Test Strip Limit?

[Tom M]

Hi all!

I'm Type 1 Diabetic, and I've just had a bit of a run in with my doctor.

I normally get a large quantity of test strips to last me about 3 months (400) so I don't have to keep going back. This matches up with all of my other paraphernalia like needles and insulin so I do a nice neat order 4 times a year to keep me going.

Anyway, my Diabetes nurse put me on a new meter so I had to go to my doctor in question to change my test strips. I requested the normal amount as per usual but when I went to go and collect my bits from the pharmacy the doctor has prescribed me 50 strips. I then arranged an appointment to question what was going on and he had limited my strips to 50 per month. No more. This works out as about 1.5 tests a day.

Dont know about you guys but I'm used to having to test at least 5 times a day, on a good day! Let alone hypos, driving etc etc.

This doctor is new to the surgery, seen him once before, but then again I seem to never see the same doctor more than once anyway. Frustrating!

50 a month seems a little ridiculous - Has anyone had similar? Does anyone know what the actual limit is for a Type 1?

Thanks in advance! xx

 

[Pumper_Sue]

400 test strips would last me 1 month not 3.
You need to contact the practice manager as a matter of urgency explain how and why you test an emphasise you are a type 1 on insulin not a type 2 diet controlled. Also contact your DSN and ask for intervention as well.
Do not waste the test strips from the old meter either use them up 1st.

There is no limit to the amount of test strips you can have either. That GP is endangering your life by restricting the test strips.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Tom, I had the same problem a few years back. I normally got 300 strips per prescription which, like you, more or less matched my other medications. I then received a letter from the surgery saying that I would be restricted to 100 strips per prescription. I wrote a letter to the Practice Manager describing all the situations where I needed to test (I test about 6-8 times a day), in order to stay safe and comply with laws like DVLA requirements. I also pointed out that it costs the NHS more to limit strips per prescription since payments are made to pharmacies per scrips, doctors need to prepare and sign the scripts etc. 50 strips for someone on insulin shows a complete lack of understanding of a patient on insulin. My full 300 strips were immediately reinstated. My suspicion was that this letter was issued to all diabetic patients, regardless of type or treatment regime and then they responded to those who complained.

The government issued a letter to all surgeries some time ago to inform them that test strips should not be restricted to someone using insulin, details here:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/migration/pdf/1092C_Test_strips_advocacy%20report_WEB.pdf

 

[Tom M]

Hey guys!

Thanks for the info! Yes, I thought 400 for about 3 months wasn't a large amount. He was quite rude actually, he told me that he's got 150 odd Type 1's at the surgery and none of them demand as much as me. He then went on to say that my HBA1c's haven't been great recently so instead of focusing on test strips, maybe I should focus on controlling my blood sugar better. I was livid! I politely told him that he'd just lost a patient and walked out.

Sue thanks for the advice, I think I'll go and see my doctor at the hospital and potentially lodge a formal complaint. I'm changing practices so it's pointless wasting any more time on this one! It's good to know that people use the same, if not more strips than me. And yes, I'm still using using up the old ones, I've only got enough new ones for about a week anyway!!

Thanks for the info Northerner, I'l use this advice when meeting with my hospital team. xx

 

[Northerner]

Good luck Tom, let us know how you get on 🙂 I would very much doubt that the doctor has 150 Type 1s at the surgery - it's pretty rare in the population (only about 400,000 out of 65 million people, which is about 0.62%) so most GPs rarely even encounter a single Type 1. If it's true then someone should do some research as to why there are so many Type 1s in such a small catchment area! 😱 😉

 

[Bruce Stephens]

If it helps, I happened to read the NICE guidelines a week or two ago, and that recommends at least 4 tests a day. Normally up to 10 a day, but with some exceptions for more than that. Here it is: managing type 1 diabetes in adults.

 

[New-journey]

I had same problem as you as yesterday I was told I had asked for my 150 strips too soon, apparently I am only allowed them every month. I use about 50 a week and can be more with driving and being ill. I am going back now and hope they are there or I have no strips for the weekend and doing a long drive today. I just don't need this battle!
Good luck with your testing strips.

 

[New-journey]

Hey guys!

Thanks for the info! Yes, I thought 400 for about 3 months wasn't a large amount. He was quite rude actually, he told me that he's got 150 odd Type 1's at the surgery and none of them demand as much as me. He then went on to say that my HBA1c's haven't been great recently so instead of focusing on test strips, maybe I should focus on controlling my blood sugar better. I was livid! I politely told him that he'd just lost a patient and walked out.

Sue thanks for the advice, I think I'll go and see my doctor at the hospital and potentially lodge a formal complaint. I'm changing practices so it's pointless wasting any more time on this one! It's good to know that people use the same, if not more strips than me. And yes, I'm still using using up the old ones, I've only got enough new ones for about a week anyway!!

Thanks for the info Northerner, I'l use this advice when meeting with my hospital team. xx

It does seem he is a little confused. Surely controlling blood sugar better means testing more so you can see which foods spike you and how much insulin you need. Crazy! I wish you more luck with your doctor at the hospital.

 

[Northerner]

I had same problem as you as yesterday I was told I had asked for my 150 strips too soon, apparently I am only allowed them every month. I use about 50 a week and can be more with driving and being ill. I am going back now and hope they are there or I have no strips for the weekend and doing a long drive today. I just don't need this battle!
Good luck with your testing strips.

They HAVE to provide you with sufficient test strips, @New-journey ! They cannot restrict you to some arbitrary number, and hard luck if you run out 😡 Read the link I provided earlier. It would cost the NHS far more if you have more serious issues because you were unable to test, and you MUST test before driving.

 

[New-journey]

Hi all!

I'm Type 1 Diabetic, and I've just had a bit of a run in with my doctor.

I normally get a large quantity of test strips to last me about 3 months (400) so I don't have to keep going back. This matches up with all of my other paraphernalia like needles and insulin so I do a nice neat order 4 times a year to keep me going.

Anyway, my Diabetes nurse put me on a new meter so I had to go to my doctor in question to change my test strips. I requested the normal amount as per usual but when I went to go and collect my bits from the pharmacy the doctor has prescribed me 50 strips. I then arranged an appointment to question what was going on and he had limited my strips to 50 per month. No more. This works out as about 1.5 tests a day.

Dont know about you guys but I'm used to having to test at least 5 times a day, on a good day! Let alone hypos, driving etc etc.

This doctor is new to the surgery, seen him once before, but then again I seem to never see the same doctor more than once anyway. Frustrating!

50 a month seems a little ridiculous - Has anyone had similar? Does anyone know what the actual limit is for a Type 1?

Thanks in advance! xx

You are not in Somerset are you? We have all had to change our meter and now restriction on testing strips!

 

[New-journey]

They HAVE to provide you with sufficient test strips, @New-journey ! They cannot restrict you to some arbitrary number, and hard luck if you run out 😡 Read the link I provided earlier. It would cost the NHS far more if you have more serious issues because you were unable to test, and you MUST test before driving.

Yes, letter of complaint wil be there on Monday quoting your link. I am going back now and will be very very assertive, not leaving without them. Thanks.

 

[grainger]

My hospital wrote to my doctors when they originally tried to restrict the number. Now I get 300 a month without issue. Just occasionally they decide to remove things of my prescription list without telling me but generally a phone call or two and it gets sorted.

Good luck @Tom M and @New-journey - hope it gets sorted soon.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

If it helps, I happened to read the NICE guidelines a week or two ago, and that recommends at least 4 tests a day. Normally up to 10 a day, but with some exceptions for more than that. Here it is: managing type 1 diabetes in adults.

Your Dr really needs to read the detail behind the National guidance @Tom M!

I was one of the patient reps on the guideline development group, and a comprehensive new cost-effective analysis was undertaken which modelled strip cost, outcomes and likelihood of developing (or avoiding) complications for an ‘average’ T1 person over their lifetime (both using strips and also evaluating CGM).

Essentially, anything less than 4x a day ended up costing the NHS more money as in general higher strip use associated with better outcomes and fewer expensive complications. 1.5 BG strips a day is nothing like enough for a T1 using intensive insulin therapy, let alone to comply with DVLA guidance.

 

[New-journey]

Yes, letter of complaint wil be there on Monday quoting your link. I am going back now and will be very very assertive, not leaving without them. Thanks.

Back with my 150 and will complain! Not going through this stress again.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

You would want at least 4 a day even if you were lucky enough to obtain a libre on the nhs.

 

[pav]

So far I have been lucky even being a type 2, with hypo causing meds. I get a repeat of 200 strips which can last me between a month and two months, all depending on how much driving I do and how often I go out. I have had to change meters with the new practice and the qty was left unchanged. For me the new meter is better than the old one so I did not mind changing.

 

[SB2015]

I had a call from my Practice telling me that they were switching all people with Diabetes over to the same meter which had cheaper strips. I explained that this was not possible since my meter is linked with my pump, and that others may we’ll be using a smart meter which has a bolus calculator. The Practice decided that they would not bother to phone any more of the T1s and leave them on their chosen meters.

I haev no limit on my strips, and get 500each time and then just order as soon as I start my last pot. The time may vary. I have just spotted that my last orde was Oct so they are lasting well, but I certainly wouldn’t manage on 100 for three months.

 

[SB2015]

You are not in Somerset are you? We have all had to change our meter and now restriction on testing strips!

Does the meter you have been provided with have a bolus calculator on? If not you could ask to be transferred back to your other meter. The CCG give a general guideline but each GP or Practice can make appropriate exceptions.

 

[Grogg1]

I am appalled that they are restricting T1 strips. I am T2 and one of the lucky ones that my surgery gave me a meter upon diagnosis and because I did so well in my first 3 months in getting my hb1ac down the DN put a note on my records saying controlling by diet and regular testing so I can have strips on repeat. I've never tested how many strips they will give me so just order 50 per month. My finger pricker broke so I called surgery to see if they had one I could have and they just handed me a new meter and said they had updated my records for strips and added them to repeat (I went from contour TS to Contour black). 50 strips a month isn't enough so I bought the code free and buy 250 strips at a time as they only work out at £6 for 50. I think I'm scared of ordering more than 50 every month in case they decide it's too expensive to provide to T2 so I'm happy to buy my own supply too. I test a min of 4 times a day.