Refused Testing Strips by GP

[Vicsetter]

And?

SO he has to report himself to himself!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi all sorry this is my 1st post and what a post my blood strips and needles have been taken off my repeat prescription without telling me after seeing my GP this morning who told me it's a government issue that they have been told they can't give the strips and bit out and quote " you have to fund them yourself sorry " I have made another appointment to see the diabetic nurse as in her words keep and eye on your bloods as I have got problems with kidneys and liver so will see what she says.
Let doctors and went next door to chemist asked the price of strips just under £20 pharmacies overheard and said no you don't pay your had them on prescription so repeated what GP said off she went to have a word with drs 10 mins came back and apologised and said she couldn't believe it neither myself I said.
Any advice would be nice ?

I'm type 2 diabetic on metformin oh and really fun part my bloods have only been high when diagnosed never had a hypo my bloods go low and lowest recorded 1.2 so fun time ahead of guessing I suppose sorry for blabbing on it just me lol cheers Justin

Hello Juzzy!

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you've had your test strips removed without consultation - do take a look at the links in Stefan's post which might give you some hep in appealing the decision.

Regrettably some of our members do find they need to self-fund test strips, because their GP surgery will not budge on the issue. I believe the SD codefree meter is one of the better cheaper ones if that applies to you.

 

[Robin]

Hi all sorry this is my 1st post and what a post my blood strips and needles have been taken off my repeat prescription without telling me after seeing my GP this morning who told me it's a government issue that they have been told they can't give the strips and bit out and quote " you have to fund them yourself sorry " I have made another appointment to see the diabetic nurse as in her words keep and eye on your bloods as I have got problems with kidneys and liver so will see what she says.
Let doctors and went next door to chemist asked the price of strips just under £20 pharmacies overheard and said no you don't pay your had them on prescription so repeated what GP said off she went to have a word with drs 10 mins came back and apologised and said she couldn't believe it neither myself I said.
Any advice would be nice ?

I'm type 2 diabetic on metformin oh and really fun part my bloods have only been high when diagnosed never had a hypo my bloods go low and lowest recorded 1.2 so fun time ahead of guessing I suppose sorry for blabbing on it just me lol cheers Justin

Hello, Justin, and welcome to the forum. As you can see from this thread, test strips are a hot topic! Hopefully, you can get these reinstated when you see your DSN, but if not, the cheapest meter and strips that we've found is the Codefree, which is inexpensive, and around £8 a pot for strips, I think. Have a look on the thread pinned to the top of the 'Newbies' section, I think there's a link to where you can buy it ( Amazon, or direct from the manufacturer, Home health) and details of what you need to order.
Edit: Mike types faster than I do and got there before me with the same info!

 

[New-journey]

I think it is important all diabetics have choice and part of the choice is knowing that testing can make a difference. It is information, I believe vital information which then can be used to improve levels. We can never make people change but we can make it more likely they will, and surely every type two knowing they can use testing as a tool is a good thing?
The fact that the scientific research is so weak is just part of the difficulties type two's face. I do believe type 2's deserve more, they in my mind are demonised, the general thinking that they will all just eat cake even after they have tested as Vic says, but they are all individual and we need to make sure they all have what they need.

 

[Bubbsie]

SO he has to report himself to himself!

However improbable that suggestion seems Vic...apparently you were absolutely correct...that is exactly what he has done...see his response.

 

[Bill Stewardson]

I've now mentally reported the post to myself, to see whether I thought I was feeling attacked. I think I probably *did* feel attacked. That was why I said "I feel that you are attacking me". I suppose I hoped that it would show that I was feeling attacked. Sorry I wasn't more clear about that.

Cue Monty Python music,,

All I said was " that piece of halibut was fit for Jehova"

 

[Angela123]

Interesting to read this thread. I am very new to this and would probably have been easily fobbed off with the no need for a monitor trend. I shall do my best to get one.

 

[Bill Stewardson]

Interesting to read this thread. I am very new to this and would probably have been easily fobbed off with the no need for a monitor trend. I shall do my best to get one.

Which makes the whole thing worthwhile.

 

[Bubbsie]

Interesting to read this thread. I am very new to this and would probably have been easily fobbed off with the no need for a monitor trend. I shall do my best to get one.

Good to hear that Angela...I feel very strongly about this issue...if you need any help whatsoever...I would be more than happy to offer some...good luck...please let me know how you fare...and if you do need a hand.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Interesting to read this thread. I am very new to this and would probably have been easily fobbed off with the no need for a monitor trend. I shall do my best to get one.

AlanS's Test Review Adjust post is well thought of by our members.
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

As is his 'testing on a budget' approach if you find yourself in the position where you must fund your own strips and the costs become difficult. Progress can be made on just one check a day (though it will obviously take longer to fine tune your diet)
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/teting-on-budget.html

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi all sorry this is my 1st post and what a post my blood strips and needles have been taken off my repeat prescription without telling me after seeing my GP this morning who told me it's a government issue that they have been told they can't give the strips and bit out and quote " you have to fund them yourself sorry " I have made another appointment to see the diabetic nurse as in her words keep and eye on your bloods as I have got problems with kidneys and liver so will see what she says.
Let doctors and went next door to chemist asked the price of strips just under £20 pharmacies overheard and said no you don't pay your had them on prescription so repeated what GP said off she went to have a word with drs 10 mins came back and apologised and said she couldn't believe it neither myself I said.
Any advice would be nice ?

I'm type 2 diabetic on metformin oh and really fun part my bloods have only been high when diagnosed never had a hypo my bloods go low and lowest recorded 1.2 so fun time ahead of guessing I suppose sorry for blabbing on it just me lol cheers Justin

Juzzy you can challenge this...several members have done so successfully...I have no idea what document your GP was quoting...you could ask for a copy...be interested to read it...as far as I am aware this issue is covered by the NICE guidelines...NICE are the National Institute For Health & Care guidance...who advise on quality standards and information for public health & social care...their guidelines do not preclude the provision of testing strips for type 2 diabetics...so NICE do not say NO outright...possibly your GP is quoting a directive from your local clinical commissioning group...who in my opinion interpret the guidelines narrowly & inaccurately...since you previously had been prescribed strips...were you given any explanation for the withdrawal apart from the quote s/he read out...it is possible to write to your GP justify your need for the strips to be reinstated on your prescription...let me know if you would like to challenge this decision.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

A guide to NICE-speak for the uninitiated (not official, but this is my understanding during conversations with NICE people about drafting guidance):

Offer
This works and/or represents best practice. Even if it is very expensive, it's worth it.

Consider
The scientific evidence here is mixed. Some studies show that it can work in certain circumstances, either the evidence is not very clear, or the outcomes are not very significant. It might be worth giving this a go. 'Consider' is often used in conjunction with the circumstances that suggest better chances of success. "Consider xxxxxx where xxxx". It should be noted that the more expensive a thing is the better evidence it needs to be 'offer' rather than 'consider'.

Do not routinely offer
The evidence is pretty clear that this does not work for the general population affected by whatever the guidance relates to and/or is simply too expensive. There may be individual cases where this will work, but the evidence suggests it is likely that the costs outweigh the benefits for general use.

Do not offer
The majority of the evidence shows that this either doesn't work or is actually harmful.

 

[Angela123]

Good to hear that Angela...I feel very strongly about this issue...if you need any help whatsoever...I would be more than happy to offer some...good luck...please let me know how you fare...and if you do need a hand.

Thank you, I appreciate that.

 

[Angela123]

AlanS's Test Review Adjust post is well thought of by our members.
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

As is his 'testing on a budget' approach if you find yourself in the position where you must fund your own strips and the costs become difficult. Progress can be made on just one check a day (though it will obviously take longer to fine tune your diet)
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/teting-on-budget.html

Thank you, I have a friend who was diagnosed two years ago and she set about eating porridge for breakfast (as is recommended) and had readings sky high. She now has weetabix and if fine. Don't want to fall into that trap only to discover in three months time I need meds.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thank you, I have a friend who was diagnosed two years ago and she set about eating porridge for breakfast (as is recommended) and had readings sky high. She now has weetabix and if fine. Don't want to fall into that trap only to discover in three months time I need meds.

This is what frustrates so many members here who are denied strips @Angela123 - it is so important to get clear, immediate feedback on how different foods affect you - this is information that a 3-monthly HbA1c simply cannot provide. And neither can your Dr offer advice with any certainty for you as an individual*. Once you have found out how you respond then you'll have a range of 'safe' choices that you can rely on.

It is simply impossible to know whether your body can cope with porridge/weetabix/toast/whatever-form-of-carbs for breakfast without checking. Likewise lunches and evening meals. All carbs have the potential to send your BGs sky high. It's a question of finding the ones (and the portion sizes) your body can cope with best and then mixing it up with other alternatives.


* As an example, it might be OK for your friend, but Weetabix (along with all breakfast cereals) is a complete nightmare for me, even with the benefit of injected rapid acting insulin. That't the crazy thing - the same thing affects different people differently!

 

[Angela123]

This is what frustrates so many members here who are denied strips @Angela123 - it is so important to get clear, immediate feedback on how different foods affect you - this is information that a 3-monthly HbA1c simply cannot provide. And neither can your Dr offer advice with any certainty for you as an individual*. Once you have found out how you respond then you'll have a range of 'safe' choices that you can rely on.

It is simply impossible to know whether your body can cope with porridge/weetabix/toast/whatever-form-of-carbs for breakfast without checking. Likewise lunches and evening meals. All carbs have the potential to send your BGs sky high. It's a question of finding the ones (and the portion sizes) your body can cope with best and then mixing it up with other alternatives.


* As an example, it might be OK for your friend, but Weetabix (along with all breakfast cereals) is a complete nightmare for me, even with the benefit of injected rapid acting insulin. That't the crazy thing - the same thing affects different people differently!

Exactly and that is why I will have a blood monitor and will buy one myself if that is how it has to be...would be crazy not to!

 

[Bubbsie]

Thank you, I appreciate that.

Okay Angela...let me know when you/how you want to approach this...what the response from your GP is...then if necessary we can do some work on it.

 

[Derek Stubbs]

it is rather poor by doctors, they seem to be happy that your average over three months is fine, irrespective if you are going high then low as a consequence of certain foods, this is why doctors need to understand the need to test as high's & lows are dangerous even though the end result is a nice average, no good having a good average if you have a hypo & end up in hospital.

 

[Martin Canty]

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot wrong with the US healthcare system, but I walked out of the Dr.'s after diagnosis with prescriptions for Metformin, test kit & 2 strips/day. I assumed this would be SOP for all newly minted diabetics until I joined this board. I know of pre-D's who have had testing supplies on prescription. (Over here) I have never once heard of the notion that testing is bad and it worries people unnecessarily.
What we should eat is another thing.... When I see the Practice Nurse I tend to gloss over my diet; just editing it down to "Low Carb". However they can see by my numbers that something is working so if it 'aint broke don't fix it!

 

[CHRISJK]

Juzzy you can challenge this...several members have done so successfully...I have no idea what document your GP was quoting...you could ask for a copy...be interested to read it...as far as I am aware this issue is covered by the NICE guidelines...NICE are the National Institute For Health & Care guidance...who advise on quality standards and information for public health & social care...their guidelines do not preclude the provision of testing strips for type 2 diabetics...so NICE do not say NO outright...possibly your GP is quoting a directive from your local clinical commissioning group...who in my opinion interpret the guidelines narrowly & inaccurately...since you previously had been prescribed strips...were you given any explanation for the withdrawal apart from the quote s/he read out...it is possible to write to your GP justify your need for the strips to be reinstated on your prescription...let me know if you would like to challenge this decision.

Hi, I am back off Holiday and ready to challenge my GP about her withdrawing my test strips on prescription, and I would like to take you up on your kind offer to help. I really don't think my Letter writing skills are up to scratch, so as I said any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks....... Chris