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Help & Contact
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What Is Superdrug Online Doctor?
We're a service that helps you order treatments online from UK-registered doctors with free, discreet, to-your-door deliveries.
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Type 2 Diabetes Treatment and Testing
Order Type 2 Diabetes Treatment and Testing Online
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects our bodies’ ability to process and store sugar correctly. There is no cure but it can be well managed by drugs such as metformin. This keeps blood sugar levels normal preventing any damage to the body.
Using a home test works in the following steps:
- Place an order and get your kit delivered to your door (delivery is free)
- Collect your sample by following the instructions in the test kit
- Send your samples to our UK-based, accredited partner laboratory (postage is free)
- Once your results are available (in 2 to 3 days), our doctors will review your results
- One of our doctors will contact you, via a secure and confidential message in your patient account, to let you know your results and give you advice and support on what to do next
Please note, where a generic product has been ordered we may use a range of manufacturers in order to provide you with your medication, in order to maintain our service levels.
Last reviewed: 7/11/2019 by Dr Clair Grainger
To place an order, fill in a brief questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your order and prescribe a treatment if suitable. Existing patients should login first.
| Medication | Pack Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Metformin 500mg SR | 56, 84, 168 tablets | from £20.00 |
| Metformin 500mg MR | 56, 84, 168 tablets | from £20.00 |
| Metformin 850mg SR | 84, 168 tablets | from £20.00 |
| Diabetes Test Kit | 1 test kit | £40.00 |
Click & Collect: FREE (available for next-day collection in Superdrug Pharmacies)
Next Day Delivery: £3.99
Dispensing and standard delivery included.
How our service works
Ordering test kits:
- Place your order
- Your test kit can be posted to you or collected in store
Ordering treatment:
- Answer a short questionnaire about your health and lifestyle
- Order treatment and make your payment
- Your order will be checked by a Superdrug Doctor
- If the order is right for you then it can be posted straight to you
- If your order is not right for you then your payment will be refunded
- Orders received before 4pm will be sent out the same day. Orders received after 4pm will be sent out the next working day
- Your treatment will be posted to you via your choice of first class or next day delivery
- This will be contactless delivery. Someone will need to be home to tell the courier that they can sign on your behalf or they won't be able to deliver your parcel.
- Your treatment will arrive in plain, discreet packaging
- Order & Collect (our same day in-store pick up service) is also available in all Superdrug stores
About type 2 diabetes
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a health condition related to how your body deals with sugar. Sugar is broken down in the stomach and enters the blood. A hormone, insulin, is produced to store any extra sugar for later on.
Type 2 diabetes:
- Is usually caused because the body no longer responds properly to insulin. Glucose (sugar) levels in the blood become too high. This can damage organs such as the heart, kidney, eyes and blood vessels
- Is often linked to being overweight or inactive
- Is a lifelong condition that usually gets worse over time. It can be managed at first through better diet and exercise and drugs such as metformin
- Usually starts later in life, with the chance of getting it becoming much higher when you’re over 40. However, with the rise of obesity in children it is becoming a more common problem in young people
- Does not always have symptoms at first. If it goes undiagnosed for over 5 years there are higher risks of further problems with the eyes, feet, hands, kidneys and heart. Which is why testing is so important
Am I having symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
The most common, early symptoms of type 2 diabetes are:
- Wanting to drink more
- Needing to pee more
- Being hungry even after eating
- Dry mouth
- Losing weight unexpectedly
- Getting more infections such as thrush or urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Cuts/wounds take longer to heal
- Feeling tired
- Headaches
- Eyesight problems such as blurred vision
- Sweet smelling urine
What can cause type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes can affect anyone but usually affects people are over 40.
Other things that can increase your risk are:
- Being Black-African, South-Asian or African-Caribbean. Diabetes can start earlier in these groups
- Having a direct relative (such as a sibling or parent) who has diabetes increases your risk by 6 times
- Having high blood pressure
- Being overweight or obese, particularly having high body fat around your waste
- Smoking and drinking
How do I get tested for treatment?
Early diagnosis is important for preventing damage to the body. You should be tested if you experience any symptoms or you’re one of those who has a higher risk of getting diabetes, and consider testing as part of a general health check.
You can get tested by ordering a home diabetes test kit. At Superdrug Online Doctor, we offer home testing for diabetes. You can order as long as you’re over 18 and you can check to see if you need to think about starting treatment, or if you want to see how well your current treatment is working. The way it works is, you take a pin-prick blood sample to test your blood sugar levels. You send both samples to our lab and your results will be ready, in your account, after 2-3 days, along with advice from a Superdrug online doctor.
Type 2 diabetes can often have no symptoms but still be causing damage to your body. If left undiagnosed it can result in complications that can seriously affect your health. So, it’s important to regularly get tested if you’re at risk.
How do I start treatment?
You will need to go through your GP to start your diabetes treatment. Treatment has to be prescribed at first by your doctor but you can then be reorder it online through Superdrug Online Doctor.
You will still need to get regular diabetes check ups at your GP surgery to make sure your treatment is keeping your diabetes under control.
How do I reorder treatment online?
To order online you need to:
- Be over 18
- have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes from a doctor
- have been taking the same dosage of metformin for at least 6 months
You also need to have had the following in the last 6 months:
- A blood sugar test (HbA1c)
- A diabetic check with a GP/nurse
- A kidney function (with eGFR>44) test
To order, follow the 'how to order' steps in the 'how our service works' section above.
What type 2 diabetes treatments can I get?
Type 2 diabetes can be treated using medications to help control your blood sugar levels. There are a number of options and your GP will help you decide on the best one for you.
If you are prescribed metformin tablets, Superdrug Online Doctor can help you with repeat orders for your medication.
You can also order treatments for some of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including high blood pressure and quit smoking medications.
Other treatments for type 2 diabetes, such as insulin pens, are not currently available through Superdrug Online Doctor.
Side effects of type 2 diabetes treatment
All medications can cause side effects. With metformin these can include:
- Stomach problems like bloating, pain, heartburn, diarrhoea, vomiting, feeling sick, gas and constipation
- Headaches
- Weight loss
- A metallic taste in the mouth
Talk to your GP if you do experience any side effects. They will be able to help you manage them or find an alternative treatment if necessary.
Sources
Diabetes UK. What is Type 2 Diabetes. [online]. The British Diabetes Association. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/type-2-diabetes [accessed 7th August 2020].
NHS (2017). What is Type 2 Diabetes. [online]. NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-2-diabetes/ [accessed 16th November 2018].
To place an order, fill in a brief questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your order and prescribe a treatment if suitable. Existing patients should login first.