Diabetes advice

iglimpse

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

It might be worth getting yourself a blood glucose meter so that you can check your blood sugars yourself. I don't think that they give them OR prescribe the test strips to type 2's now and if that is true then you will have to buy one if you want to test.

A fairly inexpensive meter with low priced strips is the GlucoRX. The test strips are much cheaper at about half the price than the brand leaders.

I might be worth getting something to keep your Blood Sugars as low as you can until you can be seen by a professional to help keep things as close to normal as you can. However you should stop any that you are taking several days before you see the health professional so that when they test you, they get an accurate picture of how things are without assistance. You might be able to go back on them if you want to if the health professional agrees. If you have some blood test results showing that the herbs are helping then this might show some evidence of their effects.

Green Tea can improve BS levels, it does contain caffeine so do not overdo it.
http://www.all-about-beating-diabetes.com/green-tea-and-diabetes.html
Gymnema Sylvestre
http://www.all-about-beating-diabetes.com/gymnema-sylvestre-for-diabetes.html
Bitter Melon
http://www.all-about-beating-diabetes.com/bitter-melon-diabetes.html

:mad::mad::mad:Utterly ridiculous advice.

You really do not need to spend any money on this at all.

torbrex

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

It might be worth getting yourself a blood glucose meter so that you can check your blood sugars yourself. I don't think that they give them OR prescribe the test strips to type 2's now and if that is true then you will have to buy one if you want to test.

Wrong, wrong wrong

Once you are diagnosed as a diabetic, it is classed as a chronic illness and you are given a meter free of charge and the test strip plus the lancet refills are on prescription which are also free once you are classed as a chronic patient.

If you want to buy a meter it is worth checking with your local healthboard which one they issue as if you get the wrong one they might not let you have test strips for it on presctiption.

pmduk

torbrex wrote: »

Once you are diagnosed as a diabetic, it is classed as a chronic illness and you are given a meter free of charge and the test strip plus the lancet refills are on prescription which are also free once you are classed as a chronic patient.

Many areas will not prescribe T2 patients test strips for meters any longer on cost grounds justifying it on the basis few T2 patients are at risk of hypos. My GP prescribed them to me very reluctantly as I'm colour-blind and unable to read urine tests. Additionally i was at risk of hypos because of the medication I was on.

Free prescriptions are available, but only if you're being treated with medication to control blood glucose. You need to complete form FP95 and get an exemption, which lasts for 5 years

Mojisola

torbrex wrote: »

Wrong, wrong wrong

Once you are diagnosed as a diabetic, it is classed as a chronic illness and you are given a meter free of charge and the test strip plus the lancet refills are on prescription which are also free once you are classed as a chronic patient.

If you want to buy a meter it is worth checking with your local healthboard which one they issue as if you get the wrong one they might not let you have test strips for it on presctiption.

Our GPs haven't ever given out meters to newly-diagnosed Type 2s and they won't prescribe test strips for the meter I got for myself.

When I asked about it, I was told that patients get anxious about the BS levels if they are given a meter! By testing at home and adjusting my diet, I have stayed "diet controlled" for years.

By testing at home, I found that the NHS recommended diet for diabetics was sending my BS readings sky-high. Without a monitor, I'd have been on medication for years.

torbrex

pmduk wrote: »

Many areas will not prescribe T2 patients test strips for meters any longer on cost grounds justifying it on the basis few T2 patients are at risk of hypos. My GP prescribed them to me very reluctantly as I'm colour-blind and unable to read urine tests. Additionally i was at risk of hypos because of the medication I was on.

Free prescriptions are available, but only if you're being treated with medication to control blood glucose. You need to complete form FP95 and get an exemption, which lasts for 5 years

it must vary within different areas then as I and others that I know in different areas received test strips on prescription as soon as we asked for them.
I moved on to free presctiptions as soon as I started on medication to control my condition and when I moved on to insulin injections, I was told I could get a new meter anytime I needed it.
They have just recently standardised the system and issued every patient that needs one with the same meter so that the local health board can bulk buy strips and lancets.

Minrich

Meters are only useful while you get to understand whats good and bad for you as far as food is concerned . Mine is higher after eating some carb and rich foods . I haven't used it for about 5 years now .

sweaty_betty

Unfortunately it's well known in the diabetes community that there is a huge difference in willingness to prescribe test strips for use by people with type 2.

• Some places (luckily mine) are happy to prescribe exactly the type I want (I struggle to use some blood glucose meters) in whatever quantities I want, because they encourage me to play an active role in monitoring my diabetes.
• Some will only prescribe certain makes of test strips, due to cost.
• Some will not prescribe test strips at all.

I know there's lots of talk on the diabetes.co.uk website about encouraging people with type 2 to use monitors and play an active role in their diabetes management by finding out what makes their blood sugar rocket and manage their diet accordingly.

OP - I hope that your diabetes nurse is helpful and supportive of you using a blood glucose monitor (and GP will prescribe test strips). I would explain that you want to be informed and make the right decisions about what you eat and this is a way you can do this.

In my experience some foods also lower blood sugar (in my case, red wine :j) and it's also good to know this.

pmduk

Alcohol helps lower my levels as well. Unfortunately my GP won't prescribe it. rotten beggar