Testing strips and meters

[Ccolman607]

I have today received a letter from my GP practice informing me that they have decided to change my testing strips to "Accu-Chek Performa Nano'. Because of this, I need to go and collect a new meter from them. The question I have is - "Whose decision is it as to what meter I should use?". I understand that there have been some changes and products discontinued because they don't meet the latest technical standards, however, do I not get a choice anymore? Just wondering what others think.

 

[Davein]

The surgery have probably done a deal with the Accu-Chek rep and are putting everyone on the same meter, especially as the cost of test strips vary so much between different meters and with them having tight budgets etc.

 

[JMyrtle]

My surgery expects you to buy your own meter and test strips if you are type 2, our LHA only supports meters and test strips on prescription for type 1diabetes

 

[Ccolman607]

The surgery have probably done a deal with the Accu-Chek rep and are putting everyone on the same meter, especially as the cost of test strips vary so much between different meters and with them having tight budgets etc.

Having worked in a GP surgery - I am sure you are right. We used to get lots of freebie meters from reps. However, where is our choice?

 

[Ccolman607]

My surgery expects you to buy your own meter and test strips if you are type 2, our LHA only supports meters and test strips on prescription for type 1diabetes

I am a type 2 insulin dependent - I hope that your surgery would allow me to have a meter and test strips 🙂

 

[JMyrtle]

I think they get round it by " upgrading" insulin type twos to type one when insulin is first prescribed ( this happened to my husbands uncle a few months back)

 

[Davein]

I am a type 2 insulin dependent - I hope that your surgery would allow me to have a meter and test strips 🙂

As soon as I was prescribed insulin I was provided with meter and strips ( although the problem then becomes how many strips your allowed) prior to that I purchased my own meter and strips.
You must, by law, test if you drive, being insulin dependent.
If you prefer your current meter, you could try and plead your case at your next appointment.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I've had a quick scan of NG28 - the 2015 NICE guidance for T2 - but frustratingly it's a bit negative about the whole SMBG thing on the whole and I've not spotted specific references to people being offered a meter that suits them.

Might be worth looking at the 'information for patients' though as I was searching a stored full guideline that I'd previously downloaded.

 

[trophywench]

Of course they would, on insulin. It's the non-insulin T2s who have trouble getting one even though the NICE Guidelines say it should be an individual decision.

Our surgery wrote to us all and said we were limited to 100 strips a month - however when one spoke to a GP and asked 'Whaaaaat?' they just immediately overrode the automatic limit on their computer system and it's never re-appeared since then. The surgery itself would have preferred to exclude all the people it didn't apply to ahead of the limit being imposed but the CCG imposed this on them.

This is by no means either a cheap or nasty meter - and neither are the strips! I use an all singing all dancing meter which matches my AccuChek pump and is also the handset for the pump. I have two Nanos as spares because it uses exactly the same strips as the special one. The Nanos only measure BG but they are just as accurate in use for that.

Unless your meter does something special that you rely on, which the Nano doesn't - eg you are sight impaired and the display isn't big enough, or you make daily use of another feature - I don't see that you'd have grounds to complain TBH - same as if you are prescribed a drug and a million companies make that drug - you can't opt for Jones' one rather than Smiths out of hand.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Yes interesting that they've opted for a Roche one - very much one of the premium meter/monitoring brands.

Not sure I would be all that worried in switching unless, as Jenny says, your current meter has a specific function/featuer that you need.

 

[Davein]

I think they get round it by " upgrading" insulin type twos to type one when insulin is first prescribed ( this happened to my husbands uncle a few months back)

Of course they would, on insulin. It's the non-insulin T2s who have trouble getting one even though the NICE Guidelines say it should be an individual decision.

Our surgery wrote to us all and said we were limited to 100 strips a month - however when one spoke to a GP and asked 'Whaaaaat?' they just immediately overrode the automatic limit on their computer system and it's never re-appeared since then. The surgery itself would have preferred to exclude all the people it didn't apply to ahead of the limit being imposed but the CCG imposed this on them.

This is by no means either a cheap or nasty meter - and neither are the strips! I use an all singing all dancing meter which matches my AccuChek pump and is also the handset for the pump. I have two Nanos as spares because it uses exactly the same strips as the special one. The Nanos only measure BG but they are just as accurate in use for that.

Unless your meter does something special that you rely on, which the Nano doesn't - eg you are sight impaired and the display isn't big enough, or you make daily use of another feature - I don't see that you'd have grounds to complain TBH - same as if you are prescribed a drug and a million companies make that drug - you can't opt for Jones' one rather than Smiths out of hand.

Jenny I hope your not implying that the Smiths are cheap and nasty..........oops! revealed my surname🙂

 

[trophywench]

I was going to use Bloggs as one but couldn't think what other name to use, so opted for (alas) Smith and Jones .... thinking on I spose I could have used A & B - who as we know from Maths lessons at school, were always the individuals who dug holes or filled swimming pools with a 2.5 gallon watering can, etc !

I could never escape the desire of drawing them as stick men on a piece of scrap paper, in order to work out how to do the calculation, must tell psychologists something about how my brain works - in pictures it seems!

 

[Chris Hobson]

I started out with a Freestyle tester but after about three years the surgery supplied me with a Nexus one instead. It seemed to me that the Nexus one was reading higher than the Freestyle one so I bought some strips for the Freestyle and started testing with both side by side and this proved not to be the case. There was usually a couple of points difference between the two scores but one was never consistently higher than the other. The Nexus did sometimes give a false reading which was obviously way too high. I would confirm this by re testing with it and then getting a reading which was in the expected range. I only test about once a week now so buying my own strips isn't too expensive, so for now I can carry on using the Freestyle which I prefer.

 

[Lanny]

Chris Hobson I'm finding the same thing. I've used Freestyle for 10+ years but, now it's off the prescription list as the strips are too expensive. They gave me Nexus strips the last 2 times I ordered. I asked my local chemist if they have the machines but, they don't. Asked for an appointment with my GP practice's diabetic nurse but, have to wait until 21/03/18.

So, I researched online to find the meters that use the Nexus strips. I bought a GlucoRx Go from amazon & found that they consisently read higher than the Freestyle: sometimes 0.1 to 0.5 higher; sometimes over 1.0 or more higher. I've lowered my insulin doses recently when I had a lot of hypos. I didn't feel confident to continue using the GlucoRx meter. So, I bought Freestyle strips online. They are much more expensive than the Nexus strips. The best price I found was from the Diabetes Uk Shop £36 for 100. I can't afford to keep doing that but, have enough for now before my appointment with the GP nurse.

 

[Northerner]

Chris Hobson I'm finding the same thing. I've used Freestyle for 10+ years but, now it's off the prescription list as the strips are too expensive. They gave me Nexus strips the last 2 times I ordered. I asked my local chemist if they have the machines but, they don't. Asked for an appointment with my GP practice's diabetic nurse but, have to wait until 21/03/18.

So, I researched online to find the meters that use the Nexus strips. I bought a GlucoRx Go from amazon & found that they consisently read higher than the Freestyle: sometimes 0.1 to 0.5 higher; sometimes over 1.0 or more higher. I've lowered my insulin doses recently when I had a lot of hypos. I didn't feel confident to continue using the GlucoRx meter. So, I bought Freestyle strips online. They are much more expensive than the Nexus strips. The best price I found was from the Diabetes Uk Shop £36 for 100. I can't afford to keep doing that but, have enough for now before my appointment with the GP nurse.

@Lanny, as you are on insulin you need to be confident in the meter you are using. You should not have to pay for meters and strips yourself, and your surgery should only change your meter in agreement with you - not impose a 'blanket' change in this manner. Go back to the surgery (or write to the Practice Manager) explaining why you are more confident with the Freestyle meter. The extra costs to the surgery are minimal, and if the Freestyle helps you to maintain better control then the longer term savings can be considerable (a single hospital referral can cost £1,000+, that immediately negates any savings made on changing strips/meter. Don't wait until your appointment, this is a bureaucratic change that they can quickly resolve 🙂 Many other members have been placed in a similar position and have had their original prescription restored.

 

[Lanny]

Thanks Northerner. Will do that.

 

[Lanny]

Thanks again Northerner. One phone call & I'm back on the freestyle strips. Felt very nervous & guilty on the phone but, kept what you said in mind. Very relieved!

 

[Northerner]

Thanks again Northerner. One phone call & I'm back on the freestyle strips. Felt very nervous & guilty on the phone but, kept what you said in mind. Very relieved!

Great news @Lanny! 🙂 Remember, it's your health so always make your case if you think someone is potentially interfering with how you manage it 🙂