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GlucoRx Nexus

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
squidge63

squidge63

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I haven't been around for a while and thought this forum would be the best place to post a question..

I received a letter from my surgery today telling me that to save money they are giving diabetics on insulin a new meter a GlucoRx Nexus as it's test strips are cheaper. Had a brief look online and it doesn't look too bad, has anyone got any experience with it?

Also my insulin needles, Novofine, are being changed to Comfort Point needles.

Apparently the estimated spend blood glucose testing strips in England, is in excess of ?150 million each year.
 
Hi David,

Lovely to see you back posting, i vaguely remember someone on the forum mentioning this meter may have been last year ive tryed to find the thread but to no avail.

Did you ever get anywhere with those novotwists for injecting i was going to give you or not?
 
I tested this meter last year, see the thread here:
http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=18200&

In my opinion it reads high so if you are adjusting your dosage according to your meter reading you will probably use more insulin if the reading is high, thus costing the NHS more than the minute cost of the test strip compared to the cost of the insulin.
 
Steff - never got anywhere with the twisty needles, but seeing as the surgery are giving out new ones it doesn't matter now.

Vicsetter - will keep an eye on it and see what my other meters say as well.
 
Hi Squidge, just noticed how much Levemir you are taking. Similar to the levels I was on. Take care with lumps which I seem to get, seeing the diabetic clinic at Larbet hospital next week about them. Although I took the higher dose in the morning trying to avoid overnight hypos. My GP put me on Victoza which I now take in the evening and this has totally replaced the 60 units of Levemir I took in the evening. Still take 80 units in the morning though.
 
Good luck with the new meter. It seems that cost cutting is becoming more prevalent in the NHS, as I've had test strips removed from my prescription completely! I am fighting this, as I believe that due to new DVLA rules etc it's violating my human rights. I've spoken to PALS and the local PCT who've informed me that I should, as a type 1, have access to test strips (which I already knew). I think that most of the time it's the Practice Manager/Head Receptionist who make these decisions, and it's false economy as it will cost the NHS a lot more to cut my legs off, or to treat the poor pedestrian that I run over due to being hypo.
Rant over..........😡
 
Kwaka1 said:
Good luck with the new meter. It seems that cost cutting is becoming more prevalent in the NHS, as I've had test strips removed from my prescription completely! I am fighting this, as I believe that due to new DVLA rules etc it's violating my human rights. I've spoken to PALS and the local PCT who've informed me that I should, as a type 1, have access to test strips (which I already knew). I think that most of the time it's the Practice Manager/Head Receptionist who make these decisions, and it's false economy as it will cost the NHS a lot more to cut my legs off, or to treat the poor pedestrian that I run over due to being hypo.
Rant over..........😡
Click to expand...

That's horrendous! How can they possibly justify that? Are you able to change surgeries?
 
Oh yes! It's just a matter of finding a 'diabetic friendly' practice, as my old practice closed and I've only been at my new one for a couple of months. I'm off work next week so I'll be ringing around.
 
Kwaka1 said:
Oh yes! It's just a matter of finding a 'diabetic friendly' practice, as my old practice closed and I've only been at my new one for a couple of months. I'm off work next week so I'll be ringing around.
Click to expand...

That must surely be an admin error. You get test strips as a right, not at the discretion of a surgery, whether GP or receptionist.

Rob
 
Robster65 said:
That must surely be an admin error. You get test strips as a right, not at the discretion of a surgery, whether GP or receptionist.

Rob
Click to expand...

I completely agree Rob - but a surgery that is clearly so poorly informed as to deny a T1 access to strips (presumably on the basis of cost) doesn;t score highly in my book if there are otyhers available.

I'm guessing Kwaka1 that you have been in to see them to try to clear this up as you say you've been in contact with PALS and the PCT. If not then you should certainly do so - if only so that the same error is not repeated at that practice in the future. Not everyone would be so forthright in questioning the instructions of their 'professional' medical adviser. The consequences of a T1 (or a T2 for that matter) trying to manage insulin therapy without strips don't bear thinking about.
 
They will let me have strips, but not on prescription. I have to ask for them, they then have a discussion, make me feel guilty for asking, and then capitulate and give me some.
At my old surgery I put my prescription in and picked it up 2 days later, no questions asked. I've spoken to some pharmacists and other local surgeries, and to be honest their attitude beggars belief (us Diabetics are a scourge on society, or at least that's how it feels).
Never mind, onwards and upwards 🙂.
 
Utterly unacceptable. You need strips on repeat and access to a minimum of 4 tests daily plus a few for extras.
Do you attend a hospital clinic? If so I'd get them to write to the surgery
Also find out if your PCT has any guidelines
If this situation can't be resolved it warrants a complaint
 
link not owrking but if you search under stoke diabetes guidelines you should get there
 
Thanks Abi, I'll try that. I'm not under DSN at hospital, as they discharged me to the care of my old GP due to the fact that I have 'excellent control' (their words not mine). However, I don't trust my current GP to give me the care required, so I'm going to contact my old DSN to see if I can be referred back.
It comes to something when your GP doesn't know the difference between type 1 and type 2, and this guy's in charge of my diabetic care.😱
 
Vicsetter said:
Hi Squidge, just noticed how much Levemir you are taking. Similar to the levels I was on. Take care with lumps which I seem to get, seeing the diabetic clinic at Larbet hospital next week about them. Although I took the higher dose in the morning trying to avoid overnight hypos. My GP put me on Victoza which I now take in the evening and this has totally replaced the 60 units of Levemir I took in the evening. Still take 80 units in the morning though.
Click to expand...

Vicsetter, I know what you mean about lumps, I had one for about a year before it finally went away. I was in a relationship for 31/2 yrs with a lady who lives in Falkirk.. The Forth Valley Royal looks a very nice hospital, drove past it a couple of times. I was tried on Byetta plus the metformin and my insulins, but after 6 months there wasn't really a big difference. Picked up the meter today, will try it out in the morning.

Kwaka1 said:
Thanks Abi, I'll try that. I'm not under DSN at hospital, as they discharged me to the care of my old GP due to the fact that I have 'excellent control' (their words not mine). However, I don't trust my current GP to give me the care required, so I'm going to contact my old DSN to see if I can be referred back.
It comes to something when your GP doesn't know the difference between type 1 and type 2, and this guy's in charge of my diabetic care.😱
Click to expand...

Kwaka1, you definitely need to get a new GP.. I found North Staffordshire PCT guide for type 2 and test strip provision, but not type 1.. but with the type 2 who are on insulin 2 injections daily and for more than two, and how many boxes they should be prescribed a month.. so they can't refuse a type 1 test strips on repeat.. hope this link works, it is a google search giving a pdf so the keep or discard message comes up
North Staffs

Use this to look at the GP surgeries near you: Find A Service
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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