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Freestyle Libre - NHS for type 2

J

johnny44

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi

I have type 2 diabetes which is moving quickly to the need for insulin.

I am currently on 1300 metformin slow release, 14 semaglutide, and 2mg glemipiride daily. I struggle to finger prick sufficiently due to my job working conditions so I have begun a 14 day free trial on freestyle libre 2 plus CGM so I have instant access to my sugar level to help with what I can eat and when.

My blood sugars are bordering 10/11 with my most recent HB1 blood test at 89. I have battled to try get a CGM to help me however I am told the NHS do not give them unless on insulin, I have also asked for an individual funding request which again I was told isn't possible.

I simply cannot afford £100 a month for the sensors, and was hoping someone on here could let me know if there are any ways to get it on prescription/funded.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Johnny
 
johnny44 said:
I simply cannot afford £100 a month for the sensors, and was hoping someone on here could let me know if there are any ways to get it on prescription/funded.
Click to expand...
Do you actually need the sensors if you aren’t currently on insulin? What are you doing with the results - how does that inform your decisions?

If you have been advised to test the NHS should be prescribing fingerpricking equipment to do this, and your employer should be making reasonable adjustments to allow you to test. When have you been advised to test and what adjustments has your employer made for this?
 
I have the finger prick kits however my occupation means I can be anywhere at anytime, I cannot carry needles on me, even safety lances.

I am looking for any advice from people who have secured the sensors through the NHS/funded who have type 2 diabetes. My personal circumstances mean it would be beneficial to me, I do not want to disclose any further personal information.
 
johnny44 said:
I have the finger prick kits however my occupation means I can be anywhere at anytime, I cannot carry needles on me, even safety lances.

I am looking for any advice from people who have secured the sensors through the NHS/funded who have type 2 diabetes. My personal circumstances mean it would be beneficial to me, I do not want to disclose any further personal information.
Click to expand...
Have you spoken to occupational health?

If you have been advised to fingerprick by a medical professional then your job must make reasonable adjustments. CGM does not replace all fingerpricking.
 
johnny44 said:
I am looking for any advice from people who have secured the sensors through the NHS/funded who have type 2 diabetes.
Click to expand...
You won’t get cgm on NHS as you aren’t on insulin
 
johnny44 said:
I have the finger prick kits however my occupation means I can be anywhere at anytime, I cannot carry needles on me, even safety lances.

I am looking for any advice from people who have secured the sensors through the NHS/funded who have type 2 diabetes. My personal circumstances mean it would be beneficial to me, I do not want to disclose any further personal information.
Click to expand...
Can you not gain enough information from a free trial period of a Libre to make some informed choices for meals which you can tolerate.
That may then reduce the frequency of finger prick testing.
Are you even allowed to carry a phone if lancets are not allowed.
 
Sorry to hear you aren’t meeting the criteria for CGM on the NHS @johnny44 :(

It has only relatively recently been possible for more people to get access to CGM sensors on the NHS. Before that as you have discovered it was trying to jump through the hoops of an Individual Funding Request, and to try to convince your clinic (and them the local bean counters) that sensors are not just appropriate, but essential for you.

I’ve not been keeping up with the IFA landscape for quite a few years, but I wonder if the formalised NICE criteria for cost-effective sensor criteria may make IFAs even harder to secure?
 
Could you self fund and use less often?
As others have said use one when you can learn from what you are eating and doing in your day to day. A few T1's self funded before the NSH rolled out for all T1's. Using sensor 2 weeks at certain times and back to fingers when they cannot afford, or to lower the cost.
I know of one T2 who was using Zoe to get access the libre, that worked for him, but I am not sure on the cost, I don't think it was cheap.
 
Hello,
I use an Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device. It is almost pain free if you warm your fingers. The 6 lancets are in a small cassette. You can get the lancets on prescription.

Here is a picture I put on imgur it's a safe site --> Fastclix photo

I hope that helps.
 
The Fastclix device shows no outward sign whatsoever of the lancets, it's impossible to get an accidental fingerstick injury from either the device or the cassettes holding the lancets.
 
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