Like many others...New and confused

Josloan said:

I have cut out all the obvious rubish and sugar but what I am confused about is ALL the conflicting information that is about. My head is done is with How much carbs, fat protien, what to eat with what etc !!!!!

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Hi @Josloan , welcome to the forum!
This confusion with conflicting information is where your meter will come in handy. It's completely unbiased and simply shows you what is. So if you use it before a meal, and then two hours later you can see how that meal affected your blood glucose.

I also think you might like to have a read of this blog by another Jo: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/jokalsbeek.401801/

Josloan said:

I also read amount glucose testing meter, so I sent for one.

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Well done, taking the bull right by the horns!
With meters, the ongoing cost is the teststrips so it might be worth comparing prices.
@Rachox has some up to date information on them if you like.

There should not be much conflicting information about - type 2 diabetes in its simplest form is the inability to cope with carbohydrate, so we can eat protein and fat to live on and find out how much carb to have to keep from causing spikes or permanently elevated blood glucose levels.
Having a meter to check on after meal levels is a good way to see how things affect you - we are all different in our choices and ability to cope so it requires sorting out and tweaking of menus, making reductions or substitutions over a period of weeks is safest - though you might already have lowered your levels by removing all the obvious rubbish.

Thanks for the tag @Antje77 , It looks like Josloan has already sent for a meter, but I’ll post the info I have in case it’s useful. And welcome to the forum @Josloan!
Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.

HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews if you use this link and select the meter plus 5 packs of strips, and then add the code dcuk (all lower case) at check out you may get money off, I’m not sure if this code is still valid.

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/

There are also discount codes for when you come to buy more strips - "navii5" and "navii10" will give you 20% off purchases of 5 packs of strips and 25% off 10 packs of strips respectively. Again I’m not sure if these codes are still valid.

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/

Discount codes for the Code Free strips

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833



SPIRIT HEALTHCARE

They have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular however I haven’t been able to find it on their website lately.

(Old link which doesn’t work for me now but maybe works for you, if it doesn’t try the phone number below

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

Some members have got a free Tee2+ by phoning up to order, with a large order of strips they often throw the meter in for free:

Phone number 0800 8815423


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 pre diabetes or diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

Josloan said:

Hiya all. I was diagnosed 5 days ago. I had no symptons, I just went for a routine well women check up.
Results Diabetes Type 2 a reading of 86, which I understand is the new uk of testing. I this equals 10 ? I refused medication and ask if I can try to get it do with diet and exercise ( I wasnt doing any exercise at all) although I do have a busy life style. Just no stuctured exercise. I have to go back beginning of September to have bloods done again and see whats what and discuss a plan of action. I am not dead set against meds and will take them if I have to but I would al least like to try.

I have cut out all the obvious rubish and sugar but what I am confused about is ALL the conflicting information that is about. My head is done is with How much carbs, fat protien, what to eat with what etc !!!!!

I have a 91yr old Mother and Bother with a learning dissability. Both live in next street to me,I support them both. I need to do this.

I saw blogs on here. Thinking of starting a one to track my progress. I also read amount glucose testing meter, so I sent for one.

Thank You Jo ( femele age 65)

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Hi Jo and welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place. Lots of good clear info here.

It is so confusing isn't it :-( But I can see youve already been given a lot of useful information on blood glucose monitoring and the low carb way of eating which works for so many of us.

I felt exactly the same as you when I was diagnosed towards the end of 2017 (elderly father in law to look after and special needs brother in law too) and declined medication. I'm still medication free and I put that down to low carb. I found Diet Doctor website was one of the clearest and I think this link might help you a lot:

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb

You will find lots of useful information in members signature panels. That's where I got my inspiration from. I've now included a lot in my own signature panel that I hope will help others, including a link to a short video I made to help others on the same path.

The success stories thread is also full of inspiration.

It's a lot to take in but there is always someone here to help and support you.

The blogging sounds great.

Hi and welcome to the 'wonderful' world of diabetes! Much of the diet confusion comes from the media and bodys such as the NHS etc. As others have said, our problem is with Carbs so you need to keep them down. Sugar is just another carb. Have enough Fats and Proteins to keep you feeling full. Ignore Calories as they are usually meaningless; look at the back of most food packaging and not Traffic Light labelling. Do ask any questions along the way.

Josloan said:

Thank You all for replying and the support. Im going to stop looking online and just stay on this site.

Very much appreciated Jo x

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Hi Jo, welcome to the forum, I've only been here a few weeks and totally agree with your statement above.
All my info comes from here now, from people that have diabetes themselves and know what they are talking about. So listening and reading their posts and advice I decided to try the Low Carb diet, the difference to my readings and the way I feel is really good. Testing is something that has given me back some confidence that I have some control of my T2 and I test on waking, before each meal and 2 hours after the first bite of a meal as someone here advised and it's working for me. So good luck and looking forward to reading more of your posts