Where to start

[Mr Happy 100]

Hi , Mr Happy 100 here and don't know where to start so will start at the beginning.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 10 years ago and initially tried hard and successfully reduced my blood sugar levels down to acceptable levels.

I moved within my local area and my local doctor retired and the new practice manager had a patient cull and I was given 30 days to find a new doctor. I was lucky in that I found a new doctor who would take me on.This practice was top of the customer survey for years but has started to slip down the league.

The nurses and the doctors had no real interest in me until recently, when by luck I was given an appointment with a doctor who cared , he went through my medical records in his lunch break and I must have been with him 45 minutes.

Apart from my diabetes I do have a problem that I was put on steroids to reduce my body inflammation over 18 months ago , he was most concerned that I had not been the problem of long term dependency.

He looked at my blood results and said we have got 12 months to sort out the drug dependency or else , won't talk anymore on the or else.

18 months ago I could hardly get out of bed and I am nearly off the steroids and can walk over 10000 steps per day.

From my point of view my diabetes presents another sets of problems and I have pretty well stopped drinking alcohol , reduce food intake and eat quality products fresh from the farmers field.

All the medicine I am on increased blood pressure and with my aberstance it's now down to 141/80.

I am keeping a record of my long term BP for my doctor to inspect.

I am fortunate that I have an understanding wife because I have a reputation of being short tempered.

Don't know why but cause I felt I was an angel !

I am aware that I am my own biggest enemy but I won't go on live this anymore.

 

[Mr Happy 100]

Hi , nearly a total waste of time signing on to this site.

Not even a hi

 

[lovinglife]

Hi , nearly a total waste of time signing on to this site.

Not even a hi

Hi @Mr Happy 100

Weekends, especially evenings can be a bit quieter. Have a read round the forum & if you have any questions etc then don’t hesitate to post them, members do like to share their experiences & tips, I can’t help with anything in your first post above as I don’t share your experiences

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Mr Happy 100 and welcome to the forums.

I'm been a T1 diabetic since 1970 so don't share your experiences but can make a few comments.

Firstly, congrats on what you've done to improve your fitness and reduce your steroid dependency. Steroids can make T2 diabetes worse so you've done well to reduce them.

Steroids and type 2 diabetes | Diabetes Australia

Steroid medication can cause type 2 diabetes, and affect blood glucose levels if you already live with the condition.

www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

You don't say how well your diabetes is controlled at the moment but a lot of the T2s here keep their levels down by reducing their carbs in their diets. I don't know if that interests you at all but if it does just ask and you'll get plenty of answers....

Once more welcome.

 

[Melgar]

Hi , nearly a total waste of time signing on to this site.

Not even a hi

Here is a hi and welcome from me @Mr Happy 100 . I’m over on the east coast of Canada, so your post was in the middle of the night for me. Reading your post, it sounds like you have had some serious health issues , but you have got on top of them. Steroids, although can help a great deal, but long term usage brings its own set of problems, not least raising your blood sugars.

 

[Pipp]

Hi @Mr Happy 100

I guess folks were out enjoying the weekend when you posted.

Where to start?
Welcome, and have a read of the info in my signature. This is recommended reading for new member.
Then come back and ask questions. Our members can help.

 

[Mr Happy 100]

Hi , firstly I must apologize for my initial comments and hope I have not offended any members.
I use exercise and food intake plus I am on Metformin SR.
I am currently in Portugal and sat in our lounge and the temperature is sat at 24 I don't feel particularly warm.

I have found the terminology for monitoring diabetes confusing or is it me.
I acquired a self test kit and was told by my diabetic nurse and utter waste of time.

Any advice would be welcome

 

[Lakeslover]

Is there anything we can do to help with the terminology?

As for your diabetic nurse many of us have been told the same. But the monitoring kit will tell you how you react to meals, and hence what foods to avoid. You do this by testing before you eat and two hours later to see how big the rise has been. Ideally you are looking for a difference of 2 or less.

The best comment I read is that having diabetes without testing is like driving a car without a speedometer.

 

[peterb999]

Hi Mr Happy 100,

Sorry we didn't say Hi for a while, but you are very welcome here.

As others have said, the DNs seem to not like recommending testing kits for Type 2. However, I was 110 in Jan 2023 and got down to about 56 in Jan 2025. I had joined this forum but not really spent the time reading much of it.

When I started reading, I got myself 2 glucose monitors (free trials) and this made a massive difference for me. I could see exactly what spiked my blood sugar and therefore worked out what to avoid. The worst possible thing for me is potatoes (especially mashed) so I totally wiped them off my diet. Funnily, it turns out that beer/lager doesn't spike me at all but I don't drink a lot anyway.

I had a blood test last week and am now down to 33. I even got a phone call from the DN who congratulated me and asked me just exactly what I was doing to get it down that far. I mentioned this forum and the CGMs and how much the information on the forum had really helped.

 

[grantg]

I have found the terminology for monitoring diabetes confusing or is it me.
I acquired a self test kit
Any advice would be welcome

check if device is measuring in mmol/L or mg/dL. difference in mmol/L should be as @Lakeslover said under 2mmol/L difference at around 2 hour mark. if its set up with mg/dL there is a handy converter available at: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-sugar-converter.html (under approx 36mg/dL difference would be looking for)

Sorry to hear that your DSN thought that BG monitor is a waste of time. Imo they are one of the handiest tools available

18 months ago I could hardly get out of bed and I am nearly off the steroids and can walk over 10000 steps per day.

seems like your doing great with exercise front which will help overall glucose control. Glad your up and about now well done

 

[Jaylee]

Hi , firstly I must apologize for my initial comments and hope I have not offended any members.
I use exercise and food intake plus I am on Metformin SR.
I am currently in Portugal and sat in our lounge and the temperature is sat at 24 I don't feel particularly warm.

I have found the terminology for monitoring diabetes confusing or is it me.
I acquired a self test kit and was told by my diabetic nurse and utter waste of time.

Any advice would be welcome

Hi @Mr Happy 100 ,

Welcome to the forum.

If anything stands out in a reply using acronym or any alien term. Feel free to clarify.
It’s great you use a BG meter.
I’m T1 & also use a sensor. In my experience, they can react like I have a subversive tattoo when they see it? & glaze over like I’m talking about some cult following TV program.

No question is too silly on this corner of the internet.
The smart people ask when terminology escapes.

Best wishes…

 

[EllieM]

I have found the terminology for monitoring diabetes confusing or is it me.

One of the confusing things is that there are two systems for measuring hba1c (mmol/mol and %) and two for measuring blood glucose (mmol/L in the UK and eg Australia and mg/dL in the US and eg Portugal).

So if you are in Portugal they'll be measuring your bg in mg/dL and you have to divide by 18 to get the measurement you'd have in the UK.

 

[lovinglife]

This is a conversion chart for mmol/L to mg/dL if that helps (Edited as chart posted twice)

 

[Mr Happy 100]

One of the confusing things is that there are two systems for measuring hba1c (mmol/mol and %) and two for measuring blood glucose (mmol/L in the UK and eg Australia and mg/dL in the US and eg Portugal).

So if you are in Portugal they'll be measuring your bg in mg/dL and you have to divide by 18 to get the measurement you'd have in the UK.

Hi , thanks for your reply.

My doctors surgery use the NHS app to forward test results : 9 months I had my blood tested and the only result that caused "me" concern was the diabetes result " out of control "

Recently I had another bloods tests and again the only result that returned again was my diabetic result this time poor but getting close to the band up ( improvement ).Really pleased with that result.

That's when I pulled my finger out when alcohol stopped passing my lips , no cakes with coffee and a real severe talking to regarding food intake.

Exercise was not a problem.

I have not smoked for 40 years.

How much help did I receive from my doctor's surgery , very little.