Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

Onebrokelady

Hi Hairy,a couple of years ago gps were getting bonus payment for every patient they diagnosed as pre diabetic,I'm not sure if that's not still happening but something to keep in mind,a blood test for diabetes is worthless if you haven't fasted before the test,so if your go doesn't suggest it ask for a fasting blood test as this will give you a more accurate result

I was diagnosed as prediabetic a couple of years ago,I then went into hospital for an small op and the sister who put my cannula in told me about the gp payments,she also did a blood test because I had fasted for the op and my blood sugars were normal

[Deleted User]

Onebrokelady wrote: »

Hi Hairy,a couple of years ago gps were getting bonus payment for every patient they diagnosed as pre diabetic,I'm not sure if that's not still happening but something to keep in mind,a blood test for diabetes is worthless if you haven't fasted before the test,so if your go doesn't suggest it ask for a fasting blood test as this will give you a more accurate result

I was diagnosed as prediabetic a couple of years ago,I then went into hospital for an small op and the sister who put my cannula in told me about the gp payments,she also did a blood test because I had fasted for the op and my blood sugars were normal

My DH has to have frequent blood tests for a thyroid imbalance that they just can't seem to stabilise:(. he has always fasted before them but the last couple of times the phlebotomist told him not to bother as research had shown that it made very little if any difference. Personally, I can't see how that can be true but I'm just throwing it in here as a comment. DH still fasts before his tests anyway regardless of what he's been recently advised;). It's for testing his thyroid function, although they check everything else at the same time(3 phials each time) and at his regular GP consultations he's been told he definitely isn't diabetic or even pre diabetic so all the results are obviously available.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you all . There's a lot of useful info there . DH has diabetes and has a blood sugar testing kit. He tested my blood sugar yesterday one hour after I had eaten a banana and a slice of bread with margerine on. My blood sugar was 11. This morning we did a fasting blood test and my blood sugar was 5.4 which is normal.

My sister said she has always had sugar in her urine but her glucose tolerance tests are normal. My stepdad seemed to think that my other sister used to have sugar in her urine too.

Anyway I'll try and cut down on brown sauce, baked beans and sauces in jars and see if that has any effect. Also I do eat quite a lot of baked potatoes so I'm going to try and eat mainly sweet potatoes. I always eat unsweetened porridge for breakfast. I never drink fruit juice or other sugary drinks, or yoghurt. I rarely eat cakes, sweets, chocolate, biscuits or puddings (once a month maybe). But the culprits could be potatoes, baked beans and brown sauce which I eat about four times a week.

HairyHandofDartmoor

This morning I met stepdad for coffee, then bought some skin care products that DS3 wanted and couldn't get hold of and some bits in Mr T. I just came home after that as I didn't feel like going around the charity shops. It was heavy rain before I left but has been sunshine and showers since then.

I put a wash on before I left and another one when I got back. I think I need to do a third one too as the two laundry baskets are both still full. I need to empty all the waste paper bins too as they are all full. Apart from that I'm not sure what I feel like doing. I may just read or watch telly as I feel tired.

I hope everyone is having a good Saturday .

HairyHandofDartmoor

There's a very interesting article here from the NHS on artificial sweeteners, so maybe I will give up my diet coke for a while and see if it makes a difference. It's not a particularly healthy drink and it will save money too.

https://www.nhs.uk/news/diabetes/do-artificial-sweeteners-raise-diabetes-risk/

greenbee

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Try to get hold of dr Michael Moseley blood sugar diet. Well worth a read and a try.

My brother is a GP who specialises in diabetes and recommends this - lots of his patients have reversed their T2 by following the guidelines. He has also used it himself to lose weight - and recommended it to me when I was having trouble managing my weight due to work travel (lack of control over diet and exercise and being tired making me eat poorly) and it's worked very well (I used the Fast 800 rather than BSD). My body fat % is down into healthy levels, I don't get hungry (even after exercising), or shaky and I'm eating stuff I know is actual food and not additives.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you Greenbee . DH has a copy of the Michael Mosley book funnily enough, because he is diabetic.

greenbee

Good to know it won't cost you anything Maybe you can use it to get you into the habit of cooking the right stuff. It'll probably increase your vegetable intake too

Onebrokelady

Finally_Solvent wrote: »

My DH has to have frequent blood tests for a thyroid imbalance that they just can't seem to stabilise:(. he has always fasted before them but the last couple of times the phlebotomist told him not to bother as research had shown that it made very little if any difference. Personally, I can't see how that can be true but I'm just throwing it in here as a comment. DH still fasts before his tests anyway regardless of what he's been recently advised;). It's for testing his thyroid function, although they check everything else at the same time(3 phials each time) and at his regular GP consultations he's been told he definitely isn't diabetic or even pre diabetic so all the results are obviously available.

It won't really matter if your fasted for thyroid tests but it doesn't make a big difference with tests for blood sugars,I am a phlebotomist as part of my role at work and we were trained to do fasting bloods if you want a really accurate result,you should also have more then one test if you aren't fasted as whatever you have eaten or drank beforehand can have an effect

I was diagnosed with pregnancy diabetes once after a nurse did a blood test on me after I had eaten half a packet of Jaffa cakes,they tested me again the next day before I ate anything and my bloods were fine

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you OBL . When DH did a fasting blood test on me this morning it was 5.4 which is normal I think. So hopefully the blood test the nurse did isn't too much to worry about.