Help ! Need advice ASAP please

[ClaudiaKiwi]

hi everyone
I’m week 2 of T1. I was given a Glucomen LX2 monitor and this morning it looks like the battery has died as it is showing a battery symbol and won’t read my strips. I have read the manual and am sure this is what it is.

Can I buy new batteries from Lloyd’s Pharmacy / Sainsbury’s? I can go down when they open but am just worried as this is only a week and a half old. Should I go through a battery that fast ? Is this normal ? Worrying this is going to cost me a fortune. Also when I get a script from GP do I pay per item for all the strips etc ? I best get a second job if that’s the case !

Would greatly appreciate some advice. I’m really worrying.

Thank you.

 

[grovesy]

My meters have always used the flat disc batteries and they last for ages. You should be able to buy batteries.

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

My meters have always used the flat disc batteries and they last for ages. You should be able to buy batteries.

Thank you. I will go down and see. I cannot understand why it has died so quickly.

 

[grovesy]

Thank you. I will go down and see. I cannot understand why it has died so quickly.

I always keep spares with my meter.

 

[Copepod]

You can buy cards with lithium disc batteries at most supermarkets. Never looked for batteries at chemists, so I'd try Sainsbury's rather than Lloyd's.
I would also see if there are contact phone number(s) or email(s) for manufacturer. It does sound like a problem with batteries
Postal restrictions mean they will probably send you vouchers instead of batteries.

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

You can buy cards with lithium disc batteries at most supermarkets. Never looked for batteries at chemists, so I'd try Sainsbury's rather than Lloyd's.
I would also see if there are contact phone number(s) or email(s) for manufacturer. It does sound like a problem with batteries
Postal restrictions mean they will probably send you vouchers instead of batteries.

Much appreciated. I’ll head down when they open. I was given the meter in hospital so maybe it had been sitting round for a while or something. I’ll hopefully get it sorted this morning.

 

[Radders]

Poundland sell a great range of batteries. Also your meter manufacturer might send you vouchers for free ones: Roche do for my Accuchek meters.

 

[Robin]

Regarding payment for all your prescription items, UK residents who are diabetic don't pay for prescriptions, you can get an exemption certificate, which your GP should tell you about. ( and give you the form to fill in) I'm assuming you are a NZ citizen, and I don't know if we have reciprocal agreements on healthcare, as is the case with Australia, but it's worth finding out!
If you are entitled to an exemption card, ask for a receipt from the pharmacy for any items you pay for until it arrives ( it has to be a special receipt, the pharmacy should know) then you can claim a refund.

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

Regarding payment for all your prescription items, UK residents who are diabetic don't pay for prescriptions, you can get an exemption certificate, which your GP should tell you about. ( and give you the form to fill in) I'm assuming you are a NZ citizen, and I don't know if we have reciprocal agreements on healthcare, as is the case with Australia, but it's worth finding out!
If you are entitled to an exemption card, ask for a receipt from the pharmacy for any items you pay for until it arrives ( it has to be a special receipt, the pharmacy should know) then you can claim a refund.

Thank you for such great support and advice. It is so much appreciated.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Much appreciated. I’ll head down when they open. I was given the meter in hospital so maybe it had been sitting round for a while or something. I’ll hopefully get it sorted this morning.

I’m sure that will be it. No way to know how fresh the batteries were when you got the meter. If it drains the new ones faster than you’d like ask the DSN for a different meter, maybe one which charges an internal battery via USB?

 

[trophywench]

Ever since the very first meter I had last century, LOL - all of mine up til now have taken either AA or AAA batteries (my latest pump meter has a rechargeable that you have to plug in to recharge - but I know you haven't got one of them.)

Poundland sell a great range of batteries. Also your meter manufacturer might send you vouchers for free ones: Roche do for my Accuchek meters.

That's odd - I have always ordered batteries along with other pump consumables which Roche have always sent me in the same box, cos they are delivered by Courier, not post ?????

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Ever since the very first meter I had last century, LOL - all of mine up til now have taken either AA or AAA batteries (my latest pump meter has a rechargeable that you have to plug in to recharge - but I know you haven't got one of them.)



That's odd - I have always ordered batteries along with other pump consumables which Roche have always sent me in the same box, cos they are delivered by Courier, not post ?????

I think Medtronic announced that they can’t send batteries any more a year or so back - not that I ever used to get them to, I’ve always just bought them.

 

[trophywench]

Well so did I even when I got my first pump, for both pump and meter. However since they invariably asked me if I needed any when ordering consumables I enquired - to be told 'We don't charge anyone for them anyway, so you may just as well!' - hence I always have since. Think the CCGs give em quite enough dosh as it is, frankly. Since all consumables are sent out in standard sized boxes of varying dimensions but always a lot bigger than seems necessary so I imagine they negotiate advantageous rates (like Amazon and eg eBay sellers) so to hell with it!

 

[Radders]

Ever since the very first meter I had last century, LOL - all of mine up til now have taken either AA or AAA batteries (my latest pump meter has a rechargeable that you have to plug in to recharge - but I know you haven't got one of them.)



That's odd - I have always ordered batteries along with other pump consumables which Roche have always sent me in the same box, cos they are delivered by Courier, not post ?????

I get the Batteries for the pump and the handset direct from Roche in the box as you say, but my main meter is an Aviva nano which takes the little flat batteries - 2032 I think - and for those I get the vouchers.

 

[trophywench]

I only used the handset cos the Expert is such a brill calculator for boluses, corrections etc and knows your IOB etc. - so my Nano is only a spare and I haven't used it for years!

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

Hi everyone 🙂
I got it sorted sent my husband to Sainsbury’s and he came back with completely the wrong ones lol. They were too small. Anyways long story short I jiggled fhe existong batteries and got them to work and found some on amazon and have had them delivered today. So I am all sorted !
Thanks for all the support and advice I am so grateful. I was having a minor panic.
Awesome to know on the scripts and exemptions etc. Not one person has told me that so shall suss this week. I saw a locum GP upon discharge and she was horrific. She kept liooking me up and down and saying “omg” whilst looking at my discharge letter I had been told to pass on. I asked her if there was something the matter due to the way she was looking at me and she said “no I just don’t know how you had an HbA1c level that high what were you doing” so at that point I ended he consult and left. Her manner was appalling. I’m seeing the hospital DSN on Tuesday morning so shall ask her and she is awesome thank god.
Anyways hope you are all having a cool weekend 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

Hi everyone 🙂
I got it sorted sent my husband to Sainsbury’s and he came back with completely the wrong ones lol. They were too small. Anyways long story short I jiggled fhe existong batteries and got them to work and found some on amazon and have had them delivered today. So I am all sorted !
Thanks for all the support and advice I am so grateful. I was having a minor panic.
Awesome to know on the scripts and exemptions etc. Not one person has told me that so shall suss this week. I saw a locum GP upon discharge and she was horrific. She kept liooking me up and down and saying “omg” whilst looking at my discharge letter I had been told to pass on. I asked her if there was something the matter due to the way she was looking at me and she said “no I just don’t know how you had an HbA1c level that high what were you doing” so at that point I ended he consult and left. Her manner was appalling. I’m seeing the hospital DSN on Tuesday morning so shall ask her and she is awesome thank god.
Anyways hope you are all having a cool weekend 🙂

I am an Electrician & sometimes when you warm batteries you can get a little life out of them. That goes for car alarms & remotes. Pleased you got sorted.

 

[Pigeon]

Locum GP sounds appalling! Of course you would have a high HBA1C if you are T1 and on no medication, it's not your fault! Mine was 13 at diagnosis, it came down quickly though, I think even after 2 weeks on insulin it was 11.

Make sure you get enough quantities of everything on repeat prescription, and get the medical exemption sorted out. For the future, note that these certificates expire every 5 years and they don't always write to remind you! Stupid I know, but you have to get a new one signed by your GP, even though you have a life long condition, and you can get fined if you keep claiming free prescriptions when it has expired. Mine was out of date for 2 months before I noticed, hoping I have avoided the fine... apparently they do random checks!

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

I am an Electrician & sometimes when you warm batteries you can get a little life out of them. That goes for car alarms & remotes. Pleased you got sorted.

Thanks me too ! And great tip on batteries 🙂

 

[New-journey]

Hi everyone 🙂
I got it sorted sent my husband to Sainsbury’s and he came back with completely the wrong ones lol. They were too small. Anyways long story short I jiggled fhe existong batteries and got them to work and found some on amazon and have had them delivered today. So I am all sorted !
Thanks for all the support and advice I am so grateful. I was having a minor panic.
Awesome to know on the scripts and exemptions etc. Not one person has told me that so shall suss this week. I saw a locum GP upon discharge and she was horrific. She kept liooking me up and down and saying “omg” whilst looking at my discharge letter I had been told to pass on. I asked her if there was something the matter due to the way she was looking at me and she said “no I just don’t know how you had an HbA1c level that high what were you doing” so at that point I ended he consult and left. Her manner was appalling. I’m seeing the hospital DSN on Tuesday morning so shall ask her and she is awesome thank god.
Anyways hope you are all having a cool weekend 🙂

So glad you got it all sorted, you need your meter working!
How horrible of the locum GP, some people are so nasty. I had a doctor soon after diagnose tell me off for not controlling my diabetes, and then looked at the date of diagnose and stopped. No apology though!
That is so good you have an awesome DSN, I do hope your appointment goes well.