I was diagnosed with Type 2 so many years ago that I can't remember (I celebrate my 70th birthday this year)
I left UK 4 years ago to come to live in this wonderful country and my fears that medical care would be a problem have come true in respect of diabetes.
When I left UK, I was on high doses of both long-lasting and short acting insulin and the doctor told me to have as many Metformin as I liked. I brought a big supply of medication with me because here it's not free.
The new healthy lifestyle had a dramatic effect and, within 6 months, I was off all meds. This was a combination of a basic diet of fresh foods, high in veg (even with lots of olive oil on salads), processed foods almost non-existant and avaraging a hour a day walking - ofen by the sea (I hate swimming). I lost lots of weight and life was good.
But I got very busy and started grabbing food when I could so out went the careful diet in in came snacks and bread. The weight came back on and back came the diabetes.
The doctors here are either over-worked IKA (the equivalent of NHS) or very expensive (50 euros a visit). I have yet to find one who has studied diabetes beyond the standard formula of tablets graduating to insulin. There is no equivalent to specialist nurses (even in UK, the team I used to use at a hospital were disbandies & the 3 consultants were reduced to 1)
Insulin and needles are free here but everything else is not: my meds were costing over 50 euros a month and now 35 (I have high blood pressure and chloresterol - but that has not changed for over 20 years!). I asked at the pharmacy about fast acting insulin and was told they don't use it here.
To give you an idea: I went to the doctor expecting the usual 2-3 hour wait (no appointments) and found a hastily written note on her door to say she was away for 2 weeks. Luckily, the pharmacy will "lend" me meds until I get a prescription.
Nobody in UK or here can explain to me why my blood sugar reading is always high (14 or so) in the morning, often 12 hours since supper time. It was like this in UK and so I've had to get used to feeling awful for a couple of hours - certainly no early morning walk!
Currently taking 30mml insulin in the morning with a prescribed 1 metformin and this is clearly not working. If I have any breakfast - even low fat protein and no carbs, I can expect BS of over 15 by lunch time. My best time is from early evening, about 12 hours after taking the insulin. I've read an article from USA that suggests that long lasting insulin can be taken at night but I'm scared about hypers in the night - will a low wake me up? (I am on my own so there is no partner to ensure I'm awake).
I'm visiting UK for a week in August and hope to get an appointment with a real specialist.
So, at the moment, I am struggling to keep my spirits up - I know giving way to depression will encourage comfort food eating.
Any advice form a long-term diabetic will be gratefully received.
I left UK 4 years ago to come to live in this wonderful country and my fears that medical care would be a problem have come true in respect of diabetes.
When I left UK, I was on high doses of both long-lasting and short acting insulin and the doctor told me to have as many Metformin as I liked. I brought a big supply of medication with me because here it's not free.
The new healthy lifestyle had a dramatic effect and, within 6 months, I was off all meds. This was a combination of a basic diet of fresh foods, high in veg (even with lots of olive oil on salads), processed foods almost non-existant and avaraging a hour a day walking - ofen by the sea (I hate swimming). I lost lots of weight and life was good.
But I got very busy and started grabbing food when I could so out went the careful diet in in came snacks and bread. The weight came back on and back came the diabetes.
The doctors here are either over-worked IKA (the equivalent of NHS) or very expensive (50 euros a visit). I have yet to find one who has studied diabetes beyond the standard formula of tablets graduating to insulin. There is no equivalent to specialist nurses (even in UK, the team I used to use at a hospital were disbandies & the 3 consultants were reduced to 1)
Insulin and needles are free here but everything else is not: my meds were costing over 50 euros a month and now 35 (I have high blood pressure and chloresterol - but that has not changed for over 20 years!). I asked at the pharmacy about fast acting insulin and was told they don't use it here.
To give you an idea: I went to the doctor expecting the usual 2-3 hour wait (no appointments) and found a hastily written note on her door to say she was away for 2 weeks. Luckily, the pharmacy will "lend" me meds until I get a prescription.
Nobody in UK or here can explain to me why my blood sugar reading is always high (14 or so) in the morning, often 12 hours since supper time. It was like this in UK and so I've had to get used to feeling awful for a couple of hours - certainly no early morning walk!
Currently taking 30mml insulin in the morning with a prescribed 1 metformin and this is clearly not working. If I have any breakfast - even low fat protein and no carbs, I can expect BS of over 15 by lunch time. My best time is from early evening, about 12 hours after taking the insulin. I've read an article from USA that suggests that long lasting insulin can be taken at night but I'm scared about hypers in the night - will a low wake me up? (I am on my own so there is no partner to ensure I'm awake).
I'm visiting UK for a week in August and hope to get an appointment with a real specialist.
So, at the moment, I am struggling to keep my spirits up - I know giving way to depression will encourage comfort food eating.
Any advice form a long-term diabetic will be gratefully received.
