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Should I ask for a monitor?
- Thread starter ep4meuk
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You could ask your diabetes nurse for one Susan, failing that ring one of the meter companies up and ask them to send one out free of charge (they may or may not depending who you speak to). The meters are cheap to buy mind, around £10-15 but the test strips cost £15-20.
Nigel
Nigel
Talos
Well-Known Member
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You can get them cheaper off Ebay
Hi Susan,
Definitely ask your GP for a monitor and ask for the strips on prescription. They seem to refuse Type 2s, but try telling them you want to be pro-active in managing your condition and think it will be a great benefit to you to learn more about how your body reacts to different foods. It's worth a try! I wasn't offered a monitor when first diagnosed, and I had no idea what was happening to my BGs until I got really ill and eventually bought a monitor and found my BGs were in the 20s! Turned out I wasn't Type 2 at all, but as I wasn't monitoring and the GP wasn't monitoring me, there was no warning things were going wrong. Since I started monitoring frequently last September, I've been absolutely shocked by what different foods do - it's the only way to learn and get control. Test before food and two hours after eating - your levels at that time should be pretty much back to their pre-meal level. Make sure you write down what you eat. If the spike is too high or too prolonged, cut the portion next time or avoid the culprit food! Monitoring is absolutely essential, especially at first until you know what yoour body can cope with.
Smidge
Definitely ask your GP for a monitor and ask for the strips on prescription. They seem to refuse Type 2s, but try telling them you want to be pro-active in managing your condition and think it will be a great benefit to you to learn more about how your body reacts to different foods. It's worth a try! I wasn't offered a monitor when first diagnosed, and I had no idea what was happening to my BGs until I got really ill and eventually bought a monitor and found my BGs were in the 20s! Turned out I wasn't Type 2 at all, but as I wasn't monitoring and the GP wasn't monitoring me, there was no warning things were going wrong. Since I started monitoring frequently last September, I've been absolutely shocked by what different foods do - it's the only way to learn and get control. Test before food and two hours after eating - your levels at that time should be pretty much back to their pre-meal level. Make sure you write down what you eat. If the spike is too high or too prolonged, cut the portion next time or avoid the culprit food! Monitoring is absolutely essential, especially at first until you know what yoour body can cope with.
Smidge
So if you 50 how many will you normally use in a day just so I can get used to how often I would need to get new supplies if I can't get them on Prescription...I know I can check this all out online but I feel so much better asking people who live with this condition.
Smidge this is what concerns me I dont have regular checks even though the nurse said I can call her anytime if I am worried but some days are better than others and it worries me that things might be getting worse and I don't even know it :? My last reading with no medication after a first reading of 9 went down to 6.5 on just diet but she still said it was enough to put me on medication so thats where I am upto. Thankyou once again all for all your input it is much appreciated.
Susan x
Smidge this is what concerns me I dont have regular checks even though the nurse said I can call her anytime if I am worried but some days are better than others and it worries me that things might be getting worse and I don't even know it :? My last reading with no medication after a first reading of 9 went down to 6.5 on just diet but she still said it was enough to put me on medication so thats where I am upto. Thankyou once again all for all your input it is much appreciated.
Susan x
