Another Newbie... Hello Everyone

[Firestorm]

Hi, I was diagnosed a little while ago and tried to bury my head in the sand... Have been taking Metformin but my surgeries advice was not very helpful with regard to monitoring my blood sugar levels. So I didn't! Typical bloke!

I've decided I need to get to grips with this and sort my self out. Looking for advice and education. I will purchase the equipment needed, take more exercise and try to keep to a sensible diet.

 

[trophywench]

Hiya - you have your head sorted, which is actually the most important thing for all of us so great!

When self funding a meter, the two recommended by other folk in your position on here, are the Spirit Healthcare Tee 2 meter and the Gluco Navii meter - both only available, and the strips, online at the lowest cost. The meter lasts for years - but you get through strips at a rate of knots, especially to begin with.

Hence, we also recommend a good way to test in order to obtain the most help from the testing - have a read of this, please -

Test, Review, Adjust

Managing blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. Learning how to achieve long term control by testing and diet.

loraldiabetes.blogspot.com

 

[zuludog]

Hello FIRESTORM and welcome to the Forum
Sorry but this will be a brief message as I'm a bit tired

Don't buy anything yet till you've had some recommendations from other Forum Members
I have my meter provided by my GP as I inject insulin. It is a TEE2 which is straightforward to use, and i believe it is also one of the models often suggested to buy yourself

Have a look at old Threads, especially Newbies - most of your questions will have been asked, and answered before
And the Learning Zone - red tab at the top of this page

I'm sure you'll have several replies over the next day or so, with advice & encouragement

 

[Firestorm]

Hiya - you have your head sorted, which is actually the most important thing for all of us so great!

When self funding a meter, the two recommended by other folk in your position on here, are the Spirit Healthcare Tee 2 meter and the Gluco Navii meter - both only available, and the strips, online at the lowest cost. The meter lasts for years - but you get through strips at a rate of knots, especially to begin with.

Hence, we also recommend a good way to test in order to obtain the most help from the testing - have a read of this, please -

Test, Review, Adjust

Managing blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. Learning how to achieve long term control by testing and diet.

loraldiabetes.blogspot.com

Hi, Thanks for the reply! I will do some research on meters before buying one. Thanks for the info!

 

[Firestorm]

Hello FIRESTORM and welcome to the Forum
Sorry but this will be a brief message as I'm a bit tired

Don't buy anything yet till you've had some recommendations from other Forum Members
I have my meter provided by my GP as I inject insulin. It is a TEE2 which is straightforward to use, and i believe it is also one of the models often suggested to buy yourself

Have a look at old Threads, especially Newbies - most of your questions will have been asked, and answered before
And the Learning Zone - red tab at the top of this page

I'm sure you'll have several replies over the next day or so, with advice & encouragement

Hi Zuludog, Thanks for the warm welcome and advice! I've found the Learning Zone... Looks like I've got a lot of reading to do.

 

[trophywench]

Well no meter available anywhere in the UK is 100% accurate 100% of the time BUT they all have to only have about a 10% tolerance in what they tell you. However the two I mentioned the strips cost c £8 for 50 whereas the all singing all dancing Accu Test meter ones cost over £25 for 50.

 

[Firestorm]

That's great advice, Thank you! I just looked at the TEE2. It looks pretty good to me. I see it has Bluetooth to connect to a phone App to record test results. That would be handy!

 

[Drummer]

I have the Tee 2 and it seems fine for what I want - and these days I don't use it much. I know that going on as I am I will not see double digits, and am likely to see lower, which is fine by me. I can only manage about 40 gm of carbs a day max - but that is fine too. I have more than enough to eat, and enjoy it too.

 

[zuludog]

There is another source of information which is very good

Go to www.diabetes.org.uk
Across the top of the Home Page there are several categories
Click on Living With Diabetes; then I think Enjoy Food would be the most useful for you at the moment, it has lots of useful information & advice

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Firestorm

And well done for deciding to tackle your diabetes head-on.

It’s never too late to start! And hopefully with a few tweaks and changes, a bit of information gathering and experimentation you will discover your own unique approach, with a balance of foods and activity that you genuinely enjoy, and which boost your mood, reach your weight goals, and keep your BGs in line.

It’s great to have the ‘hive mind’ of the forum on hand too, lots of different approaches to the same challenges, with practical hints and tips, and the recognition that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, everyone has to develop their own ‘best fit’ balance between life and BG levels, in a way that suits their own particular metabolism 🙂