Am I in control?

[Janine]

Hello I wonder if anyone can tell me if I am doing things correctly. Diagnosed type 2 last January, fortunately found you people a week or so ago. I am diet controlled.
I bought myself a meter on amazon Codefree with accessories for ?13.00 and lances ?5.00 for 100 strips ?6.00 for 50.
It seems to work well but I need to establish if my levels are ok.
When I wake up in the morning an average of 6.4
2 hours after breakfast is around 9.00
before lunch approx 5.2
2 hours after lunch around 6.3
before evening meal 5.00
2 hours after evening meal about 9.00
bedtime about 6.5
Does this sound as if I am controlling it well?
Thank you

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly Janine.

DUK and the NHS recommend less than 8.5 at 2 hours after a meal for T2s, but that's nothing to beat yourself up about at this stage 🙂

You might also like to experiment with some tests at around 1 hour after eating as some T2s seem to find around the first hour can give their high point/peak reading.

Keep doing what you are doing and your GP should be very pleased 🙂

 

[Janine]

Thank you everydayupsandowns for your help
I will do that 🙂

 

[Vicsetter]

Looks brilliant, good work, maybe try and reduce your evening meal to bring that 9 down a bit, but nothing to be concerned about. Write down your figures and ask your GP for test strips as they seem to be helping you get control of your diabetes. Worth a try.

 

[Janine]

Thanks Vicsetter
I did ask for strips but was told it's not a good thing to test yourself
It wasn't until I found this site that I realised it may be beneficial to do so. I do feel happier that I can monitor it.
I am really dissapointed with the help I received at my surgery.
Thanks for your response 🙂 Ohhhh I loooove these little icons !!

 

[Northerner]

Thanks Vicsetter
I did ask for strips but was told it's not a good thing to test yourself
It wasn't until I found this site that I realised it may be beneficial to do so. I do feel happier that I can monitor it.
I am really dissapointed with the help I received at my surgery.
Thanks for your response Ohhhh I loooove these little icons !!

My heart sinks every time I read of a highly-motivated and capable person being told this, it is patently ridiculous and based purely on cost whatever they say - perhaps with a bit of laziness thrown in because it may mean helping you to interpret your results. Not all doctors and nurses are like this of course, but it is depressing to learn just how many of them are.

You've demonstrated very clearly how testing is helping you to maintain good control so there should be every encouragement for you to continue - you should not be expected to self-fund 😡

Don't give up on the idea of getting strips - have a read of Diabetes UK's position statement on self-monitoring and ask them to explain their reasons in full!

 

[Janine]

Thanks Northener I read the link but think I may be banging my head against a brick wall.
The last time I expressed a desire to self monitor I was told
"you will only receive 50 strips a year so it won't help you much"
Thats why I bought the equipment myself. I am grateful I can pick up information etc from this forum and I am happy I found you people🙂
Thank you for your help🙂

 

[trophywench]

Well done Janine.

You know when you go to the docs to see him or the nurse and they say your results are blah blah, especially if they are good results I'm afraid I'd just reply, 'With no help whatsoever from you of course' and keep on saying that as often as I could get it in ...... LOL

 

[jalapino]

I agree with northerner on this one, i have seen my diabetes nurse 2 times now, and from my last blood test which was 10 and she said i need to monitor my blood for my self and gave me a glucose meter with 50 strips and to go back in 2 weeks with a program sheet she has given me to see how my bloods are doing, also she has told me i will get free prescriptions from now on,she has been very helpful and more nurses and gp's should fall in line with this caring attitude, i would go back and ask why you cannot get the same care. 😡very frustrating😡

 

[robofski]

It really sounds like good Diabetes care is like a lottery! I suggest everyone moves to Nottingham, my DSN has been wonderful, very supportive and I would say going above and beyond to help me. I travel a lot and have only managed to see her twice since I started on Insulin but she has called me in the evening to catch up, provided me her private email address so I can email her my log book and been at the end of the phone even on her days off.

Last time I saw her I mentioned frequency of testing and her reply to me was "If you want to manage your diabetes properly, you have to test frequently" she then gave me a script for another 100 strips. Reading the trouble people have getting test strips I feel like I've won the lottery 🙂

 

[trophywench]

On insulin, you should get a script for whatever amount of strips you need.

My average is currently 6 a day, but then I haven't done any basal testing for a couple of months, neither have I been ill or anything else really strange.

Sometimes it can be far higher than that, but I can't even get 200 on repeat. 150 and just keep ordering em every 3 weeks or so. Never refused to provide a scrip - but IMHO we should get an average months worth on automatic repeat, with a facilty to order more as and when.

 

[Janine]

Thank you all for your responses.
looks like it is a lottery..... i am so glad I came across you people. I have learnt so much from reading your posts and asking questions etc.

Thank you again I feel that I am not struggling alone now.🙂