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To test, or...

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macabee

macabee

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Probably a most asked question, as a newly diagnosed T2, when I first saw my GP, I did ask him should I self test, he replied not necessary as I would be tested in the diabetic clinic, with what I gather to be the HbA1c test.

Having read posts regarding this issue, most posters would reply yes go for self testing, well do I go out and by a meter, if so which one? which has the best after sales service and warranty? do I ask for one on prescription? will I get one [I live in East Sussex]?
 
Hi Macabee

Welcome to the forums. As you have probably gathered the answers will depend on the attitude of your GP, and sometimes your PCT too.

Most GPs seem to say self-testing is not necessary, but for people trying to actively manage their D this makes no sense. An A1c will give a general idea of average BG over 3 months, but it wont give any detailed information as to what food causes what, or even which times of day are better or worse than others.

Some enlightened GPs support SMBG, others can be persuaded. Some budget-fixated ones though cannot.

Self funding, even if only for a short period to get a picture of your own D can then become necessary. Some strips are cheaper to buy than others, so that can be a factor if you go the self-fund route, but I'd try arguing for a period on prescription first.
 
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Macabee - I'd say the key factor isn't so much which meter you have, as strips all cost about the same, but how you use it. If you have to buy your own, then there are suppliers that are cheaper than chemists shops, usually via internet.
GPs are more likely to be willing to prescribe strips if you use testing to gain knowledge to manage your condition better - which often means more intense testing in the early days of getting to know how varioust foods and activities affect you, then reducing tests just to confirm situation hasn't changed, and to manage unusual situations such as illness.
 
Hi Macabee
I have a spare brand new, unopened Freestyle Lite blood monitor that you are more than welcome to have. If you would like it just pm me your address and i will get it posted straight off to you.
 
casey said:
Hi Macabee
I have a spare brand new, unopened Freestyle Lite blood monitor that you are more than welcome to have. If you would like it just pm me your address and i will get it posted straight off to you.
Click to expand...

Hi Casey

That is extremely generous and kind of you, but I have just ordered a monitor from Bayer.

I have decided that I must be the master of my condition, to monitor and manage it myself, I will need to know what I can eat and when, it would appear that to achieve this, I have to self monitor.

But thanks again.

Regards
 
Hi Macabee, i'm pleased you have got a monitor on order. You are definately doing the right thing by testing, how on earth are you supposed to know which foods you can or cannot eat otherwise.
I used the Bayer Contour and was very happy with it, only changed to Freestyle Lite recently because it is much smaller to fit into my handbag.
Happy testing, i hope it goes well for you.
 
First test

The meter arrived this morning [Bayer Contour] had my lunch and waited about two hours, so here goes, after four lancets and two test strips later, I finally had my reading 6.8, quite pleased with that result [I think].

I am keeping a log of what I am eating, to ascertain what if anything will give me a spike, next week the dietician/diabetic clinic for bloods and pee testing. I shall be requesting a prescription for lancets and strips, but I am not holding my breath.

So far so good, I have also started reading Gretchen Beckers book 'The first year'

Cheers
 
macabee said:
The meter arrived this morning [Bayer Contour] had my lunch and waited about two hours, so here goes, after four lancets and two test strips later, I finally had my reading 6.8, quite pleased with that result [I think].

I am keeping a log of what I am eating, to ascertain what if anything will give me a spike, next week the dietician/diabetic clinic for bloods and pee testing. I shall be requesting a prescription for lancets and strips, but I am not holding my breath.

So far so good, I have also started reading Gretchen Beckers book 'The first year'

Cheers
Click to expand...

Good stuff 🙂 I'd suggest you read Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and also (for good grounding!) Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S if you haven't already. These will give you a very good idea of how to use those precious strips to best advantage and hopefully you will be able to show your results and newly-gained knowledge to your GP and get some strips on prescription! 🙂
 
I don't know if this will help anyone but this is how I got my practice to issue me with test strips.

Soon after first diagnosis I bought an Aviva Nano and found it very useful for working out what was going on. I told the doctor this but he basically said "good for you, but NICE are saying it's not necessary to self-test and the strips are very expensive" so I didn't push it there and then.

I spoke to the healthcare nurse and she said I need to get the exact name of the strips then ask again. Well I normally fill out an online prescription form to get my meds (every month) so all I did was add a request for a month's supply of the strips and they appeared on the repeat prescription form when I picked it all up, including two boxes of 50 strips. Bingo! So I did the same for the lancets, which I don't use hardly as many of, and that worked too.

My surgery will only issue one month's worth of anything at a time which is a proper bind sometimes but even if I don't need more strips I always ask for them as I don't know how long it will last in the future.

Seems a bit daft to only give a month's worth of metformin, it's not like the diabetes is going to go away after 30 days.
 
Unfortunately the Bayer Contour has expensive strips and the manufacturers won't sell them direct.

However, you can get a free Caresens n meter here http://www.caresens.co.uk/ from Spirit Healthcare and you can buy the strips direct from the manufacturer for I think ?12.75 per 50 which is half the cost of the Bayer strips.

I feel so sorry for the T2s who's Drs are reluctant to help them manage their condition appropriately.
 
Petrolatum [petroleum jelly]

I have always found that petroleum jelly 'Vaseline' very good for healing minor cuts etc.

So after a couple of days of testing and finding my fingers a bit dry, I have smeared a bit of Vaseline on my fingers particularly over 'stab' sites they feel a lot better.

I would be interested in any comments, on the use of Vaseline, good, bad, or indifferent.

As you have gathered I am on a learning curve.

Cheers
 
Pattidevans said:
Unfortunately the Bayer Contour has expensive strips and the manufacturers won't sell them direct.

However, you can get a free Caresens n meter here http://www.caresens.co.uk/ from Spirit Healthcare and you can buy the strips direct from the manufacturer for I think ?12.75 per 50 which is half the cost of the Bayer strips.

I feel so sorry for the T2s who's Drs are reluctant to help them manage their condition appropriately.
Click to expand...

Haven't seen a review of this meter, does anyone use it? I tried the GlucoRX Nexus Meter (http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=18200&highlight=test+strip) and decided it read high but the test strips are cheaper. If you stick to a main-stream meter, like the contour, you can get the strips for around ?10 per 50 from ebay.
 
macabee said:
I have always found that petroleum jelly 'Vaseline' very good for healing minor cuts etc.

So after a couple of days of testing and finding my fingers a bit dry, I have smeared a bit of Vaseline on my fingers particularly over 'stab' sites they feel a lot better.

I would be interested in any comments, on the use of Vaseline, good, bad, or indifferent.

As you have gathered I am on a learning curve.

Cheers
Click to expand...

I'm very keen on using petroleum jelly (supermarket or chemist own brand, as I'm stingy!) on grazes and minor cuts, as it stops hard itchy scabs forming. Never had dry fingers due to finger prick tests, but sounds a very sensible solution. For dry skin on my hands and feet, I tend to use any regular handcream.
 
Hi Macabee

I'm also a newbie to type 2, like you I went for the contour too. I am going to ask my doctor if he will prescibe me the strips (not holding out much hope though). If not I'll be buying them anyway; In using them the last week, I've learned so much already.

My fingers have been getting sore, thanks for the tip, I'll try the vaseline!!

Cheers
Graeme
 
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