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Royally pissed off

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AlisonM

AlisonM

Much missed Moderator
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
I've just had my first meeting with a practice nurse at the new surgery and when I said I was testing about four times a day she said "Well you won't be doing that any more. You're diet controlled and it's a waste of money, those strips cost ?25 for 50." I heartily disagreed and got told "that's the way we do it here".

Needless to say I'll be strenuously debating that point in two weeks when I see the DSN. I doubt it'll get me anywhere though.

Can you see the steam coming out of my ears from there?
 
Alison, I'd be livid! I've seen the progress you've made, and it's obvious that you are using testing as an essential tool in your efforts to get your levels under control. Sounds like another person who thinks they know more about how to treat diabetes than the diabetic person themselves. Whilst this may be true of a lot of people, it's certainly not true of you!

Stand your ground - it's YOUR health, not theirs!😡
 
She also told to have as much carb as I want as it's "irrelevant" and that low fat/low sugar is more important. 😡
 
I hope you have better luck withthe DSN. I'd be pissed off with that too.
 
She sound like an idiot! She clearly has no idea about even the basics of diabetes
 
Hi Alison,
I think i'd find it quite hard not to tell them that it's my health and they can s*d off quite frankly! If you want test strips and you've bee using them already I think it's unfair that they can tell you your not allowed to test that much anymore especially if it helps you find out what different foods do to your sugar levels. It makes me really mad that type 2's have to fight to get test strips if they need them 😡.

I hope that the dsn doesn't agree with the pratice nurse and you can carry on with what you've been doing.

Emma
 
AlisonM said:
She also told to have as much carb as I want as it's "irrelevant" and that low fat/low sugar is more important. 😡
Click to expand...

You what....? :confused: what a numpty!
 
AlisonM said:
"those strips cost ?25 for 50."
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. Strips cost the NHS around ?13. If any health professional wants to debate this, tell them to look it up in the BNF.

Some useful resources for when you want to defend your strips:
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/joomla/diabetes-blogs/The-T2-You-dont-need-to-test-Myth.html
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/joomla/jennifers-advice
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/joomla/blood-glucose-testing


The first of those is a counter I wrote to the nonsensical "waste of time" claim. Its based on two studies from 2007 and 2008 which claim to prove that SMBG does not help A1c. They prove nothing of the sort and actually demonstrate quite clearly that dietary advice recommended by dietitians and nurses (as you got) does not help to lower A1c. I know that's not a surprise to you cos "base your meals on starchy carbohydrates" clearly isn't designed to lower A1c in the first place.

The second is Jennifer's Advice - a clear protocol for using SMBG effectively and logically - which is precisely what those studies didn't do. If you were to use it as a demonstration of how you are testing effectively then its hard to argue against.

The third is a general BG testing article which includes links to further resources.

Hope thats of some use to you. Good luck and give em.... er.... heck.
 
I hope you find the DSN more knowledgable. I think that if you can demonstate exactly how you are using the information from the testing then you should be allowed to have access to test strips. There is no point testing without using the information to make changes, so I think thats where some people are seen to be wasting the strips.
 
I'm going to take the relevant printouts with me to the appointment.
 
Alison - I'm livid on your behalf (not that it will do any good I know !). I feel like sending the boys round to duff her up for you - can an Old Age Pensionner (me) get an ASBO for incitement I wonder ?

Where do these nurses come from ? I hope you get better help when you do see your DSN.

Good luck
 
AlisonM said:
I'm going to take the relevant printouts with me to the appointment.
Click to expand...

Knowledge is power!

I honestly think they get some of these nurses from the zoo. It is not for your nurse to dictate to you the cost- in a way that implies you are guilty of being 'an expense'. I have come across this tone often and to be frank, I find it offensive.

get back in there girl, and give her the bloomin what for 😡 and keep your health as your top priority- which is what she should be doing.

*rant over*
 
Sugarbum said:
...I honestly think they get some of these nurses from the zoo. It is not for your nurse to dictate to you the cost- in a way that implies you are guilty of being 'an expense'. I have come across this tone often and to be frank, I find it offensive...
Click to expand...

That's an extremely good point Lou! And do these people think we ENJOY stabbing our fingers so many times? It's hardly a treat!😱
 
thats so stupid like northener said these so called PROFS think they know better then us who are actually living with our diabetes day in day out, hope the DSN shows there worth and it goes better for you Alison x
 
Just putting the test strips issue aside for one moment (and by that I'm not implying that it's not important), but I'm 😱 😱 at the advice she's given you re the carbs. I don't know much, but I'm pretty sure cutting down on carbs is fairly important.................

What a horrible attitude for someone in the 'caring' profession to have, on top of the ignorance.

xx
 
Thats ridiculous! And the difference in care is amazing - when I asked my practice nurse for a finger pricker she gave me one straightaway and said if you want more strips let me know and I'll do you a prescription......

and as for the carbs......well.......if you're gonna make a comment it would be nice to know that it was fair and correct!

Good luck with the DSN.
 
HelenP said:
Just putting the test strips issue aside for one moment (and by that I'm not implying that it's not important), but I'm 😱 😱 at the advice she's given you re the carbs. I don't know much, but I'm pretty sure cutting down on carbs is fairly important.................

What a horrible attitude for someone in the 'caring' profession to have, on top of the ignorance.

xx
Click to expand...
I told her I get higher and longer spikes from carbs than sugar. She didn't look as though she believed me. A little experimenting over the last couple of weeks has taught me that, and also shown me that my fastest spikes though come from artificial sweeteners. So I choose to cut out as much sugar as possible and keep my carb intake as low as I can too. It works for me.
 
Suggest that she looks at the University of Sydney GI Testing Service. They state that the GI of sucrose is 65. The GI of wholemeal bread from the UK is between 68 and 74 (variable by brand).

Or alternatively...
"look, muppet. I don't care what your ******* book says it SHOULD do. I've TRIED it and TESTED it with a meter and I know what it does to ME"


hmm I am surprised you get a rise out of artificial sweeteners tho, particularly since 94% of Splenda drops straight through without being absorbed and the remaining 6% passes out through the bladder unchanged.
 
why on earth do these people think we carb count and try to stick to low GI foods?
 
You what, my dear? You test yourself four times every day?!!!
We?ll put a stop to that right now, that?s really not our way!
I think you?ll find those strips you use cost us too much money ?
The doctor saw the price one day and came over all funny!

You must agree with me my dear, it?s really common sense,
You?re not on drugs, so it is an unnecessary expense!
What is the point of testing? Perhaps you like the pain?
I tried it once, believe you me, I won?t try that again!

You?re not a health professional dear, so take a tip from me,
Let us decide what?s best for you, I?m sure one day you?ll see,
Although you may succumb one day to losing sight or limb,
We?ll save the NHS some cash ? our budget will be trim!

Before you go, please don?t forget to eat with every meal
A lot of rice, or spuds, or bread ? don?t worry how you feel!
We?ll test your blood two times a year, so there?s no need to fuss,
Where would you diabetics be if it wasn?t for people like us?!!!

😱
 
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