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Rationing test strips
- Thread starter sue shaw
- Start date
- Status
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Sue, welcome to the forum 🙂 Do you see a consultant and DSN as well as your GP for your diabetes? If so, get them to write to the GP stating that, as an insulin user, there should be no restriction on blood testing strips. As you rightly point out, you need to be able to test for driving, as well as the myriad other reasons. These blanket restrictions really ought to be given more thought. If you only see your GP, then make an appointment to explain all the reasons a T1 needs to be able to test - I imagine it will be an eye-opener for him/her. Even my GP, who is very good, was surprised when I explained to her all the valid reasons for testing.
Hope you succeed in getting the restriction lifted! If there is any other way we can help, please let us know.
Hope you succeed in getting the restriction lifted! If there is any other way we can help, please let us know.
Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi sue. Welcome🙂
Could you also copy the letter/email to your PCT so that they're aware of the restriction, which may be imposed solely by the GP without their knowledge.
Sadly, DUK don't seem to be terribly helpful on the subject. The last time I searched about there was a recommendation to test up to 4 times a day or more if really needed.
There's a real discrepancy between the idealist view and the reality of living with diabetes.
Good luck.🙂
Rob
Could you also copy the letter/email to your PCT so that they're aware of the restriction, which may be imposed solely by the GP without their knowledge.
Sadly, DUK don't seem to be terribly helpful on the subject. The last time I searched about there was a recommendation to test up to 4 times a day or more if really needed.
There's a real discrepancy between the idealist view and the reality of living with diabetes.
Good luck.🙂
Rob
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Sue,
write a letter to the practice manager your GP and the PCT. Asking them when the rationing of tests strips came in.
Also ask for details of your GP's medical negligence ins as you would obviously be in need of it when you claim for loss of earnings, driving licence and your limbs and sight at a later date.
Also point out that the restriction of test strips means you have 2 choices eat or stay in all day as you can not drive due to the restriction or you can not eat as not enough strips to be able to adjust your insulin acording to carbs and and blood sugars. (assuming you are on MDI)
So bottom line is you starve or you are a prisoner in your own home. 😡
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
How many strips in a box? Assuming 50, then 3 x 50 is 150, which is 5 per day for a 30 day month. Might be just about enough, as some pre driving tests will also be associated with eating.
I must admit that I don't test before every single meal, especially if I have had a very routine period before eating, and did test before previous meal. But I do test every time I set off driving vehicle on public roads or tractor not on public roads.
I must admit that I don't test before every single meal, especially if I have had a very routine period before eating, and did test before previous meal. But I do test every time I set off driving vehicle on public roads or tractor not on public roads.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Blimey Copepod, I always tested before meals.
My pre-brekkie covered me for the drive to work, then lunch, then pre-drive home, then pre dinner then pre bed. My stress levels varied greatly from day to day and I knew that by my BGs.
On non-work days - or if I had to leave - for eg a hospital appt! then there would be more tests.
And of course if you happen to go hypo at all, that's at least 2 extra tests if not more if you don't happen nab it the first time you treat it. If you went hypo driving, there's at least 3 tests - ie, feel hypo, stop test, trat, re-test, wait 45 mins, re-test, continue journey.
If you happen to do rash things like exercise - then there's some more tests.
I'm by no means obsessive about testing either, I do want to stress that. Like today I got up latish about 10 am and had brekkie, one test, then didn't test again until 4pm. Just checking my meter tells me I did 58 tests in the last 7 days; 138 in the last 14; 278 in the last 30; 464 in the last 60 and 611 in the last 90 days.
So my average over 3 months is 8 tests a day. x 30 = 240 .......
My pre-brekkie covered me for the drive to work, then lunch, then pre-drive home, then pre dinner then pre bed. My stress levels varied greatly from day to day and I knew that by my BGs.
On non-work days - or if I had to leave - for eg a hospital appt! then there would be more tests.
And of course if you happen to go hypo at all, that's at least 2 extra tests if not more if you don't happen nab it the first time you treat it. If you went hypo driving, there's at least 3 tests - ie, feel hypo, stop test, trat, re-test, wait 45 mins, re-test, continue journey.
If you happen to do rash things like exercise - then there's some more tests.
I'm by no means obsessive about testing either, I do want to stress that. Like today I got up latish about 10 am and had brekkie, one test, then didn't test again until 4pm. Just checking my meter tells me I did 58 tests in the last 7 days; 138 in the last 14; 278 in the last 30; 464 in the last 60 and 611 in the last 90 days.
So my average over 3 months is 8 tests a day. x 30 = 240 .......
Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Sounds like my typical sort of usage too. I'm pleased when I can average 6 tests/day in a week but can do 10 without trying. I hate testing but also hate not knowing where I'm at. Especially with an unpredictable activity, such as chainsawing trees or cutting the grass. All potentially dangerous but with no legal requirements to test. But I consider them as part and parcel of everyday life and I'd need to buy extras if the NHS refused.
Sadly, the NHS don't always consider that we have varied and active lifestyles, whilst taking full responsibility for our care, which they insist upon. Sorry. Soapbox back in cupboard. 😱
Rob
Hi...soory to hear your gp's being such a blockhead! 😡 I had a bit of an inquisition some time ago by our practise 'dsn' 🙄 (specialist, yeah right...!!!) ...I wrote to my MP to ask her to raise thd issue on my behalf & ask the health secretary if it was now policy to ration consumables for type 1s. Bless her she did, and furthermord also wrote to the head of the local pct etc etc...and strangely enough, i'vd not been bullied about my test strip usage since receiving their suitably mollifying /apologetic responses. Definitely worth a go!! Best of luck. X
test strips
Thank you so much for all these helpful replies. I've written to my consultant and also to the Secretary of Health, so maybe that will help. My diabetic nurse did say in passing that the driving was a 'life-style choice' but when I asked her if she thought I should move house, she back-pedalled. However she did say I would have to get used to using fewer strips - I reckon I use about 8 a day also. I can't really see how, because we live in the country, and I have to get to work & back, shop and back, kids to appointments and back etc. My worry is that I can't afford to buy them. I'm a part-time TA and I hardly earn anything. And I think this may well be the shape of things to come. The national financial situation isn't getting any better. Diabetes takes up 10 per cent of the health budget and Diabetes UK say they are getting hundreds of people ringing them with this problem from all around the country. Some type 1 diabetics are being told to test just twice a day, and some just twice a week! Think of what that is going to mean to the NHS in long-term complications. I really think we have to get vocal about this issue and defend our right to test before it gets swept away.
Sue
Thank you so much for all these helpful replies. I've written to my consultant and also to the Secretary of Health, so maybe that will help. My diabetic nurse did say in passing that the driving was a 'life-style choice' but when I asked her if she thought I should move house, she back-pedalled. However she did say I would have to get used to using fewer strips - I reckon I use about 8 a day also. I can't really see how, because we live in the country, and I have to get to work & back, shop and back, kids to appointments and back etc. My worry is that I can't afford to buy them. I'm a part-time TA and I hardly earn anything. And I think this may well be the shape of things to come. The national financial situation isn't getting any better. Diabetes takes up 10 per cent of the health budget and Diabetes UK say they are getting hundreds of people ringing them with this problem from all around the country. Some type 1 diabetics are being told to test just twice a day, and some just twice a week! Think of what that is going to mean to the NHS in long-term complications. I really think we have to get vocal about this issue and defend our right to test before it gets swept away.
Sue
Well said Sue ! I have never had any probs getting strips but Gp is a T1. Some changes have to be made in NHS but long term effects ? If Labour had not spent money on primary care in our area (big glass buildings, hard to heat,lots of wasted space 😱
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