Thank you ... I have now got a machine and will be testing a couple of times a day.
Thank you for your response ☺
Thank you Kate ☺Well done Kevin, you have taken a big step towards controlling your health. Welcome to the forum btw, use it, lose hours (maybe days) reading posts and articles. The advice here is amazing and I know the people here were instrumental in me controlling my diabetes. You can control your diabetes, don't let it control you. Kevin, we are all with you.
Thank you Nicksu ☺So pleased at your good news! It'll make it so much easier to lose weight with the 2 of you doing the diet. Glad the docs and nurses are listening to you.
Was so shocked when I didn't even have to ask for the test strips to be put on repeat prescription, I was just given them. I think my sugar levels are currently on the high side (12.3 this morning but that was my fault as I had 2 cookies yesterday!). They only want me to test once a day in the morning but at least I can now monitor ☺A doctor has to prescribe something before it becomes free. If a doctor does not prescribe a meter, you cannot get one for free, whether on benefits or not. If a doctor decides you need to test, he may give you a meter and prescribe test strips, which would then be free. Meter manufacturers give GPs a load of meters to hand out for free, and the GP may give you one of these, but you will be a lucky man if he puts the test strips on prescription. No harm in asking though.
Was so shocked when I didn't even have to ask for the test strips to be put on repeat prescription, I was just given them. I think my sugar levels are currently on the high side (12.3 this morning but that was my fault as I had 2 cookies yesterday!). They only want me to test once a day in the morning but at least I can now monitor ☺
I agree with AndBreathe that the time to test individual foods to see how they work for YOU is to test more regularly than once a day.
The general advice is to test before eating, then 2 hours after. If the blood glucose level has risen more than 2mmol/l in that time, then something you ate was too carby. There are several options - avoid the food completely, reduce the portion size, or swap the ingredients for things that are more blood glucose friendly.
If you just test once a day, it is a bit like pinning the tail on a donkey since blood glucose can rise and drop steeply in an hour.
Are you getting free prescriptions? The reason I ask, is that there are a lot of different prices for the blood glucose meter test strips. Many of us on here use the cheapest ones we can find and so far, I think the SD Codefree is the best deal. I can buy a pot of test strips for about £7 with free P&P which is actually less than the cost of paying for a prescription (if you pay for them, as I do). You can get discounts for multiple purchases. I find that a very compelling argument for buying my own, using them whenever I want, and not having the hassle of submitting repeat prescription requests and running backwards and forwards to the surgery and the pharmacy. Any meter will tell you the info you need, the trick is to find one at the price you can afford to use often enough to get the info you need.
Sorry if this sounds like a product placementbut really, it kind of is. I think that we T2s do best if we Eat to Our Meter (avoid foods that our meter identifies are bad for us), and the only way to do that is by extensive testing. Once we have done that, and know how our body reacts to our food choices, and we have tailor made our diet to suit ourselves, then testing becomes much less important, and a daily or even less often check becomes all that is necessary.
Hope that helps.
To be honest, Kevin, testing once a day is better than nothing, but to learn most, most quickly, an intensive programmes of testing before and after every meal would be a significant advantage. Doing that you can learn how your body reacts to the food you like to eat.
The tricky thing about this condition is that it impacts everyone differently. OK, there are common trends where lots find that bread, or breakfast cereal or potato, or rice (and of course all the obviously sugary things) impacts them, but some finds they're ok with something unexpected. For example, I have always been able to eat rice without too many issues, and @Brunneria finds she can handle some sweet things better than foods containing wheat (I think). For ma, that personal information is important. Who wants to shun foods they enjoy if they don't have to?
It may be that you don't have enough strips to do that, but if that's the case, it really would still be worthwhile perhaps testing breakfast one day, lunch the next and dinner the day after, and back around again.
The fasting number is just a stab in the day, and many have found the figure which can least reflect their overall control.
I agree with AndBreathe that the time to test individual foods to see how they work for YOU is to test more regularly than once a day.
The general advice is to test before eating, then 2 hours after. If the blood glucose level has risen more than 2mmol/l in that time, then something you ate was too carby. There are several options - avoid the food completely, reduce the portion size, or swap the ingredients for things that are more blood glucose friendly.
If you just test once a day, it is a bit like pinning the tail on a donkey since blood glucose can rise and drop steeply in an hour.
Are you getting free prescriptions? The reason I ask, is that there are a lot of different prices for the blood glucose meter test strips. Many of us on here use the cheapest ones we can find and so far, I think the SD Codefree is the best deal. I can buy a pot of test strips for about £7 with free P&P which is actually less than the cost of paying for a prescription (if you pay for them, as I do). You can get discounts for multiple purchases. I find that a very compelling argument for buying my own, using them whenever I want, and not having the hassle of submitting repeat prescription requests and running backwards and forwards to the surgery and the pharmacy. Any meter will tell you the info you need, the trick is to find one at the price you can afford to use often enough to get the info you need.
Sorry if this sounds like a product placementbut really, it kind of is. I think that we T2s do best if we Eat to Our Meter (avoid foods that our meter identifies are bad for us), and the only way to do that is by extensive testing. Once we have done that, and know how our body reacts to our food choices, and we have tailor made our diet to suit ourselves, then testing becomes much less important, and a daily or even less often check becomes all that is necessary.
Hope that helps.
Do l get hugMy ancient machine has just caught up with the last 2 pages of your forum. So my message might not be appropriate to you so much now. However, the love and hugs it was sent with still applyHahaha
DefinitelyDo l get hug
I can't honestly understand why doctors go down t.he 'no testing' route, of course you should test, how do you know what foods spike you or not, no one is the same, potatoes, pasta, rice and bread are the obvious ones but some fruit and veg spike you too, until you test you will never know? I have two code free meters bought from eBay, very reasonably priced and the strips are inexpensive too and come in pots of 50, have a look!Hi all
I was diagnosed with diabetes around a month ago after feeling poorly for many months. I didn't present with the usual symptoms, I am a 39 year old man with a 26 bmi and my blood pressure is perfect. There was even a question about whether I was type 1 or type 2. I was told I didn't need to test my sugars but I don't actually know whether I am high or low when I am feeling poorly, I have tried to lower my carbohydrates and increase my fruit and veg but I still feel awful. I just don't feel I can help myself without knowing what lowers my blood sugars? I am waiting on blood results to confirm whether I am type 2 (although the doctor feels it probably is). Metformin and Metformin MR made me even more poorly so I am now on Linagliptin 5mg. It seems to help some of the time. I have my Desmond course in November so I am hoping this might give me some answers as right now I feel like I am walking blindly. Any thoughts anyone?
Hi Kevin, count carbs not sugars, the lower the carb content the better!Hi Bluetit, thank you for your reply.
I actually meant I had increased my vegetables (not fruit) and this is non root vegetables. My wife has increased it as part of our diet (her Dad is an insulin dependent diabetic) so she does have some insight. I have lessened the amount of bread, potatoes, rice and pasta and when I do have these, I go for the wholemeal option where possible. I have cut out sugar from my diet and I check all of the food i eat for sugar levels to try and help myself.
I am still feeling poorly and I don't know if it is because I have high or low blood sugars. I have explained this until I am blue in the face but no one wants to listen, it is so frustrating and I suspect this is having am affect on my sugar levels as well.
Th
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