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Type 2 in Portsmouth

M

Maskedman

Active Member
Messages
43
Location
portsmouth
Hi,

i joined up a couple of weeks ago and have found the forum is a great place for help and advice :D i recently found out that I have type 2 diabetes after going to the chemist for a test. my eyes were hurting a lot and i felt so tired all the time.

my blood sugar readings were around the 12 - 15 mark - not sure what they are now - i've got a testing thing but cant bring myself to use it. i will one day - i'm sure of it :D I'm on metformin 2 x 500mg per day and so far no side effects - i'm not sure if this will bring my blood sugar down - but its worth a go :D
 
Hi Maskedman,

Testing your blood is really important, it will enable you to get an insight into what you can eat and what makes your BG go up. I hate testing but I know that it helps me to control my BG. It is great to see your BG going down, although a bit puzzling when it goes up for no reason.

You have joined the right place, you will get lots of good advice here from people who are experts at controlling their diabetes.

Good luck

Bernie
 
Maskedman said:
thanks bernie :D i will learn to use it but i cant bring myself to press the button :(
Click to expand...

Welcome Maskedman.

I have been testing since Thursday :shock: and initially had a few problems pressing the button :roll:

Firstly, the place you prick is important. Look at the diagrams that came with the pricking device. don't prick the fingertips, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many nerves there :shock: The sides of the fingers is where it hurts less.

Rotate sites, don't use the same place all the time or calluses will build up and it will be harder to prick and get blood out of it. My dad didn't follow this advice :? :roll:

To get blood flowing, use hot water to wash your hands, let the hand that you are testing hang low for a few seconds, stroke towards the fingertip you are testing. You need to get the blood flowing so you don't need to do it again.

The finger prickers have different depths, set it to about the middle and see how that works for you and adjust if necessary.

Make sure the lancet is fresh and sharp!

I really didn't get on with the one that came with my meter so I called a couple of the drug companies and one was willing to send me one of their prickers, customer services also have me some good advice on technique, which I am passing on to you. I was also very cheeky and called my local NHS diabetic clinic and asked if they had any spares as I wasn't getting on with the one I had. The very nice nurse saw me briefly and gave me one from their store cupboard and a few lancets to try it - the NHS diabetic clinic is not a self referral, so you may not get the same kind of response I did. I now own 3 lancet devices.

After 5 days I feel like and old pro at it. I'm even getting on with the one I didn't like to start with
8)

And the results I'm getting from the testing are very inforamtive. Worth every penny I have spent so far, but I'm going to see how much I can get out of the NHS. Have no qualms about asking for a sample - the drug companies tend to give the things away to the NHS because they make all the money on the test strips. They don't seem to suppprt us T2s doing self testing, but how the hell they expect us to get to grips with our blood sugar levels and reduce them without it is beyond me :?
 
Maskedman said:
thanks bernie :D i will learn to use it but i cant bring myself to press the button :(
Click to expand...

To back up Spiral's excellent post

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/ ... ricks.html

Metformin is best started at a low dose and increased slowly. It may take a few weeks to show an effect, and you may need to go up to the 1500 - 2500mg range to get the most out of it - although you may not. It works especially well in conjunction with exercise, growing and using muscle will improve your insulin resistance and glucose usage.
 
And another thing, timing is everything :roll:

I have wasted some strips with all my fiddling about with the lancet and the strips and my finger trying to get a drop of blood out :x :roll:

By the time I have produced a drop of blood for the end of the strip, the sodding thing has switched itself off. Result - wasted strip. If you are buying them yourself a strip costs 43p* without the VAT, or 51p* if you didn't get the VAT removed. Technique is important, practice!


* cost of the meter, the lancet and batteries etc may increase the cost if you are not getting them on the NHS
 
Hi
I found the first time i tried back in feb i could not do it! The thought of the pain!
then i did it, i have found that i only need mine on setting one of the lancet as that brings blood staright out!
As for batteries, if you go to the website of the maker of the blood testing machine alot of them will give you batteries free of charge!
I have a freestyle lite! I pop onto their website and can get free batteries and control solution anytime!
Sandy
 
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