hopefully, better for life

Firstly, many thanks for the opportunity to read and post on this forum, and the 'virtual' support of many lovely people.

With a background of feeling ghastly for a long time and a screening result I believe to be in the prediabetic range, I decided to be a bit proactive, which is unusual for me!

13 Feb 2014 - fasting glucose 5.9 mmol/L; total cholesterol 6.2 mmol/L; apparently completely normal according to GP receptionist who carried out the screening appointment

Night sweats and soggy bedclothes were becoming an embarrassment, blurry vision was frustrating as I'm v short-sighted anyway, plus the expanding waistline did not help my mood ... I admit to a long history of clinical depression and nightly bingeing on sweets/choc/biscuits over decades, added to which a family history of T1 and T2.

I bought my meter and strips on 22 Feb and consider it a good investment. Warned husband that this was going to be an expensive hobby ... One month's attempt at lower carbing has honestly been a revelation. My results have swung between 2.9 and 8.0, but average around 4.7 and I'm trying to keep between 4.0 and 6.6 for the majority of the time. Most significantly, I no longer wish to graze on rubbish throughout the day and feel much better for it. I think I might have lost a few pounds, but this is a secondary bonus.

I wonder what the lab results will be next year?

OH and I went to a dance last Friday for the first time in years and had a good time watching the others!

With very best wishes from Two Left Feet.

thanks Andy/Scandi/Mazzer, you've made my day

Please feel free to look at my other posts; you'll see my motivation for the LCHF regime.

The trouble is, so many people with a 'nearly but not quite' diagnosis are being let down by today's nonchalant NHS (from a diabetic point of view.)
Here endeth the lesson. I'll get my coat.

Scandichic said:

Can I suggest that you get an sd code free meter from ebay. Strips are £7 per 50. Accu heck strips cost £25 from my chemist. My strips on ebay are free pp and are there the next day! I believe amazon also sell them. Well done for being so pro active!

Click to expand...

Message received and understood. I've just ordered a Codefree meter plus 50 strips from Amazon, for £19.98. I shall continue to use my Fastclix device and lancets pro tem as I had no choice but to purchase a box of 200 lancets from the chemist 2 weeks ago. These cost £17.55 from Lloyds.

Thank you for saving me some cash in the long term!

Just to let you know how pleased I am with my SD Codefree meter, received on Thursday. It is smaller than I expected and less "clunky" than the Accu-chek Aviva. Readings from the 2 machines appeared to correlate well, and so I've ditched the Aviva. I'm now using a "hybrid kit" comprising the Aviva case and Fastclix device (which I prefer) alongside the brilliantly economical Codefree meter and strips.
I would heartily recommend the SD Codefree system; even I could understand the instruction manual, although I don't think I will be using all of the settings available ...
Still feeling good about this wake-up call.
With very best wishes.
Gill

Pride Comes Before a Fall

I'm not surprised.

Many thanks indeed for your concern. Control haywire over the Easter week, but I now feel far worse than expected and the levels reflect this (3-9 mmol/L). I've managed to obtain an appointment with my GP on Tuesday and wonder what the response will be like as these figures are probably considered normal.
Thank you for the opportunity to make this post. I'm trying not to panic.
May I let you know the verdict?