Test strip worry

[Lauras87]

I'm getting a bit stressed, I'm down to 5.5 days of blood testing strips.

I only got issued some on Monday after having to borrow some from a friend.

I asked my gp last week to increase my 50 strips a month to 150 strips with no success, I showed them the letter northerner put on here & was met with a well the pct is cutting down on cost & you don't need to test (my record shows I'm a T2 not a T1, it's now been changed)

If my gp refuses once again, is there anything I can do or go to for help?

 

[Northerner]

Laura, I would contact Diabetes UK and see if they can direct you to some help as they having been running a campaign about this for a while now (hence the letter!). I would also get in touch with your DSN or consultant and get them to write to your GP. This is ludicrous to restrict anyone on insulin - you need these strips to manage your condition and stay safe.

 

[Lauras87]

My consultant often writes to my gp when they won't give me insulin (hence I'm trying to move gp's due to all the problems I have)

Ill give DUK a call as I'm going to have buy some if they won't give me any but they are nearly ?30 at boots.

It seems mad as my gp often puts notes on my B side saying that I don't need it (hypo stop, sharp bins etc) & to speak to them before requesting anything

 

[Northerner]

My consultant often writes to my gp when they won't give me insulin (hence I'm trying to move gp's due to all the problems I have)

Ill give DUK a call as I'm going to have buy some if they won't give me any but they are nearly ?30 at boots.

It seems mad as my gp often puts notes on my B side saying that I don't need it (hypo stop, sharp bins etc) & to speak to them before requesting anything

Sounds like your GP is mistakenly fixated on you being Type 2 Is there more than 1 GP at your practice? Might be worth asking for a prescription review so you can go through all your items and explain exactly why you need every item that's on there! If you do have to buy some then get a receipt and ask for the form for relief of VAT - you don't need to pay that. If it was me though, I'd be straight round to the GP and wouldn't leave until he/she understood what being Type 1 entails! 😡 This sort of thing infuriates me. My GP is excellent and I can have up to 350 strips per prescription - not that I use a lot, I average 6-7 tests a day.

 

[Lauras87]

My gp was diabetic but retired, since then I get passed about.
They've admitted they don't know enough about diabetes to do as I request!

My novo rapid has been name changed to another brand I don't use.

I'm thinking of going tomorrow am to ask to see the head gp but wondered if I spoke to DUK if they can give me anything to give to the gp (like medical points)

 

[Northerner]

My gp was diabetic but retired, since then I get passed about.
They've admitted they don't know enough about diabetes to do as I request!

My novo rapid has been name changed to another brand I don't use.

I'm thinking of going tomorrow am to ask to see the head gp but wondered if I spoke to DUK if they can give me anything to give to the gp (like medical points)

What??? Changed your insulin? To what, for goodness sake? Are you no longer getting novorapid?

There is NO excuse for not knowing what you need to care for your diabetes, especially if they have been contacted by your consultant. If you can't get any joy then a letter to the Practice Manager is in order - you might like to contact PALS http://www.pals.nhs.uk/ for some support if you encounter any resistance. Diabetes is hard enough to live with at times, without being messed about like this by people who don't really know what they are doing, why they are doing it, and what problems it causes!

 

[Lauras87]

If I ask for novo rapid, I get given a novo nordisk pen.

I have to ask for human pyr insulin to get given novo rapid - how that works god only knows.

I'm used to asking for x y z, not what they put me down for.

I've complained before & I seem to get no where.

I looked on NHS to see how many diabetic patients they have, think its like 6% but surely that's enough to know what we do?

 

[Northerner]

If I ask for novo rapid, I get given a novo nordisk pen.

I have to ask for human pyr insulin to get given novo rapid - how that works god only knows.

I'm used to asking for x y z, not what they put me down for.

I've complained before & I seem to get no where.

I looked on NHS to see how many diabetic patients they have, think its like 6% but surely that's enough to know what we do?

It doesn't really matter how many diabetic patients they have (they are most likely to be Type 2 anyway as Type 1 is relatively rare - you may be the only one!), as their patient they need to know about your treatment and requirements. If they don;t know or understand then they should find out so they can care for you correctly. I would definitely book a prescription review so you can establish exactly what they need to prescribe you on your repeat. Go to PALS if they are ignoring your complaints.

 

[Abi]

Here are guidelines for Leeds- couple of years old I think
It's bad enough that they ration strips but stopping insulin is inexcusable and I really think this needs to be taken further- possibly GMC
I hope they don't expect you to waste your time and energy attending their surgery for diabetes and medication review when they are refusing to adequately treat your condition in the first place

 

[Abi]

guidelines

sorry did not attach- try googling NHS Leeds blood glucose monitoring guidelines

 

[Lauras87]

sorry did not attach- try googling NHS Leeds blood glucose monitoring guidelines

Thank you abi.

 

[HOBIE]

Good luck sorting Gp out. Its not good enough 😱 If there is not many T1s at that surgery they sould have plenty ------- strips. 😎

 

[Lauras87]

Good luck sorting Gp out. Its not good enough 😱 If there is not many T1s at that surgery they sould have plenty ------- strips. 😎

It took me a minute to figure out what ---- was 🙄

I hope I can sort it as an angry/upset me (at 6 foot) is scary

 

[trophywench]

Don't stress about what it says on the scrip - some of the older computer systems show a description of THAT insulin/other drug but for Novorapid I would expect to see "insulin aspart (recombinant human insulin analogue)" rather than the brand name - because "isophane insulin (human, pyr)" is actually Actrapid (which they ONLY use in hospitals - intravenously) - OR it also applies to Insulatard (Novo Nordisk again) - which people do have, but you certainly don't want it..

Now I should imagine they are that thick and because you are saying both Novo and Rapid, they've decided it must therefore be Novo Nordisk's Actrapid, and then the pharmacist claps his hand to his head because he knows that isn't what you need or want, and even if it was right - he can't supply it !

Blithering idiots.

Look all you have to do is walk into the GP surgery of your choice (or ring em) and say you want to change to them. You could ask things like how many doctors, how many nurses - they are most unlikely to tell you how many diabetics but you can do your homework on the NHS website like you've already done on your current one)

What they usually do these days is make you an appt with a nurse and you fill in a form giving basic details (name, address, current surgery, current hospital etc all basic stuff) Then you have your appt and nusie does your medical history from your POV an dwill do all the baics - height, weight, BP - nothing at all difficult - to set up a basic working record. Only then will they apply for your records to be transferred but meanwhile as soon as you've done that first thing, you can go and see a doctor there - pref with the other half of a scrip with your repeats on it, and get that sorted out.

I believe it is actually illegal for a doctor or pharmacist to withold insulin from a person that needs it.

 

[Lauras87]

Ahhhh, the name change confused me & the chemist as they usually when the docs **** up, give me what I need until the correct script comes back.

I've been looking for a docs which have a diabetic clinic/trained nurse/doc as with my lot it's hard work explaining why I need hypo stop at the same time as novo rapid & a different gauge needle from what they've given you

 

[Northerner]

Ahhhh, the name change confused me & the chemist as they usually when the docs **** up, give me what I need until the correct script comes back.

I've been looking for a docs which have a diabetic clinic/trained nurse/doc as with my lot it's hard work explaining why I need hypo stop at the same time as novo rapid & a different gauge needle from what they've given you

I would steer clear of any practice nurse or 'GP with Special Interest' in diabetes, as they will most likely just be familiar with Type 2 unless you have a recommendation from someone. My GP is great, but leaves any diabetes-related problems to my consultant and DSN, which is a separate clinic. Really, you just want a GP who will give you what your consultant says you need!

 

[PattiEvans]

Regarding strips, firstly you should have a reasonable prescription as a person on insulin, but more than that, if you drive it is a LEGAL requirement that you test before driving and every 2 hours on a long trip or a series of short trips. This is set in stone by the DVLA and isn't negotiable and your GP should be aware of this. So 50 at a time is ridiculous. If your surgery argue, give them this link http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_202154.pdf Page 6 is the relevant page. If necessary print it out and give it to your Dr.

 

[Lauras87]

Regarding strips, firstly you should have a reasonable prescription as a person on insulin, but more than that, if you drive it is a LEGAL requirement that you test before driving and every 2 hours on a long trip or a series of short trips. This is set in stone by the DVLA and isn't negotiable and your GP should be aware of this. So 50 at a time is ridiculous. If your surgery argue, give them this link http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_202154.pdf Page 6 is the relevant page. If necessary print it out and give it to your Dr.

I do test in accordance with what the dvla states but I've not driven since I had surgery on my hand last year & given that insurance companies are unfair on insuring medical conditions, I'd rather not drive

 

[trophywench]

They don't load AT ALL for diabetes Laura.

If you have other issues, I can't comment. I passed my test in 1985 and I have never paid a single penny more than the standard premium.

 

[Barb]

Test strips

I'm getting a bit stressed, I'm down to 5.5 days of blood testing strips.

I only got issued some on Monday after having to borrow some from a friend.

I asked my gp last week to increase my 50 strips a month to 150 strips with no success, I showed them the letter northerner put on here & was met with a well the pct is cutting down on cost & you don't need to test (my record shows I'm a T2 not a T1, it's now been changed)

If my gp refuses once again, is there anything I can do or go to for help?

Know how frustrating this can be. I was always running out of test strips and asked my GP if I could increase my monthly amount. He informed me that test strips were not available on prescription and refused to accept my insistence that they were. Turned out he though I was type 2, I've only had type 1 for 35 years so perhaps his confusion was understandable. Finally agreed to a small increase with the proviso "well if you SAY you need them, I'll have to provide them". Ever feel you've got leprosy?