Reusing disposable needles and cutting test strips in half

[AJLang]

I've written the above heading because I can understand frustrations about whether Libre will or will not be available on prescription. When disposable needles were first available (when I was a child using heavy duty industrial needles) we weren't allowed disposable needles on prescription, then when did get them the advice was to use each one several times. Then when BM blood testing strips were available (a MUCH cruder of measurement then modern testing strips) we were advised to cut each strip in half to save costs. So although I'm frustrated about Libre it's interesting to see how it may be following similar pattern to other diabetic items in the past which are for Type 1 diabetics relatively easily available.

 

[Matt Cycle]

I remember it well. Yes, my DSN told me to cut BM strips in half to save costs even though they were on prescription. This seems to have been common advice. I occasionally cut them into thirds! I continued doing that all the time I used them well into the 90's. I always re-used my disposable syringes again on the advice of the DSN and continued doing so all the way up to 2006. I started using pen needles in 1987 and as these weren't put on prescription until 1991/2 again they were always re-used. I still re-used them when they were put on prescription.

Not sure you can do much to save money with the Libre - the diabetic community coming together as one with those in prescribing areas forwarding their sensors on to those who don't get them? The CCGs in non prescribing areas then seeing the benefits and we all then get them on prescription. 🙄

 

[trophywench]

Matt - we can't do that! - our D clinic will need to download our results! Like when pumps were newly released into the wild, and still with new pump users, ongoing once you've got used to using it - any D clinic will always want to see what use we are making of the expensive kit - I'm darn sure the CCGs won't continue to fund whatever as infinitum, without ongoing proof being available 'on demand' that we're making proper use of it.

Every time your pump comes up for renewal, your consultant has to sign to say he recommends continuance so unless you've been giving him/the clinic evidence that you are, why would he sign to say that?

 

[grovesy]

I've written the above heading because I can understand frustrations about whether Libre will or will not be available on prescription. When disposable needles were first available (when I was a child using heavy duty industrial needles) we weren't allowed disposable needles on prescription, then when did get them the advice was to use each one several times. Then when BM blood testing strips were available (a MUCH cruder of measurement then modern testing strips) we were advised to cut each strip in half to save costs. So although I'm frustrated about Libre it's interesting to see how it may be following similar pattern to other diabetic items in the past which are for Type 1 diabetics relatively easily available.

I met someone who told me her grandparents bought disposable needles before they became available on prescription.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Thought I was reading a how to survive in prison manual. Cutting matches in three, from a blade taken out of a bic razor. Come along way since those days. As has prison they have toilets now not buckets and I think they have banned smoking. Isn’t it strange how things progress. You never know something will be invented soon for our pocket computers (phones). An app that will read blood sugar. I read somewhere that there was a more advanced computer in a PS3 ( that’s when I read it pre- PS4). Than was aboard Apollo 11.

 

[trophywench]

Pete had a PC in the 1990s that had more capacity than the one in the original moon landings - nobody understood why he wanted one with that amount of memory at the time - he was a self employed printer and needed it 'for everything' for work - although accounts were done longhand of course - it's graphics really that take up a lot of space, rather than Text.