Lancets and test strips changed..?

[curlygirl]

I had a text from the gp practice that said, in line with nhs england, the blood test strips, lancets and ketone test strips on my prescription had been changed to caresens ones. They have issued a new meter that matches. I do not want to use these as I was fine with the ones I had... fastclix lancets and the abbott strips that use the libre reader. I rang and explained that single use lancets that I have to manually jab in my finger are not as comfortable and quite honestly put me off using them and I would like to at least have the fastclix lancets even if they wouldn't change the test strips back. I also said that the test strips fit the reader so all in one meter. I was told that it was caresens ones or nothing. Does this mean that fastclix and abbott strips are no longer available at all... Has anyone else had this and is there a way to at least get the lancets to fit the device rather than the plastic individual ones that are uncomfortable to use. I am going to ring the diabetes nurse and see if she can help.

 

[trophywench]

Cost! - as far as Fastclix lancet drums are concerned, anyway. No idea whatever about the cost of test strips for the Libre reader, though that still is the only device I have ever had, that measures ketones, and we know ketone strips have always been silly prices.

 

[JimG]

Some issues, such as which services are used etc. are decided at a local level. Until 3 years ago this would have been the Clinical Commissioning Group. Now it would be the Integrated Care System. From what little experience I have of the intervention of the CCG in my stoma supplies, the issue was cost, echoing trophywench's comments. Would be interesting to see if others have the same experience of the stripes etc. to see if this is NHS wide or local to the ICS.

 

[rebrascora]

My official BG meter has always been a Caresens Dual as dictated by my clinic. I don't like it because it is useless in cold weather and the button batteries don't last very long at all unless I take the battery cover off and put it in my bra for a few minutes to warm it up and then it usually condescends to work. It wasted so may test strips because it cut out during the countdown to a reading after applying blood, that now I put it in my bra for a few minutes every time I need to use it, even in summer. I hope your experience of the Caresens is better than mine but do consider warming it up if it starts cutting out on your. I contacted the manufacturer a few years ago to complain and they sent out a replacement meter but it is just the same in needing to be warm to work.
I would much prefer to use my Libre reader as a BG meter because it is rechargeable and I always have it with me, but I couldn't get them prescribed and ended up buying some, but found they read much lower than my Caresens and even lower than my Libre sensor which is often about 1mmol lower than my Caresens, so I wasn't overly confident of the info they were giving me..... plus I didn't like that they were individually wrapped in foil instead of coming in a pot and found them hard to break open when I was hypo.

I know everyone raves about the Fastclix lancet, but when I bought one to try it, I personally didn't find it any better than my generic one that came with my box of lancets and since I only change my lancet once a year, I have enough in that box to never need to order more in this lifetime.... or possibly the next too!

 

[SB2015]

I was switched to an alternative test kit but it did not link to my pump so was of no use at the time as I had an accucheck combo which used the test kit as the handset for the pump. They switched me back.

I use the fastclix and, as I don’t change the needle until I notice that I should have done on the previous test, my box of cartridges lasts a very very long time. Still working my way through the first box after 5 years on this system. I also still have the box of lancets from my first test kit 17 years ago after a few weeks of use I switched to reusing the lancets and hardly made any inroads into the rather large box.

If you are not happy with the change it is well worth going back again and ask m to go back. I do know that the test kit I have is being discontinued but for the moment I am still able to get the test strips.

 

[LADABoy]

I had a text from the gp practice that said, in line with nhs england, the blood test strips, lancets and ketone test strips on my prescription had been changed to caresens ones. They have issued a new meter that matches. I do not want to use these as I was fine with the ones I had... fastclix lancets and the abbott strips that use the libre reader. I rang and explained that single use lancets that I have to manually jab in my finger are not as comfortable and quite honestly put me off using them and I would like to at least have the fastclix lancets even if they wouldn't change the test strips back. I also said that the test strips fit the reader so all in one meter. I was told that it was caresens ones or nothing. Does this mean that fastclix and abbott strips are no longer available at all... Has anyone else had this and is there a way to at least get the lancets to fit the device rather than the plastic individual ones that are uncomfortable to use. I am going to ring the diabetes nurse and see if she can help.

It might be worth having a chat with your diabetes nurse to see if they can ask your GP to prescribe the specific meter/strips/lancets.

As others have said, unfortunately these things can be decided by ICB’s at a local level due to cost, but I’ve been fortunate in that my GP tends to be quite lenient (and will typically prescribe what the diabetes clinic suggest!)

 

[casey jones]

My surgery tried to put me on cgm system test regime and was told my new system was waiting for me. I told them that I was very happy with my current system (accucheck mobile ,lancets and cassette) and I was allowed to keep them. My cassette of 50 tests cost around 10/11 pounds at my local Asda pharmacy so are cost effective. I test every day before food so cassette lasts for nearly 2 months.

 

[curlygirl]

Having contacted the diabetes nurses they are sending a letter asking that I continue to get the libre strips and fastclix lancet drums. There is no guarantee the g.p will put them back on the prescription. I have done what I can and if not get them back will have to use the new ones... would still buy more of the lancet drums though as the roche finger prickers are the ones I have used for over 20 years. I won't need to get any more drums for a while either way as the 6 lancets lasts quite a long time in my kit...

 

[trophywench]

@curlygirl - yep, I'm still using the meter that matched my Accu-Chek Combo pump, for whic the test strips are still on my GP's long list of repeat prescriptions and the Fastclix lancet device, test cassettes ditto. The important thing to me was and still is that the lancing device pointy end was length adjustable - mine is set at 0.5. Not ever so bad, considering me and my body have been playing this game for nearly 53 years!

 

[casey jones]

I use accucheck mobile meter system but unfortunately it is no longer available but can still get cassettes and fastclix lancets. My last post re cgm meter offer was a second attempt to change my test regime (surgery was being pushed by a Johnson and Johnson rep). I will only change my test regime when my cassettes are no longer available. If told they are taken of my prescription I will buy from Asda at about £10 or so per cassette of 50 tests which last me at least 30 days or so depending how many tests I do. The lancet device is excellent as you say, depth can be adjusted.