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Nickyk

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Hi
I have just been new diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and put on metformin. I have had a 5 minute conversation with I believe a diabetic nurse who told me to take the medicine and they would phone back in a couple of months month to see how its going. They only do HbA1C blood checks every 6 - 12 months and you don't need to check your blood sugars anymore and if I get any problems do an e consult. I have been researching on websites like this and they talk about checking your blood sugars.I never had any symptoms in the first place so how will I know if the medication is working is this normal ?
 
I bought my own meter from day one. Imho, it’s needed to find out where the problem is, eliminating the foods that cause a spike. Now that I have a range of foods I enjoy eating, I don’t test myself often.

imho get one, measure, cut out the bad foods. How will you know if you don’t test?
 
Nickyk said:
I have been researching on websites like this and they talk about checking your blood sugars.I never had any symptoms in the first place so how will I know if the medication is working is this normal ?
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Unfortunately it does seem to be normal that people are diagnosed with type 2, given medication and told to come back in x months. They might also be told to lose weight, but are rarely given information that might help them reverse or manage the condition.

As you rightly say if you’re not testing, how will you know whether the medication or any changes you’re making are working?

Getting a meter - shout if you need recommendations - would definitely be a great investment.
 
I would fund your own meter. There have been a few people lately that have spoken up they are not supplying meters or being told to test. I believe this stems from a study that came out that said A1c's didn't improve when used by type 2's. So now it probably has become a cost saving factor to not supply one. The problem I have with that is an awful lot of people just want to take a pill and have the doctor fix them, it's easier. But if you care, a meter is critical to know what your blood sugars are doing and how they are responding to any changes you make. For instance, you've been told to exercise, so you try it, some of the time. See I've increased my exercise. But what if you are high and take that walk and then see you numbers drop because of it, don't you think that motivates you better to keep walking every day if you can? Or you are at a party and decide you will go ahead and have that can of coke..............you don't test and figure I only do that off and on. And then you start having it a little more. It's okay. I'm not drinking it that much, not like I used too.. But if you have a meter and test and you can see those numbers go through the roof, are you as likely to repeat that? Maybe, but I bet not as likely! So I definitely recommend a meter!
 
Like everybody is saying for your own sake you need to fund a meter , you could be running with blood sugars in the low to mid teens for months without any symptoms but doing untold damage to your body .
 
LaoDan said:
I bought my own meter from day one. Imho, it’s needed to find out where the problem is, eliminating the foods that cause a spike. Now that I have a range of foods I enjoy eating, I don’t test myself often.

imho get one, measure, cut out the bad foods. How will you know if you don’t test?
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Thanks for your advice
 
Marie 2 said:
I would fund your own meter. There have been a few people lately that have spoken up they are not supplying meters or being told to test. I believe this stems from a study that came out that said A1c's didn't improve when used by type 2's. So now it probably has become a cost saving factor to not supply one. The problem I have with that is an awful lot of people just want to take a pill and have the doctor fix them, it's easier. But if you care, a meter is critical to know what your blood sugars are doing and how they are responding to any changes you make. For instance, you've been told to exercise, so you try it, some of the time. See I've increased my exercise. But what if you are high and take that walk and then see you numbers drop because of it, don't you think that motivates you better to keep walking every day if you can? Or you are at a party and decide you will go ahead and have that can of coke..............you don't test and figure I only do that off and on. And then you start having it a little more. It's okay. I'm not drinking it that much, not like I used too.. But if you have a meter and test and you can see those numbers go through the roof, are you as likely to repeat that? Maybe, but I bet not as likely! So I definitely recommend a meter!
Click to expand...
Thanks for your advice
 
Do you have your results?
 
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