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New here and in need of advice!

B

Bella365

Member
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Hi All

So glad to be here, have been looking for somewhere to get help and advice as my GP is not helpful! Was diagnosed glucose intolerant 4 years ago, have spent 4 years on Metformin, interestingly my liver is now up the wazoo which it wasn't before (am teetotal I hasten to add!). So have insisted on coming off the pills to try managing the glucose levels with diet/exercise. As I'm not technically diabetic, though obviously well on the road towards it, my GP offers no help/advice/diabetic assistance whatsoever. Think testing may well be the best solution to know exactly what's going on in my body - could someone please suggest a good meter to buy (and tell me what else it is I need to get?). I'd be so grateful!

Thank you!
 
Hi Bella365.

Welcome to the forum. Have a good look around and ask questions when you are ready.

You will definitely need a meter and strips to test your Bg levels on waking, before meals and 1 and 2 hrs after meals. One before bedtime can also be a good idea. At the same time keep a food diary so you can relate one to the other and get a very clear picture of what certain foods do to your Bg levels. You will only have to do this for a couple of weeks then you can taper off a bit.

Any branded CE marked meter will do. Buy one from your local Pharmacy. There is a form here that can be downloaded which allows you to purchase the meter and strips VAT free.
Here is a link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/vat-exemption.html

I personally use an Accu-Chek Aviva as my main meter with a spare Ascensia Breeze 2 which I got free from one of the drugs companies who run a free meter competition on here. I use the Accu-Chek Multiclix lancet as it is pain free.

Ken.
 
Welcome. A meter is an excellent idea, then make use of teh inforamtion it gives you to adapt your diet. take alook around, ask questions.

I got my main meter - an Accu check Aviva as a freebie from Roche customer services. I got my second meter from the competition on this site - it isn't a real competition, they will send you a meter.

Test strips are the real issue as they are so expensive, especially if you can't get a prescription. I have bought some on eBay - check the sellers feedback and the xpiry date. I won't pay more than half of the retail price, including postage, for something with less than 10 months before they expire.
 
Hi bella365,

Welcome to the forum. In my opinion, testing is the only way that you are likely to make a major improvement to your control until you know what is happening when you eat.

Good luck with your improvement.
 
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