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4weeks after being newly diagnosed type2

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paulineg

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2
Hi, its a very daunting experience being told this, I have been wrecking my brains with food and working things out its doing my head in. I think it would help if I had been given a blood sugar monitoring kit so I can see if what im doing is right.
Does anyone know why type2 diabetics dont get the machines?
 
Because they would have to provide them with test strips as well, which gets expensive. Pretty stupid if you ask me but it wasn't my idea.
Many people on here buy their own, I believe the Codefree is pretty popular because the test strips aren't as expensive.

edit: Oh, I see this is your first post, so welcome to the forum! I'll tag @daisy1 for you, who'll post a bunch of very useful information for newcomers
 
Welcome to the forum @paulineg. Type 2 diabetics aren't usually prescribed blood glucose meters or testing strips, unless they are on insulin or similar medications. It's mainly because of the cost it would incur to the NHS.
Bg meters are often given free by the manufacturers but the real ongoing cost is the testing strips. The cheapest are the SD Codefree and the TEE2+, which I use. I am copying the contact details below for ordering them, but if you ring Spirit Healthcare for the TEE2+ they often send you one for free, rather than paying £9.99 if you order online.


 
Hi Pauline and welcome. It is over whelming to receive a type 2 diagnosis but we often refer to tackling it is a marathon not a race. You don’t need to learn it all at once. A meter is an invaluable tool and it’s insane we don’t get strips on prescription. Anyway if you can please get a meter, it’ll help you no end.
Here’s the meter info @Prem51 has screen shot but with live links, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. For a meter with cheap strips go for the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/


With more expensive strips is the Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-dual-blood-glucose-and-ketone-meter/

With the strips here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/caresens-pro-blood-glucose-test-strips/


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free which has the cheapest strips available. However I found itto be becoming less and less reliable. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go:

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833


Don’t forget to check the box that you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)
 
thank you very much
 
Hello and welcome

You will be feeling overwhelmed at the moment. It's a shock. But it will get better. Once you get your head around things.

A monitor will be invaluable. Best investment I have ever made. They should be given to all newly diagnosed. How else can you see how foods effect you. All diabetics are different so its not like you can just do a food template. Testing is the only way.

My advice would be to read as much as you can on this forum. Google 'reversing diabetes' and click on videos. It all points to low carb high healthy fat way of eating. Jason fung videos are very clear and informative. Sarah hallberg too.

Eating this way will see your blood sugar levels go down and very rapidly usually. If you look at forum members signatures you can see their journeys and how quickly they gained control. Very inspirational.

If you have any questions fire away, always someone happy to help. You need a good support system and you will find that here.
 
Quick answer - money. The NHS don't want to spend the money on testing strips. Buy your own. The Codefree machine is basic but perfectly okay and their strips are seriously cheaper than rivals. As you've just been diagnosed, test yourself first thing in the morning to get your fasting figure. Then test again before a main meal and again 2 hours after that meal. Keep a record of the figures. And see what foods spike your figures. Good luck!
 
I bought my own and started a low carb diet. I lost 5.5 stone and now my avg fasting test is 5, even though I'm eating the odd biscuit, ice cream, lots of fruit mainly berries and the odd sweet. So don't despair.
 
I have had meters and test strips prescribed from Day 1 I’m a T2 diabetic and after 1 year on bydureon metformin and gliclazide I have been switched to a night time insulin with all the tablets
I got no self control. Any suggestions
 
I didn't get any testing meters when I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic 10+ years ago. Only got the strips prescribed a year ago when I went on insulin (with a free meter and lancet holder). The testing is an eye-opener on the affect of different foods so I went on the low carb diet. In less than a year I was able to stop insulin because of the testing record that showed the benefits of the diet. We all react differently to different foods and medications so read all you can, test more at the start to check your reactions. My specialist of a year ago said, " I can't do anything more for you. You are on your own." Not true. This forum has people from all over the world who are able to provide support, information and suggestions to you.
 
Hi Pauline, I should really keep quiet as I get testing strips on prescription which I am not entitled to. The doctor's receptionists who are the ones who authorise the repeat prescriptions have been giving me strips for about 17 years since a doctor who has since retired prescribed them for me when it was first noticed that my HbA1c was 6.8 after returning from India where I ate everything under the sun!! Type 2 is rife in my family - we all have it and none of us is overweight (or not much)! My dad was skinny as is my sister. I immediately went on a low carb low GI diet (+ exercise which I did anyway) and at one point my HbA1c went down to 5.8. It has now crept up over the years but am still not on meds.

Now what I wanted to tell you how much the blood monitor helped me particularly in the early months. I would eat a food and then test 2 hours later and I found out what my body will tolerate and what it will not!! We are all different. I can't touch rice but udon noodles are in moderation - go figure!!!

And lastly the best piece of advice I was ever given is to eat fruit WITH your meals NOT between meals when it will spike your numbers.

The other thing I do is to wait until I am hungry before I eat. This gives your blood sugar numbers time to go right down. Mine can get down to 4.8- 5.2 before lunch. What I haven't managed to sort out is my high fasting readings but I must be balancing it during the day with low ones because of what my Hb1Ac is.
Good luck
 


I’m 60yrs Young. Where can I find out Low Carb suggestions my HB1aC is 81
 
I live in Spain and was given my first testing kit and 50 test strips by the Spanish Health System. From then on in I had to buy my test strips. I still get 50 test strip a year the rest I buy from Amazon when ever they are below £20 for 50. Testing has been great help as I record the results and can look back and see how much I have been able to control my blood sugar. Or I should say how much my wife has been able to control my BS. I only test every three days now and if I have not been stupid it is around the 100 mark. I think that is less than 6 on the UK system.
 
I tried getting my own monitor, but I find the most useful if it can be afforded is the Abbott Freestyle Libre as you can check as often as you want to get a full picture of what affects your blood sugar, and can see what happens at night, wuthout getting sore fingers. You can download it all to your laptop etc. You need to change the sensor every two weeks, but I still find it better than having to do finger pricks as you literally test anywhere anytime. DVLA will now accept readings for driving as long as over 4. If 4 or less finger prick needed.
 
paulineg said:
I think it would help if I had been given a blood sugar monitoring kit so I can see if what im doing is right.
Click to expand...

Hi,
This is only my second time on writing to the forum although I have been an uncontrolled diabetic since a cancer treatment in 2002.
Because I am not on Insulin I am told continually by various diabetic nurses that I should not be testing my blood glucose.
However, my GP has been supportive in this and I have a monitor and usually test just once a week. This gives me some idea of how my sugars are 'behaving' and gives me peace of mind.
A couple of years ago I started waking up feeling very strange in the early hours. After a few sessions of this I began testing my blood when I woke and was found to be encountering 'dawn phenomenon'. I would not have been able to have confirmed this had I not been able to test at this time.
I go into hospital regularly twice yearly and on one visit I suffered a hypo - the first I've had. 11.3 down to 3.8. I don't know why this happened and it was my son who pointed out to ward staff when he visited that I was making even less sense than normal ! I was on Bydureon at the time and was not expecting to drop so low.
I am now taking Sitagliptin (Januvia) and have just started on Empagliflozin (Jardience). Does anyone have any tips for the Jardience please ? I shall be back off to hospital next week. One diabetic nurse has said to continue with it as normal and another has sent me information that says it is best to stop taking it when in hospital for a week or so.
Thanks for your anticipated advice.
Alison
 
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 necessary. The only other way around is to get them to prescribe insulin in which case they have to prescribe testing equipment albit rationed with regard to the test strips. Unfortunately you will have to fight your corner to get what you want or don't want, when you are diagnosed type 2.
 
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.
 
I am considering purchasing something to enable me to test my sugar levels. I di think this wiuld help me get back on track. What is the best one out there
 
Iris1422 said:
I am considering purchasing something to enable me to test my sugar levels. I di think this wiuld help me get back on track. What is the best one out there
Click to expand...

Scroll up to the beginning of this thread to post #4 where @Rachox has given a good overview of glucose meters with links to suppliers.
 
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