Blood Sugar Monitoring

[Lila M]

Hello all, I'm very newly diagnosed and very pleased I've found this forum.
I had a long appointment today to discuss my diagnosis and mostly I'm happy and understand the advice given. I was told that self blood monitoring was not required as the 3 monthly testing would be sufficient.
My HBa1c result was 114 and I've been prescribed 3 x 500 per day metformin. I'm very motivated to change my lifestyle with diet and exercise however would also like to know I'm going in the right direction.
I'd welcome your thoughts and if I were to purchase my own monitor, what would you recommend?
Thankyou!

 

[searley]

one of the reasons that they say its not required is that they won't provide you with a meter or strips... as these are a massive cost to the NHS

However how can you know what's happening if you don't monitor, how can you tell how food affects you, how can you tell if the changes you are making are having any affect?

so yes testing is good, and t will give you a good insight into what different food types do to you

someone will suggest good meter for you to get with reasonably priced test strips, good luck with it and hopefully you will get that HBA1C moving in the right direction

 

[Goonergal]

Hi @Lila M and welcome!

Testing is definitely your friend! There are a few popular meters used by type 2s on here. The cost of the strips is important as they’ll be what you spend most on so don’t be seduced by offers of free meters with expensive strips.

The meter with the cheapest strips is the Gluco Navii. https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/. https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/gluconavii-blood-sugar-meter-glucose-monitor-starter-kit/

There are also discount codes for when you come to buy more strips - "navii5" and "navii10" will give you 20% off purchases of 5 packs of strips and 25% off 10 packs of strips. Buying a pack of 10 boxes of strips using the discount code works out at £5.68.

The SD Codefree from Home Health has similarly priced strips, but is rumoured to be being discontinued at some point.

The Tee2+ from Spirit Healthcare also has relatively cheap strips, (although they have recently gone up in price): https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/products/copy-of-copy-of-tee2-blood-glucose-meter
with the strips found here: https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/products/copy-of-tee2-test-strips

I got a free Tee2+ by phoning up to order the meter and 10 boxes of strips and they threw the meter in for free. Phone number 0800 8815423. I daresay Home Health would do the same.

Also from Spirit Healthcare, with more expensive strips than the Tee2+ is their Caresens Dual. This can be used for testing ketones too (strips for that very expensive). https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual

Don’t forget to check the box (or mention on the phone) to say you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

And good luck with getting the HbA1c down - there’s a fair few of us on here who started out with a number of 100+ and have got down to a non diabetic HbA1c and stayed there, so it’s doable!

 

[jonesmia]

For sugar monitoring I would suggest think of CGM. I personally use blucon Nightrider with freestyle libre sensor and it keeps me updated of my sugar levels, alerts me in case of high/low levels.