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do i need a blood glucose test meter ?

A

ali68

Newbie
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Hi all, i am newly diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes, my first blood test reading was 7.9. my nurse specialist has told me i dont need to have a blood glucose test meter, is this right? as i am new to this and dont have much faith in the nhs i hope you might be able to advise me. i am diet controlled at the moment and have my 2nd set of blood tests on 27th august. many thanks in advance. ali
 
The only way I became diet controlled was by using a meter to test which foods did or did not work for my diabetes. Having T2 has made me much more aware of looking after myself and researching my options. Good luck with this next phase of life and good health to you!
Alison
 
Yes you need a test meter! It is the only way you will find just how the foods you eat affect your blood sugar levels. This attitude of HCP's about Type 2's and test meters is a cost cutting exercise to save the PCT's money on prescribing test strips.

In the early days of your diabetes testing before and two hours after every meal will teach you a lot about what is happening with your blood sugar control, many of us had to buy a meter and keep records that we showed the doctor. When they see that you are proactive in your care you MAY get the strips prescribed !

Below is the general advice we give to new diabetics, I hope some of it will be a help to you.

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!
If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Sue/Ken.
Click to expand...
 
I was mis diagnosed as a type 2 to begin with (i am actually type 1 on insulin) but even then the first thing i was given was a meter and told to test often.
personally i don't think you can successfully take care of yourself without one.

You should be able to get one for free from your diabetes clinic or GP.
Or you can buy one yourself from the chemist.

it's my digital bible :lol:
 
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