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Meter changed by surgery

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casey jones

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Type 2
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Has any one been told their test meter is being changed to a contour one by their surgery without any consultation?
 
casey jones said:
Has any one been told their test meter is being changed to a contour one by their surgery without any consultation?
Click to expand...
What's your concern?
 
This is something that some surgeries seem to do from time to time - often it’s to do with the cost of the strips I think. Though some HCPs and manufacturers recommend that meters should really be changed every few years

Is it the Contour Blue? Several members here find that meter very effective, and seems to offer reliable and consistent results.

If you have specific concerns, or if the meter you currently use has specific functionality you need (eg a bolus calculator) you could book an appointment with your GP to explain, and ask to keep the one that works best for you.
 
casey jones said:
Has any one been told their test meter is being changed to a contour one by their surgery without any consultation?
Click to expand...
No, but I have had reusable insulin pens removed from the prescription list not to be replaced by any form of successor when no longer produced, without any consultation. I do have spares that become the main pen after a fault, but always replace so I have the emergency “spare.”
 
Martin.A said:
What's your concern?
Click to expand...
My concern is that a few years ago my surgery tried this but I found out Johnson and Johnson had negotiated a deal with my surgery to change meters to thears. I got this stopped. But now is history repeating itself. As far as I am concerned the doctors look after my meds but I control which system I use to test my blood.
 
I have also found out it is the Cheshire Wirral partnership who instigated this. Wirral is part of Merseyside and i do not wish them to have a say in my prescriptions.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
This is something that some surgeries seem to do from time to time - often it’s to do with the cost of the strips I think. Though some HCPs and manufacturers recommend that meters should really be changed every few years

Is it the Contour Blue? Several members here find that meter very effective, and seems to offer reliable and consistent results.

If you have specific concerns, or if the meter you currently use has specific functionality you need (eg a bolus calculator) you could book an appointment with your GP to explain, and ask to keep the one that works best for you.
Click to expand...
Yes it is but I currently use accucheck mobile and am quite happy with it hence no wish to change
 
casey jones said:
My concern is that a few years ago my surgery tried this but I found out Johnson and Johnson had negotiated a deal with my surgery to change meters to thears. I got this stopped. But now is history repeating itself. As far as I am concerned the doctors look after my meds but I control which system I use to test my blood.
Click to expand...
Many who are Type 2 and not on medication which has the potential to cause hypos do not get a monitor and strips prescribed and have to self fund so tend to choose those with the cheaper test strips unless they want an all singing and dancing monitor but generally find most are perfectly adequate for testing before and after meals to optimise their diet.
Testing is best done for a purpose, testing of meals, day to day, week to week progress, if you feel unwell so telling you something which you can take action.
 
casey jones said:
Yes it is but I currently use accucheck mobile and am quite happy with it hence no wish to change
Click to expand...

Ah! That may explain it. Accu-Chek Mobile was discontinued quite a few years ago (2022)

And while they are still saying they will continue to supply the cartridges, I’m not sure how long that will ultimately last as people’s Mobile meters gradually stop working?
 
casey jones said:
Has any one been told their test meter is being changed to a contour one by their surgery without any consultation?
Click to expand...
Is there a specific reason you can’t use the meter they’re changing it to? If there’s a specific reason then let them know what the issue is and see if there’s one on their list that meets your needs.
 
casey jones said:
As far as I am concerned the doctors look after my meds but I control which sy
Click to expand...
No you don’t, you can only choose within the meters offered. If there’s a specific function on your meter that you medically need then you should discuss that with them.
 
I wonder much the same about my AccuChek Aviva Combo meter, since I no longer have the reason that it's the only one that talks to my pump, and having known for a decade (or more) that the Roche test strips at £25-ish for 50 have long been regarded as 'ridiculously' expensive in comparison to other brands.
 
casey jones said:
I have also found out it is the Cheshire Wirral partnership who instigated this. Wirral is part of Merseyside and i do not wish them to have a say in my prescriptions.
Click to expand...
Hello, I feel your pain. I have cut backs on my healthcare. What. Do know is my DSN is interested in meters with a mini USB variant? (I’ve noticed they’ve used cable adaptors to PC for years.) They don’t look at the fact I also use a sensor. (Prescribed as a T1. The Endo looks at that device. Actually the history from the sensor on my phone.)
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Ah! That may explain it. Accu-Chek Mobile was discontinued quite a few years ago (2022)

And while they are still saying they will continue to supply the cartridges, I’m not sure how long that will ultimately last as people’s Mobile meters gradually stop working?
Click to expand...
That’s a sad affair. Because some functioning diabetics work in certain industries where “stowing away” or disposal of blood stained peripherals is inappropriate. The Mobile, counteracted this issue.
 
Satan’s little helper said:
That’s a sad affair. Because some functioning diabetics work in certain industries where “stowing away” or disposal of blood stained peripherals is inappropriate. The Mobile, counteracted this issue.
Click to expand...

Yes I'm not aware of another alternative which uses a cassette-type approach :(
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Yes I'm not aware of another alternative which uses a cassette-type approach :(
Click to expand...
Neither am I? But the forerunner of the Mobile had strips in a barrel like the bullets in a revolver. It spat them out to test then dropped the strips out when finished? The original “Mobile.” Then the stowaway blood soaked tape on a cassette. Genius.
 
I like the accucheck mobile because I prick finger then apply blood.
For those who have not used this the finger prick is in a 6 needle cartridge and does not require using a single pricker then a test strip as all this is contained on the meter making it easy to use. My prescription is for 204 needles in the 6 needle cartridge and test cassette is 50 tests and have no problems getting these since I started with this system since it was first introduced. This made life testing very simple. That is why it is my preferred choice for testing.
 
For info re my medication I am on 70/30 novomix injection 2 daily 32 units, dapagliflozen 10 mg. Was on 850mg met for min but recently stopped by doctor for another reason
 
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