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Intriguing! Have you ever....

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i wouldnt say i test drinks very often i like everyone try and get drinks in bottles or cans but sometimes there is no option so if im not sure i have used a test strip. i think the difference here is between type 1s who are given test strips more often than not without question and type 2s who have to fight for every strip they use me personally i dont see any difference in the two types and think all diabetics should be allocated test strips its just a shame it doesnt happen

anna marie
 
alaska said:
Sadly, I waste significantly more strips by using a OneTouch UltraEasy -the strips for which need a relatively large quantity of blood and end up with spoiled tests much more often than other strips would.
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Now there's a coincidence.....I too use the UltraEasy when out and also the UltraSmart as my main meter......never had a problem with either, maybe my blood is thinner than yours.......
 
alaska said:
...and what about pubs/clubs that don't offer bottled drinks?

So say you've ordered a double whiskey and diet coke and it doesn't taste right, what would you do Sid?
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The only thing I put in a glass of whiskey would be another whiskey :lol:
 
alaska said:
I waste significantly more strips by using a OneTouch UltraEasy -the strips for which need a relatively large quantity of blood and end up with spoiled tests much more often than other strips would.
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Change to aaccu-chek meter/strips, they only need a small drop of blood and you don't get many errors with these meters.

Nigel
 
Sid Bonkers said:
The only thing I put in a glass of whiskey would be another whiskey :lol:
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Like your style Sid!

Nigel
 
Just had a quick can through my Bernstein Bible and I can only find reference to testing foods with Clinistix or Diastix. As he says these are manufactured to test for glucose in the urine but they use them to test for glucose in food. First put a small amount of the suspect food in mouth and mix with saliva then spit a tiny bit onto the test strip.
He is a well informed T1 and his experience testing foods on himself has turned his life (and mine) around and he reduced his insulin needs down to 1/3 of what he used to need by avoiding foods that gave readings outside of the range he determined was effective to prevent complications.
Nowhere do I see him using BG strips to test food.
Alison
 
suspect food in mouth and mix with saliva then spit a tiny bit onto the test strip.
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Is food not broken down in the stomach by the digestive system???
small intestine
liver ect

Will saliva break down Bead into glucose ready for testing ? Ummmmmmm :roll:
 
Food starts to break down as soon as it is mixed with saliva, whether that is a good way to test food is debatable I would have thought but the process of breaking down the carb molecules does start in the mouth.

I still cant see that a test strip that is scientifically designed to detect glucose in whole or plasma blood samples can be used to test diet/full sugar drinks. If you see my previous post I actually tested a small shot glass full of water that had a heaped spoonful of sugar in it and my meter displayed the legend LO. I certainly would not trust that a drink that tested as LO was really sans sugar
 

With the greatest respect Cugila, theresa few points in your post i found almost offensive..

'I buy those strips.......I don't get them prescribed.....it is my own expense. No burden on the NHS budget. Now if you want to use one of your prescribed strips and test using a meter, go ahead......your choice. However it is not meant for that purpose.......if I wanted to knock a nail in I could use my meter I suppose.....not really what it is designed for though, is it ?'

I don't think i am a 'burden' on the NHS because i occasionally use a test strip to check that the drink i'm drinking isn't going to effect my health? ....you say blood test strips aren't meant for testing drinks yet you use glucostrips, isn't that the same thing?

The way i see it is simple, we all use the tools we have to better our health and try to live like anyone without Diabetes.

I will not simply request water because i can't get diet coke in a can or a bottle, in my opinion its being resourceful.

I don't test food or fool around with my meter, and im sure alot of people who use the same method don't either. I certainly wouldnt try peeing on it! :lol:

Everyone has their opinion and i do respect yours, however i think some on this post could be taken the wrong way using such words.

And again i mean this with great respect, I don't mean this in a harsh way or anything. One thing i dislike about forums is it can sound like verbal attacking when pleas eknow i really dont, which is why i will end with a smiley face...
 
Ptyalin is found in saliva and breaks starch down into maltose and dextrin.

If you chew a piece of bread or potato long enough in the mouth it will start to taste sweet, this is the action of the Ptyalin.
 
Quite right, Clearviews - I was wrong about the meter, it is the Clinistix etc that Dr Bernstein suggested could be used if in doubt, and it was for eating out only - of course you'd know the carb content with home-prepared food.

Sorry if I misled anyone - I should have checked before I typed! Mea culpa!

Viv 8)
 

As you say everybody, including me is entitled to an opinion. I also respect other opinions, even if sometimes I too find them offensive. That is something we fought long and hard for on this Forum to allow people to voice their concerns, opinions without worry that others would attack their equally valid opinions. As for how people read things, some are more sensitive than others......well what I said is my personal opinion and I stand by it. Sorry if you find it offensive but it is an honestly held opinion.

I read many posts on here and answer many too, I am known for straight no nonsense talking and I am also passionate about things which I believe to be wrong. Some people find that hard to deal with, it isn't always sweetness and light here. That's how Forum life goes on I'm afraid. Everybody is entitled to an opinion.

So, Ebony.......I respect what you say, I don't have to agree with it. Everybody gets their say even if sometimes it ruffles a few feathers.........

So from me too........a smiley.
 
Woooooooaaaaaah!

Good Lord, there's some almighty chips on shoulders here.

1. I buy my own strips.

2. I invited debate on scientific elements of testing, NOT financial matters pertaining to strips.

3. Anyone purchasing their own strips is free to choose to participate or decline, I did not hold a gun to anyone's head, nor suggest anyone "waste" NHS strips.

4. We are all entitled to the same healthcare and what people do with their prescriptions is entirely their business, nor are they answerable to self-appointed strip Police or NHS zealots on this forum or elsewhere. If they want to test drinks to avoid errors, they are perfectly entitled to do so and do not have to justify their choices.

5. Sugarless Sue, Cugila and any other commentator whom cannot participate in a debate without hijacking it and wandering off onto wildly irrelevant tangents, please decline from such behaviour - it is neither warranted nor appreciated.

6. We only gain knowledge in health matters through experimentation - if you cannot reconcile this concept with peope's freedom to choose how they interface with that process, deal with it in the appropriate manner, which is categorically, not, by leaping into new member's threads to rant and rave. Speak as "straight" as you'd like, but kindly have the civility and manners to do it in the right place, which is not this thread.

7. Before again implying that I am wasting resources, I shall thank you to bear in mind that as a business owner, I pay a six figure sum each year in taxes. I also generally use private healthcare (despite being opposed to paying twice, I do recognise there are others in greater need), where feasible and have contributed many thousands of my own money to numerous charities. When you can say you do the same, feel free to call me wasteful for inviting a simple experiment amongst participants whom feel able to spare a single strip to help a new member out. As for all these implied people struggling to get strips on prescription, there are just as many selling their prescription strips for profit, yet I see no such vitriol aimed their way.

8. For those whom are struggling to avail of strips on the NHS, there are processes that can and should be followed to rectify matters. Complaining bitterly on the internet is not one of those processes and is unlikely to effect any remediation of matters. Use the infrastructure, ie political and legal channels. Ranting at new members about cost of strips is hardly constructive and does the forum no favours.

Finally, a good whisky needs no mixer

Toodle pip....back to topic, no?
 
Carbmonster, if we are lucky we get 50 strips a month. Not even enough for 2 tests a day.
Before ranting at us think your self lucky that you :
A have the money for strips.
B Are not a Type 2 diabetic.

Please read some of the trials and tribulations that some people have had to get strips before you suggest wasting them.
 
Since my reply was locked almost instantly and I could not add anything, I will also point out out that at no stage did I, have I, nor would I, encourage anyone to use prescribed strips.

For the avoidance of doubt, I buy my own strips, as do many others, from the abundance of strips on sale on the internet, pharmacies and direct from manufacturers.

But, why let the FACTS get in the way of a good old misguided, ill-informed rant, eh? Couldn't make it up. :lol:
 
sugarless sue said:
Carbmonster, if we are lucky we get 50 strips a month. Not even enough for 2 tests a day.
Before ranting at us think your self lucky that you :
A have the money for strips.
B Are not a Type 2 diabetic.
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1. No one "ranted" at you - a measured response was made to your own ranting crusade. Neither am I "lucky" to have money, it doesn't fall out of trees - I work **** hard for it, despite my constraints, which are none of your business. Just because you are positioning yourself as a victim does not give you the right to tell me what I should and should not be grateful for - you have never met me and don't know a thing about my life.

2. Contrary to your assertions, you know nothing about me, including whether I do or do not have diabetes and/or any other condition. I shall therefore thank you to refrain from making unfounded assumptions and statements.

sugarless sue said:
Please read some of the trials and tribulations that some people have had to get strips before you suggest wasting them.
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Where did I do this?

Repeated again as you appear unable to grasp this - show me where I suggested anyone struggling to get strips "waste them?" I did no such thing - I buy my strips privately as do plenty others. I see no reason why I, or indeed anyone else, should justify what we do with our private funds. At no stage did I encourage anyone to "waste" prescription strips. Even if I had and people elected to use a strip or offer information, what others do with their strips is none of your concern. People can burn their strips if they like, they are still not answerable to you.

Again, no-one suggested wasting prescribed strips, hence you are barking up the wrong tree.

If you feel you don't understand, please re-read carefully what was written. Accordingly, this will be my final communication with you in regards to this matter. Kindly do not continue to hi-jack the thread with erroneous material.
 
Hi carbmonster, I donrt know if you have read any of my posts to this thread but I will reiterate in case you missed what I said.

Test strips are scientifically designed to detect levels of glucose in whole blood samples or plasma depending on the type of test strip. They do not work reliably on coke, gin and tonic, whiskey and soda or your urine.

You are wasting test strips whether you are paying for them or whether the tax payer is paying for them you are wasting them. They will only accurately (sic) measure glucose in blood samples. :roll:
 
Hi Sid, I did miss some of your info due to noise.

Thanks for the information, very useful. Incidentally, are you aware why strips measure small amounts of glucose in urine but urine strips do not? The scientific basis is what I am interested in. Also, can anything cause a false negative on urine test strips?
 
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