Apparently Im dumb

You are definitely NOT wrong. A meter and testing is our best tool to combat this disease, providing you learn from what you see. Your mum is the one that is wrong. It is not why the doctor won't give you a meter. He won't give you one because of the financial restraints in the NHS. Doctors won't tell you that of course, they have a variety of excuses. You are the one living with this disease, so it is your choice, and yours alone.

Carry on testing your meals before and 2 hours after first bite, keep a food diary and record your levels alongside the food eaten. You can learn from this. The aim is to keep the rise from before to after as low as possible, and definitely no more than 2mmol/l - preferably a lot less.

I second what @Bluetit1802 says.
I find if numbers are too high I am educated about what I ate, and if they are normal ie non diabetic, I am inspired to keep up the good work

Hi @Mitch1705

I think you should be congratulated! You have taken a very important step towards controlling your diabetes.
By using your meter to test before and after eating you can choose foods that don’t raise your blood glucose much. That will give you the chance to tailor make your own perfect way of eating that will keep your blood glucose at normal levels, which will dramatically reduce your chance of developing all the horrible diabetic complications in years to come.

Well done!

9 is a bit high. I am sure your numbers will come down as you learn. Well done you for using your meter. It is a shame your mum is not on board. Perhaps when your numbers come down she will see you are right.

Well, then I must be dumb too. We can test and be dumb together! Sadly, your Mum is wrong, testing taught me which foods I can eat and which ones to avoid and even though I can be sure of what I eat I still test so that I spot if and when things change. Stick to your guns!

Mitch1705 said:

@xfieldok I mean 9 isnt majorly high considering its after a meal when i was first diagnosed i was 18+

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You are doing well. Your numbers are falling with the help of your meter. I aim to keep post meal readings to under 8.5, I don't always manage it!

Don't worry, i'm pre diabetic (ridiculous term if you ask me, like being nearly addicted to heroin) I am still having problems with my Dad. He just flat out cannot understand the connection between carbs and blood sugar.

Direct quote, "I don't have sugar, Weetabix with a tsp of honey for breakfast, some marmalade on toast for dinner, no fat there with pork and rice for dinner,". His view is totally biased by the weight watchers diet he has followed for years, no he is not remotely overweight but compared to me he eats hardly anything.

Both him and my mother were mortified when I said breakfast yesterday was scrambled egg and mushrooms cooked in butter. They are adamant im doing myself harm.

Then promptly offered me a mince pie.. At least I am not living with my parents, that helps.

You have to take control, no mater your mums view, I test my bg regularly. Could you test discretely to ease the tension and bring her round steady?

Many people do not understand because the advice given by the NHS is skewed towards the healthy plate with pasta etc. That is what people think.

When you embrace eating lower carbs and move foreword there will be a lot of people who don't understand, there are many diabetics who don't understand because they have been given bad info by their doctor. I know several now that think I am wrong.

One is a type 2 that thinks its ok to have his Bg at 9 to 10 as "You need a bit of sugar to keep you going". Yep, from the mouth of a T2

You are certainly NOT dumb. Meter testing gave me the knowledge I needed to find out what foods were good and bad for me. Why does your mum even need to know you are testing? I never test in front of the others in my family.

Heard it all before. You’re “only” type 2. My response to them is not broadcastable on a family forum.

Fewer things in life grind my gears more than people without diabetes lecturing people with diabetes on how to manage their condition. Especially doctors.

No, you’re not in the wrong. What you’re doing is excellent for your health and is taking control of it in a positive way, so well done you, you should be proud of yourself.

Your mum is probably right in the general ‘you don’t get prescribed a meter from the doc because you’re type 2’ but that’s not to say that is a great way of thinking by the NHS. And it’s probably all tangled up in funding and who would pay for it as well, so not even completely health-thinking-related.

I know it is hard and emotionally difficult without a parent’s support but you are doing great and seeing results for yourself. I have my dad’s full support in low carb eating and eating to my meter, but even he can’t help offering me biscuits every time I visit. I put it down to him (us) being old and set in his hosting ways, but I try not to think about it too much as he’s made a conscious effort about bread and pasta and other foods. But apparently biscuits fall under some other food category that’s exempt from being problematic. If only he was right...!

Mitch1705 said:

lately i have been doing readings with a meter ( Mum says im stupid cause i dont need it as im only type to hense why doc wont give me one is this right)

Ive been averaging between 5.8 and 9.5 between meals and fasting I take one metformin a day

I pick at thinkgs like peprami cheese strings cheese ham tuna and corned beef etc if i am peckish

Just now i got a reading of 9.0 so i took again and was 6.8 took a third at 7.2 which int bad

had diabetes for 3 months

But just had a bust up with mum for A taking 2 to be sure and B doing it in the first place as im type 2,


Please tell me im not in the wrong here?

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No, you're not stupid. Or a whole LOT of us are, all together. If you know what your bloods are doing, you can act on 'em. Low carb works for you? It shows in your bloods. You ate something carby and they went up? It shows in your bloods. (And you can take a quick walk to get them down again!). Get the flu and your bloods are up so much you should temporarily use insulin? Your meter will tell you! Couple of oldies but goodies: "Knowledge is power" & "Eat to your meter"!

You're doing everything right. Want to shock your mom into supporting you? Google her some pictures of diabetic foot ulcers, gangreen, amputations, retinopathy surgeries. (Kidney faillure, non-alcoholic liver disease, heart disease and the like probably don't photograph as well). That is what your little gadget is saving you from. "Just" a T2... It may not be as potentially/immediately deadly as T1 can be, but it sure can ruin your quality of life when it goes unchecked, and still kill you, just a little slower. And you're checking. And keeping your life, and it's quality, safeguarded. You have my permission to terrify her, even if it isn't Halloween. T2 isn't something to take lightly. Just T2... Phooey, I say! (Just don't get scared yourself in the process.... You're taking measures to prevent all this, remember!)

My mum's Diabetic and doesn't think I should be testing! And she still gives me potato products when I go for tea! It's just a mum thing!!

Please I am very newly diagnosed, has your mother got her diabetes under control and can you eat potatoes? Still in a learning curve.

Christine22080 said:

can you eat potatoes?

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Potatoes are one of the worst culprits for raising blood sugar levels, along with rice, bread, pasta and cereals. Some people may manage one or two small ones without significant effect, but only testing them out with a glucose meter will tell you if you are one of these people.

Bluetit1802 said:

Potatoes are one of the worst culprits for raising blood sugar levels, along with rice, bread, pasta and cereals. Some people may manage one or two small ones without significant effect, but only testing them out with a glucose meter will tell you if you are one of these people.

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Thanks, I have cut them out altogether as I know I cannot behave myself. It just seemed strange to see someone being served potatoes. But, I am still learning and fall into all the potholes that newbies do. Thanks for your comment.

Christine22080 said:

Thanks, I have cut them out altogether as I know I cannot behave myself. It just seemed strange to see someone being served potatoes. But, I am still learning and fall into all the potholes that newbies do. Thanks for your comment.

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I think @Yellredder was criticising her mum for giving her potatoes, especially as her mum is also a diabetic and should know better.

Exactly @Bluetit1802 ! I should also criticise myself for actually eating them when I know what will happen! I tell myself it's only once a week! My mum controls her T2D through meds, whereas I'm trying to do it by diet. I'm newly diagnosed.