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Carbohydrates!!

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Rivki061

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I am clearer on some things but there is one thing that still confuses me and that is how many grams of carbs per 100g of the actual product is too high?
I once heard that if something has more than 20g of carbs per 100g that is too much but so many foods seem to exceed that.

Please could someone tell me what the recommended rate is.

Thank you.

Debbie
 
Hi Debbie, I'm afraid it's not quite as simple as that, you have to look at the type of carbohydrate and the size of the serving. For example if you look at some of the non-sugar sweeteners they are very high in carbohydrate but it is all non-digestible so doesn't affect blood sugars. It's very easy to say - crikey 50grams of carbs per 100 but if you only have 20 grams in a portion then it's only 10grams of carbs. Grapes are high in carbs but if you can restrict yourself to 5 or 6 it's not too bad. Which is why people do carb counting so you look at your meal and work out the amount of carbs in the meal and use that as a guide to either alter your medication (eg insulin) or reduce something in the meal to get it back to your target.
As has been stated elsewhere the addition of fat to a meal can change the effect and duration of BG rises from carbs. This is why you are advised to get a test meter and strips if you can, otherwise you are just stumbling around in the dark without knowing what foods affect you.

Sorry to ramble in response but it's the most difficult bit about diabetes.
 
You are not rambling Vicsetter what you say makes a lot of sense I just wish that my GP agreed with you that test strips are necessary.
I am going to see the GP tomorrow so I can try again to get the strips (I have the monitor already) if not I will buy them myself.
Do you think it is ok to get them from Amazon or should I stick to Boots?
 
You could try asking your GP for a prescription for 50 strips a month so you can check the effect certain foods have on your BG levels, that is what my wife gets with her Metformin controlled T2. If this fails then others are have been prescribed the Microdot which you can get from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-Gl...1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353269131&sr=8-2-fkmr0

the strips of ?6.49 for 50. If you order direct from them here:http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm
then you can get it VAT free by declaring yourself diabetic.
 
I asked the GP and was told that they don't give them for type 2's on tablet control.
I think I will have to go for the Microdot.

One more thing could you Vicsetter or anyone else recommend a good book that will explain about the Glycaemic Index and which foods are ok and which are best eaten only in moderation.

Thank you for all your help.

Debbie
 
I rather think it is to do with local funding LeeLee.

A few years ago I asked my GP for a cream for my daughters eczema and I was told that the only one given on prescription was aqueous but my niece in another area was given a different response.

So I rather think if I lived in a different area I might get the strips but in the meantime if I want them I guess I will have to buy them myself.
 
Ur welcome 🙂 the myfitnesspal app is actually quite good too, u can find just about anything on it and can adjust the portion size to suit yourself. Again its designed for dieting but i use that if i cant find something in my book 🙂
 
In terms of a meter and strips I can recommend the SD Codefree which on Amazon is VAT free for diabetics.
 
The book is very informative and hopefully if I stick to their advice as much as possible I will loose a few pounds too.
 
Rivki061 said:
Thank you hophead I will have a look at that;all be it against the advice of the doctor!
Click to expand...

Rivki, don't just be fobbed off by your doctor where strips are concerned! They cannot issue a blanket ban on prescribing them for people with diabetes - each case needs to be considered individually. If it will help with your diabetes control then it will save the NHS many times over in helping to reduce the much greater expense of treating possible complications that can develop from poor control.

Have a look at Diabetes UK's position statement on self-monitoring, and their Advocacy Pack
 
Northerner said:
Rivki, don't just be fobbed off by your doctor where strips are concerned! They cannot issue a blanket ban on prescribing them for people with diabetes - each case needs to be considered individually. If it will help with your diabetes control then it will save the NHS many times over in helping to reduce the much greater expense of treating possible complications that can develop from poor control.


I asked when I saw the GP on Monday and was told that they are not prescribed for type 2 diabetics who are not on insulin because there are some people who will use the strips but not bother making any dietary changes!
So they just don't provide them.

As it happens I am pretty well controlled,my levels were up a bit with my last test but are generally good.
Even so the GP decided to put me on Glicazide (80mg a day) I'm already on 2000mg of Metformin but still they won't give me the strips:confused:
Click to expand...
 
If you don't mind me saying that is a stupid thing for your GP to say 😡 "Some people don't bother making changes, so we're not going to help people who are motivated to make changes" - what utter nonsense! Grrr! I wish I could have 5 minutes with them! PCTs up and down the country are being hauled over the coals because of the dreadful state of their diabetes care, and many are beginning to realise that short-term savings are miniscule in comparison to the longer-term costs - to say nothing of how this can affect the quality of life of their patients! My own PCT are currently devising plans to provide better up front care that will not only benefit the patients, but actually cost less - or certainly no more - than the existing parlous situation.

Additionally, if you drive then I believe you have to be able to test if you are on gliclizide as it is a drug that can potentially cause hypos, so you should put this to the GP. Don't give up - your PCT really need to hear this as often as possible - write to your MP and the PCT - read the advocacy pack!!

Can you tell how I hate those stupid 'no need to test' arguments? 😱
 
I don't mind you saying that at all Northerner and I quite agree with you.
It would seem though that I am not going to get testing strips through them at least not without a fuss.l


As it happens I don't drive but the GP didn't ask about that which I think is rather remiss to be honest.

I get the impression that you are none too impressed with the 'no need to test argument' 😉

To be honest I'm not that impressed myself.
 
Well - you certainly DID get the right impression then - he ain't impressed and neither is anyone else on this forum and elsewhere who actually WANT to make dietary or other lifestyle changes instead of taking a pill and ignoring it.

Doctor was correct - there are indeed folk like that. But NOT you. And that is precisely when the NHS Guidelines say, Yes Dr Bloggs, you SHOULD prescribe strips.

Go on! - have a look at the link. And then do it! Do it just for fun to stir em up a bit - if nothing else. If nobody ever did it, they'd feel as pleased as punch and all be saying, 'We got away with it and saved all that dosh! - now - what else can we try that with .....'
 
I would love to have a look at the link but for some odd reason I can't get past the log in page on the main site!
 
try this

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_h...ks/Availability-of-blood-glucose-test-strips/

i totally agree re the test strips prob ...i am apparently allowed 100 a year 🙄 so when they wanted to change my meds i requested them ....fortunately another member had changed meters and sent me her un used supply so im ok for another 12 months . What the Gps need to understand that its very important to test esp when you are new to this lark to see whats going on .. good luck 🙂
 
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