Hi,I was diagnosed with Type 2 8 weeks ago.I was sent home with a pamphlet(which the practice nurse wants back!)a prescription for Metformin and told I'd be going to see the nurse every six months.I also have Peripheral Neuropathy and Adhesive Arachnoiditis,caused by the Myodil dye in my spine.I'm on quite a cocktail of Meds and when I was admitted to Hospital 6 weeks ago with a severe Angina attack I was asked how often I test myself for the Diabetes!I explained that the Nurse had told me not to waste my money getting one of those testers and that I didn't need to do it!they were quite surprised by this at the Hospital and I had a test three times a day whilst I was in.I had to go and see the Podiatryst last week who again was surprised I didn't test myself,especially as my Neuropathy is really bad at the moment and I'm finding it hard to walk at and the pain in my feet is stopping me from getting any sleep.What I really want to know is,should I get a tester from my Chemist or not bother.I'm finding it a bit difficult knowing what to do ,especially as the Neuro Consultant at the Hospital told me that because I have Diabetes Type 2,I won't have to see him anymore because he says it's the Diabetes thats causing the Neuropathy and not the Arachnoiditis,so I should now be under the Diabetes Clinic,but I'm not under anyone and feel literaly out on a limb!!This is why I've just joined this Forum.I hope I haven't ranted on but I really am getting down and don't know what I do next.Thanks.Ginnie x
To test or not!
- Thread starter Ginnie48
- Start Date
Yes you do need to test, how are you supposed to tell which foods are effecting you if you dont, tell your nurse to give you a meter and get strips on perscription.
I've just been put on tablets and I have a prescription now for strips.
BTW as you are now on tablets you are exempt with regards the paying of prescription fees.
If she doesnt listen go and see your doctor.
This is what you need to achieve.
Fasting (waking) ...............between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals...............no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
I've just been put on tablets and I have a prescription now for strips.
BTW as you are now on tablets you are exempt with regards the paying of prescription fees.
If she doesnt listen go and see your doctor.
This is what you need to achieve.
Fasting (waking) ...............between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals...............no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
Hi
For me testing is a must. I'm recently diagnosed but have just discovered that exercising with high bg is not recomended. I picked up a cold which sent my bg to over 16 but before the symptoms came out I went for a walk which sent my bg to 26. On research in the US they don't recommend exercise if bg is over 14 if what I read is correct. Without testing I would still be in the dark and not in control.
Smarner
For me testing is a must. I'm recently diagnosed but have just discovered that exercising with high bg is not recomended. I picked up a cold which sent my bg to over 16 but before the symptoms came out I went for a walk which sent my bg to 26. On research in the US they don't recommend exercise if bg is over 14 if what I read is correct. Without testing I would still be in the dark and not in control.
Smarner
cocacola
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 330
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- celery, not eating chocolate
Hi Ginnie,
I wouldn't bother going back to the nurse, I would ask to see your GP. Ask your GP to refer you to the diabetes clinic at your local hospital.
Also ask your GP to give you a monitor and prescribe the test strips and lancets on prescription.
You can also be refered to an education programme to learn more about diabetes, referral is through your GP, DSN or diabetes clinic.
http://www.dafne.uk.com/type_how_to_access_course.php
I went on a course (don't think it was Dafne) at my local diabetes centre for my area.
I also suggest that with your symptoms, I would consider putting in a claim for disability living allowance
I have recently started testing and feel much better knowing that my BG are improving. It has given me the incentive to try a little harder with my diet :mrgreen:
In meantime before getting to see your GP, you can buy a meter direct from Bayer with 25 strips for as little as £10.50 http://www.bayerdiabetes.co.uk/shop/sho ... aspx?PID=1
My friend recommended a Contour and I gave Bayer a ring and they sent me one out for free :mrgreen:
If the line is engaged leave your number and they will ring you back.
You can also buy a meter from as little as £7 (only 10 strips though) in your local Asda pharmacy.
Good luck Ginnie and I feel the more you learn about your diabetes, the more in control you will be.
Please let us know how you get on.
I wouldn't bother going back to the nurse, I would ask to see your GP. Ask your GP to refer you to the diabetes clinic at your local hospital.
Also ask your GP to give you a monitor and prescribe the test strips and lancets on prescription.
You can also be refered to an education programme to learn more about diabetes, referral is through your GP, DSN or diabetes clinic.
http://www.dafne.uk.com/type_how_to_access_course.php
I went on a course (don't think it was Dafne) at my local diabetes centre for my area.
I also suggest that with your symptoms, I would consider putting in a claim for disability living allowance
I have recently started testing and feel much better knowing that my BG are improving. It has given me the incentive to try a little harder with my diet :mrgreen:
In meantime before getting to see your GP, you can buy a meter direct from Bayer with 25 strips for as little as £10.50 http://www.bayerdiabetes.co.uk/shop/sho ... aspx?PID=1
My friend recommended a Contour and I gave Bayer a ring and they sent me one out for free :mrgreen:
If the line is engaged leave your number and they will ring you back.
You can also buy a meter from as little as £7 (only 10 strips though) in your local Asda pharmacy.
Good luck Ginnie and I feel the more you learn about your diabetes, the more in control you will be.
Please let us know how you get on.
Ginnie
I find myself utterly speechless at your story, because, unfortunately, it sounds all too familiar.
Let me explain a bit about my own circumstances in the hope that it will assist you.
Ginnie, I too was diagnosed with a peripheral neuropathy and then indeed MS several years ago. This followed the symptoms of numbness in my legs and intermittent shakiness and pains in my legs, along with shakiness in my arms and hands and overheating, which comes and goes, sporadically (or so I thought).
I was sent off to Neurologists when I told my GP of these symptoms and had a battery of tests including numerous MRI brain and spine, lumbar puncture (gold standard test for MS) and nerve studies. The upshot was that all the tests were normal although this does not rule out the possibility of MS and I was told this was the cause of my symptoms along with Peripheral Neuropathy and that nothing could be done for me.
I sought a number of different opinions, whom all disagreed that I had MS and indeed several eminent MS specialists said I should be tested for other things (including...get this....disorders of metabolism) and that my symptoms were atypical for MS. Anyway, my doctor ignored this letter and decided to just label me as an MS patient anyway despite him being told by numerous parties that an open mind was needed, along with further tests.
Fast forward to today and in recent time I had lost 21 lbs, could not stop going to the toilet, especially at night, am constantly thirsty and hungry and have now actually noted that there is a pattern to this shakiness and feeling hot and that by using a blood sugar metre I can spot correlation between my bg levels, my food and the symptoms. It is impossible to say at the moment whether or not this is down to diabetes but certainly my readings are in the borderline range, before also factoring in the correction of lab tests over metre readings.
I may be way off the mark here but could it be that your peripheral neuropathy and other "neuro" pathology is actually the result of undiagnosed and indeed untreated diabetes, for a long time, as I understand that peripheral neuropathy is in fact a complication of diabetes. I would suggest that you find out more information about the neuropathy side as it may be that had you been diagnosed with diabetes earlier, this could have been avoided, that is, if the neuropathy is definitely a complication of unmanaged diabetes, and not a result of something entirely different. You won't get an answer on that from the medical community as that would be them admitting liability, but I would certainly, in your shoes, consider your options in this regard.
With regards to testing, again, I find myself astonished that the diabetes clinicians you are seeing have not properly familiarised you with the appropriate means by which to test and manage your condition. Of course you should be entitled to a metre, test strips and all the bits and bobs, so that you can check your bg and begin to understand which foods do what to it and how to monitor and get your blood glucose levels under control. If you do nothing and it is left simply unmanaged, there are of course serious implications in doing so, in that potential complications can result in the long term, of which, peripheral neuropathy is one, amongst many others!! I do not want to frighten you of course, but please go and do some reading about the complications and the implications of not managing the condition.
Quite frankly, I think you need to see your GP and raise formal concerns over the lack of information you have been given so far about how to manage your diabetes. It is utterly scandalous what has happened with no advice or assistance being given to you about testing and even asking you to return a pamphlet is farcical. It sounds to me like you need a new diabetes team and to start again and promptly! The way you have been treated so far is simply not acceptable, in fact, it is disgraceful!
Unfortunately, like you, I am in the position of having believed for several years that my symptoms were due to neurological causes, when in fact, it now appears (and of course this may be wrong) but it appears on the face of it, that endocrinology is the specialty I should have been referred to in the first place. It simply beggars belief, like you, I don't quite know how to proceed at the moment as my GP completely refuses to consider the possibility that I need to see someone other than a Neurologist!
I find myself utterly speechless at your story, because, unfortunately, it sounds all too familiar.
Let me explain a bit about my own circumstances in the hope that it will assist you.
Ginnie, I too was diagnosed with a peripheral neuropathy and then indeed MS several years ago. This followed the symptoms of numbness in my legs and intermittent shakiness and pains in my legs, along with shakiness in my arms and hands and overheating, which comes and goes, sporadically (or so I thought).
I was sent off to Neurologists when I told my GP of these symptoms and had a battery of tests including numerous MRI brain and spine, lumbar puncture (gold standard test for MS) and nerve studies. The upshot was that all the tests were normal although this does not rule out the possibility of MS and I was told this was the cause of my symptoms along with Peripheral Neuropathy and that nothing could be done for me.
I sought a number of different opinions, whom all disagreed that I had MS and indeed several eminent MS specialists said I should be tested for other things (including...get this....disorders of metabolism) and that my symptoms were atypical for MS. Anyway, my doctor ignored this letter and decided to just label me as an MS patient anyway despite him being told by numerous parties that an open mind was needed, along with further tests.
Fast forward to today and in recent time I had lost 21 lbs, could not stop going to the toilet, especially at night, am constantly thirsty and hungry and have now actually noted that there is a pattern to this shakiness and feeling hot and that by using a blood sugar metre I can spot correlation between my bg levels, my food and the symptoms. It is impossible to say at the moment whether or not this is down to diabetes but certainly my readings are in the borderline range, before also factoring in the correction of lab tests over metre readings.
I may be way off the mark here but could it be that your peripheral neuropathy and other "neuro" pathology is actually the result of undiagnosed and indeed untreated diabetes, for a long time, as I understand that peripheral neuropathy is in fact a complication of diabetes. I would suggest that you find out more information about the neuropathy side as it may be that had you been diagnosed with diabetes earlier, this could have been avoided, that is, if the neuropathy is definitely a complication of unmanaged diabetes, and not a result of something entirely different. You won't get an answer on that from the medical community as that would be them admitting liability, but I would certainly, in your shoes, consider your options in this regard.
With regards to testing, again, I find myself astonished that the diabetes clinicians you are seeing have not properly familiarised you with the appropriate means by which to test and manage your condition. Of course you should be entitled to a metre, test strips and all the bits and bobs, so that you can check your bg and begin to understand which foods do what to it and how to monitor and get your blood glucose levels under control. If you do nothing and it is left simply unmanaged, there are of course serious implications in doing so, in that potential complications can result in the long term, of which, peripheral neuropathy is one, amongst many others!! I do not want to frighten you of course, but please go and do some reading about the complications and the implications of not managing the condition.
Quite frankly, I think you need to see your GP and raise formal concerns over the lack of information you have been given so far about how to manage your diabetes. It is utterly scandalous what has happened with no advice or assistance being given to you about testing and even asking you to return a pamphlet is farcical. It sounds to me like you need a new diabetes team and to start again and promptly! The way you have been treated so far is simply not acceptable, in fact, it is disgraceful!
Unfortunately, like you, I am in the position of having believed for several years that my symptoms were due to neurological causes, when in fact, it now appears (and of course this may be wrong) but it appears on the face of it, that endocrinology is the specialty I should have been referred to in the first place. It simply beggars belief, like you, I don't quite know how to proceed at the moment as my GP completely refuses to consider the possibility that I need to see someone other than a Neurologist!
If your on medication the test strips and lancets are free. Also if you do a simple search on the internet there are several free bg machines being offered.
Hi Ginnie,
Obviously you are in the hands of the postcode lottery and being refused test strips is part of it.
Seek the help of the Consultants involved in your care and ask them to write to your GP on your behalf.
If you can afford it then I would get a meter and test strips and hopefully your G.P. will relent when the Consultants get in touch.
Trying to manage diabetes without the essential tools is like trying to drive a car with no steering wheel.
Catherine.
Obviously you are in the hands of the postcode lottery and being refused test strips is part of it.
Seek the help of the Consultants involved in your care and ask them to write to your GP on your behalf.
If you can afford it then I would get a meter and test strips and hopefully your G.P. will relent when the Consultants get in touch.
Trying to manage diabetes without the essential tools is like trying to drive a car with no steering wheel.
Catherine.
viv1969 said:
It is. Honest.
My nurse asked one question - do you drive? Getting a positive answer she said that I should, at the very least, always test before driving and at least every two hours if I was driving long distance.
You see, it is a legal requirement that you are fit to drive. To ensure you are fit to drive you need to test. This is true regardless of the level of treatment you are on.
A close friend of mine was refused testing gear but his surgery soon changed their tune when he pointed out the above.
Hi glosman,
I see from your profile that you use insulin. You have to be able to test when driving when using insulin.
Read through the forum and you will see that test strips are being refused to many type 2's. It is a postcode lottery.
Catherine.
I see from your profile that you use insulin. You have to be able to test when driving when using insulin.
Read through the forum and you will see that test strips are being refused to many type 2's. It is a postcode lottery.
Catherine.
Catherine is Right!
insulin users should test before driving.that is enough to get you a prescription for strips.
I, as a non-insulin user, Cannot have them. My PCT has said so. I've tried several ways of getting through to them and all I get is the same old guff about its not being necessary.
So I buy them. The easiest and often the cheapest place to g3et them is direct from the suppliers. I go to Abbott Diabetes Care, who provide an excellent service.
Hana
insulin users should test before driving.that is enough to get you a prescription for strips.
I, as a non-insulin user, Cannot have them. My PCT has said so. I've tried several ways of getting through to them and all I get is the same old guff about its not being necessary.
So I buy them. The easiest and often the cheapest place to g3et them is direct from the suppliers. I go to Abbott Diabetes Care, who provide an excellent service.
Hana
I was diagnosed with T2 in July 2009. My HBa1C then was 9.8% and a new life with Merformin, less suger, low carb, more exercise and test strips started. I tested BG several times a'day to find out what I could and could not eat. In September the HBa1c was down to 7.8% and in December 6.1%. I understood I was on the right track and stopped BG testing completely. 2 months later, in February my HBa1c was 5.9% . I learned a lot during my 5-6 months of testing and I hope that I don't have to start again. My conlusion is that once you are in control you don't need to test BG. A yearly HBa1c test should be enough
//karl eric
//karl eric
Sid Bonkers
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,976
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Customer helplines that use recorded menus that promise to put me through to the right person but never do - and being ill. Oh, and did I mention customer helplines :)
Still seems odd to me that NICE can recommend that T2's stay within a tightish pre and post meal range (as posted above by Janieb) and then recommend that Doctors dont prescribe the only tool that will help T2's achieve those numbers. ie test strips.
Sounds bonkers to me :lol:
Sounds bonkers to me :lol:
Hello, all. I am 66 years old female and new to this forum. My mother had type 2 diabetes for more than 60 years, and died recently at the age of 91. Long life, yes, but filled with all types of complications that arose from diabetes.
I myself have "impaired fasting glucose" (hba1c 6.1 - 6.5) and have not been diagnosed as a diabetic - yet, and am determined to keep it this way. I self test every morning, sometimes with a "blood glucose meter" and sometimes with the "plasma glucose meter", depending on the strips that I currently have. My problem is the difference between the readings on these two meters is so great, e.g 5.9 on the bg meter and then 6.9 on the pg meter. I don't know what to do and every nurse even doctor that i talked to, assured me that it's normal. Where do I go from here? Shall I carry on testing?
I myself have "impaired fasting glucose" (hba1c 6.1 - 6.5) and have not been diagnosed as a diabetic - yet, and am determined to keep it this way. I self test every morning, sometimes with a "blood glucose meter" and sometimes with the "plasma glucose meter", depending on the strips that I currently have. My problem is the difference between the readings on these two meters is so great, e.g 5.9 on the bg meter and then 6.9 on the pg meter. I don't know what to do and every nurse even doctor that i talked to, assured me that it's normal. Where do I go from here? Shall I carry on testing?
Helen
Not to put too fine a point on it - your doctors are full of sh*t.
A reading of 7 or above on the plasma glucose meter (on which you are reading 6.9) is so close to diabetes that they should be doing something to assist you in getting your bg down, even if it's simple diet advice for now. I believe that anything at 7 or above, with symptoms, constitutes the criteria for a diagnosis and they may repeat the blood test on another day to confirm the results. If your GP is saying 6.9 is normal, in essence, he is being a pedant by sticking so rigidly to the numbers game and using the numbers to HIS advantage (financially) rather than yours. You're .1 away from a formal diabetes diagnosis with family history of diabetes for christ's sake!
Either go back and insist on better help or get another GP. You could do what I did which is, before registering with another GP, I called up a new one (not sure if you're in UK or not) and asked if I could have an informal chat with them first to see if they would be committed to taking me as a patient as I felt that my existing GP was not really acting in my interest. New GP was fab and even advised me that I should actually write to the PCT and complain about old GP!!
Anyway, yes, there are other diagnostic tests for diabetes and it is not uncommon, not at all, for the fasting test to be either on the borderline or not even in the impaired range at all, but the other tests to show higher figures. Ask for the glucose tolerance test, where you fast overnight, get a blood done then drink 75g of glucose then test within the following 2 hours, to see how your body copes with a glucose load.
Either way, yes, you need to do something, there is evidence that in the impaired phase, that damage can be accruing (which won't manifest until the future) from poorly controlled glucose levels and swings up and down.
Perhaps you could try taking more readings, i.e. morning after fasting overnight, test before meals, 2 hours after, before bed and when you don't feel so good, then take the meter to your GP and demand that you are referred to the diabetic team to manage the "pre-diabetes". Point out that pre-diabetes has a high propensity of becoming actual diabetes if not managed and that as you are not being managed, there is a high chance of developing problems later down the line. Unfortunately, healthcare driven by accountants is reactive and not pro-active and you do have to push them to take things seriously when you're a borderline case, as I too have found. Good luck and let us know how you get on. xx
Not to put too fine a point on it - your doctors are full of sh*t.
A reading of 7 or above on the plasma glucose meter (on which you are reading 6.9) is so close to diabetes that they should be doing something to assist you in getting your bg down, even if it's simple diet advice for now. I believe that anything at 7 or above, with symptoms, constitutes the criteria for a diagnosis and they may repeat the blood test on another day to confirm the results. If your GP is saying 6.9 is normal, in essence, he is being a pedant by sticking so rigidly to the numbers game and using the numbers to HIS advantage (financially) rather than yours. You're .1 away from a formal diabetes diagnosis with family history of diabetes for christ's sake!
Either go back and insist on better help or get another GP. You could do what I did which is, before registering with another GP, I called up a new one (not sure if you're in UK or not) and asked if I could have an informal chat with them first to see if they would be committed to taking me as a patient as I felt that my existing GP was not really acting in my interest. New GP was fab and even advised me that I should actually write to the PCT and complain about old GP!!
Anyway, yes, there are other diagnostic tests for diabetes and it is not uncommon, not at all, for the fasting test to be either on the borderline or not even in the impaired range at all, but the other tests to show higher figures. Ask for the glucose tolerance test, where you fast overnight, get a blood done then drink 75g of glucose then test within the following 2 hours, to see how your body copes with a glucose load.
Either way, yes, you need to do something, there is evidence that in the impaired phase, that damage can be accruing (which won't manifest until the future) from poorly controlled glucose levels and swings up and down.
Perhaps you could try taking more readings, i.e. morning after fasting overnight, test before meals, 2 hours after, before bed and when you don't feel so good, then take the meter to your GP and demand that you are referred to the diabetic team to manage the "pre-diabetes". Point out that pre-diabetes has a high propensity of becoming actual diabetes if not managed and that as you are not being managed, there is a high chance of developing problems later down the line. Unfortunately, healthcare driven by accountants is reactive and not pro-active and you do have to push them to take things seriously when you're a borderline case, as I too have found. Good luck and let us know how you get on. xx
Thanks for the advice, Lucozade. No, I am not living in UK, but will try to do as you suggested.
catherinecherub said:
Testing started before that. True, it is even more important when using insulin, but is still really needed to stay on the right side of the law - even if only on pills.
A non-diabetic blood sugar rarely moves far from around/or just below 5. so near 7 is definitely NOT normal.
i would recommend you do a already suggeted to get a better GP and in the meantime cut back on your dietary sugars and starches and see if that helps.
Hana
i would recommend you do a already suggeted to get a better GP and in the meantime cut back on your dietary sugars and starches and see if that helps.
Hana
