Not just my GP who tells new T2s don't bother testing!

[RFSMarch]

A friend I haven't seen in a while messaged me last night to invite me round for a catch up. They were also diagnosed this year as Type 2... been basically left to get on with it. Not sure what their level of meds are but it sounds like it has been problematic.

It baffles me though. Obviously a lot of us have to test in some way shape or form to get some idea of what our sugars are doing. They have had more blood tests and visits to the docs than I have, being strict with breakfast and lunch to have more leeway for dinner, and still learning about spikes with certain food, but again how do you know you are improving if you don't test (unless you go back for repeated blood tests every two months or so)!?

Will obviously be taking the Libre round with me, but also keen to know how they manage.

Reminds me of my first week off in the US this year. Staying with a friend whose neighbour was diagnosed as T2 and was on tablets, and was telling me I didn't need the Libre anymore... I mean dude... you met me like 5 minutes ago, what gives you the right to tell me how to monitor my condition?

Makes me realise my attitude towards my own GP has changed a lot. At first I was grateful he at least tried to acknowledge that the job I have makes it hard to control when I am away, and that leaving that job is not an option. But now I find myself increasingly frustrated that I too had not great advice, as he told me on my second visit to change to SR Metformin that he never tells any of his T2 patients to monitor their sugar. Do they think T2s are 'not as diabetic' and therefore need less management?

Curious to hear from 'old-timers' as I feel I am still an enthusiastic Labrador pup in the world of T2...

 

[Butterfly1960]

A friend I haven't seen in a while messaged me last night to invite me round for a catch up. They were also diagnosed this year as Type 2... been basically left to get on with it. Not sure what their level of meds are but it sounds like it has been problematic.

It baffles me though. Obviously a lot of us have to test in some way shape or form to get some idea of what our sugars are doing. They have had more blood tests and visits to the docs than I have, being strict with breakfast and lunch to have more leeway for dinner, and still learning about spikes with certain food, but again how do you know you are improving if you don't test (unless you go back for repeated blood tests every two months or so)!?

Will obviously be taking the Libre round with me, but also keen to know how they manage.

Reminds me of my first week off in the US this year. Staying with a friend whose neighbour was diagnosed as T2 and was on tablets, and was telling me I didn't need the Libre anymore... I mean dude... you met me like 5 minutes ago, what gives you the right to tell me how to monitor my condition?

Makes me realise my attitude towards my own GP has changed a lot. At first I was grateful he at least tried to acknowledge that the job I have makes it hard to control when I am away, and that leaving that job is not an option. But now I find myself increasingly frustrated that I too had not great advice, as he told me on my second visit to change to SR Metformin that he never tells any of his T2 patients to monitor their sugar. Do they think T2s are 'not as diabetic' and therefore need less management?

Curious to hear from 'old-timers' as I feel I am still an enthusiastic Labrador pup in the world of T2...

Hi
No, I'm not an old timer in the sense that I was diagnosed type2 in March this year!
But I too am baffled by the attitude of the NHS in general to type 2 diabetics
Luckily for me, my DN at our local surgery has been diabetic 20+ years and gave me a lot of (unofficial) advice;
1.... test BG regularly everyday (but can't issue a meter as I'm 'only' type2)
2.... eat low carbs (try max 100g per day)
3... join the forum (gave me link)

all of the above advice given freely, but she could not express these views as a nurse, but as a fellow suffer of diabetes
I'm grateful to her for the support she's shown me cos I understand that others have been less fortunate
Also, we only have locum GPs at our surgery as our GP retired 2 years ago
so my diagnosis was part of a general health check as I have other medical problems, via a Locum GP
The locum prescribed Metformin 500mg 3x per day, but knowing I had IBS said to come back immediately if there were any problems. Of course there were, so next offered SR version, but also advised to come back again if still problems!
That Locum finished his temp stay, and next visit a new Locum, who'd read my notes!!! and was prepared to offer me Gliclazide 40mg as a trial..... praise be! A drug that works!! I'm now on 80mg x2 per day, prescribed by same locum who will be at surgery til New Year . I fund out that her husband is training to specialise in diabetes! Amazingly fortuitous!
But still no offer of a BG testing kit on NHS! But advised to test if poss. I bought an SD codefree kit off Amazon, and regularly check/monitor by BG 3/4 x daily esp if I eat something different...

I was trained as an Holistic therapist back in the 1990's.... but gave it up in favour of regular work, as I only had a small client base that I continued to treat til 2005. I wanted to try the complimentary therapies, alas not available via NHS!, as part of my recovery of other illness'. I recently started a course of Acupuncture, and a complete change of my diet, all of which I believe is starting to help me on the road to better health

Sleeping thru the night is a bug bear for me at mo.... I got approx. 6 hours of interrupted sleep last night.... and of course we all need plenty of rest/sleep for our bodies to have best chance to 'fix' itself!!

That was a bit more long winded than I intended! but cathartic too! Thank you!

 

[kokhongw]

Close glucose monitoring is meaningful only when we respond to it by making the necessary changes.

The problem is that for decades people have been given contradictory dietary advice (fats are dangerous, carbs/wholegrains are essential, have 5 meals a day) and will actually be confused by the close monitoring. Then they will start to challenge the advice given...besides close monitoring is rather expensive if financed by the health services...

When shown a graph like that, it confused and confound them...they simply cannot accept it...is meat and fats the problem or the solution...roast pork belly and pork rib soup.

 

[chri5]

I found monitoring bg levels absolutely essential when I first started low carbing, it was brilliant for telling me which foods to eat and which to avoid. I rarely test nowadays as I can pretty much tell if a food is going to spike me from experience by now.

 

[RFSMarch]

I mean I will wait until I get over there, and see what my friend's circs were. I know only too well how frustrating it can be to have people "tell" you what works for them as if it is the only way of life.

I do agree with @kokhongw though, that only by understanding what made me spike, was I able to experiment and change subtle things to help me along. For example, I know three Metformin a day jams me solid and makes me just as miserable as if I had the runs all day, so switched to one at breakfast and one at dinner and that has really seemed to work.

If I can't get to the gym I *try* to do my rehab... that has started to help bring my BP to at least Pre-High from persistently high pretty much for the last few years with family stress,

I am far far FAR from perfect though, so plenty of room for me to improve.

 

[ringi]

The NHS found that very few people did anything with the BG reading other than writing them in the book they were given. Most people don't have a willingness to actively learn from data, hence they are not on this website.

 

[woodywhippet61]

The NHS found that very few people did anything with the BG reading other than writing them in the book they were given. Most people don't have a willingness to actively learn from data, hence they are not on this website.

My DN just asked me to write about 3 test results in the book. Suggested that 1 was a first thing in the morning test and the rest at random times in the day. Not bother doing more and not to worry about them or testing. If that is normal then of course people aren't going to display a willingness to actively learn from the data. You aren't actually told that there is anything to learn. Considering she also told me that I wouldn't be able to cope without going meds AND sneeringly told me that I had to get my a1c down to below 48 in 3 months, but not worry about it because I wouldn't be able to do it.

If their HCP's offered to everyone the choice of testing to see what effect the food that they eat have on their BG levels AND it was explained what their choices were then people could be blamed for not being willing to learn from the data but until that happens........

You have to be a bit bloodyminded to ignore what your HCP tell you and strike out on your on, when everyone around you is saying listen to your GP/DN. Luckily for me I'd already read Jenny Ruhl's book and found her website and also this one (not the other one) and got a Libre and had started to see what effect food was having on me and my levels were coming down.

 

[RFSMarch]

Thankfully my doc was quite as sneery... but he is deffo of a mind that the job I have will no doubt kill me as I have been incapable of managing myself, quite obviously. Poor man. Most journalists ARE journalists because they are quite bloody minded. So I am not sure he knows what he is letting himself in for!

 

[JTL]

If my blood glucose readings were 8 two hours after a meal I would consider I had crossed my red line.
I consider 8 to be damaging to my health. My nerves especially.
I went on an almost daily bowl of porridge with coconut oil in for breakfast but checked first on my meter.
If I was 7 before eating then the porridge was not an option and I would pull a pre boiled egg out of the fridge and have a bulletproof coffee with it.
If the reading was around 5 I felt okay having the porridge.
That's how I used my meter for all meals.
My meter decided what I was about to eat.
I have always seen honey as an almost miracle food so never gave it up.
A tiny bit each day I thought would help train my pancreas and now I have a full teaspoon every day.
Spikes me but at the crucial two hour mark I'm below the redline number 8 so I'm happy with that.

 

[Alexandra100]

Hi
No, I'm not an old timer in the sense that I was diagnosed type2 in March this year!
But I too am baffled by the attitude of the NHS in general to type 2 diabetics
Luckily for me, my DN at our local surgery has been diabetic 20+ years and gave me a lot of (unofficial) advice;
1.... test BG regularly everyday (but can't issue a meter as I'm 'only' type2)
2.... eat low carbs (try max 100g per day)
3... join the forum (gave me link)

all of the above advice given freely, but she could not express these views as a nurse, but as a fellow suffer of diabetes
I'm grateful to her for the support she's shown me cos I understand that others have been less fortunate
Also, we only have locum GPs at our surgery as our GP retired 2 years ago
so my diagnosis was part of a general health check as I have other medical problems, via a Locum GP
The locum prescribed Metformin 500mg 3x per day, but knowing I had IBS said to come back immediately if there were any problems. Of course there were, so next offered SR version, but also advised to come back again if still problems!
That Locum finished his temp stay, and next visit a new Locum, who'd read my notes!!! and was prepared to offer me Gliclazide 40mg as a trial..... praise be! A drug that works!! I'm now on 80mg x2 per day, prescribed by same locum who will be at surgery til New Year . I fund out that her husband is training to specialise in diabetes! Amazingly fortuitous!
But still no offer of a BG testing kit on NHS! But advised to test if poss. I bought an SD codefree kit off Amazon, and regularly check/monitor by BG 3/4 x daily esp if I eat something different...

I was trained as an Holistic therapist back in the 1990's.... but gave it up in favour of regular work, as I only had a small client base that I continued to treat til 2005. I wanted to try the complimentary therapies, alas not available via NHS!, as part of my recovery of other illness'. I recently started a course of Acupuncture, and a complete change of my diet, all of which I believe is starting to help me on the road to better health

Sleeping thru the night is a bug bear for me at mo.... I got approx. 6 hours of interrupted sleep last night.... and of course we all need plenty of rest/sleep for our bodies to have best chance to 'fix' itself!!

That was a bit more long winded than I intended! but cathartic too! Thank you!

Hello Butterfly, I read your story with great interest. I don't think you'll get a meter and strips on the NHS, my GP seems to think that is no longer allowed for Type2s. Well done for testing anyway.

Have you tried getting referred to a sleep clinic and having an over-night test? I did, and found out that I am suffering from sleep apnoeia. Several tests and years later and it has become severe, so I have been prescribed a CPAP type ventilator with a mask to wear at night. Finding a mask that fitted OK and getting used to it was hellish, but I am now over that hump and feeling much more rested during the day. I daresay this isn't relevant to you, but just in case ... Sleep deprivation is so wretched. The NHS is very odd. It grudges T2s who want to take responsibility for their health the means to do it and avoid expensive complications, yet is quite happy to offer me a ventilator that costs £3-4000 plus mask another £100. Not that I'm complaining about that!

 

[kokhongw]

You have to be a bit bloodyminded to ignore what your HCP tell you and strike out on your on, when everyone around you is saying listen to your GP/DN. Luckily for me I'd already read Jenny Ruhl's book and found her website and also this one (not the other one) and got a Libre and had started to see what effect food was having on me and my levels were coming down

That is what helped to turn Mountains into molehills..
https://myhba1c.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/turning-mountains-into-molehills/

 

[RFSMarch]

Interesting read ...

 

[woodywhippet61]

That is what helped to turn Mountains into molehills..
https://myhba1c.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/turning-mountains-into-molehills/

Thank you.

 

[Butterfly1960]

WOW! an awe inspiring amount of info!
When I told a Locum GP that I intended to use acupuncture treatment, I was applauded for my ingenuity! But then told on the next breath... I won't be able to get such treatment via the NHS. When I pointed out that it would be cheaper to go to a monthly complimentary therapy than continuous repeat prescriptions for the rest of my natural life... it was agreed to in principal, but still he had to go by guidelines.... my illnesses are not life threatening (immediately!)
BP was slightly raised after that chat... but within safe guideline parameters!!
and yes, I go regularly (weekly at mo) to acupuncture, and I believe it is helping me, to a point where I hope soon to wean myself off certain meds I was trained as a Holistic Therapist back in the 1990's and firmly believe that complimentary therapies are just that... they help to work along side of the NHS treatments It's a criminal shame that our NHS is suffering under the NICE guidelines but ever hopeful for new ideas to come to light!

 

[Alexandra100]

My DN just asked me to write about 3 test results in the book. Suggested that 1 was a first thing in the morning test and the rest at random times in the day. Not bother doing more and not to worry about them or testing. If that is normal then of course people aren't going to display a willingness to actively learn from the data. You aren't actually told that there is anything to learn. Considering she also told me that I wouldn't be able to cope without going meds AND sneeringly told me that I had to get my a1c down to below 48 in 3 months, but not worry about it because I wouldn't be able to do it.

If their HCP's offered to everyone the choice of testing to see what effect the food that they eat have on their BG levels AND it was explained what their choices were then people could be blamed for not being willing to learn from the data but until that happens........

You have to be a bit bloodyminded to ignore what your HCP tell you and strike out on your on, when everyone around you is saying listen to your GP/DN. Luckily for me I'd already read Jenny Ruhl's book and found her website and also this one (not the other one) and got a Libre and had started to see what effect food was having on me and my levels were coming down.

I too have greatly benefited from Jenny Ruhl's book and still keep going back to it. IMO all T2s, especially new ones, could benefit from reading it in addition to getting info and help here.

 

[dbr10]

I too have greatly benefited from Jenny Ruhl's book and still keep going back to it. IMO all T2s, especially new ones, could benefit from reading it in addition to getting info and help here.

It was a great help when I was told nothing by the NHS; or, worse still, being given contradictory information.

 

[fati2]

Jtl your advice is good. I'm type 2 food controlled . I have my blood test in November and if good then I'll continue with diet only, or else I'll be put on meds. Any one diet controlled ?

 

[chri5]

Hello Butterfly, I read your story with great interest. I don't think you'll get a meter and strips on the NHS, my GP seems to think that is no longer allowed for Type2s. Well done for testing anyway.

Have you tried getting referred to a sleep clinic and having an over-night test? I did, and found out that I am suffering from sleep apnoeia. Several tests and years later and it has become severe, so I have been prescribed a CPAP type ventilator with a mask to wear at night. Finding a mask that fitted OK and getting used to it was hellish, but I am now over that hump and feeling much more rested during the day. I daresay this isn't relevant to you, but just in case ... Sleep deprivation is so wretched. The NHS is very odd. It grudges T2s who want to take responsibility for their health the means to do it and avoid expensive complications, yet is quite happy to offer me a ventilator that costs £3-4000 plus mask another £100. Not that I'm complaining about that!

Hi, meters and strips are available on nhs for type 2 patients, I think it`s more a case of how your practice decide to allocate funds.

 

[bulkbiker]

Jtl your advice is good. I'm type 2 food controlled . I have my blood test in November and if good then I'll continue with diet only, or else I'll be put on meds. Any one diet controlled ?

Yes quite a lot of us are diet controlled.. what do you usually eat?

 

[Kentoldlady1]

The NHS found that very few people did anything with the BG reading other than writing them in the book they were given. Most people don't have a willingness to actively learn from data, hence they are not on this website.

I have had very little.advice from my surgery. But I was told.not to worry too much, just follow diet guidelines, take.metformin and take care of my feet!!
It is this attitude that has to change. The well meaning admonition to " not worry too much.". Of course we should worry! Only an idiot would be complacent when faced with missing toes, legs, heart attacks, blindness and cancer.
I can understand why the hcps say it. Worry without any hope of a positive resolution is worse than pointless. It can make a dreadful future even worse.
But there is a hopeful, positive future. And it is entirely in our own hands. But in the very kind desire to stop us becoming stressed we are not shown pictures of what could.be waiting for us. And so most of us do not see the need for restrictive diets or the messy testing that our doctors tell us is not needed.

One of my cousins has just been given insulin. She is not a stupid woman. She is a socail.worker with a busy life. But when she was dx 5 years ago she was told not to worry. And she didn't. Now she has a meter and is starting to worry. I think she is typical of most dxd with t2d. Just trust what the hcp says and dont get your health info off the internet. ( I have naturally told her about this site, jason fung and to get her health care from dr google!)

I dont think most people are unwilling to learn from the data they accumulate. It really does depend on what they are told.to do.with it. If all.you are told to do is write it down so that the dn can look at it and then increase your meds I can see that a lot of.people.would.soon.lose heart with testing. If, on the other hand, you know exactly the consequences of a spike, continual raised.numbers and what to do to get them lower then most of us would be very good at testing and making changes.

Not everyone would care, but at the moment most have no idea of.what is.waiting for.them.