I don't have the wide experience of some on this forum, having only been diagnosed since March. My doctor and DN said that I didn't need to test, although I test once a week and have done so since the start of April. I looked at testing first thing, but decided that the 2 hrs after a meal would be a good guide. At the start I was also just adjusting my diet and have now gone fully onto the LCHF diet for the last month or so.
My readings started out at over 9 (2 hrs after a meal) and have gradually decreased as I have adapted my diet until last week when it was 5.2.
I Know that I have lost about 7ibs in weight since diagnosis and have been taking more exercise, walking in the main for about miles every other day as a brisk pace and being more active in the garden and even going up and down stairs quickly a few times a day. Not a huge change, but one that seems to be working on a graduated basis.
Some of the problems with LCHF is that I'm allergic to most nuts. I was previously fanatical about eating low fat stuff as I had previously had high cholestral, which I got under control by changing my diet to low fat. Now, I'm back eating full fat cheese, eggs etc. As I'm a veggie I always check the ingredients of what food I buy, now I also check things like carb and glucose and sugars well. Some manufacturers are quite clever at putting those items on labeling in the smallest of type, which I have difficulty in reading due to poor vision. (Not diabetes related -just very short sighted). I have adjusted the types of fruit that I eat, getting rid of the high sugar types and substituting those low in sugar - it seems to work, although I miss eating grapes, which I love, but I know, won't love me.
When first diagnosed I got very worried about the consequences of diabetes, but having calmed down and taken the measure of what I can and can't do, have struck a balance that seems to be working,. I'm on the metaformin 500g 3 times a day, but would like to reduce it if possible, but will have to wait for the next 3 month checkup, which I believe will be due towards the end of June.
I have had a couple of blips, where I have felt really unwell, but I could actually put my finger on what had caused it. Once, I had gone out for a meal and had eaten potato based foods which seemed to really affect me very quickly. Lesson learned and now a strict No, No. Than a couple of weeks ago I got a really bad cold (which is still hanging around) which seemed to cause BS to fluctuate for some reason - I presume that the battle going on in the body against the germs had something to do with that. But drinking a lot and resisting the urge to take cold or flu remedies was I believe the right one. I'm on enough meds as it is.
I can't claim to be in control, but I am serious about working sensibly both with the doctor and DN, but also with some of the wisdom available here. The other day I was in a Chemists shop and he was busy selling a BT Machine to a customer and giving her all sorts of advice about how to use it (she was apparently newly diagnosed) and insisted that she tested first thing in the morning? This seems to me from what I have read elsewhere on these forums to be a bad idea as first thing the BS is automatically raised as the body adjusts to rising and getting ready for a day of activity? I mentioned that I tested weekly and the chemist asked why (he was suggesting she tested daily - perhaps thinking of the profits when she came back for more lances and test strips). I queried that saying that my GP has said that testing was unnecessary at as T2, but he had no objection to my doing so if it gave me peace of mind. The DN agreed with that.
In the end, it's getting to know how diabetes is affecting you day to day, what food or drinks might be the trigger for raised BS and substituting others more appropriate. Becoming more active and exercising or doing practical things like gardening, etc. I now walk to the shops and carry stuff home rather than jumping in the car. Small things, combined with sensible measures seem to suit me, but might not suit or be possible for others.
mine goes haywire! If you're eating LCHF and you feel funny - test. Because I lost weight and halved bs, I hypod because I didn't need the 3 met a day I was on. Doc reduced it down to one. Hope this helps!
