Hi, I've recently been diagnosed after a shadow on my eye turned out to be a swollen optic nerve which led to the testing and diagnosis . I've been given metaformin to take each day but thats all I've had from the doctor so far , no explanations or details of what my sugar readings were etc! Was told to make an appointment as a new diabetic patient so hopefully I'll get more info there , but that's not for another 5 weeks so I'm feeling a bit shell shocked and floundering !! I've read some of the forums and looking at the low calorie 8 week approach to get it under control , but can I do that while taking the tablets? Should I be monitoring, what do I monitor for ? Any help and guidance gratefully recieved
Newly diagnosed
- Thread starter sanation99
- Start Date
mouseee
Well-Known Member
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- 688
Welcome. This is a fab place to find out answers to all your questions.
First, don't panic. Things will become clearer as you go.
Try and get your hba1c results from the drs. It could be your numbers are just in the diabetic range and will be fairly easy to reduce. If you can get hold of them before an appointment you will know more about how much you'll need to do.
Many people on here are managing T2 using a low carb approach rather than low calorie. It's the carbs in food that cause blood sugar to rise.
A blood glucose monitor is invaluable. Test at first mouthful of a meal and then 2 hours after it. Others will give more advice on that.
First, don't panic. Things will become clearer as you go.
Try and get your hba1c results from the drs. It could be your numbers are just in the diabetic range and will be fairly easy to reduce. If you can get hold of them before an appointment you will know more about how much you'll need to do.
Many people on here are managing T2 using a low carb approach rather than low calorie. It's the carbs in food that cause blood sugar to rise.
A blood glucose monitor is invaluable. Test at first mouthful of a meal and then 2 hours after it. Others will give more advice on that.
Welcome to the forum @sanation99. Tagging @Rachox who has information re blood glucose meters, and you might find this link written by a forum member helpful https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html
LivingLightly
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,779
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Evening @sanation99 and welcome.
Are you familiar with your GP surgery's website? If your recent HbA1c result is not available online, I'd give your GP practice a bell. A receptionist should be able to read the result to you over the phone.
The HbA1c test is a cell count, not 100% accurate, but very close. I'd keep a record of this number because it's an important benchmark.
An HbA1c result under 43 mmol/mol is considered normal, 43 to 48 is classed as pre-diabetic, while a reading over 48 is diabetic.
You can also monitor your blood glucose levels at home using a meter and test strips. @Rachox has details of the meters and strips available.
Are you familiar with your GP surgery's website? If your recent HbA1c result is not available online, I'd give your GP practice a bell. A receptionist should be able to read the result to you over the phone.
The HbA1c test is a cell count, not 100% accurate, but very close. I'd keep a record of this number because it's an important benchmark.
An HbA1c result under 43 mmol/mol is considered normal, 43 to 48 is classed as pre-diabetic, while a reading over 48 is diabetic.
You can also monitor your blood glucose levels at home using a meter and test strips. @Rachox has details of the meters and strips available.
- Messages
- 15,913
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi @sanation99 and welcome to the forum you have received some good advice already. Thanks for the tag ps @Hopeful34 and @LivingLightly , here’s some info with links for UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.
HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews.
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/
Links to the strips for future orders:
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/
Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular:
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793
The strips are to be found here:
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097
If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.
Don’t forget to check the box if you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)
HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews.
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/
Links to the strips for future orders:
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/
Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular:
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793
The strips are to be found here:
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097
If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.
Don’t forget to check the box if you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)
