NHS England is consulting on restricting prescribing glucose test strips for people with Type 2 diabetes and prefilled insulin pen needles for all people with diabetes over a certain cost – have your say

When you have diabetes, these items aren’t an optional extra. They’re vital to help you manage your diabetes and for avoiding complications. In the consultation document, NHS England have said that the intention is not to deprescribe these items, but to consider cheaper alternatives.

Why we're concerned

We're concerned that these alternatives might not be as effective as the more expensive options people are currently using.

The choice of test strips and needles should be made through a joint decision between you and your diabetes doctor. This helps ensure that life with diabetes is as painless and easy as possible. The new proposals outlined in the consultation document could impact this.

Dan Howarth, our Head of Care, said: 

“Everyone’s diabetes and diabetes management is different, and it’s vital that the outcome of NHS England’s consultation takes into account individual preferences and the importance of choice, not just cost effectiveness.”

What we're doing

We want to be sure that the needs and views of people living with diabetes are represented in any final decisions made as a result of the consultation. We'll be submitting an official consultation response to NHS England, which will be informed by the views of people with diabetes.

We're encouraging people living with diabetes to have their say in the consultation, and make clear to NHS England what this could mean for you. We've got more information about the needles and test strips likely to be restricted if this proposal were to go ahead.

Nikki Joule, our Policy Manager, said:                          

“This consultation proposes prescribing cheaper blood glucose testing strips for people with Type 2 diabetes and restricting the variety of insulin pen needles available on prescription for people with diabetes. We will work together with people with diabetes to make the case that these are important medical supplies and that the views of people with diabetes are at the heart of any final decision.”

You can make your voice heard by responding to the NHS England survey or by going to one of the consultation events that NHS England are running in Leeds, London and Birmingham, starting on the 22nd January. Remember, the survey and consultation close on 28th February.

Have your say

If you want to share your views on the proposal, get in touch with us at policy@diabetes.org.uk

Needles which could be restricted

Here's a list of needles which, at time of writing, could be restricted due to current price if the proposals made in consultation are approved.

Test strips which could be restricted

Here's a list of glucose testing strips which, at the time of writing, could be restricted due to current price if the proposals made in the consultation are approved.

• Active testing strips (Roche Diabetes Care Ltd)
• Aviva testing strips (Roche Diabetes Care Ltd)
• BGStar testing strips (Sanofi)
• Betachek C59 cassette (National Diagnostics Product)
• Betachek G5 testing strips (National Diagnostics Product)
• Breeze 2 testing disc (Bayer Plc)
• CareSens N testing strip (Spirit healthcare)
• Compact testing strips (Roche Diabetes care Ltd)
• Contour Next testing strips (Bayer Diagnostics Manufacturing Ltd)
• Dario testing strips (LabStyle Innovations limited)
• FreestyleLite testing strips (Abbott Laboratories Ltd)
• Freestyle Optium testing strips (Abbott Laboratories Ltd)
• Freestyle testing strips (Abbott Laboratories Ltd)
• GlucoDock testing strips (Medisana Healthcare (UK) Ltd)
• GlucoMen LX Sensor testing strips (A. Menarini Diagnostics Ltd)
• IME-DC testing strips (Arctic Medical Ltd)
• MODZ testing strips (Modz Oy)  
• MediSense SoftSense testing strips (Abbott Laboratories Ltd)
• MediTouch 2 testing strips (Medisana Healthcare (UK) Ltd)
• MediTouch testing strips (Medisana Healthcare (UK) Ltd)
• Mendor Discreet testing strips (SpringMed Solutions Ltd)
• Myglucohealth testing strips (Entra Health Systems Ltd)
• On-Call Advanced testing strips (Point Of Care Testing Ltd)
• OneTouch Verio testing strips (LifeScan)
• OneTouch Vita testing strips (LifeScan)
• Sensocard testing strips (BBI Healthcare Ltd)
• TRUEresult testing strips (Nipro Diagnostics (UK) Ltd)
• TrueTrack System testing strips (Nipro Diagnostics (UK) Ltd)
• eBchek testing strips (IRASCO Ltd)
• palmdoc iCare Advanced Solo testing strips (Palmdoc Ltd)

Unpriced test strips which could be restricted

Accu-Chek Inform II testing strips (Roche Diagnostics Ltd)

FreeStyle Optium H testing strips (Abbott Laboratories Ltd)

StatStrip testing strips (Nova Biomedical)

Xceed Precision Pro testing strips (Abbott Laboratories Ltd)

Have your say