How many Test Strips ?

Hi. I graduated from the Dafne Course in June and have had reasonable success in applying it. However, I cannot get enough test strips to do even the minimum number of blood tests that Dafne recommends (4 per day), never mind testing before exercise, when you feel hypo or when you're about to drive. The consultant told me yesterday not to bother trying just do a couple a day. I'm going to see my practise nurse next week. Has anyone else experienced this?

Have you talked to your GP about it. I'm quite fortunate in that my GP has always been okay about ordering anything I need. I sometimes do up to 8 tests a day so can easily get through 50 strips a week. My DAFNE educator wrote to my practice explaining what we would need to follow the DAFNE course. Maybe you should contact them and see if they will speak to your GP/Consultant on your behalf.

Hi, I too received a letter from my DAFNE educator which explained that I would be needing extra test strips following the course. I have had no problems in obtaining the strips from my GP. I think that to make DAFNE work you really do need to be able to do at least 4 tests a day so if I was you I would make an appointment with your GP and try to explain this to him/her face to face. If this doesn't work then maybe you could ask your DAFNE contact to get in touch with your GP (as Mandy suggested) and explain how important this is.

Good luck.

Karen

Thanks for replying. I'll see how I do next week before I unleash my Dafne educator.

Hi David,I've just completed a DAFNE course today. We here in Ireland get all our Long Term Illness medication free so if you use a Freestyle Lite BG meter let me know and I'll send you some.

David, Please keep us posted on what happens. I am fortunate enough to not have had any problems myself, I just write to my GP make my demands and she does as she is told ;-) But seriously in my guise as a DAFNE User Action Group member this is an issue we would be interested to hear about. If DAFNE Graduates cannot get the test strips they need to function then something needs to be done about it. Sadly some people in the medical profession believe short term savings are good. However if you cannot test properly have a hypo and need hospital treatment all those savings go flying out the window. Sometimes they need this explaining to them :-)

I'm going on Wednesday so I should have news by Thursday. I've printed out the posts on this forum plus I'll take my Dafne course notes. They might respond positively when I explain my position and the reasons that I need more.

Good News. I saw the Practise Nurse and she was as helpful as I could have wished. The test strips are now on my repeat. I only wish I'd seen someone sooner instead of 3 months of frustration trying to eke out my test strips until the next repeat. She issued me with a new Autopen as well. Whoopee!!!

Excellent news David. At least you will be able to do all the tests needed now!

Good luck

Karen x

David, thanks for sharing this experience with everyone, hopefully it shows others that it IS possible to make sure your get the tools you need to manage your diabetes properly. If anyone has been unable to get test strips please post and let us know. With the growing membership here AND the User Group now running we should be looking to resolve any issues with PCT's and Doctor practices that are not 'enlightened'. If they refuse to be 'enlightened' then we will send the boys round !!