How would you know

[candyrel]

This might have been talked about before and I promise I have been searching the forum for the information.

I was in the gym on tuesday just doing my warm up when I felt really rough....luckily my trainer was on hand to help me off the machine and sat down with a sweet biscuit and told not to move for at least 10 minutes. Felt a lot better and was able to carry on with workout albeit at a lower level.

Was this a hypo? Felt dizzy, really hot, no energy and some other things that as yet I cannot describe.

I was lucky that my trainer knows of my type 2. Came to thinking that one day might be in a situation that it might happen again. Is there anything that I can wear or carry to say I have this condition. I was thinking of maybe a wristband or something visable (not a tattoo :twisted: )

Any ideas?

 

[totsy]

hya ,
i wear a sos bracelet,some dont like them but i like jewellery so i dont mind,just make sure you carry some form of glucose,did u check your bs? to see if hypo,
totsy

 

[candyrel]

I dont test my diabetic nurse doesnt feel its necessary. When she tests me usually 2 hours after breakfast I am on around 6.2.

 

[LadyJ]

Candyrel

You really really really need to start testing, regardless of whether your self-styled diabetic nurse thinks you don't need to.

Without testing, you have no way of knowing the effect of the foods you eat or the exercise you take on your blood glucose? Are you on medication to lower your blood glucose? If so, it is postively dangerous not to encourage you to test - a combination of the drugs and exercise could make you hypo which you have to be in a position to treat and how can you do that unless you know that you are low.

I'd encourage you to look at the excellent advice here (particularly look at "Jennifer's Advice" and the stuff about what to do if, for some reason, you nurse/GP won't prescribe test strips (the National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommends that everyone with T2 should be given strips to test with): http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/testing.html

Good luck!

 

[candyrel]

No medication apart from baby aspirin. Other medications for treating depression are daily dose of 30mg Citalopram and 1mg lorazapan as required and 3.75 mg Zoplicone for sleeplessness.

Also taking
Oil of evening primrose
oderless garlic
cod liver oil
cider vinegar
and chromium

also cinnamon, hemp seeds and lecithin

was told by someone that taking vitamin b3 would also be beneficial as it is like a natural statin or a chinese ingredient of red rice yeast....I think thats what it was called. Am trying to do some more reading today about it before I add anything further.

 

[DiabeticGeek]

The reason that your DN has told you not to test is that these days many PCTs put a lot of pressure on GPs and clinics not to prescribe strips for T2s, because they are expensive. The ostensible reason is that a study has been recently published that claim to show that testing makes no difference to the chances of T2s developing complications. However, this study was deeply flawed because the patients weren't taught how to interpret the results and weren't encouraged to act upon them. In short it showed that if you test and ignore the results of the testing, then you don't get any benefit. This is what we call blindingly obvious! The real reason that you are being told not to test is to save your PCT money - and this economy is putting your health at risk. It makes me very cross :evil: :evil: :evil:

To answer your question, how would you know if you are going hypo? - you test. That is the only way you can be certain. If you are then it is easy to fix (you test before exercise and eat if necessary), if you aren't then there must be some other explanation for your symptoms. Either way this is useful information.

There are many other good reasons to test. It is the only way to monitor your condition on a day to day basis. Otherwise, you won't know whether or not you have it under control until your six-monthly or annual review - and if you haven't then that much damage will have been done. Testing is the only way you can learn how foods and exercise really affect you (remember everyone is different, without testing you can only generalise and approximate). Knowledge is the absolute key to controlling diabetes - and testing is the only way you can personalise that knowledge. Testing is the only way you can fine tune your diet. What level of carbohydrate is optimum for you? 40g per day? 60g per day? 100g per day? 150g per day? - everyone is different and testing can let you find this out.

Your DN is, no doubt, applying a standardised policy - and may well not realise its ramifications (so called "specialist" nurses, don't always know that much about diabetes - I have seen some of the books used to train them, and it is scary!). This policy is not in your interest. Unfortunately it probably means that you won't be able to get strips on prescription (although some people have some success in fighting for them, most don't). However, you should really should consider funding the testing yourself - it is a small price to pay when it is your health on the line. The meters are cheap or free (phone the manufacturers, they will often send you one). If you try eBay or contact the manufacturers directly, you can often get strips for around about half of the price in high street pharmacies. If you don't know how or when to test, or how to interpret the results then post on here - there are lots of people who will be happy to advise you.

 

[candyrel]

It is true that a lot is trial and test. Its just so hard especially as with my depression I am very very low. The foods we are supposed to be eating is so expensive as well. I am always looking for bargains and only buy what I need. Its even more depressing as being on incapacity benefit only I am in a fight with my council on how much council tax they want me to pay so its all added stress that I can really do without. I am so frustrated and angry at what they expect me to live on and believe me if I could work at the moment I would.

Just feel as if I really shouldnt be here as its all too hard ..... sorry to dump this out there...just ignore

 

[timo2]

Hello candyrel,

You need to be careful using Citalopram with other meds or supplements that
thin your blood (like aspirin and garlic).

Vitamin B3(niacin) has been shown to raise blood sugar levels and may also boost
the action of blood thinning drugs.

Regards,
timo.

 

[mk5]

if you are on Incapacity Benefit, why were you at the gym?

I had a hip replacement 3 years ago, and had to fight tooth and nail for IB and also to get registered disabled (before the op I couldn't walk)

 

[candyrel]

Hi

was at the gym as I am on a course through jobcenter and nhs called The Condition Management Programme - 6 weeks gym free and if you do the 6 weeks you get 4 weeks extra free.

 

[hanadr]

Hi Candyrel!
I agree with the geek, you need a meter. If you go very low at the gym, you could be hurt. then you'd cost your PCT much more. I find Abbot diabetes care give me superb service on equipment
As to warning "labels"
I wear a bracelet with the red star and Aaron's staff on it. It cost about £10, is in stainless steel and has my name,Diabetic Type 2 on one side and my husband's mobile phone number on the other.
I got the bracelet on the web, but found the site from a leaflet in my local pharmacy.

 

[candyrel]

Thanks for the info re the bracelet getting some birthday cash soon so will look into that,

Seeing my nurse October 16th so will demand a kit.

 

[shadwell]

The foods we are supposed to be eating is so expensive as well. I am always looking for bargains and only buy what I need.

Sorry to hear you've been having problems candyrel, I am curious as to what foods you have been told to eat? If you look at the excellent information on this forum, you will see that many people find eating a reduced carbohydrate diet as the best way to control their blood sugar. In a nutshell, a simple diet high in vegetables, lean meat, fish, dairy, nuts and limited fruit with small amounts of complex carbs. I realise you are on benefits but generally, a diet based around these foods works out cheaper than a traditional carb-heavy diet. I know I've found my shopping bills a lot lighter since I ditched the processed foods and lots of carbs.

 

[hanadr]

Candyrel
A few suggestions on getting the food bill under control
Eat vegetables in season. If you have a market, shop there towards the end of the day. You'll get good deals. As to fish, meat and cheese. Again try a market, try Lidl and Aldi and sometimes canned and frozen are cheaper than fresh. Watch out for sneakily added carbs. Read he panels.
Since you won't be needing junky snacks, You can put all those funds to the good stuff. Are you shopping for 1 or a family?
Family would mean, that you could Make snacks for children instead of buying and get better quality too. If shopping for one, do you have a friend in a similar position, so that you could get together and both save.

 

[berrylover]

if you are on Incapacity Benefit, why were you at the gym?

I had a hip replacement 3 years ago, and had to fight tooth and nail for IB and also to get registered disabled (before the op I couldn't walk)

Are people on IB not allowed in gym's? News to me! :x

 

[mk5]

the clue is in the word "Incapacity" - meaning you're unable to work because you're "incapacitated", usually due to poor health or injury, meaning that a gymnasium may not be the best place to be.

 

[berrylover]

And of course the incapacity has to be physical! Or would that be being presumptious?

 

[candyrel]

I am on IB as I had a complete mental breakdown after walking out of severly abusive relationship. It was supposedly so bad I was hospitalised as I was ready to walk into the sea as my ex has turned my daughter against me and I now get abusive emails from her (I have kept them) she even says that type 2 is nothing to worry about and you only get it if you are old and fat. In fact I have been in hospital twice due to the mental breakdown and also in a womans refuge.

The exercise programme is about getting you sorted both mentally and physically to get you back into work. Hence me grabbing at it with both hands. Exercise has already got my blood pressure down. I also have more stamina now and can do several things that I couldnt do before, my self confidence has also been given a boost which I can tell you I needed more than anything.

I am sorry MK5 to hear that you had problems and hope they are all sorted now.

 

[berrylover]

I am on IB as I had a complete mental breakdown after walking out of severly abusive relationship. It was supposedly so bad I was hospitalised as I was ready to walk into the sea as my ex has turned my daughter against me and I now get abusive emails from her (I have kept them) she even says that type 2 is nothing to worry about and you only get it if you are old and fat. In fact I have been in hospital twice due to the mental breakdown and also in a womans refuge.

The exercise programme is about getting you sorted both mentally and physically to get you back into work. Hence me grabbing at it with both hands. Exercise has already got my blood pressure down. I also have more stamina now and can do several things that I couldnt do before, my self confidence has also been given a boost which I can tell you I needed more than anything.

I am sorry MK5 to hear that you had problems and hope they are all sorted now.

Well done you! You have made a difference to your life. I have been there (mentally and in a very abusive relationship) and its not easy. To get yourself back into a position where you are exercising and starting to feel good about yourself is fantastic. You go girl, you will get there in the end.

Mental illness can be as debilitating as physical illness. Just because it is not apparant when you look at someone does not mean that they are not severely ill!

 

[candyrel]

Yes I am doing better but some days I dont want to get up, I dont want to carry on I keep taking the meds and hope that one day these feelings will go for good. Its hard and I am not coping well at times my memory is shot to pieces and all sorts of other problems or as I see it "not fit for purpose"

On another note for the sum of £4.99 have just bought dogtags complete with chain and postage and packaging. They will even engrave your details i.e diabetes type d.o.b and next of kin. Was just looking on ebay and am really thrilled the name of seller is 'precious-moments-engraving' and she has other things as well. If you are interested.