Here we go... test strips - there may be trouble ahead!

[MaryPlain]

I picked up my repeat prescription for test strips this evening. On the label affixed to the boxes instead of the usual "use as directed" it now says "use on two days per week only, fasting and after meals".

Obviously this is completely inappropriate for me, as a pump user, and I'm wondering whether it's something the pharmacist has chosen to put there or whether the doc put it on my prescription (I didn't notice when I signed the back).

It looks as though rationing has arrived in this neck of the woods as well. Mind you they haven't reduced my strips so at that rate they've given me nearly 40 weeks' supply!

 

[AlisonM]

That's ridiculous, you're T1 for heaven's sake! I foresee a call to the surgery first thing tomorrow to clear up the confusion. And, to read the riot act if needed.

 

[MaryPlain]

That's ridiculous, you're T1 for heaven's sake! I foresee a call to the surgery first thing tomorrow to clear up the confusion. And, to read the riot act if needed.

I think I'll start with the pharmacy - after all my GP has still prescribed me enough strips to allow me to test freely. I do wonder where this instruction has come from though!

I hate trying to phone the surgery. They don't answer the phone at lunchtimes which is the only time I can phone. Mind you, I will have to speak to someone, as apparently I can't get any more thyroid tablets unless I see the doc - which is going to be difficult as I have no intention of taking time off work, specially since the hospital monitor my thyroid so they should just read my notes!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Insulin users should not be restricted for test strips (didn't they have some sort of conflab in parliament to that effect recently?!) - and certainly not just by a sticker on the boxes without any kind of conversation! Grrrr!

Here you are, have this massively expensive insulin therapy - but I'm afraid you can't have sufficient test strips to use it effectively... 😡

 

[FM001]

It is ridiculous to write such a thing on a dispensing label knowing your a type 1, provided your next script for strips isn't rejected or reduced I would just ignore it😡

 

[PattiEvans]

Oh and please totally ignore the law and drive illegally without testing. Sheesh!

 

[Lauras87]

Ok what bright spark let the label be printed like that?

It's like my gp's surgery who weren't happy about upping me from 1 box to 3 a month, they don't think when I get the pump I should get more strips!

I vote we all run diabetes classes for our gp's so they know what they are doing & the risk.

Hope you manage to find out what's happened

 

[MaryPlain]

I phoned the pharmacy, and the pharmacist was very helpful and freely accepted that the instructions were totally inappropriate. Apparently they've had an upgrade of their software which has been updated to incorporate new guidelines from the local Diabetes Care organisation (who I've not come across before) and they don't know how to turn it off!

The worrying thing is that someone has programmed this guidance in so it is the default - even though it could potentially be dangerous for anyone on medication which lowers their blood sugar, not only type 1s or type 2s on insulin.