Just a few observations from me, a type 2 diet controlled member who tests as many times as Bubbsie per day (with very good effect in terms of demonstrable diabetic management) and who receives testing strips without question from my GP. I do accept however that I have other serious health conditions which may make the surgery more amenable to me because infection and diabetic control is inextricably linked. This issue applies to many of our members too which is why the fight needs to start individually with the GP surgery and CCG. I’ve read the guidelines and it doesn’t say that testing strips shouldn’t ever be provided simply that it shouldn’t be routinely done. So there’s room for manoeuvre.
I applaude Bubbsie’s passion for this issue because I suspect she’s fighting the tide on this. I can appreciate why she wouldn’t want to post her ‘challenge letter’ on here for strategic reasons as MBT has said. Stock letters lose their potency. Her offer is to help members affected on an individual basis and this seems to align with the views from DUK here that each case should be fought on its merit.
However, in terms of the greater fight, I’d also like to see DUK taking much less of a resigned, accepting position on this and finding a way to use the membership to demonstrate success in self monitoring. This site is full of spectacular successes which could form the basis for evidence and positive action.
I’m not unfamiliar with what seem like ‘unwinnable’ fights for medication and treatment with NICE. I’ve been involved in the political fight for Ibrutinib, a leukaemia drug denied initially to people like me. I also accept that they are evidence based but there seems little activity around presently to provide the evidence needed in this particular cause. That’s where campaigning organisations play a pivotal role.
By managing my diabetes successfully at home with very little clinical input, I save the surgery time, the cost of medication, the expense of dealing with complications and hopefully, avoid being a casualty and massive drain on the NHS of being yet another type 2 who was denied the opportunity to play a part in their own care. The present denial of home testing equipment (for those who want to do it), is paternalistic twaddle and NICE are simply hiding behind inadequate and outdated research. Pro-active and preventative measures are needed to stop the immense rising costs of diabetic care.
Rant over! 😡
