Lucy
I agree that this is a really scary experience. I was in a foreign country, symptomatic, confused, dangerously high blood pressure. I was terrified but managed to realise what the likely problem was and asked specifically for the test. I had had diabetes for months, with a level of 10.3% and bs 258. My GP here in Melbourne had only ever had his nurse test my urine for ...something ...to indicate that there might be an issue. There never was anything. The eventual diagnosis was terrifying for me. Fortunately this happened in Bangkok but as I travel frequently it could just have easily been Peru or Mongolia. I dread to think what might have happened.
This was the first site I found after my diagnosis and I found it enormously helpful. I particularly wanted information, the more the better, from those who actively manage their disease.
I do take your point about information overload but I did find such valuable advice in respect of carbs. Had I based ny diet on the Australian guidelines ( " your meals need to be based on high fibre carbohydrate foods such as wholegrain breads and cereals, dried beans, lentils, starchy vegetables anf fruits"), I would still be having high readings.
cheers
I agree that this is a really scary experience. I was in a foreign country, symptomatic, confused, dangerously high blood pressure. I was terrified but managed to realise what the likely problem was and asked specifically for the test. I had had diabetes for months, with a level of 10.3% and bs 258. My GP here in Melbourne had only ever had his nurse test my urine for ...something ...to indicate that there might be an issue. There never was anything. The eventual diagnosis was terrifying for me. Fortunately this happened in Bangkok but as I travel frequently it could just have easily been Peru or Mongolia. I dread to think what might have happened.
This was the first site I found after my diagnosis and I found it enormously helpful. I particularly wanted information, the more the better, from those who actively manage their disease.
I do take your point about information overload but I did find such valuable advice in respect of carbs. Had I based ny diet on the Australian guidelines ( " your meals need to be based on high fibre carbohydrate foods such as wholegrain breads and cereals, dried beans, lentils, starchy vegetables anf fruits"), I would still be having high readings.
cheers