IanS
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 130
- Location
- Surrey, England
I have posted a few responses, but having discovered this introduction forum I should introduce myself.
I was diagnosed as Type 2 just 4 weeks ago following a request for a blood test as most of my maternal family are diabetic (both T1 and T2). It seems that I have been diagnosed at a very early stage in the condition as my GP performed the first blood test and annonced that I was not diabetic but would be in a year or so. However, he did a second test and then under a pretence (I believe) that something was amis, a third. The last two tests confirmed me as T2 diabetic. The family history in this regard is not good, but I don't know how much of this is down to poor care from their respective PCTs, and from what I have seen here it is a good bet. My mother has had a particularly rough ride as she went from being diagnosed as T2 to T1 in under a year - and is still waiting for a appointment to sort out insulin treatment.
From what I have read in this forum, it would seem that I can count myself very lucky. My GP's practice immediately gave me a blood glucose meter, a demonstration of how to use it, and a recommendation to test 3 times a day, once at the beginning of the day, 2 hours after lunch and 2 hours after dinner. I negotiated to drop out the lunch as it is a bit inconvenient where I work (but do do it at weekends if I am at home). I was also given a prescription for more test strips and lancets (something of a rarity I gather). Since I have regular prescriptions for a hiatic hernia and a troublesome abcess on a tooth, I have a prescription prepayment certificate and so the strips and lancets cost me effectively nothing.
I was given advice on diet and how to control the blood glucose level, but was having trouble getting it under any kind of control. I could get it to reasonable levels for a day or two (as low as 5.8), for it to shoot up the next day (12.4). Fortunately I discovered the link with carbohydrates, courtesy of this site, and the levels have been dropping for the last couple of days (6.4 this morning).
I am also lucky in that I have received a tremendous amount of support from my partner in life who has taken a very active interest in the dietery side of things and regards the diabetes as a reality check on both our diets (which would not have qualified as healthy by any stretch of the definition).
I look forward to learning more from the group and sharing any good experiences that I have for the benefit of others.
I was diagnosed as Type 2 just 4 weeks ago following a request for a blood test as most of my maternal family are diabetic (both T1 and T2). It seems that I have been diagnosed at a very early stage in the condition as my GP performed the first blood test and annonced that I was not diabetic but would be in a year or so. However, he did a second test and then under a pretence (I believe) that something was amis, a third. The last two tests confirmed me as T2 diabetic. The family history in this regard is not good, but I don't know how much of this is down to poor care from their respective PCTs, and from what I have seen here it is a good bet. My mother has had a particularly rough ride as she went from being diagnosed as T2 to T1 in under a year - and is still waiting for a appointment to sort out insulin treatment.
From what I have read in this forum, it would seem that I can count myself very lucky. My GP's practice immediately gave me a blood glucose meter, a demonstration of how to use it, and a recommendation to test 3 times a day, once at the beginning of the day, 2 hours after lunch and 2 hours after dinner. I negotiated to drop out the lunch as it is a bit inconvenient where I work (but do do it at weekends if I am at home). I was also given a prescription for more test strips and lancets (something of a rarity I gather). Since I have regular prescriptions for a hiatic hernia and a troublesome abcess on a tooth, I have a prescription prepayment certificate and so the strips and lancets cost me effectively nothing.
I was given advice on diet and how to control the blood glucose level, but was having trouble getting it under any kind of control. I could get it to reasonable levels for a day or two (as low as 5.8), for it to shoot up the next day (12.4). Fortunately I discovered the link with carbohydrates, courtesy of this site, and the levels have been dropping for the last couple of days (6.4 this morning).
I am also lucky in that I have received a tremendous amount of support from my partner in life who has taken a very active interest in the dietery side of things and regards the diabetes as a reality check on both our diets (which would not have qualified as healthy by any stretch of the definition).
I look forward to learning more from the group and sharing any good experiences that I have for the benefit of others.