Blood test for sugar

[Davetherave99]

Hello all
Am new to this forum soso please bear with me if I make any basic errors.

At the mo am interested in testing my self for blood sugar.

I realise it'sit's goinggoing to be dependent on my condition age hydration etc etc but would like to have a better idea of the optimum time after eating I should test myself.

Not sure if I said I'm 70 type 2 for around 20 ideas andand use slow release metformin.

So if I leave it for say 2 hours I might reading's of 18-20 but if its 4 hours then that figure could drop to 8!

Oh should say I also AF and just diagnosed for a stent so not healthy.

Thanks in anticipation Dave

 

[Ljc]

Hello @Davetherave99 , welcome to the forum . Though the nhs does not seem or want to promote self testing for people with type 2 who are not in medications that can cause hypo’s, we think they can be a valuable tool to find out how the various carbohydrates affect us so we can make informed choices

When self funding your own glucose meter it is the ongoing cost of the test strips you need to watch, many meters sold in chemists use strips costing in excess of £15 for a pot of fifty and when your initially testing directly before eating then two hours later, we’ll the cost soon mounts up, this meter is one of the cheapest we know of , it’s strips are £8 for fifty
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-Glucose-Monitor-Monitoring-Testing/dp/B0068JAJFS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1506485682&sr=1-1&keywords=sd%2Bcodefree%2Bmeter%2Bmmol%2Fl&linkCode=sl1&tag=xfm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003&th=
You’ll need to buy more test strips and lancets.

Here’s how we do it

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2009/04/test-test-test.html

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2007/04/teting-on-budget.html

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/painless-pricks.html

I hope you find the above helpful

 

[Davetherave99]

Dear Lin
Thanks very much for that advice.

Luckily I get the test strips and needles under prescriptions here in Wales.

I have browsed through your info and already learnt a few things I didn't know but will do it some more justice later.

One other thing im vege so when it comes to choices like rice, pasta, pizza etc its difficult... so any advice on foods suitable for vegetarians would be helpful.

 

[Drummer]

Ah - that explains those numbers - I'm afraid that for most people rice and other grains are just so full of carbs we don't eat them.
I do eat cucumber, radish bean sprouts celeriac cauliflower and broccoli, aubergine, celery turnip and swede, courgette, all sorts of leaves, small amounts of onion, mushrooms, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, some, but only low carb nuts and berries.
To control my diabetes I need to restrict my intake severely, so must make up the rest of my requirements from protein and fats.

 

[Davetherave99]

Ah - that explains those numbers - I'm afraid that for most people rice and other grains are just so full of carbs we don't eat them.
I do eat cucumber, radish bean sprouts celeriac cauliflower and broccoli, aubergine, celery turnip and swede, courgette, all sorts of leaves, small amounts of onion, mushrooms, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, some, but only low carb nuts and berries.
To control my diabetes I need to restrict my intake severely, so must make up the rest of my requirements from protein and fats.

thanks for that advice very helpful.i have always had a problem with food quantities by looks like i need to take it much more seriously.Ill do some more research and maybe get back to you for help if you dont mind

 

[Ljc]

It’s great to hear that you get test strips on prescription in Wales.
TBH we never really stop learning,

Sorry I can’t help on suitable vegetarian meals, but you might find something suitable on these two long running threads.

We have some innovative cooks on the site
recipes
We bare all on this one good and bad.
what-did-you-eat-yesterday

I know your not new to diabetes but thought you might want to have a read through some of this thread
useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes for future reference you’ll find it at the top of the newbies forum
We often recommend Maggie Davies letter to start with , though you will have to make swaps for meat etc.

 

[Drummer]

thanks for that advice very helpful.i have always had a problem with food quantities by looks like i need to take it much more seriously.Ill do some more research and maybe get back to you for help if you dont mind

Not at all - I started eating low carb foods decades ago, as I could never cope with them , so I've had a lot of adverse advice about it - if I can help push back the tide of ignorance in any way, then I'll be glad of it.

 

[Davetherave99]

thanks to all that have given me some very good advice have picked a few things along the way.

Can i ask if there is an alternative for bread or is it like most things to do with diabetes just reduce.

The other thing is cheese. Being vege we eat lots of cheese and my understanding is that from a carb point of view chees is ok but there must be another downside.

Last question is snacks ...again biscuits are no good i now know.... but are there any alternatives especially when the pangs of hunger come on as you've dropped your portions.

All elementary i know sorry .

 

[Drummer]

I use Livlife bread from Waitrose and protein bread from Asda as they have 4gm of carb per slice - admittedly small slices, but a good option. I keep them in the freezer and use them sparingly, but it is handy once in a while.
There was always 'oooh - don't eat too much cheese' school of thought - but I suspect it comes from the same place as the 'fat is bad' thinking - not to be taken seriously.
There are low carb cracker recipes available, so you can snack on them, with cheese...

 

[Davetherave99]

thanks for all the help i am beginning to make some progress although its slow.

one thing that be helpful to understand is why it seems to take so long for my blood sugar levels to come down.
Eg i had a reading just before a meal today of 10.1 (still to high I know) but 2 hours later its still around 11.3 and doesn't to drop until around 4 hours . Is that normal or am i still eating the wrong stuff or not excising or maybe a combination of all.