Royally pissed off

[sofaraway]

Genius Northener!

 

[AlisonM]

Love it!😎

 

[HelenP]

:-D Good one, Northerner.

xx

 

[Sebstar]

I succumbed and had some chocolate and I spiked at 6.0 and porridge makes me go into double figures how would I know that if I didn't test. I have been told not to test because I'm diet controlled but I would have been eating a lot more carbs if I didn't test. When I see my DSN in a couple of weeks I am going to try and get the strips prescribed. Surely it's just as important to test when you're diet controlled as when you are on medication. Having said that I am not sure what the reasons are for testing when you are on medication I still have a lot to learn.

 

[Sebstar]

By the way good poem Northerner 😛

 

[Northerner]

I succumbed and had some chocolate and I spiked at 6.0 and porridge makes me go into double figures how would I know that if I didn't test. I have been told not to test because I'm diet controlled but I would have been eating a lot more carbs if I didn't test. When I see my DSN in a couple of weeks I am going to try and get the strips prescribed. Surely it's just as important to test when you're diet controlled as when you are on medication. Having said that I am not sure what the reasons are for testing when you are on medication I still have a lot to learn.

I would say every diabetic has this same reason for testing - to find out how you are affected by food. For insulin users and certain pills (sulfonylureas?) there is a possibility of going low, so you have to test before driving or if you feel low, or to determine how much insulin to give for food or a correction. To me, they are all equally important reasons for testing and if people want to do it and use the information they should be provided with the facility.

 

[williammcd]

here was me thinking it was only my doc who was an idiot looks like this is going to be a very long year guys ,the nhs want to save money so they go after the easy targets, answer me this if they want to save money why dont they stop giving out methadone as a freebee there are more methadone users than diabetics ,ok rant over

 

[Northerner]

here was me thinking it was only my doc who was an idiot looks like this is going to be a very long year guys ,the nhs want to save money so they go after the easy targets, answer me this if they want to save money why dont they stop giving out methadone as a freebee there are more methadone users than diabetics ,ok rant over

I'm wondering what the relative costs are e.g. box of strips as opposed to metformin/gliclazide/insulin (and everything associated with its delivery!) if someone's control gets worse because they aren't allowed to test and end up on medication.

 

[Copepod]

I'm not arguing that drug abusers have any more call on NHS resources than people with diabetes, but a couple of points are relevent:
(1) methadone is a very cheap drug, although supervision in dispensing does add to costs - typical daily dose is 100mg, which costs about ?1.30.
(2) drug abusers tend to commit crimes to fund their drug intake (often around ?100 per day for illegal opioid drugs, such as heroin, for which methadone is a replacement), so giving cheap methadone is much cheaper than dealing with the effects of burglary etc.
(3) methadone is a liquid to drink, so there is no accompanying waste - needles etc - and injecting drug abusers are more likely to have blood borne infections than the general population.
(4) I'm pretty sure that in any defined human population there are more people with diabetes than people who get free methadone, although there may be a few urban areas or prisons where methadone users outnumber people with diabetes.

 

[HelenP]

I have been told not to test because I'm diet controlled

But, but, but..............HOW can one know HOW to control this disease with diet, if they don't know which things in their diet make their BG levels rise?? Surely you have to be aware of this to be able to know what things to cut out/cut down/eat lots of in order to maintain a good level?? It just seems kerazy to tell diabetics not to test!

WHY isn't there a 'national' policy for ALL diabetics?

xx

 

[Sebstar]

But, but, but..............HOW can one know HOW to control this disease with diet, if they don't know which things in their diet make their BG levels rise?? Surely you have to be aware of this to be able to know what things to cut out/cut down/eat lots of in order to maintain a good level?? It just seems kerazy to tell diabetics not to test!

WHY isn't there a 'national' policy for ALL diabetics?

xx

Exactly!!!!!!!

 

[am64]

well put helen ..its simple really...
when i ask my pratice nurse about it effecting the budget she said dont you worry about that..i must admit after a period of no testing and ending up in a terrible emotional state ...now i found the forum took advice..tested up to 6 x day to get the hang of what is going on with me...im back to testing 3x day morining(fasting) after lunch about 3pm and bed timeish...if i notice any werid stuff i test over the next few days more often..
We are all different and we We need to be flexible get to no our own body reactions...and feel enabled to take control of our own condition...MOST IMPORTANTLY we need test strips to do this!!!:mad

 

[cazscot]

I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and put on metformin. Sould I be asking my practice nurse for testing kit when I see her tomorrow? Testing has not been brought up yet...

 

[AlisonM]

I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and put on metformin. Sould I be asking my practice nurse for testing kit when I see her tomorrow? Testing has not been brought up yet...

I'd say yes, how can you know what progress you're making if you have to rely on 3 or 6 monthly tests at the surgery. Having the kit has enabled me to make huge strides in controlling my condition, purely because I can see what's happening.

Basically, we need to take control of the disease, not let anyone or anything else control us, not the practice nurse and definitely not the diabetes.

 

[RachelT]

Personally, i can just about see the logic of not providing me with test strips, my HbA1c is pretty low and i'm on Metformin, but denying diet controlled patients access is nuts! How can you know if your diet is controlling your blood sugar if you can't test it? I also reakon that it's a good idea for all diabetics to have a test kit around, just in case they decide to try something a bit different.
For your information Northerner, Metformin is 33p pence a pack, Gliclazide is 68p per pack and insulin 20 to 30 pounds per pack of five penfils.Pens are also around 20 to 30 pounds. A levemor flexpen box is around 40 pounds. But this might have gone up coz i only have an old BNF (they don't give us techs new freebies like doctors and pharmacists...booo). This might be the wholesaler price so you might have to add some money to pay the hard working pharmacy staff...sorry. Also the proce varies a bit from wholesaler to wholesaler, hospitals at least negoiate contracts as groups. It's baffling. What's even worse is i can't even buy the flipping things straight from the wholesalers! I asked, and our purchasing lady said i had to go through Superdrugs (my prescription provider of choice) and they'd charge me 25 quid like everybody else...
the rules governing pharmacies are changing (in ways i'm not sure i understand) so maybe one day...

 

[AlisonM]

If I was a year down the road and stabilised, I wouldn't be too bothered, but it's only been a month and in spite of making good progress I've still some way to go. I'm not happy and really hope the DSN has more sense. My bloody BGL is up to 10.7 tonight, I'm sure that's stress.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks Rachel, I guess the drugs are cheaper than regular testing, which would work out at about 75p-?1.50 a day (at ?13 a box), depending on number of tests.

I know they are cheaper on ebay if you have to buy them, and I can only assume this is because individuals who are prescribed them are selling them rather than using them themselves, which I admit I find morally wrong.

 

[am64]

I'd say yes, how can you know what progress you're making if you have to rely on 3 or 6 monthly tests at the surgery. Having the kit has enabled me to make huge strides in controlling my condition, purely because I can see what's happening.

Basically, we need to take control of the disease, not let anyone or anything else control us, not the practice nurse and definitely not the diabetes.

Thats the spirit Alison..you've moved along way for this XXX

 

[am64]

If I was a year down the road and stabilised, I wouldn't be too bothered, but it's only been a month and in spite of making good progress I've still some way to go. I'm not happy and really hope the DSN has more sense. My bloody BGL is up to 10.7 tonight, I'm sure that's stress.

I am a year down the road and i need my test strips more than ever!! but I am lucky.. very good GP

 

[AlisonM]

I am a year down the road and i need my test strips more than ever!! but I am lucky.. very good GP

Fair point. I guess I find it hard to see that far ahead at the moment. I'm focussed on one day at a time. If I try to look further than that I fall apart and start weeping all over the place.