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Advice on GP refusing to give test strips?

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Oldvatr said:
I think you need to do a few tests over a day or so to make sure that you are genuinely on the high road. We should not make such decisions on the basis of a single result.
What nuts were they? I fnd many spiked me such as cashew, brazil but almonds were ok.
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The sort that never caused my levels to rise much at all, while on Metformin.

Also... did I say I would just take this one result and not take any more? Please, there is no need to state the obvious and advise me to do things which I am obviously going to do. Yes, of course I am going to test more.
 
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Dave P said:
Doctors are supposed to be on our side but it's a lottery whether you get one who gives a toss, or who knows what they're doing.
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Doctors don't take sides, they follow guidelines.

NICE Guidelines:

1.6.13 Do not routinely offer self-monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes unless:
  • the person is on insulin or

  • there is evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes or

  • the person is on oral medication that may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery or

  • the person is pregnant, or is planning to become pregnant. For more information, see the NICE guideline on diabetes in pregnancy. [new 2015]
Further info at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/1-Recommendations#self-monitoring-of-blood-glucose
 
DavidGrahamJones said:
Doctors don't take sides, they follow guidelines.

NICE Guidelines:

1.6.13 Do not routinely offer self-monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes unless:
  • the person is on insulin or

  • there is evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes or

  • the person is on oral medication that may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery or

  • the person is pregnant, or is planning to become pregnant. For more information, see the NICE guideline on diabetes in pregnancy. [new 2015]
Further info at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/1-Recommendations#self-monitoring-of-blood-glucose
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Yeah we know, it's been covered in the thread already.
 
Dave P said:
The sort that never caused my levels to rise much at all, while on Metformin.
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Stopping Metformin will never in a world of Sundays have caused your levels to shoot up to double figures on a random test as you report. The only time you are likely to see a rise, and it won't be a huge one, will be your morning fasting level. You are, in my opinion, over reacting to a single random test. Try going back to basics testing before eating and 2 hours after first bite and look at the rise from before to after. Also a bedtime reading and a morning fasting reading. Get as much data as you can.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Stopping Metformin will never in a world of Sundays have caused your levels to shoot up to double figures on a random test as you report. The only time you are likely to see a rise, and it won't be a huge one, will be your morning fasting level. You are, in my opinion, over reacting to a single random test. Try going back to basics testing before eating and 2 hours after first bite and look at the rise from before to after. Also a bedtime reading and a morning fasting reading. Get as much data as you can.
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Some of the responses I'm getting are absurd. Do you need me to draw you a picture? I stopped taking the Metformin then started getting a very dry mouth. When I tried stopping Metformin once before, a few years ago, my levels shot up then too. I resinstated the Metformin, the levels went back to normal after a few days.

I've already explained this in the thread.

You apparently think it's all a big coincidence. It's bizarre.

If all people can offer is to tell me I'm wrong about everything, please go and find another thread to post in, and don't tell me how to suck eggs, thanks.
 
Dave P said:
Some of the responses I'm getting are absurd. Do you need me to draw you a picture? I stopped taking the Metformin then started getting a very dry mouth. When I tried stopping Metformin once before, a few years ago, my levels shot up then too. I resinstated the Metformin, the levels went back to normal after a few days.

I've already explained this in the thread.

You apparently think it's all a big coincidence. It's bizarre.

If all people can offer is to tell me I'm wrong about everything, please go and find another thread to post in, and don't tell me how to suck eggs, thanks.
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You are one angry person at the moment. Angry with the medical profession and angry with those of us trying our best to help you. Maybe that anger and stress is pushing up your levels. Who knows ... this is a mysterious disease.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
You are one angry person at the moment. Angry with the medical profession and angry with those of us trying our best to help you. Maybe that anger and stress is pushing up your levels. Who knows ... this is a mysterious disease.
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Kindly stop patronising me and stop posting in this thread, yuor input is no longer welcome as it is of little to no value.
 
Hi All,

Tensions seem to be running high.
Probably worth reminding people that once a thread has been started, anyone can post, so long as their posts comply with the forum rules.

Likewise, we have basic standards of politeness and respect. Please treat others with courtesy, or posts will be deleted.

Anyone wishing to familiarise themselves with the forum rules can do so using the link in my signature.
 
So I've read that apparently vitamin D deficiency which I have, is correlated with worsening blood sugar control, but there is no conclusive cause and effect supposedly. It's something else to consider anyway.

I did some more tests. Just before eating my tea it was 11.9, so very consistent results with the 11.8 slightly earlier, just in case there was any question mark over it being a rogue result. Now one hour after eating (a chicken breast and some green veg, about 10g of carbs in the whole meal), it is 13.9.

Shockingly high. Atrociously high.
 
Dave P said:
So I've read that apparently vitamin D deficiency which I have, is correlated with worsening blood sugar control, but there is no conclusive cause and effect supposedly. It's something else to consider anyway.

I did some more tests. Just before eating my tea it was 11.9, so very consistent results with the 11.8 slightly earlier, just in case there was any question mark over it being a rogue result. Now one hour after eating (a chicken breast and some green veg, about 10g of carbs in the whole meal), it is 13.9.

Shockingly high. Atrociously high.
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If it's any consolation, when my Vit D plummeted from an unsupplemented 80 to 21, the blood tests rrevealing the Vitamin D deficiency also return my best, at that point, HbA1c of 4.9/29. Obviously I began supplementing after that.

If your Doctor prescribes Vitamin D3, it is advantageous to take Vitamin K2, as MK-7, as this helps maximises on the potential benefits. Some with low Vit D also need to look closely at their magnesium and potassium levels.
 
Yeah thanks I'll see my doctor ASAP and ask her about that.

So anyway putting 2+2 together, the very very dry mouth over the last few weeks, it looks probable that I've had blood sugar well into double figures for most of that time. What a disaster. I've just called 111 to ask their advice because I wasn't sure if I should go to A&E. Someone is going to call me back later this evening.

It also makes the doctor who said I am 'not diabetic' look even more negligent as well.
 
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2 hours after the 10g carb meal... now 14.1.

Oh by the way, I forgot to mention, I'm not overweight either, I'm about 11.5 stone and 6'2.

edit, 3 hours, now 14.6. All I've eaten and drunk since the meal 3 hours ago is tap water.
 
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Sorry to read that OPs levels are high at the moment. I've understood that when being put on metformin, the dosage is ramped up (subject to fbg readings) to minimise initial side effects that can sometimes occur. I also thought the same when the docs stop metformin - a tapering down. I think OP said he just stopped suddenly without tapering. I wonder if the high readings at the moment are to do with the suddenness of stopping the med?
So hopefully bg readings will calm down in a few more days/weeks?
Also I understand occasional readings up to <15 isn't too serious, ie hopefully 111 can reassure OP. (Assuming no ketones).

Apologies if I've misunderstood these things as am still a noobie. Happy to be corrected.
 
DawnOfTheZed said:
Sorry to read that OPs levels are high at the moment. I've understood that when being put on metformin, the dosage is ramped up (subject to fbg readings) to minimise initial side effects that can sometimes occur. I also thought the same when the docs stop metformin - a tapering down. I think OP said he just stopped suddenly without tapering. I wonder if the high readings at the moment are to do with the suddenness of stopping the med?
So hopefully bg readings will calm down in a few more days/weeks?
Also I understand occasional readings up to <15 isn't too serious, ie hopefully 111 can reassure OP. (Assuming no ketones).

Apologies if I've misunderstood these things as am still a noobie. Happy to be corrected.
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I just stopped completely and abruptly, that's right. If you're right that failure to stop gradually may cause the problems I'm having and I hope you are, then that would be good news. I can't test my ketones unfortunately.

111 haven't phoned back yet, they said within 6 hours which could be as late as 1am... I hope it isn't that late! I already feel very tired.
 
While you wait, you could consider drinking lots of water and peeing to help flush out some of the excess bg?

Please also be kind to posters? They will all have your best interests in mind but we can't always read all posts on such an active forum.
 
Dave P said:
I just stopped completely and abruptly, that's right. If you're right that failure to stop gradually may cause the problems I'm having and I hope you are, then that would be good news. I can't test my ketones unfortunately.

111 haven't phoned back yet, they said within 6 hours which could be as late as 1am... I hope it isn't that late! I already feel very tired.
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The call back within 6 hrs is hopefully a sign to you that 111 don't believe your current condition is an emergency situation. I mean I hope you can be reassured by that. Stress releases cortisol which can lead to increased bg too. So again if you can avoid being too anxious, it will all help?

And last thing, sometimes call back is after the time said by the operator.
 
Just tested again and some good news... it's on the way back down, 12.8.

I never thought I'd be glad to see a reading of 12.8. I wonder what the morning will bring.
 
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