Issue of testing strips

[peterbrighton]

I have lived in East Midland for a number of years and during that time was issued with testing strips on my prescription. I recently moved to Brighton and registered with a G.P and have been told that testing strips are not issued to people on Tablets for there diabetes. I was told if I was on insulin I would be able to get them. I have been told by the practice nurse with deals with diabetes that I should be having test strips as I am on Glicazide 80mg x2 twice a day - Metformin 500mg x2 twice a day - pioglitazone 15mg once a day. Has anyone else had this from there area. have been told by G.P that I should be looking at buying these

 

[mcdonagh47]

I have lived in East Midland for a number of years and during that time was issued with testing strips on my prescription. I recently moved to Brighton and registered with a G.P and have been told that testing strips are not issued to people on Tablets for there diabetes. I was told if I was on insulin I would be able to get them. I have been told by the practice nurse with deals with diabetes that I should be having test strips as I am on Glicazide 80mg x2 twice a day - Metformin 500mg x2 twice a day - pioglitazone 15mg once a day. Has anyone else had this from there area. have been told by G.P that I should be looking at buying these

hi there,
NICE Guidelines on Type 2 Diabetes guarantee test strips to T2s on sulfonylureas (e.g. Gliclazide) which can cause hypos.
print off the NICE Guidelines and go back to your docs with it.
A formal complaint to the BMA and the PCT is also in order.
Show up these penny pinching idiots who do not know what they are doing.
If you are taking gliclazide there is no way you should be denied test strips.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Peter

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear you've been having a hard time over test strips.

My understanding is that sulfonylureas like Gliclazide count as 'oral hypoglycaemic' agents and so patients should have the ability to test BG to ensure they are not hypo (I'm not sure where the DVLA stand on this as whatever I've read on their website usually refers to legally being obliged to test if on insulin or 'some' tablets_. Perhaps other T2s may be able to help.

Sadly many GP surgeries blanket-ban test strips for T2s as a cost-cutting exercise rather than looking at cases individually.

Diabetes UK have an 'advocacy pack' for T2s which might give you some pointers on how to approach your GP.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/How we help other/Test strips 2011.pdf

EDIT: Snap! Posted at the same time as McD.

 

[Caroline]

Being prescribed test strips aries vastly from area to area and GP to GP. I have heard of many people not getting the strips they need to teat with. Good luck, I hope you get at least as many as you need.

 

[Nicky1970]

I have lived in East Midland for a number of years and during that time was issued with testing strips on my prescription. I recently moved to Brighton and registered with a G.P and have been told that testing strips are not issued to people on Tablets for there diabetes. I was told if I was on insulin I would be able to get them. I have been told by the practice nurse with deals with diabetes that I should be having test strips as I am on Glicazide 80mg x2 twice a day - Metformin 500mg x2 twice a day - pioglitazone 15mg once a day. Has anyone else had this from there area. have been told by G.P that I should be looking at buying these

Hello Peter, and welcome to the forum. I live just down the road from you. When I was diagnosed I was told I wouldn't get strips unless I was on insulin or Glicazides. I would go back to your GP and point out that you are at risk if hypos thanks to the Glicazides.
I have no personal experience of GPs within the city limits but know there is a GP out here in the sticks who specialises in diabetes.

 

[Dot]

strips

I have lived in East Midland for a number of years and during that time was issued with testing strips on my prescription. I recently moved to Brighton and registered with a G.P and have been told that testing strips are not issued to people on Tablets for there diabetes. I was told if I was on insulin I would be able to get them. I have been told by the practice nurse with deals with diabetes that I should be having test strips as I am on Glicazide 80mg x2 twice a day - Metformin 500mg x2 twice a day - pioglitazone 15mg once a day. Has anyone else had this from there area. have been told by G.P that I should be looking at buying these

I have never had a problem with getting strips , but try going to Accu-chek avviva, may get them free allsorts on there.