Recent Content by Keith_Simpson

Apart from meat as a protein not producing glucose, there is the small matter of choice & whether these environmental zealots are to be allowed to get away with dictating what we can eat. The mistake government has & continues to make is to fill the National Curriculum with their political...

The climate has always changed but not everyone believes that we are responsible. The key word is 'believes' because for climate alarmists, climate change has become a religion in which they believe & belief always trumps common sense.

I am type 2 & managed to persuade my GP to prescribe insulin which does make control direct & so is far better than other medication but it also meant I could get test strips prescribed. You can of course buy test strips over the counter but the NHS should prescribe at least some for type 2...

Nobody sems to appreciate that less sugar means more artificial sweeteners. Every interference in our lives comes with consequences, side effects that sometimes are worse than having taken no action at all. Smoking effects people around you [passive smoking], consuming sugar dooes not & so there...

On the contrary, only moitoring the pattern are you able to see what works & what does not. The Hba1c blood test is just an indication of the average glucose level; it tells you nothing with regard to what works & what does not. They don't want you testing because that would create a demand for...

Not sure why Metformin as well as insulin? In my case Metformin caused Raynaud's Syndrome [Extremly cold hands & feet] after which I stopped Metformin, started insulin & have never looked back. The point is to adjust the number of units of insulin & then no need for Metformin. I have always had...

Whilst they discourage testing yourself, that is the only way to know what works & what does not. It costs & so they will be reluctant to prescribe but that is the only way to take some degree of control & consequently get your Hba1c [average] down. By testing I managed to reduce from 119 to 49...

I tried the Libra but was disappoited. The degree of accuracy varied between sensors but when significantly out it was usually under reading compared to finger pricking. Perhaps this is by design to play on the safe side but if so, nevertheless unhelpful.

Monitoring your glucose level is the only way to understand what works & what doesn't; you aren't prescribed the equipment because of the cost of the strips. Personally I would say that to the person refusing to prescribe test equipment & challenge them if they try to tell you that it is not...

I would ask for an urgent appointment with your GP & ask to be prescribed insulin because your numbers are unsustainably high, suggesting more severe type 2 that diet or medication may not be sufficient. The good news is that with insulin, you get test strip prescribed & you can stop taking...

They don't prescribe testing equipment or test strips to Type 2 patients because of the cost involved to the NHS; only when you use insulin do they encoursge testing because of the risk of hypos but even then test strips are rationed. They rely on their Hba1c test which gives an indication of...

I also have high fasting glucose levels which I believe is because the liver releases glucose when you haven't eaten for a long enough period. Essentially the alpha cells in the pancreas send a message to the liver to release glucose but when you eat, hormones are secreted that suppress these...

The more closely you monitor the less likly to have a hypo but that won't be encouraged by the GP because of the cost & so it probably means buying extra test strips. The difference between morning & other times of day is because the liver starts to dump glucose when you haven't eaten for around...

It isn't easy to lose weight & keep it off but you will feel healthier if you succeed. Before I was diagnosed type 2, I actually lost a lot of weight without even trying but have since put it all back & failed to safely replicate the circumstances that enabled me to lose weight previously...

Having tried the Libre & seen first hand how inaccurate it can be, I would suggest not to fret too much that they wouldn't let you try it because decisions are best made based on accurate glucose readings. Having said that it is worth articulating to your diabetic nurse what you have written...