In the United Kingdom - not keen on bs testing...?
Blood sugar testing seems to be frowned upon by my doctor and the clinic nurse here and in general it seems in the U.K. Yet pharmacies sell bs testing kits. I can see from the posts that most people are from the U.S. Australia and other countries. The diabetic nurse was very disaproving when I suggested I test - so I havnt. But with most of you, you do test? any thoughts on this? I think I would feel safer testing as I could see what sends bs up and what down etc.
She seems to think and the doctor too, that it will make me too anxious! Seeing that I havnt been worried enough about it up to now, I think maybe a little anxiety might be a good thng?!!
She seems to think and the doctor too, that it will make me too anxious! Seeing that I havnt been worried enough about it up to now, I think maybe a little anxiety might be a good thng?!!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Peyton Elizabeth on -
So let me get this straight... diabetics don't test in the U.K.? How do you... well, do anything? Yes, a little bit of anxiety is definitely a good thing. If you're paying attention to it, you generally will have tighter control. I've only been diabetic for about 6 months now, and while I don't feel real anxiety over it, I'm pretty careful and conscious of what I do and my last a1c was 5.7. That would have been absolutely impossible without testing frequently.
I don't quite understand why a doctor or nurse would ever tell a diabetic not to test....
-
Permalink Reply by Kristy on -
You're pre-diabetic? I'm not really sure why it is like that but the doctors and nurses probably feel that checking your BS at this point is not as important as diet, exercise and weight loss to prevent your prediabetes from developing into full blown diabetes. By cutting back on carbs and following a healthy eating plan you should be able to control your BS and not need to test. Regular check-ups with your doctor will show if things are getting worse and if that happens I am sure they would instruct you to monitor your BS. In my own case, I wasn't instructed to test until my fasting BG was enough to be called full blown diabetes. However, it wouldn't hurt to montior occasionally just to get a baseline of your BS, then you can check to see how your diet and exercise impacts your readings. I think seeing an improvement would be a source of motivation!
-
Permalink Reply by Cathrynn on -
thanks very much everyone :).............not sure what an endo is? ... this is a gp practice - it does seem as if Kirsty is right about their approach. At diagnosis by bs was 9? and they said I could become undiabetic if I was careful with things? .. I know I do need to lose weight and in fact am doing so slowly. I have adopted a greyhound and walk her regularly, though she gets tired easily (!)....so about half an hour a day a bout. I have bought a monitor - just havnt been at all sure how to use it. I think I was also told by the pharmacist I would have to get strips from the doctor and as she hadnt been keen on testing, I think this put me off at first. Because of other problems in my life I havnt been to the clinic for a while but am going next Tuesday and will try to get clear on all this!
I do know I am lucky in that I get free treatment and testing here in the U.K. though - I have heard horrendous tales from a friend in New England...:(
-
Permalink Reply by saundra barragan on -
Hi Cathrynn,
My youngest daughter is considered prediabetic by her doctor and he has specifically asked her to test her blood sugars at the very least twice a day. She is wheat and gluten intolerant and fructose intolerant. We have to keep her on a very low carb diet. She becomes extremely hyperinsulinemic and her blood sugar crashs very badly when she gets any sugar or very many carbs. The same things happen to her when she crashs as they do to a diabetic when we hit a low.
I am sorry I do not understand why your doctor and nurse don't want you to test.
My uncle in England, a diabetic, gets his supplies and health visits free too, but only gets 4 test strips per month and only gets a visit to the doctor every 6 months. He has waited 15 months to see an opthalmologist. Maybe it is just the views or opinions of specific doctors.
I would suggest that you keep low carb and keep up your exercise. If you don't get to check your blood sugars, then those things should keep you as safe as you can get. Good luck to you.
-
Permalink Reply by tmana on -
"Endo" is short for "endocrinologist" - a doctor who specializes in disorders of the endocrine glands, or in hormone disorders. Most, if not all, T1s in the US are referred to an endocrinologist for diabetes management; many T2s on this list have been referred as well. I'm one of those who sees only the GP and has managed well with self-management and self-education. I think also that when I was diagnosed, my insurance may not have supported CDE consults. ("CDE" = "Certified Diabetes Educator" -- a health care professional who specializes in teaching people with diabetes how to care for themselves, and assists them in setting up the necessary lifestyle changes. Many CDEs also have specialties in nutrition and can provide resources for meal planning.) My Other Half went from "borderline" to "T2" about eight months ago and was told to set up CDE appointments.
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah on
-
In my never to be humble opinion, telling a diabetic/pre-diabetic not to test his/her own blood glucose is malpractice.
It's also my understanding this new stance in the UK is a result of bottom line econonomics: testing costs the NHS too much money, therefore pressure has been brought to bear on the "scientific community" to report that testing makes no real difference in diabetic outcome.
BS! (and I'm not abbreviating "Blood Sugar"). Testing is the ONLY way a diabetic can learn how his/her body is responding to different foods.
When I was diagnosed, I tested 10-15 times a day to learn as precisely as possible how my body responds to different types and amounts of carbohydrates. I kept it up for close to six months and consider testing the single most important thing I've done to get and keep an A1c that runs between 5.0%-5.2%. I currently test 3-4 times a day. I'm 100% self-pay and the strips represent a significant expense. But worth it and worth "doing without" many things in order to pay for the strips which I consider an investment in my LIFE.
Sarah
-
Permalink Reply by Cathrynn on
-
oh!! this is knowledge I wouldnt be without!!!! .... I think I would really like to test - and, though I certainly am not well off, I would self pay to be able to do this I think. I wonder how much you have to pay for these in the U.K. does anyone know? I really feel I would like to understand how my particular body reacts to certain things and feel a bit cross with myself for not taking this seriously up till now. Well, its not exactly that - I have had and still have a lot on my plate but I need my health because of this really - particularly caring for a very disabled mother. Feel a bit anxious at the thought of seeing the diabetic nurse at the clinic next week..oh dear..:(............she is quite a fierce one, though I do like her - but she doesnt take discussion very well...hmmmm...*sigh*.........can I just buy these strips from the pharmacy then? then I can test and she need never know!!! thanks loads...Cathrynn x
-
-
I buy all my strips on eBay. It saves me at least 50% over the cost at the drugstore. (USA costs run about $1.00 per strip in a pharmacy/drug store). I've only gotten "burned" by one seller in the past two years (strips were defective). Check the seller's feedback, don't buy too many strips at once, and make certain they won't be in transit during hot, hot weather.
As for the diabetic nurse: it's your eyes, limbs, kidneys, brain, cardiovascular system at risk. I know you're "stuck" with her (I lived in the UK and know you often can't choose your health care providers) so just smile and ignore her. Easier said than done, I know, but give it a try. Caring for your own mother is enough stress in one life; you don't need to put up with a dictatorial and woefully ignorant nurse, too!
Sarah
-
Permalink Reply by Cathrynn on
-
Sarah...thanks!..:)........I think I'll stick to this community as a nurse and for information...lol................learned just so much just in these few posts..wow! I have just signed in for ebay - soooo...here goes..:) C x
-
Permalink Reply by Linda G on -
Here, in Canada, we don't require a prescription to purchase test strips at the pharmacy, however the prescription requisition is handy when claiming one's taxes. In my case, we do have fair coverage via my husband's place of work; to which I need only to pay a dispensing fee of $5. Since we do have a substantial amount of prescriptions to fill on a regular basis, even the dispensing fees add up to a tidy sum by the year's end which we can also claim on our taxes...every little bit helps!
-
Permalink Reply by Linda G on
-
Hear hear!....I'm on the same page....this "no testing" is absolutely ridiculous!!!
-
Permalink Reply by tmana on
-
There was a recent report out from NHS that suggested that people who are not insulin-dependent might get more anxious from testing than from just letting their GP handle it. The study was extremely flawed: it used too few people, for too short a period of time, did not have them test frequently enough, and did not explain to them what to do with the results they got.
Many of us here in the States believe the study may have been skewed specifically to save NHS money b/c now they can say, "see? it'll only make her anxious!"
I don't know how open most newly-diagnosed older people are towards testing. My mom's doctor never brought it up with her, and from what I can tell, Medicare won't cover enough supplies for testing to have any real therapeutic value (only one test every day or every other day). When my doctor said my insurance (old insurance) would not cover more than one test a day, I found it cheaper to buy the strips on my own through mail-order, because I was testing between five and eight times a day just as basic maintenance. (The manufacturer of my original meter, an Accu-Chek Active, introduced me to the idea of "tight control" early on, and I'm a strong proponent of it -- even if it does sound like a marketing gimmick to sell more test strips!)
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
How do you measure the work of volunteers?
329,040 minutes, 329,040 moments so dear. 329,040 minutes — How do you measure, measure volunteers? In smileys, in tears shed, in counsel, in cups of coffee. In units, in carb counts, in laughter, in strife. In 329,040 minutes – how …Continue Reading
DHF Expands Board of Advisors
Diabetes Hands Foundation has always relied on partners and advisors to increase its understanding of the diabetes space, in order to better serve people touched by diabetes. Today this is as true as ever, as we proudly announce the expansion …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
