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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dennis" data-source="post: 16362" data-attributes="member: 1338">Hi Dave and welcome to the forum.Unfortunately your tale is pretty typical of the many who come to us having been given little or no information by the medical profession. So, lets see what we can do to help you.Firstly I see you are on oral meds, so presumably metformin? That would certainly explain the flatulence problems - metformin is also sometimes referred to as metfartin! Hopefully this will wear off as you become accustomed to it, but if it is still the same after 2 weeks then ask your GP to switch you to Glucophage SR. This is metformin in a slow-release form and is much kinder on the stomach. It would help us to help you if you would say what meds and strength you are on.Now diet. This is a very tricky subject and one that not all diabetics agree on. However, the majority of Type-2s on this forum manage to keep their blood sugars under control by adopting a low or low-ish carbohydrate diet. Your medical team is quite right in saying that you need to cut down on sugars. But the advice to eat lots of bread, cereals, potatoes and pasta is the worst possible advice that a Type-2 can be given. Follow that diet and it will kill you. I am not exaggerating. All carbohydrates convert to blood sugar, and the more carbs then the more blood sugar. Type-2s have a problem in getting their insulin to convert blood sugar into energy. So logically you need a diet that will produce less blood sugar, not more. Have a look round the forum and you will find loads of advice on how to reduce the amount of carboydrates that you eat. But shout if you have any questions.Cholesterol. Around 80% of your body's cholesterol is produced by your liver and 20% comes cholesterol in food. So by cutting down on fats you can only reduce a very small proportion of your cholesterol. Where does the liver get its cholesterol from? It comes from carbohydrates!! So if you really want to lower your cholesterol then reduce your carbohydrates.Blood glucose home test monitors is a very thorny subject. The guidelines from NICE and the Dept of Health are that patients should be encouraged to monitor their blood sugar levels so that they are able to make adjustments where needed. Three-monthly testing is absolutely no use to you - it is YOU that is expected to manage your condition on a daily basis, not the surgery. They just need to see how you are progressing, but you can't know whether you are progressing at all without a monitor. You can do one of three things:- challenge them as to why they are going against NICE and government guidelines in refusing to let you test- just accept that you won't change their attitude and buy the tester and strips yourself (the testers are not expensive - generally around £6-£15 depending on the model, and but the strips are dearer - a months supply costs between £12 and £25 again depending on the model)- get yourself a new doctor - one who understands more about diabetes, its causes and treatment than your present lot do.For most newly diagnosed people diabetes is a huge learning-curve. But you seem to be developing a very quick understanding so I am sure will very quickly come to terms with it - and show the "health professionals" how it can be successfully treated - with or without their help!!Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.</blockquote>

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