Newbie

[Greygirl]

Hi everyone,
I had my fasting blood results back a few months ago they were 120 and gp wanted them 40 or below, had a very long chat with him and was advised by him to have a go at a low carb high fat diet, well I've finally bitten the bullet, dug out my test kit and started Sunday doing a before and after test, my readings so far are ..
Sun..11.5, 10.1, 8.4, 12.0
Mon..9.3, 8.5, 7.1, 13.1, 10.2
Tues..8.4, 10.5, 7.7, 9.3
Weds..8.9, 8.9, 5.5, 8.3
Thurs..8.8, 6.6, 7.4, 7.6
Sundays high was 1 roast potato and a small Yorkshire pud
Mondays high was a small burger bun,
Tuesdays high was 1 weetabix
So I'm learning I really cant have carbs right now

 

[xfieldok]

Those meters are a revalation aren't they?

Glad you have bitten the bullet.

Onwards and downwards

 

[Greygirl]

Those meters are a revalation aren't they?

Glad you have bitten the bullet.

Onwards and downwards

Thank you and yes, shame I cant get anything on prescription test strip ir Lancet wise it's really helping me mentally to cope

 

[xfieldok]

I use lancets until they hurt! I can;t remember the last time I bought new ones.

 

[Greygirl]

I use lancets until they hurt! I can;t remember the last time I bought new ones.

Ah ok, think I need to have a good look online as I'll be out of test strips etc soon

 

[Rachox]

Thank you and yes, shame I cant get anything on prescription test strip ir Lancet wise it's really helping me mentally to cope

Testing is a great motivator. If you have a smart phone you can download an app called MySugr, if you record your readings in it, once you have input enough data it will give you an estimated HbA1c. It is only an estimate but it’s good to see the general trend up (hopefully not!) or down.

 

[xfieldok]

The two cheapest strips are the SD CodeFree and the Tee2. I use the Tee2. @Rachox has some good info on them.

 

[VashtiB]

I agree that testing is the best way to give you a possibility of lowering your blood sugar levels. I still test at least 3 times a day to keep myself accountable. I recently went up a bit higher in the morning and remembered I'd forgotten to take my metformin for a few days. With a high of 6 in the morning I have hope that I will be able to stop the metformin someday. I want to lose a lot more weight though.

If anyone has doubts about the need to reduce carbs a meter will give them the information they need.

 

[Greygirl]

Thanks guys, I'm hoping I'm going in the right direction......well the test readings seem to be abit better n I think I'm getting yo grips with this no carbs malarkey

 

[Rachox]

Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.

Spirit Healthcare have a meter with cheap strips, the Tee2 + found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-plus-blood-glucose-meter/ with the strips found here:

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-testing-strips/

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

With more expensive strips is their Caresens Dual which I currently use, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual



Home Health have recently bought out this one, but I haven’t heard any reviews yet, links to strips and the meter: (See also latest* from HH below regarding discounts for the Navii):

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/gluconavii-blood-sugar-meter-glucose-monitor-starter-kit/

*The latest news from Home Health states:

"We have a special promotion for switching Codefree customers to the GlucoNavii, whereby if you buy a meter with 2 or more packs of strips from the below link and add the discount code "dcuk" at checkout, we will subtract the price of the meter.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/

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 (these are printed on a business card supplied with the meter like with the Codefree).

Please note that the 20% discount off 5 packs of strips has already been applied to the meter plus 5 strips price if you buy from the above link.”


And to be totally transparent I used to use the SD Code Free from Home Health which has the cheapest strips available if bought in quantities of 5 or 10 pots with the codes below. However I found it to be becoming less and less reliable. Here it is for anyone wanting to give it a go, just bear in mind it seems they are replacing it with the Navii, details above.

http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips

http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

There are discount codes if you buy in bulk.

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833



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)