Have you been told not to test your blood sugars?

[debs248]

There's nothing in the guidelines at all that would encourage anyone to test around food, or even suggest that testing around food is a possibility, but that to me is the single most important benefit from fingerprick testing as it allows the individual to use the information to start to take control of the condition.

Possibly 1.6.5-8 under "diet and lifestyle" and "support achieving HbA1c targets". But you're right, it's not explicit, and in my view it should be.

Also, it says near the beginning of the document that these are only guidelines and HCPs can deviate from them. And the first section emphasises that people with diabetes should receive individualised care.

So on the rare (is it really that rare? I despair) occasion that you have an intelligent, knowledgeable, proactive patient prepared to put in the hard work to manage their condition as well as it can be managed, at little cost (or more likely, a net saving) to the NHS, why wouldn't you help them achieve this?

If I wasn't so knackered I'd start a campaign. If anyone else has the energy, I'll join it.

 

[debs248]

Another thought (sorry)

CGMs are to be provided to Type 2s on insulin (presumably also BGMs and supplies for backup). They're far more expensive than fingerprick supplies, and I'd rather not let my diabetes "progress" to the point of needing insulin before being "allowed" to test.

If the NHS can prescribe gym memberships to allow poor people to better manage their exercise and weight, it (sweary) well ought to provide blood glucose testing supplies to equally poor people who want to manage their diabetes.

Edit: got confused as to which thread I was in!

 

[grantg]

theres a couple of options available which will allow you check to see how you handle various carbs. If you've not used the product before.

dexcom1 has a 10day trial can sign up for https://dexcom.com/en-GB/one-plus-campaign-sample?
abbotts has a 15 day trial can sign up for https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/getting-started/sampling.html?

so thats 25 days of experimenting with foods (that your unsure of) keeping a nice written record of foods which worked well for you during that time maybe a good idea alongside a list of foods which didn't agree with your glucose levels.

I'd try before using the free cgm trials to make a list of foods that you like. and try against those (removing any foods that you know the effects already if good/bad body handles it ok or not).

i would also write down the time of day you had your meal at. sometimes muscles can appear to be slower at using glucose in blood stream up just after waking, comapred to say being active for several hours. so something that may not of been ok for you at breakfast might be a little better at lunch / evening meal.

regarding: "CGMs are to be provided to Type 2s on insulin" sure they can under certain critera. my late mum was unable to get although she was injecting upwards of 4x per day and had several pretty bad hypos and indeed total delirium with exceptionally high glucose levels&keytones dka on umpteen occassions blue lighted to hospital kept in for months ...

she was never given a cgm, if she had she would of much better grip with her diabetes...and think she would still be here today. if i knew then what i now i'd of ensured that she was given the treatment that she required (even if paying for it). i have the same dsn as my mum had i'm hoping to change that, that same dsn refuses now to speak to me other than via telephone call for 'review'.

theres been some good advice given regarding costs of blood monitoring via fingerprick and test strips hopefully that will assist

(edit corrected a typo in spelling, big fingers hit two keys at once i think)