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Type 2 Not Feeling too well and blood testing!

L

lynnedeloo

Well-Known Member
Messages
74
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello,
On Tuesday I woke and had porridge and a cup of tea for breakfast. I usually last until lunch time without eating anything during this time.
I felt really unwell....cold, then hot, dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out. I had no energy and felt drained. I had a drink of water. After about an hour I felt better.
I do not test my blood sugar as my GP says I don't need to. I am on Metformin SR 1500mg daily.
Not sure if my blood was too low or high!! Can't get an appointment with my GP so I spoke to my pharmacist today who advised me not to buy a testing machine because I may become obsessed with testing.
Can anyone offer any advice. Many thanks






 
Sorry you are feeling so lousy @lynnedeloo. Your pharmacist is talking rubbish and your GP is just complying with standard NHS proceedures which are mainly money saving rather than patient saving strategies.
Best advice I can offer is to get a test kit and then you'll know what your BG is, and will get at least some idea of how to manage your T2D.
It might help others on here to offer suggestions if you could post the results of your HbA1C test.

Dave
 
miahara said:
Sorry you are feeling so lousy @lynnedeloo. Your pharmacist is talking rubbish and your GP is just complying with standard NHS proceedures which are mainly money saving rather than patient saving strategies.
Best advice I can offer is to get a test kit and then you'll know what your BG is, and will get at least some idea of how to manage your T2D.
It might help others on here to offer suggestions if you could post the results of your HbA1C test.

Dave
Click to expand...


Thanks for the advice. Think I need to buy a test kit!!
My HbA1c is 51 and has been the same for the last 18 months!
 
I was in exactly the same situation as you a few days ago. It turned out I just had a virus...my first since being diagnosed but I was convinced it was related to my Type 2. It did spur me on to get a meter, however, and I am now doing a full week of testing, trying out different foods to see their effect on me. I wish I had done it sooner. Get well soon.
 
Lynnedeloo yes as others forum members say certainly get yourself a BG meter a lot of doctors say don't test but it's the only way to keep track of whats going on with sugar levels. help with meters please ask other forum members for advice as I only use one type of meter there sure to help all the best look after yourself.
 
Although Type 2s don't need to be constantly testing we need to be able to find out if we are high or low sometimes - otherwise how do we know if it is something we've eaten or a virus making us feel bad?
I bought a cheap meter when Lidl had them on sale and used the 75 strips which came with it - more can be ordered from Germany but I shan't be doing that regularly as there is little need to go on testing now.
 
lynnedeloo said:
Can't get an appointment with my GP so I spoke to my pharmacist today who advised me not to buy a testing machine because I may become obsessed with testing.
Can anyone offer any advice.
Click to expand...
My suggestion is ignore the pharmacist and get a glucose meter. Or go to an emergency clinic if your doctor won't see you and you need to get tested. By actively discouraging self-testing, they're really inviting patients to come in every time blood sugar might be doing something wonky.

Porridge is a problem for a lot of Type 2s, due to the huge amount of carbs. It might help to try something a bit more moderate, like a couple eggs and a glass of full-fat milk or berries. The proteins and fats will slow down carb absorption and help prevent blood sugar spiking as well.

When you get your meter, you can test before and after meals to see what's happening. That can help you figure out any changes you need to make. If you get things stabilized, you don't have to keep testing routinely, unless you want to make sure you're staying on track.
 
Good morning @ME_Valentijn my friend yes please get a meter,I did become (.I'm not sure that obsessed is the right word);) lets say very interested and experimented all the time and found it very educating and informative,but lets say obsessive then .there's nothing wrong with that my friend,it won't cause the damage Diabetes can:) and it soon passes;) now I just test first thing in the morning and before and after main meals,and if I am having trying something new to eat just to see what effect it has on my blood sugar and is it OK for me to eat,Please get yourself a meter then you will feel in control and that's a Bonus and you will feel better in yourself my friend:)
 
Well I'm pretty obsessed with not losing a limb or going blind so I'd rather not leave it to chance or the auspices of another individual doctor nurse or pharmacist so I test.

I also keep a log of food eaten together with carbs calories and blood glucose levels before and after meals @ one hour and two hours.
Edit to add I down loaded the A4 pdf version on this site and prinnted a whole load out.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/food-diary.html
 
Last edited:
Resurgam said:
Although Type 2s don't need to be constantly testing we need to be able to find out if we are high or low sometimes - otherwise how do we know if it is something we've eaten or a virus making us feel bad?
I bought a cheap meter when Lidl had them on sale and used the 75 strips which came with it - more can be ordered from Germany but I shan't be doing that regularly as there is little need to go on testing now.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

Complacency can be dangerous. Testing can be reduced, of course it can, but I believe testing should continue, possibly forever. It is all too easy to "carb creep" without even realising it, plus our bodies change over time, our metabolism may change, our natural insulin production and insulin resistance may change. If this happened to me I wouldn't want to wait for my next HbA1c (which isn't the best marker anyway) to find out I was on an upward trend. I would want to be able to do something about it straight away. I am obsessed, but obsessed about staying in control, and testing is the only way to monitor this.
 
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