Pharmacists have challenged charity Diabetes UK's claim that health authorities are rationing blood glucose testing strips to save money and argued that supply is dependent on individual patients' circumstances.

Pharmacists told C+D that, although the strips were vital for patients with type 1 diabetes, they were not always necessary for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Their comments were in response to Diabetes UK's claims that patients' lives were at risk because they were being "denied the chance" to monitor their blood glucose levels.  

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	A Diabetes UK survey carried out in March and published last week (August 1) found that 39 per cent of 2,236 diabetes patients – 42 per cent of whom had type 2 diabetes – had been refused a prescription for the strips or had it restricted by GPs.

Of those patients, 24 per cent were told by their GP that the decision was due to guidelines issued by their local clinical commissioning group, NHS boards or local health boards, according to the survey.

Rob Davies, pharmacist and prescribing team leader for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales, argued that the idea that strips were being rationed to save money was a "misunderstanding".

Type 2 diabetes patients who were using insulin needed to self-test regularly; however, those using metformin, pioglitazone or other non-sulphonylurea drugs were less prone to hypoglycaemic episodes and therefore needed to test less frequently, Mr Davies argued. Diabetes UK highlighted that it wastype 1 diabetes patients and type 2 diabetes patients on insulin they were concerned about.

Mahendra Patel, pharmacist and chair of the South Asian Health Foundation's cardiovascular group, agreed that the strips were "not valuable in any way" to type 2 diabetes patients who were not on insulin. It was "not just about giving strips out", but ensuring patients had enough understanding about their glucose levels, Dr Patel argued.  

Diabetes UK's survey followed a letter to healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, from the Department of Health in February, which stressed the importance of prescribing "sufficient strips" for the clinical needs of type 1 diabetes patients.

NHS England told C+D last week that Nice recommended the strips for type 2 diabetes patients as part of a "wider self-management package".

The strips were the fifth most costly treatment dispensed on the NHS in 2011, costing £156.4 million, according to NHS figures.

Have you been aware of blood glucose strips being rationed in your area? Comment below or email us at [email protected] You can also find C+D on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook