Confirm bad advice

[KevLow]

Last year when i asked for glucose strips to be added to my prescription, i was advised that due to being on slow release metformin tablets that i no longer require to test my blood glucose levels? Has anyone else had any advice like this?

 

[Lilian]

It is general practice in England that type 2 diabetics that are not on drugs that could cause hypo's to not prescribe meters or strips. You might get the odd doctor who does, but he/she would have to have a specific reason to do so. When I was first diagnosed (that many years ago), meters were given to everyone and I was told I must regularly check my BG and told it was like driving a car without looking at the speedometer every now and again. Then this was all stopped, and I suspect it was not the health of the patients that was being considered but the health of the NHS.

 

[Drummer]

Many people report the same advice, often right from their diagnosis.

 

[chaoticcar]

Yes type 2 diabetics rarely get monitors and strips on prescription Most of us buy our own because we know how important it is to see how much what we eat affects our blood glucose levels .The cost of strips can be expensive but the Home Navvii Gluco Navvii is one of the cheapest
Carol

 

[Burylancs]

Yes type 2 diabetics rarely get monitors and strips on prescription Most of us buy our own because we know how important it is to see how much what we eat affects our blood glucose levels .The cost of strips can be expensive but the Home Navvii Gluco Navvii is one of the cheapest
Carol

Most Type 2s do get strips on prescription, the 40% of us on insulin and the many others on hypo inducing medication such Gliclazide. Newbies and people on metformin only are told they don't need to test. The medics are trying to macro- manage them via the HbA1c whereas Type 2s need to micro-manage via SMBG. The medics don't seem to realise the connection between good HbA1cs and self testing. Of course many T2s are only too happy to be told they don't need to test. Ten years ago I was at a T2 local course, the man next to me said 'i'm lucky, the Doctor says I don't need to test.' It's a false economy that's storing up costs for the T2 and NHS in the future.
---------------------------------
'If I cannot measure it I cannot improve it'. Lord Kelvin.
'What gets measured gets managed,' Peter Drucker.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi KevLow, welcome to the forum.

Most of the type 2's aren't given strips for the very reason you stated. However, most of us do like to test, especially in the early days, as we can see the impact that our meals have on blood sugar levels.

The good thing is that they're readily available from Argos or Amazon so do have a look if you think it would be helpful.

 

[DaveB]

GPs don't often give out strips due to cost or ignorance. If a T2, you should test often enough 2 hours after a meal to see how you are doing and how what you eat is affecting you.

 

[Docb]

One has to take a little care when laying the blame on wholly on GP's. They are following the NICE guidelines, something I suspect they are generally obliged to do. If there is to be a change, then it is NICE that needs to be tackled.