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it depends which test is to be done. There is no need to fast for an HbA1c test. MaryChristine

I suspect the advice has become distorted over time and as it is passed down to patient level like that whispering game that children used to play at parties. Maybe they still do? For example - the advice "Spread your carbohydrate intake out over the day in several small meals and snacks" has...

Re expiry date on lancets - possibly to do with sterility. The manufacturer will not be able to guarantee that the lancets remain sterile and safe to use for ever but they can guarantee them for a limited period if they have tested samples and generated data to show that sterility is maintained...

You could perhaps ask the meter manufacturer for some (free) control solutions, usually used to check the accuracy of the meter. But if your strips give you the correct results for the control solutions and you have no reason to suspect there is anything wrong with the meter, it is likely the...

Hi Just wanted to add that, in the unlikely event of there being something wrong with your eyes, at least it has been picked up early, giving the best chance of successful treatment. And if you're thinking "split lamp" sounds scary, i expect they mean "slit lamp" which is just a device for...

Basically a haematoma forms when blood escapes from blood vessels but does not disperse or emerge from the body (perhaps as the result of a blow rather than a cut or tear for example). A haematoma which has formed under the skin may be visible as a bruise. It may be seen to change colour over...

Hi I may be completely wrong here, and apologise if so, but I'm just wondering if the result you were given for Hba1c has got muddled. The way that Hba1c is expressed is changing. Hba1c is now expressed as mmol/mol instead of as a percentage. For the time being though both values will be...

Hi whatashock My advice would be to see your gp. There are other causes of increased thirst and/or increased urination besides diabetes mellitus so it might be as well to check for those, especially as your BG control looks good. Best wishes MaryChristine

As far as I know, having diabetes mellitus (without complications or concurrent disease) does not make one more susceptible to colds and influenza, but many illnesses can make good blood glucose control more difficult, hence doctors recommend that people with diabetes mellitus are vaccinated...

I like Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream. It is quite expensive but very effective and a tube lasts ages as you only need a tiny dab. I prefer the unscented version. Also Aqueous Cream BP from chemists is very cheap and quite effective. I use this before washing up, cleaning etc as a...

As far as I know (and I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong :wink: ), laser treatment for retinopathy is not the same as laser treatment for long/short-sightedness. For retinopathy the aim is to seal the leaking blood vessels in the retina (the light-sentitive layer at the back of...

Just a word of warning - if your BG levels are very high and you manage to bring them down very quickly, you can make retinopathy worse! Nobody told me this when I was first diagnosed. :( Best wishes MaryChristine

Glad to hear that, jtuddy, but I really wonder why the doctor/nurse could not tell you that on the 'phone straight away rather than leaving you to worry about it for several days. Best wishes MaryChristine

Sandy If I were you, I'd go to nearest AandE ASAP. Seriously. Your sight is too precious to take risks with. Hope you find it is something easily sorted. BTW people who have a close relative with glaucoma can have free eye tests from age 40. My (non-diabetic) husband got free eye tests for...

Another possibility - Mast cell tumour is a type of skin cancer that may resemble an ulcer and is particularly prevalent in boxer dogs. Diagnosis would be by examination of a biopsy.

Hi Redbaby Hope you find a solution soon. Has anyone ever suggested shingles as a diagnosis? Best wishes MaryChristine

So all I need to do is convince my GP that I am a heroin addict, sell the stuff on the street corner and buy all the BG test strips I want on the proceeds? :wink: Thanks Jack Straw, I'm off to the surgery now. Best wishes MaryChristine

I bought an exercise bike about 16 months ago and use it nearly every day, usually for 30 - 35 minutes at a time, building up from about 10 mins originally. I am sure it helped a lot to bring my BG levels and weight down and keep them down. I don't find it at all uncomfortable to use despite...