Type 2 diabetics and free prescriptions
Discussion
Hello knowledgeable ones.
I am not a medical person, just someone with the condition.
In my experience, there is a lot of confusion between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
People seem to assume type 1's are insulin dependant, and type 2's aren't, once you start taking insulin you become type 1, and type 2 diabetes is self inflicted, lifestyle etc.
DVLA have stopped their type 1 & 2 stuff now, (because people like me are type 2 but insulin dependant).
I was taught, 26 years ago, that type 2's are the genetic ones, it runs in the family etc (which in my case it does, both grandmothers, all my siblings),and nobody is really sure why people without a history go diabetic, but they are type 1's, and it is actually a fairly different condition, and type ones are more prone to other health issues than type 2's.
I went diabetic in my mid 20's, whilst serving in the forces, I was the thinnest and fittest I've ever been.
I started to use insulin fairly soon after being diagnosed, and have used it ever since.
Upon my discharge I was given a prescription payment exemption certificate, and that was current until a few years back, when they started issuing plastic cards, and rather than running for life, they are renewed every five years, for whatever reason.
There is a website, called Diabetes.co.uk , and they are saying that free prescriptions are being withdrawn for type 2's.
People are posting on there that this has happened to them, and test strips are now costing them £24 a box etc.
If true, this is going to become bloody expensive, I use at least 4 strips a day!
Anyone know anything about this ?
I am not a medical person, just someone with the condition.
In my experience, there is a lot of confusion between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
People seem to assume type 1's are insulin dependant, and type 2's aren't, once you start taking insulin you become type 1, and type 2 diabetes is self inflicted, lifestyle etc.
DVLA have stopped their type 1 & 2 stuff now, (because people like me are type 2 but insulin dependant).
I was taught, 26 years ago, that type 2's are the genetic ones, it runs in the family etc (which in my case it does, both grandmothers, all my siblings),and nobody is really sure why people without a history go diabetic, but they are type 1's, and it is actually a fairly different condition, and type ones are more prone to other health issues than type 2's.
I went diabetic in my mid 20's, whilst serving in the forces, I was the thinnest and fittest I've ever been.
I started to use insulin fairly soon after being diagnosed, and have used it ever since.
Upon my discharge I was given a prescription payment exemption certificate, and that was current until a few years back, when they started issuing plastic cards, and rather than running for life, they are renewed every five years, for whatever reason.
There is a website, called Diabetes.co.uk , and they are saying that free prescriptions are being withdrawn for type 2's.
People are posting on there that this has happened to them, and test strips are now costing them £24 a box etc.
If true, this is going to become bloody expensive, I use at least 4 strips a day!
Anyone know anything about this ?
RealSquirrels said:
Just being slightly insensitive, sorry. The first part is correct (reduced response to insulin) .
and of course the two major factors are diet and obesity...
Being very insensitive considering this type two was just 25 years old and serving in the RAF , so the thinnest and fittest I've ever been, ...... all those years ago.and of course the two major factors are diet and obesity...
Edited by RealSquirrels on Friday 9th November 09:02
According to my latest teachings, type 2's are the genetic ones, which would suit my circumstances.
Jumbo, four strips equals just that, four tests a day mate (at least, but generally so).
Anyway, I've got to the bottom of this, it's the diabetes.co.uk lot either not doing their homework, or being a bit "tabloidy"
Forget the type one and two stuff for this issue.
IF you take glucose lowering medication (insulin for example), you are of course at risk of a hypo (low blood sugars), so must monitor your levels of course (you also need to know your levels to adjust your insulin dose, bit more if you're a bit high etc), then you are of course entitled to testing strips and associated kit, and will remain so.
If you don't take glucose lowering medication (if you're just on metformin for example), then you don't need them, as you can't hypo, and your GP can decide to not issue them to you.
Info from my diabetic team, as they said it to me in case any non insulin types are reading.
What appears to have happened is the W.H.O. lowered the criteria to be classed as diabetic, (probably for very good reasons), so we now have lots of people on diet or tablet control, they have been classed as type 2 like myself, and have automatically been issued with all the kit I'm issued with .... and it's costing a lot of money to achieve little, so I'm told.
So, no issues for me.
Nigel Worc's said:
If you don't take glucose lowering medication (if you're just on metformin for example), then you don't need them, as you can't hypo, and your GP can decide to not issue them to you.
Not sure where you've got that impression from, I'm type 2 and have been for about 10 years now, type 2 or age onset diabetes as it is also called can and do have the potential to go hyperglycaemic, I frequently get very low sugar levels in the early evening sub 3. I was also informed by a consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon that my type 2 may have been induced by the long term use of atenalol. Big Al. said:
Nigel Worc's said:
If you don't take glucose lowering medication (if you're just on metformin for example), then you don't need them, as you can't hypo, and your GP can decide to not issue them to you.
Not sure where you've got that impression from, I'm type 2 and have been for about 10 years now, type 2 or age onset diabetes as it is also called can and do have the potential to go hyperglycaemic, I frequently get very low sugar levels in the early evening sub 3. I was also informed by a consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon that my type 2 may have been induced by the long term use of atenalol. I got that information, today, as I've written it, from my team.
Type two is NOT age onset
Type 1's have particular issues that I don't have, I cannot remember them all.
Type 2's tend to have a family history of diabetes.
Apart from that, we're about the same.
This type one and two stuff drives me crazy, because I get lumped together with all the age onset diet and tablet controlled brigade, where infact I'm not.
Even DVLA have dropped type one and two now, and I'm proud to say I was part of the reason (I challenged them, because I am type 2, and they wanted to restrict my licence like a type 1, ......... and they specified type 1
only), they did still restrict me, but have changed to insulin dependant instead of type 1.
From what I have gleaned and have been told that type 2 in the first instance is ideally liked to be controlled by diet and exercise, failing that then It's medication, if you are unable to keep your long term sugar level below 8 then you are requested/advised to take insulin to control your sugar levels.
I know a few diabetics, most manage to control via meds, one could not stop the urge to eat sweets etc now has to take insulin.
I know a few diabetics, most manage to control via meds, one could not stop the urge to eat sweets etc now has to take insulin.
Big Al. said:
From what I have gleaned and have been told that type 2 in the first instance is ideally liked to be controlled by diet and exercise, failing that then It's medication, if you are unable to keep your long term sugar level below 8 then you are requested/advised to take insulin to control your sugar levels.
I know a few diabetics, most manage to control via meds, one could not stop the urge to eat sweets etc now has to take insulin.
I know a few diabetics, most manage to control via meds, one could not stop the urge to eat sweets etc now has to take insulin.
...... that's about all really !There's a genetic element to all types of diabetes. You can't really say one is genetic and others aren't.
Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune response causing your pancreas to stop producing insulin. There's a strong genetic predisposition, but the actual triggering is via some environmental factor, possibly a virus (it's not been definitively found yet).
Type 2 is caused when your cells have a lowered response to insulin. Again there is a genetic predisposition and it is usually triggered by environmental factors such as obesity and a high sugar diet. Type 2 is also known as adult onset as it generally doesn't occur in young people (though that is changing due to poor diet amongst kids and teenagers).
Susceptibility to type 2 is much more widespread than type 1 - very few people will develop type 1 even when exposed to a suitable trigger due to not being genetically susceptible, whereas type 2 is widespread.
Injection is insulin is normally an indicator of type 1 diabetes (to make up for the pancreas not secreting it), however type 2 diabetes can cause lowered insulin production as well as lowered response so some type 2s will have insulin injections too.
Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune response causing your pancreas to stop producing insulin. There's a strong genetic predisposition, but the actual triggering is via some environmental factor, possibly a virus (it's not been definitively found yet).
Type 2 is caused when your cells have a lowered response to insulin. Again there is a genetic predisposition and it is usually triggered by environmental factors such as obesity and a high sugar diet. Type 2 is also known as adult onset as it generally doesn't occur in young people (though that is changing due to poor diet amongst kids and teenagers).
Susceptibility to type 2 is much more widespread than type 1 - very few people will develop type 1 even when exposed to a suitable trigger due to not being genetically susceptible, whereas type 2 is widespread.
Injection is insulin is normally an indicator of type 1 diabetes (to make up for the pancreas not secreting it), however type 2 diabetes can cause lowered insulin production as well as lowered response so some type 2s will have insulin injections too.
Flibble said:
Susceptibility to type 2 is much more widespread than type 1 - very few people will develop type 1 even when exposed to a suitable trigger due to not being genetically susceptible, whereas type 2 is widespread.
Not what I'm seeing, I seem to be mixing, in clinic, with many people in their 40's and 50's being diagnosed as type 1, although the clinics I attend will be for insulin dependant.Flibble said:
Injection is insulin is normally an indicator of type 1 diabetes (to make up for the pancreas not secreting it), however type 2 diabetes can cause lowered insulin production as well as lowered response so some type 2s will have insulin injections too.
The only difference I have observed between type 1 and type 2, is type 2's seem to inject far larger doses.I find the whole type 1 and type 2 stuff very confusing, and many health professionals have questioned me being classed as type 2, but I am, and always have been.
I mix with type 1's who only inject once a day, slow acting stuff like lantus, whereas I'm a type 2 injecting 4 times a day, one dose of lantus and three of rapid.
I'm not overly sure what the difference is between 1 & 2, and the criteria, and opinions constantly change.
It is only this year that the health professionals have finally accepted what I and many other diabetics have been telling them for years ....... that even after many years of treatment, your pancreas will suddenly fire up again, usually only for one meal, but gosh does it catch you out when it does !
type 1 is caused by the destruction of the insulin producing cells in the body - it's as simple as that.
type 2 is high blood glucose caused by: 1. insulin resistance in the body (i.e. the body does not respond so well to the hormone) and 2. decreased (note, not non-existant) insulin production.
type 2 is high blood glucose caused by: 1. insulin resistance in the body (i.e. the body does not respond so well to the hormone) and 2. decreased (note, not non-existant) insulin production.
Edited by RealSquirrels on Saturday 10th November 19:12
Nigel Worc's said:
Not what I'm seeing, I seem to be mixing, in clinic, with many people in their 40's and 50's being diagnosed as type 1, although the clinics I attend will be for insulin dependant.
Even so the statistics are there - type 2 make up 90% of currently diagnosed diabetes cases. Are you sure those in their 40s and 50s are type 1? It's uncommon for it to develop that late in life.Or do you mean that there are 40 and 50 year old diabetics who have type 1 but aren't newly diagnosed?
Nigel Worc's said:
The only difference I have observed between type 1 and type 2, is type 2's seem to inject far larger doses.
I find the whole type 1 and type 2 stuff very confusing, and many health professionals have questioned me being classed as type 2, but I am, and always have been.
I mix with type 1's who only inject once a day, slow acting stuff like lantus, whereas I'm a type 2 injecting 4 times a day, one dose of lantus and three of rapid.
I'm not overly sure what the difference is between 1 & 2, and the criteria, and opinions constantly change.
It is only this year that the health professionals have finally accepted what I and many other diabetics have been telling them for years ....... that even after many years of treatment, your pancreas will suddenly fire up again, usually only for one meal, but gosh does it catch you out when it does !
The difference between type 1 and type 2 is what causes the disease. Many of the treatments are the same for both types, so it can be hard to tell which type someone is without access to their medical records. The only real difference with treatment is that type 1s will always have insulin injection of some form, whereas many type 2s can manage without.I find the whole type 1 and type 2 stuff very confusing, and many health professionals have questioned me being classed as type 2, but I am, and always have been.
I mix with type 1's who only inject once a day, slow acting stuff like lantus, whereas I'm a type 2 injecting 4 times a day, one dose of lantus and three of rapid.
I'm not overly sure what the difference is between 1 & 2, and the criteria, and opinions constantly change.
It is only this year that the health professionals have finally accepted what I and many other diabetics have been telling them for years ....... that even after many years of treatment, your pancreas will suddenly fire up again, usually only for one meal, but gosh does it catch you out when it does !
Flibble said:
Nigel Worc's said:
Not what I'm seeing, I seem to be mixing, in clinic, with many people in their 40's and 50's being diagnosed as type 1, although the clinics I attend will be for insulin dependant.
Even so the statistics are there - type 2 make up 90% of currently diagnosed diabetes cases. Are you sure those in their 40s and 50s are type 1? It's uncommon for it to develop that late in life.Or do you mean that there are 40 and 50 year old diabetics who have type 1 but aren't newly diagnosed?
I have assumed, but have no proof, that a lot of the type 2 number inceases are due to the lowering of the levels at which you ae classed as diabetic.
When I was diagnosed, at a GTC, you had to be above 13.5, I am now advised, this is 9.
At 9, I would have been diagnosed as a teenager, (due to family history, both myself and my siblings were watched rather closely, by parents and doctors), and of course the RAF took an interest when I applied to join.
I was very surprised to be joined by people in their 40's and 50's as type 1's, but I assure you, I have been.
I was introduced to managing diabetes whilst serving in the military, and the "training" I recieved there is not replicated, that I see, within the NHS, especially regarding the affects of alcohol, and teaching about hypo's.
I had hypo's induced, under controlled circumstances, so I could learn what they felt like to me, the different stages, and how to deal with them.
As a result, I have never needed to call for assistance, but having always had the thought in my head, that if something goes tits up for me, I can call 999 and have almost immediate assistance, I'm sorry this has now been replaced by "call for assistance and we'll have your driving licence away!"
On the very very rare occasions mine drop whilst I'm driving, I'm extremely careful about where I stop, and who is likely to come across me etc, which is not good.
Alucidnation said:
Whilst you may get "used" to what hypos feel like, as the body gets used to the insulin that is injected, over time you will loose all warning signs.
Then you will need to change type etc.
Not my experience to date.Then you will need to change type etc.
My experience to date is that, (since we've changed to synthetic insulin), my body gets used to the insulin, my sugar levels rise, I need more and more, then my team change the insulin type, and we start all over again.
I don't have many lo's, and I have never noticed a change in their feeling,at all, let alone dependant upon what insulin I'm taking.
Do others ?
I haven't heard what you've written before, and haven't met anyone that describes it, in your experience is it a common occurance ?
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