Approved Did your HCP provide you with a target range?

Stepha

Newbie
Messages
4
Hi,

I'm a bit unclear about how blood glucose self monitoring works in the UK. If you could take a moment to tell me two things, that'd be great:
1) Can you get a blood glucose meter as a type 2 diabetic, without being on insulin?
2) When you get a blood glucose monitor, does your doctor/diabetes advisor tell you what your target range is?

Thanks!

Stephanie
 

Stallen

Well-Known Member
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385
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Other
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Grumpy folk
I was given a meter by my old GP about five years ago, a year and a half ago, I was given one by a specialist diabetic nurse and the target I was given was to aim for a BG of under 10, I was on 3 different diabetic medications, plus a lot of others for other conditions including a biological treatment for arthritis, which can make me prone to infections, so I've been encouraged to test several times a day.

I've never been on insulin, and have always been given meters and test strips to test my BG.
 

Stallen

Well-Known Member
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Type 2
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Thanks, Agindust. Do you know if your range is standard or if it was set up for you in particular?
Hi stepha,

You should ask your GP or DN what they think is a realistic number for you, and also what your hba1c number is and where you are in terms of expectations.

My DN is happy if my haba1c is between 50-60 my last 3 have been 41,47 and recently 52 although my next one should easily be in the 40s.
 

azure

Expert
Messages
9,780
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Pump
@Stepha Do you havevdiabetes yourself? You mention research: who is this research for?
 

Stepha

Newbie
Messages
4
@Stepha Do you havevdiabetes yourself? You mention research: who is this research for?
Hi Azure,
I work for a firm that tests medical devices and sometimes we test diabetes tools, like blood sugar meters. To really understand if a device is good, we need to know who the users are going to be. Part of that is understanding how things work in different regions. And figuring *that* out is part of my job. So to answer your question, no, I don't have diabetes myself, but we work to make devices better for all sorts of users.
 

azure

Expert
Messages
9,780
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi Azure,
I work for a firm that tests medical devices and sometimes we test diabetes tools, like blood sugar meters. To really understand if a device is good, we need to know who the users are going to be. Part of that is understanding how things work in different regions. And figuring *that* out is part of my job. So to answer your question, no, I don't have diabetes myself, but we work to make devices better for all sorts of users.

Thanks, Stepha :)
 

KevinPotts

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,606
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Unkind people, failure to take personal responsibility.
Hi,

I'm a bit unclear about how blood glucose self monitoring works in the UK. If you could take a moment to tell me two things, that'd be great:
1) Can you get a blood glucose meter as a type 2 diabetic, without being on insulin?
2) When you get a blood glucose monitor, does your doctor/diabetes advisor tell you what your target range is?

Thanks!

Stephanie

1. Practice and regional variances. I got one even as a non medicated T2 - just diet and also a prescription for strips and lancet. But I think I am rare

2. FBG: 4-7 +2 hours after meal, max of 9




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bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
nothing from my DN so bought my own after reading on this forum how essential monitoring levels was.
As far as levels go - as low as possible.. I try to keep under 7 most of the time by diet control and fasting.