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Met the new DN - hmmm

jack412 said:
And there is no such thing as a ketogenic diet because your brain needs 100's of carbs to run on
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The only human cells which NEED glucose (or fructose or galactose) are those which lack (functional) mitochondria.
These comprise such a small proportion of the human body that their needs can easily be met via GNG.
There simply isn't a requirement for any dietary sugars. (Not even for lactating women.)

The usual metabolic process of glucose is glycolysis which produces pyruvate. Which Is a ketone...

Neurons actually appear to prefer lactate, though.

Isn't knowlage of biology a requirement for a "health professional"?
 
sunspots said:
Strangely my new DN rang me yesterday because I had complained about my inability to sufficiently minimise the Dawn Phenomenon. She said she would look into it and then rang to say she would refer me to the dietician for advice. She made a note of my carb limits for the referral (usually under 30g, definitely under 50g). It'll be really interesting meeting the dietician.
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I'm not sure how much help a dietician would be here. Since the mechanism appears to be endocrine in nature. Though there do appear to be some dietary factors which may affect cortisol production.
 
mpe said:
I'm not sure how much help a dietician would be here. Since the mechanism appears to be endocrine in nature. Though there do appear to be some dietary factors which may affect cortisol production.
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I feel the same - can't see how much help the dietician could really be - but I'd like to see what she thinks of the low carb approach. Perhaps I'm just feeling argumentative... Maybe it's the result of all those ketones...? ;)
 
eddie1968 said:
Kimbo...ask your DSN for an out-patients prescription form for test strips. She should have gave you a FREE meter if she truly cared, as soon as I got in the door of my first DSN appointment she gave me a Accucheck Avivia and a Glucomen LX meter and repeat strips (quantity 50). Your qualify for free prescriptions and are exempt from charges if you are diabetic and that even means non diabetic related meds.:)
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I've seen that debated a while back on this forum. It was clear that different doctors, nurses, practices and regions interpret the NICE guidelines VERY differently.

The majority of type 2s who post here do not get meters and strips on prescription, and are actively discouraged from testing.

My practice nurse, who may, or may not be the diabetic nurse too, clearly stated that type 2s should NOT test, and meters are only given to type 1s.
 
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I was told no need to test so I said I'd be buying own meter and strips. Nurse in A and E said I needn't test as everyone's blood sugars went up after eating - doh! My last visit to nursing assistant turned into an impromptu check up which she was pleased with so said we'll probably just see you in six months. Six months not testing seems a long time to go not knowing which way your sugars are heading. They don't tell you to wait till you are in labour to see if you are pregnant, do they?
 
My diabetic nurse said when I told her I was testing was to test maybe twice a week, even after I told her why I had bought the meter was that when I arrived at my work feeling ill, a friend took me down to Boots to buy the meter and strips and when I tested I was 11.4, I was so scared I did not eat all day and when I got home I was 6.4, and that was after 6pm
I now buy my strips on ebay and managed to get 100 for £10 thats a big difference from the £27 I paid for 50 stips in Boots
I test maybe three times a day now but on that first day I must have used about 10,
Nine months into being a type 2 but a lot more informed now thanks to reading the posts on this forum
 
cold ethyl said:
You can on the Codefree ones via Home Health on Amazon and on own website.
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Complete with vat exemption and about £5 for a pot of 50 if you buy 5 pots at a time. You need the following code and 2nd class postage free. 1st class is 50p.
image.jpg
 
Thanks its great to hear of other options,
I will have a look,
What kind of meter would I use for that as the one I have is a Boots own brand which uses Abbot optimum plus, I dont mind getting a new meter as its a pain bidding for these on ebay
 
Just been to amazon and it looks great, I will be buying this and the reviews look good too
Thankyou soooo much
 
Scandichic said:
Complete with vat exemption and about £5 for a pot of 50 if you buy 5 pots at a time. You need the following code and 2nd class postage free. 1st class is 50p.
View attachment 6421
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I recognise that grotty grout,............................:oops:

(And it's not in Scandichic's kitchen!)

;)
 
AndBreathe said:
I recognise that grotty grout,............................:oops:

(And it's not in Scandichic's kitchen!)

;)
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No your kitchen looks nicer than mine! I couldn't be bothered to go downstairs and take a picture of my box. Sorry, should've asked! :shy:Got given a nexus by locum and have managed 2 boxes of strips but warned that won't be for ever! Got given meter by locum day before 5 boxes of sd codefree strips arrived. Dn nurse was furious and came and said so (only time I've seen her after she refused to see me again until I started following the NHS eat well plate and referred me to hospital!) but locum ignored her. :hilarious: Run out whilst at mums and have had to order new sd codefree meter as have lost it! Pretty sure left on desk at school but has gone AWOL!
 
Scandichic said:
No your kitchen looks nicer than mine! I couldn't be bothered to go downstairs and take a picture of my box. Sorry, should've asked! :shy:Got given a nexus by locum and have managed 2 boxes of strips but warned that won't be for ever! Got given meter by locum day before 5 boxes of sd codefree strips arrived. Dn nurse was furious and came and said so (only time I've seen her after she refused to see me again until I started following the NHS eat well plate and referred me to hospital!) but locum ignored her. :hilarious: Run out whilst at mums and have had to order new sd codefree meter as have lost it! Pretty sure left on desk at school but has gone AWOL!
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Absolutely not a problem. Let's face it, anyone who has ordered from Homehealth will have seen the sticker, even if they didn't realise it's value.

I just did a double take when I saw it. :)
 
AndBreathe said:
Absolutely not a problem. Let's face it, anyone who has ordered from Homehealth will have seen the sticker, even if they didn't realise it's value.

I just did a double take when I saw it. :)
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New sd code free has just arrived! Yay!
 
My DN has always been happy to issue prescriptions for strips. I even said I'd change my meter to go to cheaper strips to save the NHS a few bob, but she said not to bother. She has said frequent testing isn't really necessary . What I signed up to say is , she does say take your readings before a long drive, if they are too high(*) don't go!

(* she might have said too low. I figured a) I very rarely do long drives, b) if my sugars are bad one way or the other I'll fix it!)
 
Scandichic said:
New sd code free has just arrived! Yay!
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I have just bought this today and am looking forward to getting a new toy!!! Only joking! I currently use Accuchek Compact Plus and buy my strips from Boots because believe it or not they are the cheapest! A 17 strip barrel for £6.50, which means that 51 strips (3x17) is only £19.50, most websites are over £21 plus postage. Still the codefree is cheaper so we'll give it a go.

I was told recently by my DN that testing too often for T2's can become what is called by medical professionals 'obsessional testing' I asked her then how we were supposed to know if certain foods spiked our BG's? and she said we had to rely on the HB1AC test every 6 months. I told her that for most T2's that is just not acceptable and is just toooooooo far apart to make any significant inroads to reversing sugars. Isn't it better to test regularly and be given a fighting chance of change. She told me that they are expecting the policy to become even more stringent and those health authorities that are prescribing meters and strips will soon have their budgets cut for all except T1's and what is termed 'brittle diabetics' in the T2 category.

My friend is in the 'brittle' grouping and she can test sometimes 6 times per day as her sugar levels go up and down like a yo yo.

How is this supposed to help us in the long run - isn't it cheaper to give us strips and meters than pay for the complications down the line because we were not able to test and why has the NHS not produced a meter of their own which is cheaper to make and use, wouldn't this save some money.

Oh just a thought I wonder how many panel members of NICE have shares in the companies that make testing kits? Maybe that's the real reason you can't get kits on the NHS, they want us to buy them and boost the profit margin!

Oh me of little faith.
 
forty six said:
I have just bought this today and am looking forward to getting a new toy!!! Only joking! I currently use Accuchek Compact Plus and buy my strips from Boots because believe it or not they are the cheapest! A 17 strip barrel for £6.50, which means that 51 strips (3x17) is only £19.50, most websites are over £21 plus postage. Still the codefree is cheaper so we'll give it a go.

I was told recently by my DN that testing too often for T2's can become what is called by medical professionals 'obsessional testing' I asked her then how we were supposed to know if certain foods spiked our BG's? and she said we had to rely on the HB1AC test every 6 months. I told her that for most T2's that is just not acceptable and is just toooooooo far apart to make any significant inroads to reversing sugars. Isn't it better to test regularly and be given a fighting chance of change. She told me that they are expecting the policy to become even more stringent and those health authorities that are prescribing meters and strips will soon have their budgets cut for all except T1's and what is termed 'brittle diabetics' in the T2 category.

My friend is in the 'brittle' grouping and she can test sometimes 6 times per day as her sugar levels go up and down like a yo yo.

How is this supposed to help us in the long run - isn't it cheaper to give us strips and meters than pay for the complications down the line because we were not able to test and why has the NHS not produced a meter of their own which is cheaper to make and use, wouldn't this save some money.

Oh just a thought I wonder how many panel members of NICE have shares in the companies that make testing kits? Maybe that's the real reason you can't get kits on the NHS, they want us to buy them and boost the profit margin!

Oh me of little faith.
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This is what drives me nuts!
You must control your diet and bs.
By low carbing and testing?
You don't end to test. You are on metformin.
So how do I know what spikes me.
Testing daily is obsessive! Carbs are good for you. You must eat them with every meal.
Er, ok! Don't carbs turn into simple sugars in your stomach and enter your blood stream raising your bs which the metformin brings down. Why not avoid starchy carbs and have better bs control?
You need carbs for energy.
Since they have no nutritional value and they raise my bs, isn't it more sensible to use fat?
No!!!!! You must eat carbs and go low fat.
Why?
I am referring you to the hospital!
 
I phoned my CCG today and found out the name of the man who makes the decisions regarding this sort of financing. He was not there but I discussed the situation with one of his colleagues, pointing out the surely it is more cost effective to give us all a testing kit and strips than it is pay for complications further down the line. I asked him if he would want every available help if he were diagnosed with T2 and he said yes but the money is not there any more. I asked if he thought my request was justified as I have been paying into the pot of money, that is no longer there, since I left college 29 years ago and started work. He replied that although it seemed reasonable as there are 'just so many of us now they can no longer do it'.

I think I am just going to carry around my own brick wall with me so that I don't get theirs dirty when I bang my head against it.

I mean if someone walked up to you in the street and said - 'here I can save you money in 20+ years by spending a little money now' wouldn't you jump at the chance? Apparently not.

Arrrghhh!!!
 
Hi all

I have an agreement with my GP that she will prescribe strips and I will use them as and when I need to do so. That does not include regular testing multiple times per day or even every day. I have had type 2 diabetes for long enough (16 years) to know what effect most foods have on me so I test if anything out of the ordinary comes along such as illness or feeling off.

If we make the argument that we want them as we need to know what we can and cannot meet then the law of diminishing returns comes into play as it did with me. We all need to manage our type 2 diabetes but we do not need to over manage it.

Regards

Doug
 
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