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Taken the plunge and another pharmacy gripe

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Northerner

Northerner

Admin (Retired)
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
After 5 years of using my trusty Accuchek Aviva I've switched to the Contour Next meter. So, obviously had some trepidation on going to collect my prescription today, but was pleasantly surprised to see that it had been correctly changed 🙂

However, as I was being given the items the pharmacist explained that they didn't have enough in stock so gave me an IOU for the remaining items (100 needles, box of lancets and 100 strips). Fair enough, but got home and the bag only contained 100 strips whereas I should get 300 in total, meaning I'm 100 down :( Expecting a bit of an argument tomorrow when I go to collect!
 
Did you actually see the prescription? It might be that the Dr took the opportunity of the change to only prescribed 200.
 
Thought it was mainly us type 2's that had strip problems :D

Might be worth checking with your GP in case they have changed the script to 200.

The next USB is a very good meter, if you only have one and normally use a spare, I found Bayer c/s to be good and they sent me a spare meter.

Don't forget to register your meter, to get your free mains charger and you can also order a free case in various designs. They also do some silicon cases which you can order, you will need 5 x (50 size) strip packet tops, there is a form to print and its free postage.

Also download the free full software from the Bayer website as it will allow yo to configure it better and allows you to combine several bayer meters into one profile if you want to.

My Accu Chek mobile meter arrived this morning (actually paid for this one) from Amazon, worked out cheaper buying the new meter than a new cartridge of strips as it comes with a 50 cartridge cassette. Now just to convince the doc to give me a script for the lancets and strips on top of the next usb strips.
 
Pattidevans said:
Did you actually see the prescription? It might be that the Dr took the opportunity of the change to only prescribed 200.
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My repeat has 300 of the new strips on it. I doubt if they would have tried to change it (couldn't see it properly without my glasses in the pharmacy!) given that they got a snotty letter from me the last time when they reduced my strips from 300 to 100 - quickly reinstated! I think it's more likely he read it as 200 rather than 300.
 
Have you kept half a pot of strips from your ole Aviva meter Alan?

When changing brands I usually find it helpful to get an idea of the general range of response(s) versus what I was used to. Comparing meter with meter is a fast route to madness... but I have found in the past that different meters have a general 'style' to the readings they offer, and it might be that you need to view results/tweak ratios etc with this in mind.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Have you kept half a pot of strips from your ole Aviva meter Alan?

When changing brands I usually find it helpful to get an idea of the general range of response(s) versus what I was used to. Comparing meter with meter is a fast route to madness... but I have found in the past that different meters have a general 'style' to the readings they offer, and it might be that you need to view results/tweak ratios etc with this in mind.
Click to expand...

Yes, I still have a pot left. I got some strips with the meter so have been comparing and they seem pretty similar so not expecting any shocks 🙂

Thanks for the info pav, will get it registered. The main reason I'm changing is because I can plug it into my laptop, whereas the aviva can only talk to my old desktop running XT, and with a temperamental infrared interface.
 
Once you have installed the full software, start it before plugging in the meter otherwise you might find the lite version thats installed on the meter fires up first. Though with the full app you will need to set up a user profile.

A sample report if this works is below, I have cropped it a bit to remove personal info.


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Out of interest why did you change meters?
 
My original meters were getting long in the tooth, and showed a big difference in reading although a control solution test showed them to be in acceptable range.

I also thought I would be on insulin (due to lack of info), looked around various meter options, bought a couple and Abbott sent the freestyle lite for free, a bit to small on the size. Bayer kindly sent me a couple of the next usb meter (ended up with 3 of them). which are the main meters. The next usb you can log carbs insulin and the times you taken them which then can be viewed in the reports and the meter.

Its small, but not too small display is brilliantly clear and shows results when high or low in different colour so easily pick up.

Trying out the Accu chek mobile as out and about on a bike which is ideal for this. Only things I have found the Accu Chek is the software on the meter is not up to the same standard as Bayer software. You can buy additional software for it. I do get some not enough blood sample errors when I thought I applied enough.

I found the next usb to be the best all round meter with the colour display, closely followed by the Accu Chek mobile. If I can I will try and get both systems on my repeat, though not holding up much chance of that, if I can't get both will keep the next usb as my meters.
 
NEVER leave pharmacy until you've opened paper bag, and checked the right things are there, the right number of packs and check use by dates if you get a large supply of things so that they won't be out of date by the time you use them (that nearly caught me out when I got 20 cartridges of Humalog, which lasts me about a year). If you hand back any worng items before leaving, they can be issued to someone else, but if you bring back, they will be destroyed, which is a bit of a waste, to put it mildly. Plus, counting in sight of pharmacist / assistant means there's no dispute.
 
Well, either they are reading this forum or they spotted the error themselves, because there was no argument when I told them I had been given 100 strips short. 🙂
 
Glad to hear that you got the strips. My pharmacy messed up the other month and I ended up with double the number of strips🙄
 
I bought the contour next in October last year when I wanted a meter and was told that I did not not need it. I love it and very carefully keep all the records as a print out from my laptop. The software is excellent and very easy. Being a trusting little soul at that time I took my reports with me when I next saw the DN. She took one look and said "Don't understand all this, don't bother with it you are being obsessive". So I just keep the records for my own interest now. Hope you enjoy your meter, I am very happy with mine 🙂 Glad you got your strips too.
 
happydog said:
I bought the contour next in October last year when I wanted a meter and was told that I did not not need it. I love it and very carefully keep all the records as a print out from my laptop. The software is excellent and very easy. Being a trusting little soul at that time I took my reports with me when I next saw the DN. She took one look and said "Don't understand all this, don't bother with it you are being obsessive". So I just keep the records for my own interest now. Hope you enjoy your meter, I am very happy with mine 🙂 Glad you got your strips too.
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Thanks happydog, good to hear such good reports about it. 🙂 And what a short-sighted DN. Perhaps next time you see her you can tell her how Sir David Nicholson, head of NHS England, is also 'obsessive' about testing...! 😉
 
pav said:
Don't forget to register your meter, to get your free mains charger and you can also order a free case in various designs. They also do some silicon cases which you can order, you will need 5 x (50 size) strip packet tops, there is a form to print and its free postage.
Click to expand...

Registered and downloaded the software with no problems, but when I tried to get to the free skins it sent me to a screen saying I needed to login...but I was logged in! :confused: Looks like a bug in the website to me! :(
 
Northerner said:
Registered and downloaded the software with no problems, but when I tried to get to the free skins it sent me to a screen saying I needed to login...but I was logged in! :confused: Looks like a bug in the website to me! :(
Click to expand...


Some parts of the site do appear to require double logging in, or on some parts the is another link to click if you are already signed in.
 
pav said:
Some parts of the site do appear to require double logging in, or on some parts the is another link to click if you are already signed in.
Click to expand...

I sent them an email explaining the problem and they agreed that something was broken on the website. They've sent me form through the post which I've just posted back today! 🙂
 
Thats good news that there is a problem and they are going to fix the site, just printed of my extras form for the rubber cases for the next usb, if their usual service will be here in a few days. 🙂
 
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