Testing blood sugar level

[debchoc]

Being type 2 my diabetes nurse said I didn’t need to monitor my sugar levels and was not given a meter but other people I know have been but they do live in another part of the uk is it a post code lottery

 

[Art Of Flowers]

When I was first diagnosed, my diabetes nurse gave me an Accu Check Mobile blood glucose meter. I found this very useful to measure my blood sugar after going on a Low Carb High Fat (LCHF). I suggest you get yourself a meter.

I recently bought a second meter - a Contour Next - see https://www.diabetes.ascensia.co.uk/products/contour-next-mmol-new/ which I bought online from Chemists4U. You also need test strips, so I also bought an extra 50. I like the FastClix lancets used by the Accu Chek Mobile, so I bought a separate Accu Check FastFlix finger pricker from Amazon plus some more lancets.

The Contour Next has a great app for your phone which keeps track of your readings.

You can apply for a free Countour Next One meter ... see https://www.dz.contourplusone.com/free-meter/

 

[lovinglife]

Being type 2 my diabetes nurse said I didn’t need to monitor my sugar levels and was not given a meter but other people I know have been but they do live in another part of the uk is it a post code lottery

It is very rare these days for a T2 to get free test strips on the NHS unless they are on insulin, even when I was Gliclizide years ago even though Gliclizide carries a hypo risk I couldn’t get strips. There are many testers on the market, I myself use a tee2 as the strips are a reasonable price. I’ll tag one of our members @Rachox who has some useful info on different meters

 

[Rachox]

Thanks for the tag @lovinglife , @debchoc , here’s some info with links for UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.



HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/



Links to the strips for future orders:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/



Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/





SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793



The strips are to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097



If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.



Don’t forget to check the box if you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

 

[MrPeaky]

Being type 2 my diabetes nurse said I didn’t need to monitor my sugar levels and was not given a meter but other people I know have been but they do live in another part of the uk is it a post code lottery

I was fortunate my GP was a very clued in T2 wise.

Once my diagnosis came in, she prescribed me a one off meter and 100 strips.

Told me to track my bloods for a few weeks and we could then discuss further.

My trend was down vey quick so after that there was no need to test officially, but she said it would be best for me to continue to do so untill my food map was done.

I bought 3 months worth of constant glucose monitors and set off on the great data collection.

This enable me to see what I could eat, what I couldn't, what I shouldn't but could probably get away with if I worked it in with exercise and low carb days.

Sampling | Diabetes Care | Abbott

Claim your 15 day free sensor if you have diabetes and have not tried the FreeStyle Libre 2 plus sensor before

www.freestyle.abbott

Abbot to a 14 day trial well worth it (if you swim or work out pick up some covers for the sensor online to keep it in place)

I learnt that I had probably been T2 most of my life, but my active lifestyle and fairly sensible eating had manged it, was only when I was off my feet for the best part of 6 months that it became an issue.

If you put in the work early on now and work out what you can and can not eat and keep your bloods in the range you want it makes it so much easier

 

[MissMuffett]

Thank you @Rachox I've ordered the Tee2+ meter and test strips. I did have a GlucoRx mini but the strips we £12.95 and then they we’re changing me £3.95 for delivery! Spirit Health is free delivery within the uk and only £10.99 for the strips.