Newly diagnosed

[I can I will]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes earlier this year. I decided not to take medication but try lifestyle changes i.e. diet and exercise to bring my sugar levels down. Because I wasn't taking medication I was told I would not be prescribed testing strips to check my sugar levels. The blood is tested every 3 months and there was no need to daily test. I was wondering if anyone else has been told this.

 

[Rachox]

Hi @I can I will and welcome to the forum.
Many of us have been told this, even on the mildest of diabetes drug Metformin which I take, that it’s not necessary to monitor your own blood sugars. However again many of us self fund. I feel that waiting 3 to 6 or even 12 months in some cases is too long to ‘drive without a speedo’. So I along with others, decided it’s worth the expense of self funding. The purchase of the strips rather than the monitor itself needs to be considered as that will be your ongoing expense. We can help with some makes of monitor if you decide to go ahead and get one.

 

[Debandez]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes earlier this year. I decided not to take medication but try lifestyle changes i.e. diet and exercise to bring my sugar levels down. Because I wasn't taking medication I was told I would not be prescribed testing strips to check my sugar levels. The blood is tested every 3 months and there was no need to daily test. I was wondering if anyone else has been told this.

I was told the exact same thing. My diabetic nurse said testing wasn't necessary. A blood test (hba1c) would confirm if I needed more medication. I was prescribed metformin
but declined. I joined this forum and it became immediately clear just how beneficial testing was. We are all individual and testing highlights how food/drink impacts on our blood sugars. I bought a monitor and test strips and definitely one of the best investments I've made.

 

[Scrapman]

Agree - I was prescribed a meter and strips at T2 diagnosis as I had v high HbA1c and I’m very grateful for it. Have been on Metformin, radical diet change plus exercise for 3months; subject to second HbA1c test my aim is to taper off the Metformin and with daily tests see how I can incorporate a more balanced diet without spikes. Impossible without daily testing.

 

[sue512]

For about 5 years I didn’t test ate a “healthy balanced diet” medication was steadily increased and hba1c bounced up and down. It’s not until a diabetic nurse pointed me to this website and I started eating to my meter did I feel that I was truly in the driving seat. I did test after starting gliclizide but erratically, chest infections and steroids were startling! controlled blood sugars now mean a huge improvement in my asthma and surprisingly no more acute back pain. Who knew! I’d never associated my inflammatory conditions with my diabetes until my blood sugars were brought under control. Ignore them and test!

 

[bulkbiker]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes earlier this year. I decided not to take medication but try lifestyle changes i.e. diet and exercise to bring my sugar levels down. Because I wasn't taking medication I was told I would not be prescribed testing strips to check my sugar levels. The blood is tested every 3 months and there was no need to daily test. I was wondering if anyone else has been told this.

Unfortunately yes almost all of us..