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Cant believe the nurse said that!

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D_G

D_G

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Went to see the nurse today after being refused my pill (again) anyway while i was there i asked her about asking the doctor to change the quantities of my test strips on my prescription as i had noticed it had recently changed from 6 pots....down to 3! (althought i managed to change this to 4 pots recently after writing numerous notes at the bottom of my repeat prescription) she asked me how many times i tested....

So i said well before breakfast, mid morning, before lunch, before i start my cleaning job, and again after to check im not too low, again before dinner and then before bed. Also i said i test when i am feeling low and also before and after i do exercise... so average 6-8 times, i think this is pretty reasonable yes??

She said........... "Oh you should only really need to test 3 times a day"

😱😱😱

Are you kiddin me!! If she thinks i am going to limit myself to testing 3 times a day she can think again!

GRRRRR!!
 
Grrrr!!! This really gets my goat! You should test a minimum of FOUR times a day as you are on insulin, plus there are so many other perfectly valid reasons to test that 6-8 tests a day is pretty frugal I think. It's about the same as me. I test before meals and bed, sometines before exercise so I know I'm safe to continue (insert extra tests if a driver for same reasons and to stay within the law), plus sometimes after to ensure I'm OK, after some meals to see how the food has affected me and if my insulin timing might improve things, if I feel low, if I feel high, if I feel poorly, if I'm worried I might drop low in the night, if I fancy a sanck so I know if I need to bolus for it...I am sure there are many more!

How long has your nurse been an insulin dependent diabetic Nikki? She should be ashamed at giving out misleading and potentially dangerous advice! 😱
 
That's disgusting - fancy saying 3 times a day is enough. I seem to test more and more these days, my blood sugars are so up and down.
 
I honestly think these "healthcare professionals" really need to go back to school. 3 times is just not enough. Im planning to see my doctor as I get 100 strips and lancets every two weeks which is ridiculous when I work so my mom has to pick it up. Im sure he is not going to be very happy :/
 
I feel all of these comments! I say that any T1 (or T2 on gliceride-wrong spelling I know!) that has a battle against medevial GP/nurses to cite the DVLA rules to them. That should shut them up! No way am I ever going to lose my licence from a hypo while driving! And just tell the doc that you can jump into a car well over 3 times a day! What a cheek!!!
 
I know ! When she said it my jaw dropped, as if I only needed to test before brekfast, lunch and dinner.....erm what about before I go to bed! And if I'm feeling low I shoiuld just leave it? God I really wanted to shout at her! I'm the diabetic not her, what does she know! Grrrrr well I got my pill and she put in a request for some more test strips....who knows if I will ever see them tho :(
 
I'm seeing the nurse next week and may have to have the same conversation. The last I spoke to her on the issue, she said I didn't need so many strips because I was well controlled. I replied that I am well controlled because I test so much. She backed off then but I suspect she may try again. Either way I want to have the conversation so I can put to bed any misconceptions she may have.
They clearly don't understand the mechanics of carb counting, treating hypos, testing before driving/exercise/sleeping, etc.

They need to learn so that others don't suffer the same humiliation of feeling like money-wasting parasites.

Rob
 
Robster65 said:
...
They need to learn so that others don't suffer the same humiliation of feeling like money-wasting parasites.

Rob
Click to expand...

I think one of the big benefits of belonging to a forum like this is that you know you're not alone or being unreasonable with the strips you use. I'm sure there are many, many people who come away with reduced strip allowances and feel they must test less even if it risks their control. :(
 
This seems to be a common occurrence up and down the country, had a similar discussion with gp who said 4 was the max, I pointed out that dafne suggests a minimum of 4 and as a car driver I need to test over and above this amount to stay safe on the roads, after some debate and a letter from consultant he soon backed down.

Often wonder if these people really understand what living with type 1 is like, insulin is a life-saver but it can also harm and kill if not closely monitored, without regular testing we are putting ourselves in danger, just wish they would understand this:(
 
toby said:
Often wonder if these people really understand what living with type 1 is like, insulin is a life-saver but it can also harm and kill if not closely monitored, without regular testing we are putting ourselves in danger, just wish they would understand this:(
Click to expand...

Well said Toby!!!!!!:D
 
toby said:
This seems to be a common occurrence up and down the country, had a similar discussion with gp who said 4 was the max, I pointed out that dafne suggests a minimum of 4 and as a car driver I need to test over and above this amount to stay safe on the roads, after some debate and a letter from consultant he soon backed down.

Often wonder if these people really understand what living with type 1 is like, insulin is a life-saver but it can also harm and kill if not closely monitored, without regular testing we are putting ourselves in danger, just wish they would understand this:(
Click to expand...

The book in this review is aimed at HCPs, so that is probably why it is being perpetuated:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=9954
 
Its just crazy,they should be no limit of strips to type 1s, us type 2s get a hard enough time with them,imagine if we put all the people on this forum who are told NO to testing in a room think we would fill it 2 fold.When will they realise the benifits of self testing are monumental when it comes to a diabetic and there control.What makes me mad is when you go to your appointments and are told your not doing great,just think if that diabetic had strips to test to see what foods effect there BS then im sure things would improve..
It absolutly makes my blood boil that some people in here have to go and buy there own strips.

Sory hope no types 1s mind me posting that rather turned into a type 2 thing(slaps had)

P,s good luck Rob at your appointment x
 
Appreciate it's even worse for type 2's Steff, hope your logged on here and watching the cracking darts on tv, great match between Lewis & Part, no one expected Part to beat the world champ😱
 
toby said:
Appreciate it's even worse for type 2's Steff, hope your logged on here and watching the cracking darts on tv, great match between Lewis & Part, no one expected Part to beat the world champ😱
Click to expand...

noooooo dont tell me that not got sky no more, i pay 2.99 to watch PDCTV and forgot it was on oopsies x
 
Steff said:
What makes me mad is when you go to your appointments and are told your not doing great,just think if that diabetic had strips to test to see what foods effect there BS then im sure things would improve..
Click to expand...

Yea she also asked me about some of my recent blood sugars, i mentioned i was sort of inbetween 6-8 most of the time. she then made a comment that an 8 is far too high! 😡

....Well if you limit my testing to 3 times a day it will be even higher!!! GAH!
 
D_G said:
Yea she also asked me about some of my recent blood sugars, i mentioned i was sort of inbetween 6-8 most of the time. she then made a comment that an 8 is far too high! 😡

....Well if you limit my testing to 3 times a day it will be even higher!!! GAH!
Click to expand...

Sounds like she doesn't have much real-life experience of diabetes 🙄
 
wow...these nurses never cease to amaze me. I am kinda shocked, but not lol my last diabetes appt with the surgery nurse - I was talking about exercise and how it's hard to control because when i do cardio my levels drop and when I do weights they go up. She looked at me (VERY patronisingly) and said, "no, all exercise reduces blood sugar levels. All you need to do is eat less and exercise more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Simples hey?!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱 I told her she was wrong but she wasn't having any of it so I gave up in the end. I knew I was right....I was the bloody one doing the blood tests for a start! as well as what I'd read from you guys on here (I think advice from Alan at the time....and he's NEVER wrong!!)

I really don't know how they are allowed to carry on treating diabetic patients when they clearly don't have a clue!
 
Sit your nurse down and educate her, she might appreciate it..........

I can fortunately say I have never been challenged on test strips, I only get 2 pots each time [100], and that will do me about 3 weeks........🙂
 
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