Royally pissed off

[Emmal31]

Love northerner's poem 😉 really hope that it doesn't come to you having to buy them yourself.

Good luck and let us all know how you get on.

Emma x

 

[Northerner]

I came across this cartoon, which I thought was rather appropriate!!

 

[Steff]

bravo!never a true graphic spoken lolol

 

[AlisonM]

Darn! I just sprayed my tea all over the keyboard. Good one Northerner.

 

[C*5_Dodger]

We all know the score Why don't the "Professionals?"

Dear All,

I've only just seen this thread and I'd just like to add, I agree with you all. Why our Drs and Diabetes teams hold a different view I can't begin to imagine. Alison, I hope that all the ammo' provided in this thread enables you to convince your team that testing is essential - at least early on and even after that at a lower level.

Regards Dodger

 

[cazscot]

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.

Thanks Alison, Asked for the blood testing kit but was shot down in flames was told that it is policy now not to prescribe them to any Type 2's. As it can and I quote "do more harm than good, with patients getting obsessed with testing their levels". My dad is type 2 and gets his strips on repeat prescription so could use his if I really needed to...

But at least she changed my tablets to Glucophage SR due to my tummy problems...

 

[sofaraway]

I was reading an old copy of Balance from 2004 and this same issue was being discussed particulary in the letters page, other topics were don't assume all people with type 2 are overweight and side effects of statins. Seems 5 years on things might not have improved with regard to access to test strips.

I wouldn't sell my test strips on ebay, I once sent some to a lady from another forum because I changed meter.

I wonder where this obsession with testing thought comes from.

 

[AlisonM]

It's probably because of people like me who want to take control of their condition and want to use testing to do that. That leads to two possibilities. One, folk get upset when they see their numbers rise and depressed if they don't fall fast enough. I know I've worried over these few weeks that my numbers weren't falling quickly enough. Two, the professionals want to be the ones in charge and see self testing as a threat to that. That last isn't too likely.

I think there's an wrong assumption in the data collected, that the depression we suffer has anything to do with testing. It seems to me that when people are first diagnosed, they're already worried and depressed, that's part of the disease. Then comes the shock of diagnosis and a period of adjustment when everything is turned upside down, resulting in more depression. At the same time, we're naturally obsessed with testing because it's the only way we have to know what's going on.

It's natural for someone with a chronic condition to be obsessed with their condition. I suspect the professionals think that's a bad thing. I disagree, it can be a good thing if it's used to help mitigate the effects of the disease.

Of course it could just be down to them looking for a way to cut costs.

 

[Adrienne]

Hi

Sorry if this is repeated. Has anyone mentioned the type 2 NICE guidelines. I've just looked it up for you. It recommends :

RECOMMENDATIONS
R22 Offer self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes only
as an integral part of his or her self-management education. Discuss its purpose and agree how
it should be interpreted and acted upon.
R23 Self-monitoring of plasma glucose should be available:
 to those on insulin treatment
 to those on oral glucose lowering medications to provide information on hypoglycaemia
 to assess changes in glucose control resulting from medications and lifestyle changes
 to monitor changes during intercurrent illness
 to ensure safety during activities, including driving.
R24 Assess at least annually and in a structured way:
 self-monitoring skills
 the quality and appropriate frequency of testing
 the use made of the results obtained
 the impact on quality of life
 the continued benefit
 the equipment used.
R25 If self-monitoring is appropriate but blood glucose monitoring is unacceptable to the
individual, discuss the use of urine glucose monitoring.

The whole guidelines are :

http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG66FullGuideline0509.pdf

Basically it is saying that it should be offered to insulin dependant and ....roll of drums........ those on oral medication.

Good luck and go get 'em

 

[AlisonM]

Thanks Adrienne, it had been mentioned, but it can't be pointed out too often. It's a useful weapon in our fight for proper treatment.