50 testing strips.

I am on Metformin and i take one in the morning and one after my evening meal at the moment but my nurse said i have to increase to a half at mid day now.

Val x

 

[mcdonagh47]

I was refused them just after I was put on Gliclazide. Nurse told me to test more often and GP stopped my strips in the same week. Had a big argument with my GP where I told her about the Nice Guidlines but she said she took note of the PCT not Nice. I was getting 51 strips every 3 months prior to that. Not exactly breaking the bank. XXXXX

NICE Guidleines definitely guarantee strips to T2s on Gliclazide - sue your GP for malpractice if she is ignoring them with a no-win no-fee lawyer, put the story in the Press - clearly, if they are flouting the guidelines of the National Institute for Clinical Excelllence the care of Type 2 Diabetics in your surgery and PCT is not "Excellent" - far from it.

 

[AlisonM]

Until recently, I was refused the strips too and bought my own from eBay. It was invaluable to me to keep testing as it helped prove my case for a recheck on the diagnosis and got me off the metformin/glucophage that much sooner because I could prove they weren't working and were actually making me more ill.

Now I get strips on prescription without any quibbles as use them to tailor my meds according to the results each day. Testing helps me keep things fairly level for the most part. I imagine that's going to be even more important once I'm put on insulin.

It's my personal belief that testing is a key tool for any diabetic and for those who wish to test, strips should be given without argument. I also believe that T2s should be encouraged to test and taught how to interpret the results and apply them to their benefit. The costs long term would be far less than leaving people in ignorance and letting them suffer the consequences.

 

[Northerner]

Thank you for all your replies xxxx
My appointment to see the doctor is this afternoon at 4pm so i will come back and update as to whether or not i can have the testing strips. Also why is it that they give you 100 lancets and only 50 testing strips.

I am on Metformin and i take one in the morning and one after my evening meal at the moment but my nurse said i have to increase to a half at mid day now.

Val x

Good luck Val 🙂 You are right too - why would you prick your finger more often than you tested your blood? The strips aren't reusable! (I'm sure everyone has tried washing the blood off one at least once to try it! 🙂)

AnnW, if your nurse has asked you to test then you should aks her to tell the doctor why you need more strips. You shouldn't have to pay in order to follow the medical advice given to you!

The thing that really gets my goat is that GPs/PCTs are so dishonest about provision of strips - they all know darned well that they restrict them to save money and not out of consideration for their patients. In my book it amounts to second rate care if the patient is motivated and knowledgeable enough to use the testing to improve levels.