doctors know nothing

[HANAAAA]

basically I'm type one and have been since 6 (9 years a go now) and I check 4 times a day cos I dont do them at lunch...
However, I do agree the docs arent great when it comes to diabetes even my diabetic one is a pain! They don't understand what its like and dish comments else which are supposed to 'help' me?!?!

Also, my pharmacy is pants... I was given the wrong insulin for a week and ended up in hospital- could have been put in a coma if it went on one more day!!

medical people without diabetes or knowing someone with it = dont have a clue!

 

[C*5_Dodger]

I think he needs to learn a bit more before he starts preaching to others !! I use on average 6 day as at the minute my levels are not stable for shore, two days ago my level shot upto 30.3 so if i didnt check mine more often than once a day i wouldnt have a clue were i was ! If it keeps us out of hospital or using more medicines (which would cost more than a couple of testers) then keep using them i do and its our health we're checking and not the goverments bank balance.

I had the same trouble with my diabetes nurse. She said "what do you do if it is too high - what action do you take" adding that most people do nothing. I was able to tell her that I do indeed take action when my readings go up. She was taken aback, and has never questioned my use of strips since!

 

[jeanus44]

I've heard so much about people getting hassle about their use of testing strips, I'm almost expecting to get it myself each time I renew my prescription! I guess I've been very lucky with the quality of my treatment so far (6 months). My GP did ask me once how often I tested and why, when I asked for an increase from 100 to 200 strips per prescription, but seemed satisfied with my explanation.

I thought all diagnosed diabetics got free prescriptions?

I get free prescriptions but have to buy my own strips and lancets. I cant afford to test every day even though I want to to make sure things are ok. I just hope nothing seriously happens to me!

 

[sunflower_harvester]

Hi Delta

Sorry you're having problems with your GP. Think the main problem is they get confused between type 1 and type 2 and they fail to understand the need to intensively monitor with T1.
The other problem is this (I know this as I used to be a practice nurse) strip useage is expensive, practices are now getting bonuses for reducing the amount of test strips perscribed-and being short sighted they fail to realise that X amount of strips per month is a damn sight cheaper than X many trips to A+E with DKA/hypos or the cost of complications.
Stick to your guns,a GP is exactly that-general-so they dont have indepth knowledge of diabetes, make an appointment and educate them (nicely obviously-same goes for pharmacy staff)if that doesnt work present your GP with a copy of the NICE guidence into management of T1 and get your hospital team involved.
Good luck and let us know how you get on