Setback in getting my insulin changed

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robert@fm

robert@fm

Much missed member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I had an appointment to see a GP (not my usual one, but one I've previously found capable and helpful) on December 7th; I would have preferred to see the surgery DSN, but for some reason (probably configuration error) it's not possible to book nurse appointments online; only doctor appointments.

Amongst the issues I raised was the problem of getting a new sharps bin (and getting my full one disposed of), and changing my insulin prescription from Innolet pre-filled, disposable pens to NovoPen refillable pens and the cartridges those take. I have a good reason for this -- I only have the one fridge, in my bedroom, and it's tiny; it was only supposed to be for drinks (it just barely holds a single 2 litre bottle of Pepsi Max plus a few 150ml cans of full-sugar Coke in case I have a hypo, and not much else), my current prescription of 10 disposable pens takes up far too much room. I don't see what could be a problem with this, as I'm not asking for a change of insulin (I could still be on Insulatard with the new pen, and probably will be as it seems to work for me), just a change of form factor. (I wouldn't even need to change my needle prescription, as the NovoPen unsurprisingly takes the same ones as the two types of Innolet.) Also, I've already experienced a change of form factor, when I was in hospital for two months; they used a syringe rather than a pen, and even tried at least three times to get me to do it (I pointed out that I'd been trained to use a pen, and have no idea how to use a syringe). So I know from experience that the proposed change is unlikely to cause problems.

Despite this, the GP refused to make the change, saying that she would research the matter. I'd almost given up on this, and was on the point of emailing the DSN or practice manager, when I finally got an email yesterday (a fortnight to the day after the appointment, and too close to Christmas to do anything) saying that I "need" to book blood tests in January to get the change. 😡 (For a change in the type of pen, with the same type of insulin as always? What next -- an eyesight check to buy postage stamps?🙄) And I can't book a nurse appointment online anyway...

The same email also said that I should dispose of the full sharps bin by taking it to my pharmacy -- which I already tried, and they wouldn't take it.
 
What a shambles Robert! Why do you need blood tests in order to use a different device? Nonsense, and surely a waste of money! And the GP really should know what to do with sharps bins, you can't possibly be the only patient using one 🙄

I had a protracted and unnecessary fuss when changing my lantus pen from a 48 unit max/2 unit pen to a 24 unit max/single unit pen. There are four Autopen models on the market - two for levemir and two for lantus. It took me three attempts to get the surgery to issue me with the correct pen, despite the fact I had even included the PIP code on my request! 😡

I hope that you get everything sorted before too long, with no more prevarications! 🙂
 
i know exacley what you mean about the room they take up,im on the same pre-filled style pen.i was going to ask to have mine changed,not only because of space but i find every time i go to a chemist to collect it,theyve never got any in stock,only the seperate cartridges!then i have to wait another couple of days for them to order it.seems an unpopular choice in pen?i wonder if ill have as much trouble changing mine!?like you say,i realy cant understand the problem if its the same insulin!best of luck with that robert!😱
 
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Regarding sharps bins, ring your local council and ask to speak to someone in the clinical waste department. They should know how you should dispose of them. I ring the council when I need them to pick up and just put the bin outside the house on the appointed collection day.

The Dr does give me the empty ones, I just ask at Reception.
 
Have you tried a clipper for your needles?

A couple of people on my DAFNE course mentioned they didn't have sharp bins. They had a Clipper for needles and used accu check lancet drums.

The clippers cut off the needle and store it in the device the remaining bit of the needle can then be thrown away.

Haven't got one yet as I still have 1.5 sharp bins to fill but they did say you could get the clipper on prescription and each one lasts well over a year.


http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7002&id=7416
 
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martindt1606 said:
Have you tried a clipper for your needles?
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Sounds like a plan, but I would still need somewhere to dispose of my used test strips; although those aren't sharp, I've read somewhere (possibly on Lambeth Council's website) that they're still bio-hazardous waste and thus illegal to dispose of in the domestic waste stream...
 
robert@fm said:
Sounds like a plan, but I would still need somewhere to dispose of my used test strips; although those aren't sharp, I've read somewhere (possibly on Lambeth Council's website) that they're still bio-hazardous waste and thus illegal to dispose of in the domestic waste stream...
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Does this also apply to plasters with blood on & those little bits of cotton wool the nurse slaps after a blood test :confused:


Sarah 🙂
 
In the meantime, how about keeping only 1 (or 0) can of full sugar coke in fridge - it doesn't need to kept refridgerated for preservation, and as long as it's kept cool (not on top of radiator) it will be palatable enough.

Considering the relative amount of blood on a glucose test strip and a tampon or sanitary towel, I can't see the problem of placing both (not that a male is likely to have both!) in a plastic bag in regular waste stream - or placing in a public female toilet - obviously, you'd have to call before entering to ensure that there were no females present at the time, but it could work?
 
Rob test strips aren't considered a bio-hazard apart from there isn't enough blood on them but also their design means that the blood is suck in between the plastic so you really can't get into contact with it..

The old fashioned way of disposing on syringes etc, was you used a drinks can, dumped your syringes and lances in there, when full securely taped over the whole, or you use a plastic bottle securely tapping the lid back on then into the rubbish..

The council normally provide some form of collection service thanks to illegal drug users..

But there will be also private companies who deal with picking up bio-hazard waste from Hotels, Care homes, and public toilets because what is consider as normal household waste within a home is governed by waste regulations within a business/public environment! So if necessary you could always give these a phone, but it will involve a charge though

I once ran over the clipper I had with the car, didn't even scratch it let alone break it🙄
 
Copepod said:
Considering the relative amount of blood on a glucose test strip and a tampon or sanitary towel, I can't see the problem of placing both (not that a male is likely to have both!) in a plastic bag in regular waste stream
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Exactly my point 🙂

Sarah :D
 
I've always chucked my used test strips in the normal household waste (the ones that don't end up in my socks, that is! 😱)
 
Northerner said:
I've always chucked my used test strips in the normal household waste (the ones that don't end up in my socks, that is! 😱)
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They never fly in a straight line do they ? ! :D

My bin has a halo of them and the fireplace often has a smattering in front of it.🙄

They do burn if anyone has a tendency to arson and a safe place to set a small fire in a metal container. Or a fireplace, as in our case.🙂

Rob
 
Surprisingly, despite having a small fire and regularly experimenting with various wood offcuts from trees in our garden and from the park where I work, skips in nearby roads, and other items (wax coating from cheese being my latest trial) - I haven't tried burning blood glucose strips. But I reckon that landfill is actually more environmentally sound than incineration in a domestic fire!
 
Partial success

Although my prescription still hasn't been changed, on Thursday I saw the diabetes specialist GP and she gave me a one-off prescription for a NovoPen and five cartridges of Insulatard (half my usual prescription). I presume she wants to see how I get on with them before making the change.

What probably decided her was that I showed her a picture of my fridge. 😱

 
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Sounds a reasonable first step towards a (hopefully) permanent change in your repeat prescription.

Good idea to show a photo to GP - ideas of what a "small" fridge looks like vary, but there's no doubting a photo, especially with a scale object (2 litre Pepsi Max bottle)!
 
Decided to do a comparison pic of an Innolet pre-filled pen compared to a Penfill cartridge, also my new NovoPen and its case:

 
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