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Which meter, prediabetes

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teebelle

Newbie
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3
Type of diabetes
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Sorry, this is probably a really obvious question: my dad has prediabetes and I wanted to get him a glucose meter to help with his diet. Can anyone recommend a cheap/simple one? Will this help him learn what foods to eat?
Thank you
 
Hi and welcome,

Yes, a meter will help your dad learn which foods he reacts to providing he uses it properly. Meters themselves aren't very expensive, and you only need one. It is the cost of the test strips you have to look out for as these vary from about £7.50 to £30 for 50 strips. The popular cheap ones on this forum are the Codefree and the Tee2. The Codefree has generous discount codes for bulk buying the strips. The Tee2 meter is free.

Try here for the Codefree meter
http://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/

and here for the extra strips
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/sd-codefree-test-strips-to-be-used-only-with-the-sd-monitor/

Pharmacies don't sell them. These are the discount codes:

5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833


The Tee2 is here

http://spirit-healthcare.co.uk/product/tee2-blood-glucose-meter/
 
Hi @teebelle and welcome to the forum. I use the TEE2 which you can get free, and the test strips are cheaper than other meters at £7.99 for 50. I find it is quite accurate.
A meter will help your dad to learn which foods raise his blood sugars. He need to test before eating. then 1 hour after eating, and again 2 hours after eating. This will show him which foods spike his blood sugar levels.
 
+1 for the TEE2. I have both the above meters, they are very similar but the TEE2 needs a smaller blood sample.
 
Thank you so much for your advice, that's so helpful.

Does it hurt to test and do you mind doing it? I don't want to give my dad something horrible to do, though I think it will be worth it in the long run.
 
teebelle said:
Thank you so much for your advice, that's so helpful.

Does it hurt to test and do you mind doing it? I don't want to give my dad something horrible to do, though I think it will be worth it in the long run.
Click to expand...

It hurts a tiny bit, but nothing significant and is over with in a nano second. It isn't horrible. If it were I wouldn't be doing it! It becomes part of every day life very quickly. It definitely is worth it, otherwise your father will be working blind and have no idea if he is on the right track or otherwise..
 
Very small prick.. not really painful and certainly not as bad as having blood drawn for a blood test.
And the benefits certainly outweigh the mild discomfort..
 
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