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Hello

JamieB70

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi Folks
Im Jamie, 55 and recently diagnosed with type 2.unfortunately I have slipped out of the prediabetic range. Hopefully I can turn things around with diet and exercise. I am not overweight so that’s a start.

Looking forward to getting some good advice and support.
 
Hi @JamieB70 & welcome to the forum :)

What was your last HbA1c that tipped you over from pre diabetic? If it wasn’t by that much then maybe a few tweaks will be all you need. Do you watch your carbs?
 
I’ll need to check again with surgery. I did not get told what my reading was. Since diagnosis I’ve cut out sweets and chocolate as well as putting more effort into preparing lunch for work.(look out for the decrease in Greggs profits ). Long hours driving at work mean I don’t get the exercise I used to either.
 
Yes you definitely need to know that information @JamieB70

Many T2 on the forum use a low carb diet to help control their blood sugar. It’s not just sugar that you may need to reduce such as sweets or chocolate but carbs in general, as all carbs turn to sugar, so things like pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, flour products can all raise your blood sugar and lots of us reduce them or avoid them all together. Personally I use a keto diet of less than 20g carb a day, most from above ground veggies. Depending on your HbA1c you may not need to be a drastic as that and may be able to tolerate more carbs.

Do you test your blood sugars before and after meals? That’s the best way to see what the food you’re eating is affecting your BG. Your GP probably tell you that you don’t need to test, but that’s like driving a car without a fuel gauge. If you do test you’ll more than likely after to self fund as it’s very difficult for T2 who aren’t on hypo inducing meds such as insulin or Gliclizide to get testing funded by the NHS

If you check out some of the links in my signature it may be helpful, there’s one on testing, when to test and what kind of numbers you’re looking for

If you don’t have a tester then I highly recommend you get yourself one, for me it’s the most important piece of kit in your armoury

I’ll tag one of our members @Rachox who has a list of testers that may be of interest to you. Myself I use the TEE2.

Please don’t be shy to ask any questions, we were all in your shoes once :)
 
Thanks for the tag @lovinglife. Hi @JamieB70 and welcome to the forum, here’s some info with links for UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned. I actually use the Dexcom ONE + continuous glucose monitor these days, so although these links are still current, there may be newer monitors available that I don’t know about. I’m sure other members will chip in if they have further info.



HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is their newer model and seems to be getting good reviews.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/



Links to the strips for future orders:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/



Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/





SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793



The strips are to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097



If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.



Don’t forget to check the box if you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)



Abbott usually offer a free 15 day trial of the Freestyle LIBRE 2 plus:

Sampling | Diabetes Care | Abbott



Dexcom also offer a free trial of their Dexcom ONE + here

The Dexcom ONE+ CGM (Continuous Glucose Montoring) system | Dexcom
 
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