Advice on testing strips please!

[Vicsetter]

[QUOTE Yes, you can only use a strip once

Just gave me an idea!!! 😱

Why do they not invent some sort of strip that could be reused?..rather than the strip taking blood to read which then obviously is no good afterwards...but some sort of strip that can be reused in a manner that it does not need to actually take the blood to read?...or am I talking pooo!!!??.....lol...nice thought either way!! 🙄

You are indeed talking poo. The strip works by a chemical reaction and so once used the chemical is all used up.
What is needed is a trained imp that licks the blood and tells you what the reading is - come on Mr Pratchet why didn't you think of that one

 

[Northerner]

You are indeed talking poo. The strip works by a chemical reaction and so once used the chemical is all used up.
What is needed is a trained imp that licks the blood and tells you what the reading is - come on Mr Pratchet why didn't you think of that one

Work for the million out of work under 24s? 😱 😉

 

[jalapino]

You are indeed talking poo. The strip works by a chemical reaction and so once used the chemical is all used up.
What is needed is a trained imp that licks the blood and tells you what the reading is - come on Mr Pratchet why didn't you think of that one

Ermmm....im sure I said once the strip is used it is no good? 🙄

I no for a fact there is some device that does take your bg level without strips or a blood sample but it costs apx ?1000...a little out of my budget that's for sure!!....either way my point is a strip... a knife what ever!!! would be nice to have something that would take blood levels that could be re-used......understand?? 😎

 

[Vicsetter]

You're probably thinking of a Continuous Glucose Monitor where a probe is inserted under the skin - they work for about a week (no idea of costs). I think someone was experimenting with some kind of laser/optical device but they had problems with accuracy.

 

[PattiEvans]

When I was at the INPUT event I spoke with the regional director of Spirit Healthcare (they make the CaresensN as well as two other meters one of which is talking meter for sight impaired peeps) who said they would give any T2 a free meter. I recommended it to someone and he said they had given him fantastic service. He'd run out of strips for a meter of a different make, but rang the Caresens people and bought 100 strips. They not only gave him a free meter but had the order sent by express delivery as he was going on holiday in 2 days time. Their strips are ?12.75 per 50. Just a thought.

 

[happydog]

We can have our dreams about easier testing, can't we? Back to the finger pricking I use the Microlet lancers from Bayer. I am not a fan of needles but have got on quite well with these and have learnt lots about how to do it here. I am fairly cool about it now. I know I am a coward and am really scared about when the injecting time comes as my doctor assures me it will.

 

[Northerner]

We can have our dreams about easier testing, can't we? Back to the finger pricking I use the Microlet lancers from Bayer. I am not a fan of needles but have got on quite well with these and have learnt lots about how to do it here. I am fairly cool about it now. I know I am a coward and am really scared about when the injecting time comes as my doctor assures me it will.

Cheery soul, your doctor - it's not Fraser from Dad's Army is it? 😱 😉

 

[happydog]

LOL. He certainly has that attitude as do all the staff at the surgery. The DN is even worse. I try to keep away from them as much as possible, but I still find their negative attitude gets to me at times, so thank goodness for lovely people like you Alan. 🙂

 

[Pine Marten]

I thought I'd update this, saying thanks for the info. I decided on a SD Codefree meter in the end, and although couldn't get the hang of how much much blood to test at first (I got a few 'error' messages) I think I've got there!

It was 7.0 before breakfast this morning (porridge) and after 2 hours was 5.5. I didn't test around lunch but did test before a half hour workout just now. It was 6.4 before, and 8.2 after working out. Does that all sound right? Does it go up after exercise? Sorry to be dense....

Forgot to say I've had an irritating cough since last week and am only starting to feel better - does that make a difference?

 

[Northerner]

I thought I'd update this, saying thanks for the info. I decided on a SD Codefree meter in the end, and although couldn't get the hang of how much much blood to test at first (I got a few 'error' messages) I think I've got there!

It was 7.0 before breakfast this morning (porridge) and after 2 hours was 5.5. I didn't test around lunch but did test before a half hour workout just now. It was 6.4 before, and 8.2 after working out. Does that all sound right? Does it go up after exercise? Sorry to be dense....

Forgot to say I've had an irritating cough since last week and am only starting to feel better - does that make a difference?

Sounds good - that's a good reading after your breakfast. Depending on what exercise you are doing, it can raise your levels as your liver puts out extra glucose to 'refill' the glycogen stores in your muscles. Adrenalin/stress hormones can also have the effect of raising levels due to the old 'fight or flight' reaction - again, it stimulates the liver to release more glucose. These should only be temporary effects though, as exercise will help to make you more insulin-sensitive as well as using up glucose in the blood. The glucose lowering effects would normally continue to have an effect for several hours afterwards 🙂

An infection would usually affect your levels as it can make you more insulin-resistant.

 

[Pine Marten]

Ah! thanks, Northerner, I understand now. I've not been doing much exercise while not feeling well, and also my stepdaughter & her family stayed with us during half term, so that also meant I wasn't able to do much. I certainly feel better for working out, and I'm still losing weight though more slowly than at first.

Thanks for all the support here, it's a great help 🙂

 

[AlisonM]

I'm glad you got the hang of it in the end. It's a very worthwhile exercise and I don't doubt you'll find it very helpful. Given the holiday and your illness, I'd say those numbers are excellent.