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DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH METER

sandysan

sandysan

Well-Known Member
Messages
265
Type of diabetes
Type 2
HI ALL
WENT TO SEE THE DIABETIC NURSE YESTERDAY , WHICH BOUGHT ME DOWN IN MYSELF A LITTLE , AS U KNOW I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED A WEEK TODAY , AND I THOUGHT I WAS DOING FINE BY TAKING MY BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL ON MONITOR BEFORE FOOD AND 2 HOURS AFTER FOOD ,, I STARTED TO NOTICE WHAT FOOD I WAS EATING WAS TAKING ITS TIME TO CONVERT WHICH WAS WHOLEMEAL BROWN BREAD , BUT I WAS LEARNING AND MY READINGS WERE WITHIN RANGE,,
I TOOK MY READINGS TO THE NURSE ON MY FIRST VISIST , SHE DIDNT LOOK AT ANY OF THE READINGS AS SHE SAID THEY DONT USE THE BS MONITOR ANYMORE , JUST HBAC1 EVERY THREE MONTHS ?
I FELT AS THO I WASTED MY TIME , SHE GAVE ME A DIABETIC MAGAZINE SHE SAID I COULD EAT ANYTHING SMALL IN PORTIONS AND EVEN CHOCOLATE ,, WELL IM 17 ST AND IM TRYING NOT TO EAT ALL THE BAD FOOD , SO I DONT WANT TO BE TEMPTED WITH CHOCOLATE.
I DONT AGREE THAT NEW DIABETICS SHOULD NOT HAVE A BS METRE, AT LEAST WITH ONE THEY CAN MONITOR AND GET A GOOD IDEA HOW TO KEEP THE BLOOD DOWN , ,,,,,THEY SHOULD GIVE THE MONITORS BACK ,, WHAT DO I DO NOW HAVE TO WAIT AND EAT AND GO ALL HAYWIRE TO BE TOLD IN 3 MONTHS THAT MY HBAC1 IS HIGHER ????
NOT HAPPY BUNNY TODAY ,,,, DONT KNOW WHAT TO EAT ,,, I JUST FEEL SO LOW AND DOWN RIGHT NOW I DONT KNOW WHERE TO TURN
 
Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

Hi

Well I would ignore the nurse, continue to test that is the only way to work out what you can eat & portion sizes that don't cause you a problem!

She is right you can eat most things in small portions, but to be honest stuff like chocolate should really be avoided other than very special occasions or treats at most!

I have found a blood monitor essential, it tells you if you are doing the right thing having to wait 3 months for results is too long to wait, it means if your eating the wrong things you don't know & if your doing it right your not getting positive feedback to motivate yourself.

Keep testing & good luck
 
Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

well I feel more comfortable doing my sugars on ammeter it puts my mind at rest ,,,,, but I have been diagnosed for a week now and I have been doing it everyday and 2hours after each meant ,,
can you advice me how many times to do it ,, a day
 
Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

hi, your caps have given me a headache but it makes you wonder, if a dn or doctor gives you bad advice, ie "dont worry about eating carbs" for example how are we supposed to accept something else they say, i mean if one thing is pretty definatly wrong whats to say everything or something else isnt so, do we then choose which things are ok and which arent? in which case whats the point in going at all?


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Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

at first i tested 10 times a day minimum, now i only do it occasionally or if i ate something unusual, but i figure if you can afford it do it as much as you feel it gives you the info you need


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Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

I haven't seen a DN but the dietician said to have a healthy diet with GOOD carbs . Its working for me.
The practice nurse said not to test as Im diet controlled . Im a nurse and ignored her. I need to test to recognise what my symptoms meant in relation to what my BM level are and also which food I could have and which to avoid. its working for me.


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Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

Hi Sandysan!! I am sorry that you are feeling so confused, but unfortunately that is nearly always the way most of us feel after diagnosis, and the response from G.P. etc. I was diagnosed at the end of May - and it came as a total shock to me - I had had no symptoms, and just went for one of those 'free check ups'!! I went in feeling fine, and came out feeling devastated!! The reaction from them was to take medication - no diet advice or other form of support. So, stubborn as I am, I refused the medication, insisting that I wanted to try by diet control first. They were not pleased with me - but I felt that medication was only going to be the route I would take if I failed by diet. I found these forums and spent time reading and learning as much as I could - and got myself a meter (they refused to give me one too!) and my journey began!! I have adapted to the low carbohydrate diet lifestyle and my blood glucose levels have decreased significantly. At a check up after 2 months, my levels showed a marked decrease and most days they are now within acceptable levels between the 5's and the 7's (which of course I wouldn't know if I didn't test myself!) I am also moving towards the 2 stone less mark in terms of weight, but I do feel as though I am in control of diabetes instead of it being in control of me! Having said that, I am only too aware that I have a long way to go - but the path is much clearer than it was the day I walked out of the G.P. office. Do spend some time looking around the various threads on these forums - they are full of invaluable information and tips from people who have walked the same pathway. Good luck on your journey towards a fuller understanding of your condition - it does get easier, honestly. Julie
 
Re: DIAGNOSED LAST WEEK SEEN GP SHE SAID DONT MONITOR WITH M

Hi. My GP also ignored my readings when I was on tablets but now I'm on insulin my lovely DN actually asks me for readings. I'm afraid there can be a great difference in attitude between many HCPs in how they treat those on diet/tablets and those on insulin. You are doing the right thing in using a meter and testing before and 2 hours after a meal; how else can you know what affects you. The advice to eat anything 'small' has some sense in it, but it's the carbs that get converted to glucose directly in the blood not fats or proteins so reducing carbs more than anything will reduce weight and blood sugar. The effect of carb reduction will vary from person to person depending on the severity of the diabetes, so Eat to the Meter as they say. I have 85% Dark Chocolate which is very low in carbs. Having ordinary chocolate is definitely not OK other than as rare treat and/or a very small piece. Your nurse is right that the HCPs do use the HBA1C as their guide and that's fine as an overall good measure of where you have got to but you need the meter to work out how to get there. You're doing the right things so carry on the good work.
 
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