Well, I went to GP a few weeks ago because I was struggling to get my BG down. She referred me to the another Dr who specialises in diabetes. He put me onto one gliclazide a day on top of the 2 metformin slow release. I did my research here about the importance of ME BEING IN CONTROL and getting to know what foods raise my BG before I saw him. Anyway, the conversation came around to the testing and he told me that as T2 I do not have to test. Now, I did not want to go in all guns blazing, so I kept my cool and pointed out that he has just prescribed me the gliclazide which is known to cause hypo's, so I would HAVE to test to watch out for that. He then said, OK, but I would only have to test when I feel unwell, so therefore do not need to have more than 50 strips a year. He also said that testing too much will cause damage to my fingers, make me more stressed about readings and the rest of the "script" that GP's recite. I know this because a few of my friends who are T2 have been told the exact same thing. I did not push the issue right then because I could sense he was getting a bit irrate. I had my meter with me and showed him my average fasting reading over 3 months was 12.5. He said .. well it has improved because at the last consultation with diabetic nurse it was 17. I said that is all fair and well, but there have been many times inbetween the 6 monthly Hba1c test when I have had BG readings in the high 20's. The result has been constant raging fungal, and bacterial infections requiring medication. The vicious circle of having antibiotics which in turn trigger the fungal infections. I could see I was not going to get anywhere , so I thought I would leave it and take another course of "action" ...( Sometimes getting the medical profession to see sense is like trying to f@rt against a hurricane.) So, instead of buying my own anti fungal pills, lotions and potions, anti Diarrhea pills , cream for the dry skin, antibacterial shower cream etc which was setting me back a small fortune, I started ringing the surgery for emergency appointments to see a dr. I think the break through was today when I phoned the surgery to see a Dr because I have such bad thrush not only in the "lady" bits, but around the breasts and erm .. bottom. It has been established that the thrush is most prob not just an External problem.. ie all the external preparations ... cream , vaginal tablets is just relieving the symptoms rather than dealing with the cause. High bloods has resulted in thirst which means drinking lots of water - which means more trips to the loo -which feels like passing shards of glass and inbetween that all, the desire to have a brillo pad insitu to deal with the horrific itchiness ( scuse the graphicness, but I am sure many girls and even boys can relate LOL ) Thankfully the "specialist diabetes dr" was not available so I saw a lovely nurse. I went armed with print outs of my modified diet, all the prescriptions for the meds that I have needed to combat the effects of hypers, a letter confirming my placement on the next X-PERT course - and most important the information I have got from here regarding the NICE guidelines for prescribing strips for T2 diabetics to help self management.
The result of my visit to Dr today was a brand new BG meter, a prescription for 50 strips and the information that T2 diabetics particularily on gliclazide ARE entitled to prescriptions for the test strips because as mentioned before gliclazide can cause HYPOS. Now, as yet I have not been able to secure a REPEAT script for the strips, but will be seeing DN for 6 monthly thing on the 28th and will be armed with proof that I have been trying my darndest to be a "compliant" diabetic who is trying to monitor foods that cause the high BG to know what to avoid, and the ONLY WAY to achieve this is by regular self monitoring to weed out the foods that raise BG levels ( I have discovered that we are all different when it comes to tolerance of various foods.... ie some people can tolerate porrige and in others it can cause a spike in BG. I have had the lowest ever BG reading 2 hours after a brekkie of bacon done in microwave and mushrooms done in butter mixed with 2 scrambled eggs ( no toast ) . It was surprisingly filling, in that I did not feel hungry an hour later.
In hindsight, my experience of initial diagnosis was a matter of watch my cholesterol , alcohol, and sugar intake and make an appointment every 6 months for a fasting blood test then another one a week later to discuss the results with a DN. No one told me that there are courses you can go to that helps to explain things relating to how diabetes affects your body, how what you eat DOES make a difference and WHY, and general things that help self management AND that you may be able to get discount at some gym's if referred by GP.... excercise DOES make a difference and unfortunately the cost of gym does prohibit people like myself on a tight budget who lacks self discipline to do my own excercise regime. To be honest,for me, the diagnosis was devastating because it does mean a change in diet and lifestyle, it is a whole new world of UNDERSTANDING food labels, let alone trying to follow them. erm ... bla bla grams of carbs per 100g .. of which is sugar ????
SORRY, This topic has unintentionally "evolved" ( and become quite long winded ) from being about the victory of getting a prescription for another 50 test strips within weeks of the last one, but I do think that there may be some people who feel the same way that I do, and I hope that some folks will be encouraged to do research and use the information on this site that is largely based on PERSONAL experience rather than white papers, scientific stuff from "learned"" professionals who have actually NOT experienced trying to live with diabetes as a LIFESTYLE.
I have discovered that knowledge = self empowerment.
The result of my visit to Dr today was a brand new BG meter, a prescription for 50 strips and the information that T2 diabetics particularily on gliclazide ARE entitled to prescriptions for the test strips because as mentioned before gliclazide can cause HYPOS. Now, as yet I have not been able to secure a REPEAT script for the strips, but will be seeing DN for 6 monthly thing on the 28th and will be armed with proof that I have been trying my darndest to be a "compliant" diabetic who is trying to monitor foods that cause the high BG to know what to avoid, and the ONLY WAY to achieve this is by regular self monitoring to weed out the foods that raise BG levels ( I have discovered that we are all different when it comes to tolerance of various foods.... ie some people can tolerate porrige and in others it can cause a spike in BG. I have had the lowest ever BG reading 2 hours after a brekkie of bacon done in microwave and mushrooms done in butter mixed with 2 scrambled eggs ( no toast ) . It was surprisingly filling, in that I did not feel hungry an hour later.
In hindsight, my experience of initial diagnosis was a matter of watch my cholesterol , alcohol, and sugar intake and make an appointment every 6 months for a fasting blood test then another one a week later to discuss the results with a DN. No one told me that there are courses you can go to that helps to explain things relating to how diabetes affects your body, how what you eat DOES make a difference and WHY, and general things that help self management AND that you may be able to get discount at some gym's if referred by GP.... excercise DOES make a difference and unfortunately the cost of gym does prohibit people like myself on a tight budget who lacks self discipline to do my own excercise regime. To be honest,for me, the diagnosis was devastating because it does mean a change in diet and lifestyle, it is a whole new world of UNDERSTANDING food labels, let alone trying to follow them. erm ... bla bla grams of carbs per 100g .. of which is sugar ????
SORRY, This topic has unintentionally "evolved" ( and become quite long winded ) from being about the victory of getting a prescription for another 50 test strips within weeks of the last one, but I do think that there may be some people who feel the same way that I do, and I hope that some folks will be encouraged to do research and use the information on this site that is largely based on PERSONAL experience rather than white papers, scientific stuff from "learned"" professionals who have actually NOT experienced trying to live with diabetes as a LIFESTYLE.
I have discovered that knowledge = self empowerment.
Persistence and sound reason can pay dividends rather than as you say 'all gun's blazing !' 