who monitors me

Yes that's normal, not to be 'allowed' to monitor your own blood sugar. Lots of people just ignore the doctor and go and buy a blood test meter. I'd have thought it's a big encouragement to improve your blood sugar levels, if you can see how bad they are, but the NHS seems not to agree!

Ah but if you were to monitor your own levels you may find the diet they (probably) gave you of starch sandwiches and toast doesn't work too well

potty said:

hi there i was found to have type2 in february and the doctor put me on 500mg metformin one in the morning. i asked her about monitoring myself and she said not to cuz i might worry myself.
i`ve seen the nurse once for a fasting bloods and told to come back in a months time. as a new-be to all this it seems very strange not to be monitored more regularly. could someone tell me if this is normal practise.
i am monitoring myself and my bloods consistently read in the high teens.
Douglas :?

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You're very wise to monitor yourself. Those results indicate that whatever you are doing to control your diabetes isn't working. Take them to the Dr, not the nurse. Ask the Dr to give you the blood test printout - its your blood & your health. Ask specifically about the HbA1c figure - its a measure of the glucose in your blood averaged over 2-3 months. Should be below 6, but "they" will be happy if its below 7.

Does your Dr prescribe test strips? Ask for a repeat prescription - some have had trouble getting prescriptions, but I never have. See the Dr, NOT that nurse*.

Have you been advised to go on a diabetes training course? You have a lifelong condition that needs monitoring if you are to live a normal healthy life without complications.

You are likely to be advised to "EAT STARCHY FOODS AT EACH MEAL .... help to maintain blood sugar levels." (Quote from the NHS/DUK booklet "Healthy Eating for Diabetes.") That advice is dangerously wrong. All starches metabolise to glucose & raise the blood sugar. Keep your starches (aka carbs) to a minimum. Increase veg & proteins & cut potatoes, rice, pasta & b'fast cereals.

The minimum testing schedule should be overnight fasting (4-6) & 2 hours after the mail meal (4-7.) Additional testing before meals & 1 hour after meals & at bed time. Non-diabetic levels are 3.5 - 5.5.

*I try to help a blind friend who is T2 diabetic, & is monitored daily by nurses who administer a daily injection of insulin. Her fasting BS is occasionally below 10, & after cereal b'fast is often in high teens. They only worry when its above 20. They tell her off if I measure her BS & write it in the logbook.