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Type 2

My nurse told me the same and I ended up with more meds every year and it was only when I was told I would need to go on injections that I started to do some research and found this forum. Dietary advice was seriously flawed and I was heading for some serious complications. I still have those same discussions with my DN even now.

But I have followed the lower carb diet advocated by so many people on here together with a limited increase in exercise and have got my BG levels down to normal, lost 3 stone, reduced my waist by 4ins and got my BP down from high to normal. Have got rid of one of my meds and hope to ditch the other soon. Why the NHS won't listen to us all I don't know.

The best thing I ever did was finally ignored the nurse and started testing my own bloods. Now I only check every other day.


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Testing is critical to managing your condition, how else are you to know what foods you can and cannot tolerate? Your DN's attitude is sadly typical, how on earth are these people allowed to call themselves expert in diabetes, it's farcical. Anybody who wants a meter and is prepared to learn how to use it should be provided with one and given test strips.


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Hi Sparky don't bother asking your d.n for a meter go back and make an appointment with your Gp and tell her that you want a meter because you wish to change your lifestyle and eating habits. The government policy is to provide them for those who want make a difference to their diabetes programme. Gp's often get given meters for free from the medical reps to hand out to patients anyway . Just insist that you have your testing strips put on prescription so you can regulate your diet etc. You have to be a bit pushy but it's worth it.

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Loads of good advise from those that really know, good posts !!! I think a good balanced diet is key, along with exercise. I am type 2 and have been on insulin for 2 years, therefore a meter is imperative. Mine came from the Diabetic clinic at my GP's, now sadly no longer funded. All my meds are on free prescription, so I am quite lucky in that respect. In some ways much is trail and error (terrible phase), so a meter is a good way to understand and manage diet. A good book is "Carbs & Cals" (Chello Publishing), lists some 1700 foods and drinks, with Carbs, Calories, Protein, Fat, and Fibre values.
 
I'm astonished by what your nurse had said....come to think of it, my nurse told me to eat potatoes, pasta etc. However, I had done enough research of my own for her statement to pass into one ear and straight out the other. As many peeps treat diabetes by diet and exrcise alone, it is imperative that the NHS get their sh*t together and provide proper information so that they don't make matters worse. Are all type1 and drug dependant type2 diabetics consulted by nurses alone ? I know diabetes has become the equivalent of a pandemic so surely there's a need for the information that we recieve to be correct and consistent for each type(1/2). I purchased my own meter/strips & pricks and I am clearly seeing and noteing what foods to avoid just by looking at my post eat results.
 
How do you know what foods are bad? I understand the concept of the meter reading, but do you have a plate of pasta and check before and two hours after? Or say just have some bread and test two hours later!


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sparkyfarm said:
How do you know what foods are bad? I understand the concept of the meter reading, but do you have a plate of pasta and check before and two hours after? Or say just have some bread and test two hours later!


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If for example you tested before eating something and it was say,6.5 mmol and you tested 2 hours later and you were around 6.5 mmol again-it's safe to say you tolerated that food well,however,if you tested and got a reading of 8.5mmol at 2 hours it means you need to consider reducing or eliminating that food from your diet.
 
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