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Monitor

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Murffy

Murffy

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi folks,
looking for a bit advice. I am t2 non medicating and in good control / stable for 4 years since diagnosis. A couple of times when working in my garden I have felt a bit light headed and needed to sit down for a few minutes. Not sure if I am just overdoing things or if it is related to my diabetes, therefore I am looking to buy a monitor to check my blood sugars now and then and especially when something like this happens. Which machines would you recommend ? So many out there that I would like to get one that is reliable and accurate.
Thanks,
Dave.
 
I use the Kinetic one. It's produced in association with St John's Ambulance and I got it from Asda Pharmacy. Also, remember your GP is open and available, might be an idea to call them and ask their advice.
 
But, Lizzy - Murffy is going to have to pay for it himself and moreover also the testing strips! whereas neither you or I need to do that as the NHS happily supply us with both and have done so since approx. 1980 something - so it's important to source a reliable one that you can fairly easily get enough of the strips for.

To this end @Murffy , other members here in your position (and lots of T2s on medication but not on eg Gliclazide known to have hypo effects so meters and strips are not prescribed) have found the SD Gluco Navii fairly good on all points. It's only available via Amazon and very soon someone else will post a link to it.
 
Sorry I read this as a blood pressure rather than blood sugar monitor!
 
Thanks very much ladies, yes I will have to fund the monitor and strips myself but that’s ok, I just want to be able to keep an eye on things myself even though I have no history of blood sugar related problems to date. I will have a look on Amazon for the SD Gluco Navii.
Thanks again and stay safe,
Dave.
 
Thanks Ljc,
I found it earlier, going to try contacting my diabetes nurse to see which unit they recommend before I buy one. As I have an HGV licence, it would be handy to be able to record my results just in case my circumstances change.
 
Murffy said:
Thanks Ljc,
I found it earlier, going to try contacting my diabetes nurse to see which unit they recommend before I buy one. As I have an HGV licence, it would be handy to be able to record my results just in case my circumstances change.
Click to expand...
I agree with Jenny.

Sadly many D nurses and Drs say self testing for us with T2 isn’t necessary, unless we’re on meds that can cause hypo’s (low blood glucose) some go as far to say it will only make you worry or it hurts .
I think it’s more to do with the cost if they have to prescribe them.

Even folks without diabetes can have hypo’s , so self testing would help you find out if your symptoms are due to hypo’s or not .
But really you do need to let your gp know what is happening to you .
 
Just to reiterate about what has been said about medics and the need not to test, I have just had the strips removed from my repeats, as I am no longer on hypo inducing medication.
 
grovesy said:
Just to reiterate about what has been said about medics and the need not to test, I have just had the strips removed from my repeats, as I am no longer on hypo inducing medication.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about the strips being removed.
 
Hope you get in well with a monitor and it provides useful information to help you manage your diabetes @Murffy

Feel free to pick the cumulative brains of the forum if you get any surprising or confusing results. 🙂
 
Ljc said:
Sorry to hear about the strips being removed.
Click to expand...
I have been expecting for a while, never got enough prescribed even when I was on Gliclazide.I am fortunate I also self funded some myself . At the moment I am using Libre.
 
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Ok folks,
spoke to my nurse and she said they had a load of meters in the surgery and that I could have one no problem. I am now the owner of a Contour (black/silver “Black Edition “ ) meter. Even better it is suitable for DVSA legislation for my HGV. I will take occasional tests to keep an eye on things until my next review. I have also purchased a BP monitor on the nurses advice as she reckons my original light headedness was more likely to be related to that instead of my sugar levels.
Thanks for all the advice and stay safe everyone,
Dave.
 
Glad to hear it @Murffy

Hope the new gadgets help. 🙂
 
I don't know about HGV licences, so excuse me, but are 'occasional random' home blood tests sufficient for DVSA purposes for non medicated T2s?
 
trophywench said:
I don't know about HGV licences, so excuse me, but are 'occasional random' home blood tests sufficient for DVSA purposes for non medicated T2s?
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Not exactly sure to be honest but at least by doing some self checks I can get an idea of what does or doesn’t affect me personally. Also anytime I feel a bit “off colour” for whatever reason , I can do a test and at least get an indication of any poss problems. Hopefully in the long term I will manage to keep things under control as I have been up to now and no medication will be required. DVSA were notified of my T2 the day after I was diagnosed and I was told by them that it wasn’t necessary as I wasn’t on medication nor had I had any issues. I just want to keep an eye on things myself as personally I feel that 6monthly reviews are a bit hit and miss.

Take care,
Dave.
 
Yeah, well I'm firmly in favour of you doing that - I was just curious about the licence issue, that's all!
 
trophywench said:
Yeah, well I'm firmly in favour of you doing that - I was just curious about the licence issue, that's all!
Click to expand...

Thanks Jenny,
as diabetes affects us all in very different ways and our bodies are all different to begin with , it just makes sense to try to understand how it affects me in my situation. Hints and tips from people like yourself and others on the forum are invaluable to fellow sufferers and help to build a bigger picture in the control of diabetes.
Dave.
 
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