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testing strips

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R

rossie

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Well iwent for a checkup with my diabetic nurse as i was having trouble since the increase with metformin and eggs..i asked if she could test me as i thought that either the increase in metformin or eggs was upseting me and making me feel ill and also had tummy problems after taking both at breakfast after four hours......she said why should i test you what use is that as everything yo eat will be high and you have onl had diabetes for 15 months and you are in the early stages...its only when you get worse you need to test...I said surely its better to know what effects me and to avoid it now before i get worse...she said i didnt know what i was talking about.......i came out of there feeling really stupid and embarressed........I just thought that if i could test what made it really high i would avoid or cut the size down would help me....I shall never ask again....:(
 
Sorry to hear you've had such a poor response, but don't be put off. It's nothing to that nurse if your health deteriorates, but it's high priority to you! I'd suggest writing a letter to the GP practice manager, along the lines of:

Dear X, I have type 2 diabetes and am currently on xxx medication. I have been researching my condition and wish to be as proactive as possible in my own self-care in order to prevent complications occurring in the future. To that end, I would like to be prescribed a blood glucose meter and a supply of testing strips so that I can regularly monitor my blood sugar levels, and determine the effect on them of different foods and exercise. Please can you issue me with a prescription for these items?

If the answer is still no (hopefully it won't be), don't give up! Buy your own meter (?15-?20) and start doing a few tests and keeping a diary of results - then go back AGAIN to your GP and show them the usefulness of what you're doing. It's your health on the line, not that nurse's!
 
You were quite right Rossie, what you said made perfect sense. It does help to know how food and exercise affect you and the sooner the better, so that you can adjust your lifestyle according to the data you collect. I would write the letter Redkite has suggested and see what happens.

Failing that, as she also suggests, buy your own meter. You will find it a very useful tool.
 
thankyou

thank you redkite and allison...yes i will write that letter and thankyou for writing it for me...i go in there thinking yes iwill tell them but i get in there and they make you feel rally stupid, so i will write today....🙂
 
In my experience, it's often much easier to write down what you need to say when you're calm rather than try to express yourself clearly in a stressful situation, especially when the person you're talking to is not on your side. Let us know how it goes.
 
AlisonM said:
In my experience, it's often much easier to write down what you need to say when you're calm rather than try to express yourself clearly in a stressful situation, especially when the person you're talking to is not on your side. Let us know how it goes.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. Many's the time I've come out of a clinic consultation or a school meeting thinking "I should have said x". Especially when I'm getting cross or emotional! Much easier to write.....
 
Nothing much to add, except it might be a bit more pro-active if you suggested that you test, say 3 times a day for a month to start off, so you would ask for 100 strips for 3 months with a review at the end of that (maybe another HBA1c as well). There's nothing like talking as if you know what you are talking about (even if you don't, like your nurse).
 
How do these people get these jobs? I have nothing of any use to add rossie I just hope you get it sorted soon.
 
I'm sorry to hear you are having this problem. I have found that some practice nurses are really not up to speed, when it comes to dealing with diabetics and really don't understand the issues. If they won't give you a meter you might want to consider changing your practice, if that is possible where you live.

I'm type 2 and have always had a meter issued by the practice and test strips to as well. I feel I have been very lucky, in this respect, over the years.
 
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