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<blockquote data-quote="Spiral" data-source="post: 100321" data-attributes="member: 19371"><p>Welcome, John. Lots of good advice here, although it might be quite a bit different to the advice the medical people give you. I have ignored/done the opposite of just about every piece of advice my GP has given me :? :| </p><p></p><p>I reduced my HbA1c from 7.8% at diagnosis in Feb to 7% in May by cutting out all added sugar and junk food and adding fresh and raw, mostly glycaemic index (GI) principles. I went low carb in May and further reduced that to 6% on a low carb diet and no medication at all. I'm now taking metformin as I want to lose weight and get to a normal blood sugar a bit faster than diet alone. </p><p></p><p>You need to inform yourself about how blood sugar works and then make decisions about how you want to bring your diabetes under control. The most useful information on blood sugar I found before I found my way here was at <a href="http://www.bloodsugar101.com" target="_blank">http://www.bloodsugar101.com</a>. It is an an American website and they measure a slightly differnt blood sugar reading, but it now has the UK blood sugar readings listed too. Simples! </p><p></p><p>Pay for as little as possible! The drug companies are falling over themselves to get you to use their products, so ring up customer services and see if you can blag a free meter from them. My main meter was a feebie from Roche - sent out by first class post which arrived the day after I called them. I have also acquired several finger pricking devices from this approach! I got a second meter from the competition at the top of this page. It isn't a real competition, give them your details and you will get a meter, but it may take a several weeks. </p><p></p><p>Take a look at the threads here for info on testing and the struggle some of us have in getting strips on the NHS <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /> Many GPs/PCTs don't like us T2s to test and we have to work hard to get a supply of strips on prescription. I have confirmed with my GP that he will prescribe me 50 a month, I buy the extras at eBay. It isn't fair, but every strip he gives me is one I don't have to buy myself. </p><p></p><p>Testing is expensive, so you need to know how to interpret the results so that you are not wasting strips. Testing is the single most useful thing I do to see how I'm going - and I got a huge buzz when I saw those levels falling very quickly as I tweeked my diet. I fail to see how we can gain control of our blood sugar without knowing what the food we do does once we have eaten it. </p><p></p><p>If you go to eBay check the sellers reputation and set a limit above which you will not go - mine is half the retail price, but my last lot (which I bought in bulk) were considerably less. Some people buy direct from the manufacturer, which is cheaper. Anything you do buy, make sure you get the VAT exemption, but you may need to persist with this. I understand there is a VAT exemption form somewhere on this website. If you take any meds for your diabetes, you should be entitled to free prescriptions - this is not means tested - and covers all your prescriptions. It takes a while for the card to arrive tho... I'm still waiting for it a month on.</p><p></p><p>It doesn't have to be progressive if you get tight control. And tight control is much lower numbers than the numbers the NHS finds adequate, although even those small reductions will help slow down any progression. The other good thing about diabetes is that it takes several years for the complications to develop - aim to hit the ground running by getting that control now.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Spiral, post: 100321, member: 19371"] Welcome, John. Lots of good advice here, although it might be quite a bit different to the advice the medical people give you. I have ignored/done the opposite of just about every piece of advice my GP has given me :? :| I reduced my HbA1c from 7.8% at diagnosis in Feb to 7% in May by cutting out all added sugar and junk food and adding fresh and raw, mostly glycaemic index (GI) principles. I went low carb in May and further reduced that to 6% on a low carb diet and no medication at all. I'm now taking metformin as I want to lose weight and get to a normal blood sugar a bit faster than diet alone. You need to inform yourself about how blood sugar works and then make decisions about how you want to bring your diabetes under control. The most useful information on blood sugar I found before I found my way here was at [url]http://www.bloodsugar101.com[/url]. It is an an American website and they measure a slightly differnt blood sugar reading, but it now has the UK blood sugar readings listed too. Simples! Pay for as little as possible! The drug companies are falling over themselves to get you to use their products, so ring up customer services and see if you can blag a free meter from them. My main meter was a feebie from Roche - sent out by first class post which arrived the day after I called them. I have also acquired several finger pricking devices from this approach! I got a second meter from the competition at the top of this page. It isn't a real competition, give them your details and you will get a meter, but it may take a several weeks. Take a look at the threads here for info on testing and the struggle some of us have in getting strips on the NHS :( Many GPs/PCTs don't like us T2s to test and we have to work hard to get a supply of strips on prescription. I have confirmed with my GP that he will prescribe me 50 a month, I buy the extras at eBay. It isn't fair, but every strip he gives me is one I don't have to buy myself. Testing is expensive, so you need to know how to interpret the results so that you are not wasting strips. Testing is the single most useful thing I do to see how I'm going - and I got a huge buzz when I saw those levels falling very quickly as I tweeked my diet. I fail to see how we can gain control of our blood sugar without knowing what the food we do does once we have eaten it. If you go to eBay check the sellers reputation and set a limit above which you will not go - mine is half the retail price, but my last lot (which I bought in bulk) were considerably less. Some people buy direct from the manufacturer, which is cheaper. Anything you do buy, make sure you get the VAT exemption, but you may need to persist with this. I understand there is a VAT exemption form somewhere on this website. If you take any meds for your diabetes, you should be entitled to free prescriptions - this is not means tested - and covers all your prescriptions. It takes a while for the card to arrive tho... I'm still waiting for it a month on. It doesn't have to be progressive if you get tight control. And tight control is much lower numbers than the numbers the NHS finds adequate, although even those small reductions will help slow down any progression. The other good thing about diabetes is that it takes several years for the complications to develop - aim to hit the ground running by getting that control now. [/QUOTE]
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