Pharmacy Woes

[EeyoreButterfly]

I transferred my prescription to the CVS today in town and was shocked at the price when I went to pick it up. I asked them why it was so much higher than normal (shouldn't copays be the same?) and they told me it was a 90 day supply! I am supposed to get 200 strips a month, and they wanted 200 to last three months! I have no idea how it got transferred that way, but I'm not overly pleased. The other pharmacy trasnferred it as testing 2x a day.

That's frustrating. If you test a 5x a day for a month (fasting, bedtime, and after meals) that is 150 strips roughly. Most of test more than that (before meals too, so add another 30.) Then of course there are the inevitable errors, retests due to wonky results, and of course the fun nights when you use an insane amount because you are on a roller coaster. Can you tell I'm frustrated?

They are calling the other pharmacy tomorrow morning, so hopefully it will get straightened out.

[Moonglo]

Very frustrating indeed...

When I go back to the doctor in two weeks, I am going to ask for a new prescription for test strips for the same reason. I thought I was getting 100/month on my prescription, and the pharmacy interpreted it as 50/month. Ick.

[Dis-N-Dat]

I know what you mean. I finally contacted my insurance carrier on line (they have an rx link)and they'll send me 90 days worth (520 strips, testing 6x per day).The co-pay at the local pharmacy would be twice as much.

Check to see if your insuance carrier has a similar program.

Hope this helps.

[notme]

Crazy how strips are rationed. I think it is totally insane. Take good care of yourself, keep your numbers down. If you don't keep your A1c in check you will go blind or lose a leg. Only test once a day.

What the in the world are they thinking? :confused:

[sarahspins]

I'm currently fighting with walgreens and my insurance over my insulin again... they're trying to tell me that I have to pay TWO co-pays on 3 vials of insulin (I'm trying to get back on a pump) because it's more than a 30 day supply. It's stupid.. I'd need barely over 2 vials a month.

What's really lame is that they don't do this with a box of pens.. my Levemir is easily a 2 MONTH supply and they only charge me the standard co-pay for that.

My solution with the insulin is simply to try to get it transferred to mail order.. not that it's ideal here in TX, but if it will work that way, I'd rather pay $75 for 3 months worth than $60 for just one!

[butterflykisses]

I mailordered my insulin one time and I guess the way the script was written wasn't good enough for the pharmacist so they called my doctor to get specifics. The doc's office gives them my basal rate ONLY, no other specifics, and so they fill my script accordingly. When I get the package I can not believe it! I really didn't even have enough to cover my basal. When using a pump there's a certain amount of insulin that is "wasted" in the tubing and the cartridges. I called the pharmacy and was met with "that's what your doctor ordered". i told them that there was a mistake, that it was only my BASAL insulin, and even that was not sufficient because of the tubing/cartridge changes. She kept telling me that was what was prescribed. I asked her to call my doctor and have it changed. She said that "you can't change a prescription"!!! I spent 30 minutes arguing with her, she would not budge! Could not get it through her thick head that I have to EAT too!!! I finally got her to give me a partial co-pay credit since I wasn't getting a 90 day supply...but she would NOT call the doctor and change it. I had an appointment that day with my doctor and told the nurse what had happened. She said that she would call them. The next time I went in she asked me about it, said that she called to correct it and was told "we have already taken care of it". yeah, whatever. :stupid:

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm hitting my head against a brick wall at the moment. I called my endo's office since that is who I have seen most recently. They would not call it in since it came from another doctor. I called that office and got a call back that while they do have it as 200 a month, they have it down that I only need to test once per day! I explained how often I test (morning, bedtime, and after each meal plus extra when I'm low). They're going to call it in, but I'm worried that they will still have on there only two times per day and then insurance won't cover it! This is why I miss Kirksville. The pharmacy there just went into the computer and changed how many times a day I tested, but the CVS here won't do that.

I'm just very frustrated today. I was also trying to make appointments for my other issues (IBS) and am resigned to the fact that my insurance for my job doesn't kick in til October and my current insurance will not cover anyone closer than a 2 hour drive. I was able to make the IBS appointment, but I can't keep taking off of school for other things, so the endo appointment is cancelled and this means my blood work will not be done when it is supposed to. I will have to wait until my insurance for school kicks in. I'm just not having a good day and am very frustrated right now with this whole thing. I'm honestly getting to the point that I feel like if they don't care, why should I? I know that's a dangerous way of thinking, but with all the info being thrown at me for the start of school and then this on top of it, I am just incredibly overwhelmed and ready to cry. Thanks for letting me rant!

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm throwing in the towel. The doctor did call in a new prescription for 200 a month- but it now says to test once per day so of course my insurance won't cover it. I am just going to get the 90 day supply and be done with it.

I switch over to my new insurance in October. I am going to find an endo and make an appointment for October 1 and then get them to call in the new script. The 90 days won't be up, but since it is new insurance completely it won't matter. The one good thing is that I don't use quite 200 a month (normally I wait until I am close to out to refill) and I haven't been testing like I should so with what I have now and what I will be getting, I think I can stretch it. I will just have to be more judicious about my testing. I'm still frustrated, but it isn't worth the fight.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I finally picked up the stupid script last night. They gave me 100 for 30 days (better than 200 for 90.) I've been running very low all week, so have been testing more than normal, and that has me worried. I know this doctor will not call the script in properly, and since my endo's office did not call in the original they won't do anything. I had to cancel my appointment with them because of teaching and will not be able to make another one.

I am going to find out on Monday who my insurance covers and I will make an appointment with them for when my insurance kicks in. Hopefully I will have somebody who is receptive to a more aggressive testing approach. I talked to my insurance reps when I signed up and they said they do not cap test strips (the new insurance), it's however many your doctor prescribes.

Does anybody in the KC area know of a good practice or endo?

[dazedandamazed]

I understand it must be very frustrating to have to fight with pharmacies and insurance companies to get you test strips and insulin. I hope this answers some questions some of you have.

This is an actual encounter that occured just a few months ago:

Patient brings in a prescription for One Touch Ultra Test Strips for a quantity of 600 with the directions of 'As Directed'.

The pharmacist calls the doctor's office to obtain a testing frequency in order to fill the prescription.

Doctor replies with 'Test Once Daily' HOWEVER - patient was told to test after every meal and at bedtime.

Finally, the nurse responds with the updated directions of use 'Test 4 Times a Day'

Pharmacy bills the insurance for 150 test strips (these strips only come packaged in 50-count)

Insurance rejects the claim stating that no more than a 30 day supply may be dispensed.

Pharmacy tweaks it a little and changed the day supply to 30 because it just seems silly considering the fact that they are only packaged this way.

Insurance files a chargeback, denying the paid claim, and sends a bill.

Pharmacy staff's jobs are on the line.

As you may have guessed, I do work in a pharmacy. You wouldn't believe how much this is stressed. Most insulins, for example, are 10mL vials. They are calculated as 100 units per mL. This makes each vial 1,000 units.

It use to be where 'As Directed' could be your best judgement as to how long you think it would last. Now it's simply not enough. Who's to blame?

[Granny Shanny]

Excuse me while I laugh!

I think all the docs & drug companies need to make some serious advertising changes. All the commercials say "ask your doctor if (blank) is right for you". Some say "ask your pharmacist". But who's really making all the decisions? Wye of course! The insurance company bean counters! :mad: :mad: :mad: Just who I want to be in charge of my treatment! NOT!

[worm]

I transferred my prescription to the CVS today in town and was shocked at the price when I went to pick it up. I asked them why it was so much higher than normal (shouldn't copays be the same?) and they told me it was a 90 day supply! I am supposed to get 200 strips a month, and they wanted 200 to last three months! I have no idea how it got transferred that way, but I'm not overly pleased. The other pharmacy trasnferred it as testing 2x a day.

That's frustrating. If you test a 5x a day for a month (fasting, bedtime, and after meals) that is 150 strips roughly. Most of test more than that (before meals too, so add another 30.) Then of course there are the inevitable errors, retests due to wonky results, and of course the fun nights when you use an insane amount because you are on a roller coaster. Can you tell I'm frustrated?

They are calling the other pharmacy tomorrow morning, so hopefully it will get straightened out.

I would check to see if your insurance has 90 day supply mail in.
I get my 90 day supply of 500 strips for $50 as long as I use the aproved mail in.
They will also give you 90 days for the price of 60 and will let you order every 2 months.
I hate mail in but I love my money LOL

[EeyoreButterfly]

My new insurance does this for sure and I plan to use it. But I am waiting until it kicks in in October (and I can see a new endo and get the prescription changed.)

[Rebecca]

On my paediatric patients that are either pre-d, type 1, or type 2, this is how I usually have them test.
Pre-diabetic: 1-2 times per day, up to 4 tests per day (150 per month)
Type 1 diabetic: 4-8 times a day or 6-10 times a day (depends on if one is on MDI or Insulin pump) (or more if the patient showes that s/he is testing more often due to extream veriations of sugars due to sports, menses, stress, growth spurts, hormones, ect). (150-350 per month)
Type 2 diabetic: 2-3 times a day (if diet/exericize or diet/exercize/orals) or 4-8 times a day (if on insulin). (100-150 or 150-250 per month)

Only 1-2% of my patients have issues with their insurances balking at the amts of strips that I prescribe.

[Funnygrl]

On my paediatric patients that are either pre-d, type 1, or type 2, this is how I usually have them test.
Pre-diabetic: 1-2 times per day, up to 4 tests per day (150 per month)
Type 1 diabetic: 4-8 times a day or 6-10 times a day (depends on if one is on MDI or Insulin pump) (or more if the patient showes that s/he is testing more often due to extream veriations of sugars due to sports, menses, stress, growth spurts, hormones, ect). (150-350 per month)
Type 2 diabetic: 2-3 times a day (if diet/exericize or diet/exercize/orals) or 4-8 times a day (if on insulin). (100-150 or 150-250 per month)

Only 1-2% of my patients have issues with their insurances balking at the amts of strips that I prescribe.
Yeah, I can't really imagine a pre-diabetic getting approved fo 200 strips per month. As a type 1 on a pump I needed a letter of medical necessity and prior auth to get more than 200 strips/month.

[fgummett]

Yeah, I can't really imagine a pre-diabetic getting approved fo 200 strips per month. As a type 1 on a pump I needed a letter of medical necessity and prior auth to get more than 200 strips/month.And yet we might argue that encouraging a Pre-D to be proactive -- including frequent testing -- is potentially a cost-effective way of preventing them from developing full-blown Type 2... with all it attendant costs: to the individual, insurance companies and the health system.

[GeishaGirl]

... and people wonder why I favor Obama's plans :( My endo is a little disapproving of how often I test, but she'll write out a script however I want it. I'm literally awash with test strips -- I get about 1000/90 days. It's literally insane to me that I'm "allowed" this, while others have to fight. How is this fair?

[jkane13]

I would call the doctor and the pharmacy every day until they get it right. At some point, they will be as frustrated as you are and figure out how to get you to stop bothering them.

I might also consider filing a complaint with your state insurance compliance organization. In Wisconsin that is the Dept of Agriculture. Let them know XXX insurance company is trying to change the prescriptions your doctor prescribed. You won't get any immediate satisfaction from that, but it does go into a file. If enough people do this, the company can get investigated at some point. If no one complains to the right place, things will never change!

[Funnygrl]

And yet we might argue that encouraging a Pre-D to be proactive -- including frequent testing -- is potentially a cost-effective way of preventing them from developing full-blown Type 2... with all it attendant costs: to the individual, insurance companies and the health system.
Testing does nothing. It provides information. It doesn't take rocket science to know what foods raise and lower glucose. It also doesn't take rocket science to know that losing weight and being more active prevents type 2 diabetes. Testing at home is a good way of providing feedback, but I can't see more than maybe 2 tests per day. A1cs are also a good way of providing feedback.

My dad has type 2 diabetes and if I could get him to test twice a week it would be a miracle.

[Funnygrl]

... and people wonder why I favor Obama's plans :( My endo is a little disapproving of how often I test, but she'll write out a script however I want it. I'm literally awash with test strips -- I get about 1000/90 days. It's literally insane to me that I'm "allowed" this, while others have to fight. How is this fair?
If you think you'd be getting that many on socialized health care, prepare to be amazed...

[fgummett]

Testing does nothing. It provides information. It doesn't take rocket science to know what foods raise and lower glucose. It also doesn't take rocket science to know that losing weight and being more active prevents type 2 diabetes. Testing at home is a good way of providing feedback, but I can't see more than maybe 2 tests per day. A1cs are also a good way of providing feedback.

My dad has type 2 diabetes and if I could get him to test twice a week it would be a miracle.I disagree.. of course if someone is unwilling to test and use that data pro-actively/reactively there is little point... but for many of us, without the immediate feedback of frequent SMBG we cannot learn the best ways to manage our BG. I'm sorry you have such a poor opinion of what is required to manage/prevent Type 2 D.

[Funnygrl]

I disagree.. of course if someone is unwilling to test and use that data pro-actively/reactively there is little point... but for many of us, without the immediate feedback of frequent SMBG we cannot learn the best ways to manage our BG. I'm sorry you have such a poor opinion of what is required to manage/prevent Type 2 D.
How is testing twice a day, eating a healthy low glycemic diet, staying active, trending a1cs, and losing weight if necessary having a "low opinion" of what it takes it prevent type 2 diabetes? Those are the only things proven to prevent type 2 diabetes. If that doesn't prevent it then nothing would have prevented it.

I don't see how testing 8x/day if helpful when you can't even do anything with the results. I don't test more than 4-6x/day frequently and I'm on an insulin pump and can bolus if I need to.

[fgummett]

How is testing twice a day, eating a healthy low glycemic diet, staying active, trending a1cs, and losing weight if necessary having a "low opinion" of what it takes it prevent type 2 diabetes? Those are the only things proven to prevent type 2 diabetes. If that doesn't prevent it then nothing would have prevented it.

I don't see how testing 8x/day if helpful when you can't even do anything with the results. I don't test more than 4-6x/day frequently and I'm on an insulin pump and can bolus if I need to.I was obviously reacting to your "it doesn't take rocket science..." which I took as a disparaging remark... the way you have restated it is now much more reasonable BUT every other post here on DF says YMMV... someone says peanuts raise my BG but others do OK with them, oats are OK for some... but not for others and so on. How do we establish that without frequent SMBG, especially at first?

I am also on a pump and have been on insulin since early after Dx but I will argue that for a Type 2 NOT on exogenous insulin, it is even more vital to test around foods as that is really the only way they have to manage day to day, or meal to meal BGs.

And I think there are several hundred posts here on DF making it clear that just "losing weight" is much easier said than done.

There is also much debate over what is considered a "healthy diet".

[Funnygrl]

I was obviously reacting to your "it doesn't take rocket science..." which I took as a disparaging remark... the way you have restated it is now much more reasonable BUT every other post here on DF says YMMV... someone says peanuts raise my BG but others do OK with them, oats are OK for some... but not for others and so on. How do we establish that without frequent SMBG, especially at first?

I am also on a pump and have been on insulin since early after Dx but I will argue that for a Type 2 NOT on exogenous insulin, it is even more vital to test around foods as that is really the only way they have to manage day to day, or meal to meal BGs.

And I think there are several hundred posts here on DF making it clear that just "losing weight" is much easier said than done.

There is also much debate over what is considered a "healthy diet".

The KNOWLEDGE of what it takes to prevent type 2 isn't rocket science. The implementation is a whole 'nother ball game. I'm over weight and my weight has fluctuated a lot over the years. I know how difficult it is to lose weight.

I also DO think testing is very important, but maybe 2-3x a day for a pre-diabetic. 8x a day seems over the top to me. I think testing is only helpful up to a certain degree. I'm not one who's going to test every 15 minutes if my blood sugar is high. That gives me no benefit. I know insulin is going to take 2 hrs to lower my blood sugar even a bit. I am not one who's going to test 1 hr after meals. I know even a healthy person is going to have a higher bg then. I'm amazed by type 1s here who post that they test 20+ x a day. I have had really bad days where I've tested that much, but doing that on a regular basis? I would get extraordinarily burnt out. When you're testing 8x a day before you even have a diagnosis of diabetes, that's setting yourself up for burn out if you do go on to have diabetes someday, while providing no further information that rotating 3 tests to different times of the day and looking for trends over a week would.

[butterflykisses]

The KNOWLEDGE of what it takes to prevent type 2 isn't rocket science. The implementation is a whole 'nother ball game. I'm over weight and my weight has fluctuated a lot over the years. I know how difficult it is to lose weight.

I also DO think testing is very important, but maybe 2-3x a day for a pre-diabetic. 8x a day seems over the top to me. I think testing is only helpful up to a certain degree. I'm not one who's going to test every 15 minutes if my blood sugar is high. That gives me no benefit. I know insulin is going to take 2 hrs to lower my blood sugar even a bit. I am not one who's going to test 1 hr after meals. I know even a healthy person is going to have a higher bg then. I'm amazed by type 1s here who post that they test 20+ x a day. I have had really bad days where I've tested that much, but doing that on a regular basis? I would get extraordinarily burnt out. When you're testing 8x a day before you even have a diagnosis of diabetes, that's setting yourself up for burn out if you do go on to have diabetes someday, while providing no further information that rotating 3 tests to different times of the day and looking for trends over a week would.

Hmmm...it takes 2 hours for insulin to lower your blood sugar "even a bit"? On a pump?:eek: If I tested my blood sugar, it was high, corrected and it hadn't moved even a bit in 15 minutes I would start suspecting that something was wrong! And if after another 15 minutes it hadn't budged I would be changing out my set because I would KNOW something was wrong for sure.

[fgummett]

The KNOWLEDGE of what it takes to prevent type 2 isn't rocket science. The implementation is a whole 'nother ball game.Surely SMBG comes under implementation -- which is my point. No-one is suggesting a test every 15 minutes... I suggested testing "around food" which is common advice given here on DF... and requires more that 2 strips a day... especially when first learning about your own D.

[Funnygrl]

Hmmm...it takes 2 hours for insulin to lower your blood sugar "even a bit"? On a pump?:eek: If I tested my blood sugar, it was high, corrected and it hadn't moved even a bit in 15 minutes I would start suspecting that something was wrong! And if after another 15 minutes it hadn't budged I would be changing out my set because I would KNOW something was wrong for sure.
A "bit" is probably an exaggeration, but insulin takes probably 20 minutes to start working- even rapid acting analogs. From there I've read that it averages a lowering rate of about 2 mg/dl/min. So If I'm 200, I can count on about 2 hrs before i'm back to 100.

[Funnygrl]

Surely SMBG comes under implementation -- which is my point. No-one is suggesting a test every 15 minutes... I suggested testing "around food" which is common advice given here on DF... and requires more that 2 strips a day... especially when first learning about your own D.
We are talking about someone who hasn't even been diagnosed as having diabetes yet. That means they don't meet criteria of 126 fasting or 200 randomly. That means there's nothing to learn to "manage" yet, just prevention. I also encourage testing around meals, but not mroe than 3x/day for someone who doesn't even have diabetes. You can test after each meal one day, before each meal the next, bedtime and after breakfast and dinner another, and after a week have a very good idea of what your blood sugars do around certain foods.

Since I know Eeyore has problems with lows occasionally, a few more may be necessary, but 8 a day? You can seriously think that's necessary for someone with pre-diabetes.

[ShottleBop]

There is no bright line, other than an arbitrary one, between Pre-D and D. I was diagnosed Pre-D on the basis of successive FBGs of 127 and 123 (and in between, since I knew what would happen if the second one exceeded 126, I had cut out at least some carbs). My A1c, however, was 6.5--the level at which the ADA now recommends that someone be diagnosed as diabetic. **** straight I attack the situation as if I had been diagnosed with diabetes.

Besides, if testing serves as a useful tool for someone, why begrudge them the test strips? Different things work for different people. Testing more often can:

(i) help someone remain mindful of the need to eat in a way that helps to control their blood sugars,

(ii) alert a person that the coleslaw (or salad dressing, or grilled chicken, or gyros meat, or whatever) that they assumed was "safe" really should be avoided--at least at the place they ate the offending item,

(iii) allow a person to identify trends sooner rather than later, etc.--before the next A1c comes round and slaps them upside the head, and

(iv) contribute generally to a mindset that says that this thing can be controlled, and, thus, provide motivation to take action to prevent progression into full diabetes--or to prevent neuropathies.

I'm sure others could add to the list.

[fgummett]

We are talking about someone who hasn't even been diagnosed as having diabetes yet.Which brings me full-circle back to my original post (http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/monitoring/42361-pharmacy-woes-2.html#post489111) about SMBG being more "cost-effective" in this situation... would you rather lower the water pressure and/or do some shoring up before or after the dam bursts?

[foxl]

I agree -- the more feedback a person uses, earlier, the better.

I am pretty **** certain it is better to overeducate diabetics early, than to treat them casually. I know people who handled their D both ways ... I would love to see longitudinal studies of intensive teaching vs. casual. -- I mean ten, twnety, thirty YEARS.

[EeyoreButterfly]

The attitudes like the one displayed on this thread are what have come close to driving me away.

Could I do even 150 a month? Sure. 200 was just what my first pharmacy changed it too when I was running out too early.

I'm sorry I'm just a lowly prediabetic. I came here to vent, not get a lecture on how I don't deserve to have information. Yeah, maybe I don't "officially" have diabetes yet, but if you have read my posts or my sig, you will know that I often have readings well over the "threshold" for diabetes: I have had readings as high as 330 post prandial. I would never have known this if I had not taken the advice on this forum to test after every meal. I would have thought I was doing great because my preprandials have been fine up until recently and would have gone about my merry way.

Honestly, it feels like pre's sometimes aren't welcome on here. It seems like anytime there is a problem we get the "well you are only a prediabetic line". It's frustrating to say the least to come back here and see that a vent in which really all I wanted was sympathetic ear has devolved into a debate on how often pres should test.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I just wanted to clarify a few points because I am seeing a lot of thigns being said (presumably about me) that are not accurate.

1.) On a normal day I was testing five times a day- fasting, after each meal, and bedtime. This would mean in a 30 day month I would need exactly 150 strips. Of course, this would not leave any room for testing when low or for meter errors such as not getting enough blood on the strips. I have now cut it down to four times a day by dropping the bedtime testing. However, I do have lows at least once a week, during certain times in my cycle it can be several times a day. So I do not know where the figure "8 times a day came from". If a person were testing 8 times a day, in 30 days they would need 240 strips which is well over the 200 I was prescribed. If they only used 200 they would run out a full five days early. And again, this is not factoring extra strips for lows/meter error.

2.) I do not test "every 15 minutes when high." I do not know where that came from but I have never stated that I do. I only test in 15 minute increments when low (following the 15/15 rule) and even then, for a normal low I need 2 tests: the first time I check, then the 15 minutes after treatment at which point I am normally back to "normal."

3.) I would like to address the comment about "why test, it's not like you can do anything when you are high?" Of course I can't do anything immediately, but I can use that information. I see lots of threads on here that indicate that people respond to food differently. Fruit is a prime example. Some people say they can eat bananas- others go sky high. How do they know this? They tested! Testing allows me to see what foods are okay and what foods are not and change my diet accordingly.

4.) There was a comment how an a1c should just be enough. How many times on here do we hear that a1c is not as accurate a measure a some people think? My a1c looks good, but I believe the reason I have the a1c I do is because I frequently have lows which bring down the average. I would never know I go as high as I do if I had not followed the advice given on this forum.

Finally, we know that for many prediabetics/Type 2's there comes a time when diet and exercise are no longer enough and that is the point when medication/insulin are started. By testing fastings and meal readings we can spot trends and correct them before control is lost and damage is done.

I'm sorry you feel that it should be simple to just lose weight and eat a low GI diet and then you should never have to test at all. I guess I'm just not that smart. I learned the mantra on here "eat to your meter" and it is hard to do that if you do not have the strips to test. It's also frustrating to be told here, by doctors, etc. that there is no such thing as prediabetes, that you are or you aren't and should just consider yourself a diabetic but then feel like you are not being taken seriously because of your diagnosis.

[Funnygrl]

There's nothing wrong with being a "lowly" prediabetic. I think many of us WISH we were only prediabetic.

You've become quite the master of taking things out of context.

1. Every insurance I've seen lets you fill prescriptions after 25 days. This means 200 would be a 25 day supply, thus 8 tests per day.

2. I said there are TYPE 1s on this board that test every 15 minutes. Therefore, by default, I wasn't talking about you.

3. I'm not against you testing. I'm stating I can't blame your insurance for not approving 200 strips/month.

4. I said a1c in ADDITION to maybe 3 tests per day.

"I'm sorry you feel that it should be simple to just lose weight and eat a low GI diet and then you should never have to test at all." Please show me where I said that. I believe I said that the knowledge of what it takes to prevent diabetes isn't usually the problem, the implementation is. I also pointed out that not all diabetes is preventable, type 2 or otherwise.

"It's also frustrating to be told here, by doctors, etc. that there is no such thing as prediabetes" I've never heard a doctor say that. The official standards for diagnosing pre-diabetes are a fasting glucose between 100-125. I've also defended the position that there IS such a thing as pre-diabetes here many times.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm sorry you felt that I took your quotes out of context, but I don't know what you expected the reaction to be to the things you post:

Testing does nothing. It provides information. It doesn't take rocket science to know what foods raise and lower glucose. It also doesn't take rocket science to know that losing weight and being more active prevents type 2 diabetes. Testing at home is a good way of providing feedback, but I can't see more than maybe 2 tests per day. A1cs are also a good way of providing feedback.
My dad has type 2 diabetes and if I could get him to test twice a week it would be a miracle.





I don't see how testing 8x/day if helpful when you can't even do anything with the results. I don't test more than 4-6x/day frequently and I'm on an insulin pump and can bolus if I need to.

The KNOWLEDGE of what it takes to prevent type 2 isn't rocket science. The implementation is a whole 'nother ball game. I'm over weight and my weight has fluctuated a lot over the years. I know how difficult it is to lose weight.

I also DO think testing is very important, but maybe 2-3x a day for a pre-diabetic. 8x a day seems over the top to me. I think testing is only helpful up to a certain degree. I'm not one who's going to test every 15 minutes if my blood sugar is high. That gives me no benefit. I know insulin is going to take 2 hrs to lower my blood sugar even a bit. I am not one who's going to test 1 hr after meals.

We are talking about someone who hasn't even been diagnosed as having diabetes yet. That means they don't meet criteria of 126 fasting or 200 randomly. That means there's nothing to learn to "manage" yet, just prevention. I also encourage testing around meals, but not mroe than 3x/day for someone who doesn't even have diabetes. You can test after each meal one day, before each meal the next, bedtime and after breakfast and dinner another, and after a week have a very good idea of what your blood sugars do around certain foods.

Since I know Eeyore has problems with lows occasionally, a few more may be necessary, but 8 a day? You can seriously think that's necessary for someone with pre-diabetes.

I bolded the parts that I resonded to. When you mentioned every 15 minutes you did not qualify that as Type 1, only later did you mention Type 1. I started this thread specifically as a vent about pharmacy problems I was having, and since many of your statements indicate that they are about prediabetics it felt safe to assume that most of the comments were aimed that way.

I'm glad you say that you are not against me testing, but that is not how your earlier posts read. You talked about testing 2x a day should be enough for a prediabetic, that there is no need to test more than that. You frequently use the term "rocket science", and I am not the only one who took offense at the tone of your posts.

At the very least your posts showed a lack of understanding of the intricacies of type 2. This is to be expected because you do not have type 2. I'm sure there are many things about type 1 that I do not understand because I am not one. Increasingly studies are showing a strong genetic component to type 2. That does not mean that I am not trying to lose weight and modify my diet (and testing is helping me to do that), but to say that eating better/losing weight will prevent Type 2 is not an accurate statement anymore based on what science has shown us.

I also took pains to explain that the 200 was lasting me a little more than a month (I was refilling the same day every month) and that I was refilling when necessary, not hoarding the strips or testing 8 times a day. At this point I am not just trying to prevent, I am trying to manage. I do frequently have random readings over 200 (multiple times a week) as I have explained in this thread which is one reason I am testing post prandial. My official diagnosis may be pre, but for all intents and purposes I consider myself a full blown diabetic based on the diagnostic thresholds.

Perhaps I took your posts the wrong way, but I'm not entirely sure how you meant them to be taken. I'll admit the comment about "for someone who doesn't even have diabetes" did rankle a bit.

[Funnygrl]

How did we go from me saying 2-3x/day should be sufficient to me suggesting you don't test at all?

Further, how did you miss the part where I said the KNOWLEDGE wasn't rocket science, but implementation can be difficult? Or the part where I said that I struggle with my weight? Or the part where I said not all diabetes is preventable?

There are more genes identified that cause type 2 than type 1. If you have a sibling with type 2 diabetes you're more likely to end up with diabetes than if you have a sibling with type 1.

I don't think anyone is denying that diabetes isn't always preventable. I don't know how that even made it into this thread. I said the KNOWLEDGE of what MAY be able to prevent diabetes is common knowledge and "not rocket science." That doesn't, it anyway, equate ease in preventing type 2 diabetes.

Geez. Maybe I'll leave since I'm sick of people putting words in my mouth.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I would call the doctor and the pharmacy every day until they get it right. At some point, they will be as frustrated as you are and figure out how to get you to stop bothering them.

I might also consider filing a complaint with your state insurance compliance organization. In Wisconsin that is the Dept of Agriculture. Let them know XXX insurance company is trying to change the prescriptions your doctor prescribed. You won't get any immediate satisfaction from that, but it does go into a file. If enough people do this, the company can get investigated at some point. If no one complains to the right place, things will never change!

I've decided it's not worth the stress. School has started and let's just say that I've already been kicked, hit, spit upon, and head butted more times than I care to think about. Since I am switching insurance in October, this became the low priority.

I'm not sure that I can report the insurance company because they are not changing the prescription. The doctor wrote it kind of funny: 200 strips per month but wrote to test 2x a day. I don't know that I even would have asked for 200 if my old pharmacy hadn't helped me to get the script changed when they noticed I was coming into buy more before I could renew because I was running out. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if my diagnosis changes in October when I see a new doctor, perhaps having the diagnosis confirm what I already know will also make it easier to get test strips (although my new insurance said they do not limit strips.)

[Funnygrl]

I've decided it's not worth the stress. School has started and let's just say that I've already been kicked, hit, spit upon, and head butted more times than I care to think about. Since I am switching insurance in October, this became the low priority.

I'm not sure that I can report the insurance company because they are not changing the prescription. The doctor wrote it kind of funny: 200 strips per month but wrote to test 2x a day. I don't know that I even would have asked for 200 if my old pharmacy hadn't helped me to get the script changed when they noticed I was coming into buy more before I could renew because I was running out. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if my diagnosis changes in October when I see a new doctor, perhaps having the diagnosis confirm what I already know will also make it easier to get test strips (although my new insurance said they do not limit strips.)
If you're doctor wrote "Test 2x/day (bid) #200" that will automatically be interpretted as a 100 day prescription. The frequency is what they'll base it on, not the number to dispense.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I apologize if I mistook the intent of your posts or misread them. That is the bad thing about the internet- it can be hard to read intentions, and sometimes easy to misread what people are saying. Thank you for clarifying.

[Funnygrl]

Yes, it can be. How high has your fasting glucose been on labs? What's the hghest lab draw glucose you've had? I'm curious to if your diagnosis will change. I do recall your c-peptide being quite high, so I wouldn't be surprised if you start seeing some beta cell exhaustion and higher glucoses, unfortunately.

[EeyoreButterfly]

My last labs my fastings were in the upper 90s. My last OGTT I hit over 200 in the first hour but they did not do a one hour stick like the other lab did, the 2 hour was 180 something (6 months earlier it had been 160). I am starting to see numbers over 100 fasting now, before now my fastings have been golden. Nothing close to the diabetic threshold, but the first time I have been consistently over 100. It's really the post meals that are killing me.