Just started insulin

HLW said:

Hi all, I have posted on this forum before, I thought I had type 2 diabetes, I was diagnosed about 5 years ago. After years of high blood sugar a doctor has finally asked for a islet cell antibodies test, it was positive so I started insulin on Tuesday. At least I know now why my blood sugar levels have been rising despite me loosing weight and eating better. I have a few questions, can anyone answer some of them?

1) Either my GP or chemist can't read. I dropped off a note from the hospital to the GP asking for a prescription for strips to test if I've got ketones in my urine, I've ended up with ketone test strips for some kind of blood testing meter. I discovered this yesterday, so can't get another prescription until Tuesday. Am I right in thinking I really should get these test strips on Tuesday, it can't wait until Friday?
The strips given are for the Exceed meter's which can read BG or using these strips can read blood ketones, you need to ask your doctor for Ketur-test or kito test strips for ketones for urine testing

2) If I'm testing my blood sugar am I right in thinking there is no need to ever test to see if there is glucose in my urine? Twice this week when asking for blood test strips from the Dr I've ended up with two prescriptions, one for blood test strips and one for urine glucose test strips. I can't work out why.
Here if your blood glucose is above 12mmol/ml then you do need to check whether any ketones are present in the urine, so you can take preventive action to prevent the body going into DKA (your clinic should give you sick day rules + how to correct high BG
3) I think the Novofine needles I got on prescription hurt more than the 'BD Micro-Fine+' ones they gave me at the hospital. Is this just my imagination? They are both the same diameter (0.25mm/31G) so I don't see how one can hurt more than the other.
If you find the needles supplied by the hospital suit better, insist that your prescription is for this one particular brand.. Different manufacuters have a slighlty different method in cutting the end of they syringe, some are straight cut others are angled some people find this does make a difference to injecting experience

4) I've only got one finger-pricker that came with the meter, I think a spare one might be useful in case I lose it, can I get this from the Dr/on prescription? The meter came from the Dr.

meters and finger prickers tend to come as a pair, you can ask your doctor/clinic for another meter for spare, or you can ring the meter company who might supply it free of charge, they make their money on the tests strips not on the meters and of cause if you got their meter then you have to use their test strips

Thanks in advance for any answers!

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HLW said:

It is a bit irritating, it's not like I have something rare like rabies

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