Diagnosed with type 2 this morning..

[Monday12]

Thanks Adrian

 

[Monday12]

I've just remembered that I have Private health Insurance via my employer. It's a sign of how messed up I've been since my diagnosis on Thursday that it's taken nearly three days for this to realise this. I'm not sure of the extent of the cover, but I can find out on Monday.

Has anyone else here managed to see a specialist via health insurance? Is it worthwhile, or am i just replicating the service from GP? Any views are very welcome.

Thanks, M12

 

[kimbo1962]

hello and welcome Monday! Keep posting and asking questions, lots to be learnt and lots of support here

 

[eddie1968]

Here's another question if you all don't mind. Some posters give lots of stats in their signatures about tri-this and Hi-that and whatever. All my GP gave me this morning was the figure of 11.5 for my BLood sugar. Where do all the other stats come from? Self testing? Is my GP keeping stuff from me? I have an appointment to see her in a month's time. Is that too far away for someone newly diagnosed?

I get results of my biochemistry sent to me by post after seeing my Diabetologist. Blood glucose readings I do 4 times daily. Just ask you DN to give you the figures or they might write it down for you. If you ask for photocopies/printouts they will probably charge you. Hope this helps.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I get results of my biochemistry sent to me by post after seeing my Diabetologist. Blood glucose readings I do 4 times daily. Just ask you DN to give you the figures or they might write it down for you. If you ask for photocopies/printouts they will probably charge you. Hope this helps.

I've never been charged. They can't charge unless they have a list of charges on display that includes this. It's only a couple of A4 sheets of computer paper.

 

[eddie1968]

BT, I seem to remember a thread on people being told they would be charged for this, was a while ago and you're right 2 bits of paper can't cost the earth. Thanks for the info and hope other members in a similar situation check it out too.

 

[Bluetit1802]

BT, I seem to remember a thread on people being told they would be charged for this, was a while ago and you're right 2 bits of paper can't cost the earth. Thanks for the info and hope other members in a similar situation check it out too.

My husband was told he would be charged when he asked for some cholesterol test print outs going back 4 years, but after querying this he was told that it was a mistake. I think the charges apply to historical records or complicated ones that take a lot of printing.

 

[Patricia21]

Welcome to the foram.
I cant add much else,but everyone is great and you will get lots of help.
I joined in June this year,best thing I ever did.

 

[Monday12]

Thanks Patricia - lovely people on this forum!

 

[Monday12]

This advice is from the NHS Scotland. I wonder if they discourage self testing because of the cost implications (free prescriptions for the materials) or because they genuinely feel that there is no need? My mind is already made up. If I need to control BS levels, and I do, I need to learn what works and what doesn't, what to eat and when, and to assess whether the combination of the Netformin/Diet/Exercise changes are actually working for me.

Going for a monthly or quarterly blood test at my GPs clinic isn't going to do this.

From the webiste:

"Many people with type 2 diabetes, especially those who are diet-controlled, on metformin or a glitazone do not need to perform home blood glucose monitoring"

 

[adrian207]

This advice is from the NHS Scotland. I wonder if they discourage self testing because of the cost implications (free prescriptions for the materials) or because they genuinely feel that there is no need? My mind is already made up. If I need to control BS levels, and I do, I need to learn what works and what doesn't, what to eat and when, and to assess whether the combination of the Netformin/Diet/Exercise changes are actually working for me.

Going for a monthly or quarterly blood test at my GPs clinic isn't going to do this.

From the webiste:

"Many people with type 2 diabetes, especially those who are diet-controlled, on metformin or a glitazone do not need to perform home blood glucose monitoring"

I am fairly new to this game and can't really see how you can't test yourself. The change in eating habits from what I wanted to low carb was a dramatic one. I cannot believe how difficult it is just to find stuff that's under 5g/100g and even spent 3 hours this week looking at every product that Asda has on its shelves.........................very disappointing results really unless you like cardboard biscuits or really small portions.
The only way to find out if a certain food is any good for you regarding BS levels is to test before eating it and again 2 hrs later. If the difference is slightly more than 2 then I find a walk will get that back down but if it's a lot more than 2 I would probably stay clear of that food and try something different next time. It is all down to trial and error.
I like a lot of other members test before brek, lunch and dinner and again 2 - 21/2 hrs after these meals.

 

[Scandichic]

Thanks everyone - what a friendly helpful forum. I'm in Scotland and so don't pay for prescriptions anyway (it's a disgrace that there are different rulse in different parts of the UK, IMO.)

I've ordered a Codefree monitor from Amazon - see, I'm following the great advice here already! It wasn't too expensive - think what I'm going to save not buying stuff from Greggs anyway!

Another quick question - what's the situation with alcohol? A complete no-no? If it's OK in moderation, is wine better than beer?

Thanks again

M12

Hi there! You can get the strips at a discounted rate from the following website
http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm
Make sure yo buy them in batches of 5 or 10 with the discount code below - less than £5.50 a pot!

 

[adrian207]

Just checked on the internet and found the cheapest strips for my Accu-Chek are £18.70 for 50 probably + postage.
Glad I get mine free. Even using just 1 a day they would only last 7 weeks but what use is 1 a day?

 

[Daphne917]

Just checked on the internet and found the cheapest strips for my Accu-Chek are £18.70 for 50 probably + postage.
Glad I get mine free. Even using just 1 a day they would only last 7 weeks but what use is 1 a day?

I can get them for my Accu-chek Nano for £12.50 for 50 on e-bay

 

[Monday12]

I phoned my GP - apparently I'm waiting for an appointment to go on the DESMOND course. Does anyone have any feedback as to how good / effective this training is? Thanks in advance.

M12

 

[alliebee]

Hello and welcome to the forum

 

[Monday12]

Hi everyone. It's me again, the OP. My Codefree meter was delivered this afternoon and of course I had to try my first test. It was about two hours after my lunch, some soup with 25g of Carbs.

My fasting blood test a week and a half ago reported to me last Thursday as being 11.5 . This new test I've just done was 10.8. I've been on one Metformin a day since Thursday (going up to two after a week) - and my diet has dramatically improved since my diagnosis four days ago.

On the one hand, the reading is down, and this new one was post-meal and the original a fasting test. On the other hand, I was hoping for a little bit more improvement. Am I asking too much, or is this a sign of progress do you think?

Thanks again for all the insight.

 

[adrian207]

If the new test was 2 hrs after lunch and read 10.8 which is 1.3 down on your last reading, then that is good isn't it?
Now you've got your monitor you'll be able to check more often and get a really true reading. Good luck.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi Monday,

Your post meal reading of 10.8 means absolutely nothing on its own and without knowing what you were before you ate. You need to do lots of tests over a few weeks, testing out meals and tweaking them, before you will see a massive difference. Metformin takes about 3 or more weeks to kick in, and then doesn't help very much with blood sugars. Don't forget to keep a food diary, including carb portion sizes, and record your levels alongside so you can look back and learn.

There are some threads on the forum you may find useful. The BS thread and the Morning fasting thread. You can record your levels on those and people will be there to help and encourage.

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

Hi everyone. It's me again, the OP. My Codefree meter was delivered this afternoon and of course I had to try my first test. It was about two hours after my lunch, some soup with 25g of Carbs.

My fasting blood test a week and a half ago reported to me last Thursday as being 11.5 . This new test I've just done was 10.8. I've been on one Metformin a day since Thursday (going up to two after a week) - and my diet has dramatically improved since my diagnosis four days ago.

On the one hand, the reading is down, and this new one was post-meal and the original a fasting test. On the other hand, I was hoping for a little bit more improvement. Am I asking too much, or is this a sign of progress do you think?

Thanks again for all the insight.

This may give some ideas on how to use your meter:
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php