NHS restricting diabetes test strips, charity warns

Diabetes UK has released its ‘Testing Times’ report highlighting the problems many of diabetes patients have been experiencing with accessing test strips at local surgeries.

The report found that one in four people had either experienced restrictions, or were refused test strips on the NHS compared to one in five people four years ago.

The UK wide survey also indicated that 52 per cent of people experiencing problems getting test strips had Type 1 diabetes, which the charity highlighted as a particular concern, citing NICE recommends all adults with Type 1 should routinely self-monitor blood glucose levels, testing at least four times a day.

Diabetes UK Policy Manager Nikki Joule, said: “These short sighted cost savings cause people real anguish and potential financial distress. It also means people are struggling to manage their diabetes which can lead to serious consequences for their health, so we urge
people to challenge restrictions and refusals.

“As well as being vital for people with Type 1 diabetes, anyone with Type 2 diabetes can benefit from testing so should be supported to do so if it is helping them to better manage their condition.

“Local policies should allow sufficient choice and flexibility for individual circumstances to be taken into account when prescribing test strips and meters for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.”