Testing blood sugar levels

[G.Coldron]

I test my sugar levels my pricking my fingers with lancets and strips which are free on prescription. I have seen alternative ways of testing ( without finger pricking) on social media but am unsure of the validity of these.

Is it possible to have one of those devices that are fixed on your arm and the readings are shown on your smart phone or is that only for type 1 ?
Thanks.

 

[Leadinglights]

I test my sugar levels my pricking my fingers with lancets and strips which are free on prescription. I have seen alternative ways of testing ( without finger pricking) on social media but am unsure of the validity of these.

Is it possible to have one of those devices that are fixed on your arm and the readings are shown on your smart phone or is that only for type 1 ?
Thanks.

You are lucky to get those on prescription and would be unlikely to get a CGM so would need to self fund, about £45 for 2 weeks ish.
The other devices you read about DO NOT WORK and are scams. There are some threads where people have fallen for it.

 

[G.Coldron]

You are lucky to get those on prescription and would be unlikely to get a CGM so would need to self fund, about £45 for 2 weeks ish.
The other devices you read about DO NOT WORK and are scams. There are some threads where people have fallen for it.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I get my testing kits on prescription because of my age. I have been testing since last November with no problems as it's part of my routine but was wondering whether there were other options.

 

[Jodee]

I also get prescribed the strips and lancets, I have thought about an alternative as I do have probs at times with non puffy finger pads which means the prick hurts, actually still uncomfortable when puffy (probably because I have thin skin) I have on low needle penetration as well.

Currently I am focussing on getting fingers more puffy and more prickable, this I am doing with electrolytes in my drinking water and also collagen powder supplement.

I think on the ZOE website they may have details about your query that might be worth checking out. That is Tim Spector on ZOE, there are you tube videos as well, all of which I find really informative.

I like the ZOE information (I forgot to include that in the survey I just did)

Diabetes — ZOE

Learn more about the relationship between blood sugar responses to food and diabetes.

zoe.com

 

[G.Coldron]

I also get prescribed the strips and lancets, I have thought about an alternative as I do have probs at times with non puffy finger pads which means the prick hurts, actually still uncomfortable when puffy (probably because I have thin skin) I have on low needle penetration as well.

Currently I am focussing on getting fingers more puffy and more prickable, this I am doing with electrolytes in my drinking water and also collagen powder supplement.

I think on the ZOE website they may have details about your query that might be worth checking out. That is Tim Spector on ZOE, there are you tube videos as well, all of which I find really informative.

I like the ZOE information (I forgot to include that in the survey I just did)

Diabetes — ZOE

Learn more about the relationship between blood sugar responses to food and diabetes.

zoe.com

 

[G.Coldron]

Many thanks for your message - really appreciated.

 

[silver minion]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I get my testing kits on prescription because of my age. I have been testing since last November with no problems as it's part of my routine but was wondering whether there were other options.

I am almost the same age as you but our GP only prescribes BG meters and testing strips if you are taking Gliclazide or similar medication that could cause hypos. It is good that you find regular testing helps you manage your diabetes.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Is it possible to have one of those devices that are fixed on your arm and the readings are shown on your smart phone or is that only for type 1 ?

If you are talking about Freestyle Libre 2+ or Dexcom One +, those can be made available to people with T2 on insulin who have been advised by their Dr that need to check their BG levels frequently (eg those on Multiple Daily Injections, or at risk of unpredictable hypoglycaemia).

There is information about which people with T2 may be able to access continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) here:

Recommendations | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

(Scroll down to the relevant section).

 

[helli]

If you want to try out a CGM, both Libre 2+ and Dexcom One offer a free trial from their website.
Although I now get a CGM on prescription, when Libre was first released, this was not the case so I self-funded. Yes, £45 is expensive but do you need a continuous glucose reading all the time? It is important to ask yourself what you are doing with the information.
For example, if you are using finger pricks to test your reaction to different foods, once you have worked out a suitable diet, do you need to keep testing it?
With this in mind, some people use a CGM like Libre for 2 weeks and then use what they learned in that time for the next month without a CGM. Then 4 weeks later, take a new CGM to learn (and check) further.
Unless you are expecting hypos, a CGM is not needed all the time.