Blood sugar testing

[Kay Brooks]

Hi been diagnosed with type 2 this month and no meds. Just diet control and exercise. Do I need to test my blood sugars? The nurse said not too and they will at the GPS surgery every few weeks. I am surprised by this as how will I know...
Kay

 

[Steff]

Hi Kay
A warm welcome, yes testing will most definetly benifit you and should help tell you what foods cause your BS to rise etc etc.Id reccommend getting yourself one you can buy them from around £15 i believe.

 

[Martin Canty]

Do I need to test my blood sugars?

Hi Kay, welcome to the group

We tend to advocate testing despite what the medical profession tell us. Testing gives us 1/ Fasting Blood Glucose, a general baseline for the day & over time gives us a trend 2/ a check on what food affects us, test before & 2 hours after eating to determine whether the BG rise is unacceptable (these days I only test if I'm trying new foods) 3/ spot checks if we are feeling a little off

 

[Kay Brooks]

Many thanks will certainly sort one out now. My diabetic nurse just told me to reduce carbohydrates and exercise. Not much info

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Martin Canty]

My diabetic nurse just told me to reduce carbohydrates and exercise

In answer to that sage advice I'd suggest:
Reduce or cut carb sources such as Bread, Pasta, Rice, Cereals & starchy vegetables such as potatoes, instead replacing them with green leafy vegetables.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Kay, Welcome. Sadly most T2s who are not on medications that can cause hypo's (low blood glucose) are prescribed the very tools that would help them learn how certain foods affect them and ultimately gain better control of their diabetes. If they will not give you a glucose meter and testing strips, the cheapest one to self fund we know of is , the SD Codefree meter from Amazon or directly from Homehealth.
It's the ongoing cost of the testing strips around £8 er 50 for the Codefree where other brands are £15+
We use the mmol/l measurement in the Uk , you're entitled to claim VAT relief
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
We have some interesting and informative reading on the pinned area of the newbies say hello here forum, it's called
Useful links for people new to diabetes
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/
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