Low-carb diets support thread

Mercy

mazzers wrote: »

Bossymoo have a pervy group hug :grouphug: and a kiss :kisses3:

Sheila i'm not doing much atm, just eating when i can get a break as work is mad, my feet (under my heels) are killing me and i'm worn out

My son has also moved out and although it's peaceful here now, it's a but too quiet until i get used to it.

Same here, my cat wasn't my son but he was noisy

Just seeing how it goes and I can say quieter ain't all that bad

MX

SHEILA54

Many sad people here tonight. Love and kisses to you all because YOU ARE SPECIAL :kisses:

Mercy

SHEILA54 wrote: »

Many sad people here tonight. Love and kisses to you all because YOU ARE SPECIAL :kisses:

And love n kisses to you mama LC cool lady :j:beer::T:A

Love you muchly

Sorry I'm a grump - will sort that out soon :D

Big love to all lowcarbers wherever you are and in whatever emotional states you find yourselfs in :beer:

Mines still flakey but I'm getting there

Lurve you sheila - your some brick n a half

MXXXXXXXX

Edwardia

Mercy, how many glasses of Chablis have you had but thank you xxx I'm all embarrassed here. Never thought of myself as a dragon slayer lol.

daska - unless you have diabetes controlled with insulin or a sulfonylurea, your chances of getting test strips out of your GP are about zero.Insulin and sulfonylureas can lower BG enough to give hypos whereas other oral meds won't AFAIK.

Edwardia

For anyone reading who knows zilch about testing or to fill in gaps hopefully this will help

NICE has told PCTs (where they still exist) not to impose blanket bans on BG testing strips. I don't know how much practices have to pay for them but a box of the strips I use retails at 6.99 in Boots. There is research to show that for the majority of diabetes patients, BG testing is not particularly good as a reinforcement to take meds/make lifestyle changes so on a value for money basis GPs aren't that happy at giving them out. Unless you're a Type 1 or Type 2 on insulin or meds which can cause hypos they won't usually proscribe them.

If you're lucky you can get a free BG meter from surgery but otherwise you buy and can claim VAT back via the pharma company. They supply the meter batteries and the control solutions (which check that the meter/strip combo is working) free of charge and the strips come on prescription.

People with diabetes T1 or T2 on meds should be able to get a free NHS Prescription Exemption certificate - ask at your surgery. This then means all your personal prescriptions are free. The certificate is renewable every 5 yrs. NB it is fraud to let anyone else use it.

Meters often come in kits with multi lancet drum finger prickers. In my experience these are more vicious than the single use lancets used in hospitals. They are less hygienic also, as if you forget to move the drum on, not only are you stabbing yourself with a blunt lancet, it's also covered with dried old blood that has been hanging around since you last stabbed yourself. I can't remember whether the drums have to go on prescription as I use a box of disposable lancets which are.

A nurse told me that if I made a steeple with my hands, I shouldn't finger stab where the fingertips touch, to avoid nerve damage. In practice, it's difficult to avoid this though as the blood doesn't flow as easily further down as it does from the tip. If used frequently the fingers do become sore and you can end up with tiny bruises too.

So why use them ? For people with Type 1 diabetes who don't have insulin pumps, it helps judge how many units of insulin to inject. For Type 2s they are useful when first diagnosed so that you can see how various foods affect you, and how well your drugs are working.

It also lets you build up a picture of your BG behaviour - for example mine goes up in the morning before my Metformin but once that kicks in I have normal BG like someone without diabetes unless ill or stressed or I eat something higher in carbs than the food label suggests.

For low carbers, strips may be useful to build up a picture of the way foods affect your BG but not really necessary. The lancets do hurt - getting diabetes will cure anyone of being squeamish about blood - so if you don't need to test I'd suggest you don't bother

Phew.. hope that was a tad useful

Edwardia

Before I zonk.. I logged on originally to say that Poundland and 99p Stores have cheap offers on herb seeds at the moment and these are good for salads/cooking.

To propagate them, you don't need anything fancy. If you can find a dark plastic food tray (eg from meat or mushrooms or veg or burgers) and then a clear one you can invert as a lid, you're there. Stick compost in, damp it, sow seeds, stick lid on and they will start growing in about three days.

mazzers

Edwardia, not sure what strips you use but the ones i buy are £25 for 50 :eek: as are a lot of others.

Never seen them that cheap.

My lancet doesn't hurt much at all tho.

bossymoo

Edwardia, would you believe I'm growing spuds in my garden lol? Just for fun. We did it last year and I never had any. I'll let the tots have some though, and give the rest away...

Well I have lost 3.5lb in 4 days, of the 4 I gained on hol, so am very pleased. Looking forward to tomorrow when I can add a little veg into the plan. Have two caulis in the fridge waiting to be mashed.

Might plan a mixed grill for tonight to celebrate, and I made up some sf jelly mixed with yoghurt last night, yum.

Need to do a bit of a shop...

SHEILA54

Mercy - thanks. Brick is probably right as I am a bit solid
Have a good holiday :beer:

daska - lucky for me that I am not diabetic but I might try cutting out avocado next week if I don't lose to see if it helps. Ketones ++ again.

mazzers - do you have to wear heels? Always hard when children leave the fold. We've been Mums for so long that we have to re-identify our existence but I promise that they will still need us. Mine are in their 30's and still do

Edwardia - blinding me with science again but I am learning a lot Hope you are feeling better today. I am growing strawberries for a change as I grew potatoes last year and then couldn't eat them. Also have pots of mixed items as they blew over in the wind and all fell out. Think they are cauliflowers and sprouts as the others didn't germinate.

If you are looking for herbs Aldi has pots of 6 different for £2.99, started yesterday, + geraniums 4 for £1.99.

bossymoo - did you sleep ok? You have been so positive and we are behind you x Well done on losing the weight!

jm2926

Sorry, I lost track of who said what. Thank you for the tips on the 90% chocolate and nuts, greatly excited and will definitely try that in the next phase.

Thanks for the links and tips, off to read about baking and avacados.