free glucose meter

Insane_Drifter

Just been diagnosed diabetic, anyone know where i can get a free meter? please

blue_haddock

i got mine free from the doctors when i was diagnosed. I also had a free one come through from a place on diabetes.co.uk although it took several months to come.

DUTR

Insane_Drifter wrote: »

Just been diagnosed diabetic, anyone know where i can get a free meter? please

Out of intrest, what was your mmol reading? Seems Drs are putting 'everybody' as type 2 :eek:

pmduk

whether you are type 1 or 2 doesn't depend on the blood tests. more on the cause of the diabetes type 1 patients tend to be diagnosed earlier in life. Type 2 is a condition developing later in life (ie 30+). OP before bothering with a meter make sure your GP is happy to prescribe the test strips, many won't.

Insane_Drifter

one was 24.5 did another after fasting was 17

margaretclare

Where did your diagnosis come from - from your GP, from a hospital specialist in diabetes? Ask to be referred as a matter of urgency to a hospital consultant who specialises in diabetes.

In addition, ask your GP to refer you to a diabetic nurse practitioner. Outside the hospital, these are the people who are most up-to-date and with most ability to help and advise you. Being diagnosed diabetic is a life-changing event and there's a lot you need to know and to take on board from day one. The blood glucose readings you've stated are waaaay too high and must be brought under control urgently. Have a look at DiabetesUK's site: https://www.diabetes.org.uk

chewynut

As a type one, if your blood sugars have been running that high for a while, I'd ask after Ketone testing strips as well. They're very cheap so your doctor has no reason not to let you have a prescription for them.

Ketones is basically where the sugar in your blood turns to poison. You can get them when you're ill or if your sugars are really high.

As for the meters, I get mine free from the diabetic nurse at my local hospital but that might be because I'm type one.

margaretclare

chewynut wrote: »

As a type one, if your blood sugars have been running that high for a while, I'd ask after Ketone testing strips as well. They're very cheap so your doctor has no reason not to let you have a prescription for them.

Ketones is basically where the sugar in your blood turns to poison. You can get them when you're ill or if your sugars are really high.

As for the meters, I get mine free from the diabetic nurse at my local hospital but that might be because I'm type one.

No, whether Type 1 or Type 2, anyone can get a BG meter free either from the relevant hospital department or the diabetic nurse specialist. My DH, who was diagnosed Type 2 as far back as 1981, swears by the diabetic nurse specialist, all of them. He's had more help from them than from anybody.

Take this seriously. Bloke across the road from us was recently diagnosed - he must have been ignoring symptoms for ages, because he's just had his leg amputated.

chewynut

margaretclare wrote: »

No, whether Type 1 or Type 2, anyone can get a BG meter free either from the relevant hospital department or the diabetic nurse specialist. My DH, who was diagnosed Type 2 as far back as 1981, swears by the diabetic nurse specialist, all of them. He's had more help from them than from anybody.

I wasn't sure because I don't know anyone with type two.

The diabetic nurses at my local hospital are great compared to the doctors. I feel like I can actually ask any question of them and get an answer back without being judged. Whereas the doctor I see seems to be bemused by some of the questions I ask and rarely gives me an actual answer.

margaretclare

chewynut wrote: »

I wasn't sure because I don't know anyone with type two.

The diabetic nurses at my local hospital are great compared to the doctors. I feel like I can actually ask any question of them and get an answer back without being judged. Whereas the doctor I see seems to be bemused by some of the questions I ask and rarely gives me an actual answer.

Yes, this is true. The clue is in the word 'specialist'.

Some of the stuff that DH and I have heard doctors say passes belief. In particular, the argument about (a) whether he should give himself a set amount of insulin or (b) whether he should tailor it to his BG results before a meal. Most non-specialist doctors say (a), those who know what they're talking about say (b). He's usually had this argument when he was in hospital being treated for something different. I also had the argument when he was seriously ill and a doctor wanted to know, from me, 'what he takes'. I was told I should know, because he should be taking what he's prescribed. I said 'Well, I don't know - he tests and then gives himself what he thinks'. This argument can go on and on. I think he's done pretty well to avoid some horrible side-effects over 30 years - some people we know have been diagnosed much more recently, like the poor guy opposite us, and have had awful effects. Also, when DH has been in hospital he always has a tussle to keep hold of his own insulin, not to let it be taken away and be put into a fridge.

pmduk

Hospitals are well known for being useless with in-patients with diabetes. When I was last an in-patient they considered it more important to take a bg reading at a specified time rather than wait until I'd finish a meal. I'd be eating a meal with them sticking needles into my finger. Then they wondered why my my bg readings were so much higher than usual.