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Mark_Fails

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Type 2
Just a note to say hello and share some of the thoughts that run through my head atthis time. Probably nothing new here for you old lags at it, but it's new to me, so bear with me 🙂

I am newly diagnosed Type 2. Just trying to get used to the idea of having this condition and reaching my 50's without any ilness apart from 'injury' in my life before. Quite a surprise as I feel absolutely tip top.

I'm being treated with Metformin (slowly increasing dose) and diet.

My attitude to it is: it's here; I'm stuck with it and it's not going away.

It's an opportunty, a kicker if you will, to finally start eating healthily and as a result of that (I'm the family cook) so will the rest of the family.

I'm already fairly active, golf 2 to 3 times a week, but I will now start a more intensive, aerobic fitness activity (cycling I think) so that has to be good.

I use message boards quite a lot and find them a wonderful source of knowledge and advice. This time though it's important. Well 'as' important as golf, cars and rock'n'roll music🙄.

Thanks for listening and hope to one day be able to offer the advice and support that, from reading other posts, I'm sure you lot will offer me.

Mark
 
Hi Mark, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it sounds like you have got a good attitude towards it and I am sure that will carry you far in your efforts to get things under control. How did you come to be diagnosed?

I would recommend having a look at our Useful links thread for some good sources of information. In particular, I would recommend reading the articles Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and also getting a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. These will give you a good understanding of diabetes and what it is all about. Have you been given a meter and prescribed some test strips? I hope so, as this is really the only way you can learn how different foods affect you personally - people can have different tolerances for the same things.

I was in a similar position to you - diagnosed aged 49 and the only other sort of medical issues I had had were a broken arm and a broken leg! It's good that you are active and planning to step things up, as this will make your body more sensitive to the insulin you are producing, and help to keep your levels under control.

Please let us know if there are any questions you have and we will be more than happy to help out! 🙂
 
hello and wellcome to the site feel free to ask away no question to silly
 
Welcome to Mark

Hi Mark,

Oops! I've mistakenly posted on your thread. I meant to post in newbie section. Not sure what I'm doing...
 
Welcome to the forum Mark.🙂
 
Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome evryone. Good to hear from you.

The links to the informations resources are very usefull. Thanks again for that.

Yes I do have a meter and strips and I'm getting used to a regime of testing, but I'm going through the strips like no tomorrow; the test keeps failing with 'sample too small', even though there seems to be no difference in the amount of blood between the fail and good tests.

Anyone else had the same problem?
 
Mark_Fails said:
Thanks for the welcome evryone. Good to hear from you.

The links to the informations resources are very usefull. Thanks again for that.

Yes I do have a meter and strips and I'm getting used to a regime of testing, but I'm going through the strips like no tomorrow; the test keeps failing with 'sample too small', even though there seems to be no difference in the amount of blood between the fail and good tests.

Anyone else had the same problem?
Click to expand...

What sort of meter do you have Mark? I find that some meters are more fussy than others, and some will let you try again whereas others won't (the Accu Chek ones won't, the Bayer ones will, and the Abbot ones seem to need more blood and are slow on the uptake.

Make sure that you have a 'bobble' of blood and then try to just touch the surface of it so it is drawn up the strip due to capillary action - if the blood drop gets smeared against your fingertip then it may not draw up properly even if there seems to be quite a lot there.

Are you following a testing regime like Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S ?
 
As Alan says some meters will allow you to add more blood if under filled, though if you are not happy with the test retest again. With one I must of added more blood close to the time limit and the test threw a funny result up.

I also have the Accu Chek Mobile and that can come up with not enough blood error message even when you think you have applied enough. Did find on some tests I applied enough blood but partially missed the pick up point (operator error), so the blood did not get drawn into the test area, other times could not see a reason why it failed.
 
Strips/Meter.

Thanks Pav and Thanks Alan for your prompt and extremely useful advice. I reallt do appreciate it. I find it so useful having people with practical experience I can call upon.

It's the Vita OneTouch system I am using and I suspect it's the 'capiliary' method is the answer to my problem. I am drawing plenty of blood and using 'warm water'' to get it flowing, so I suspect it's me and not the tools ! As is usuallythe case.

I'l let you know.

Good link to the test and review blog. Thanks Again.

Mark
 
Capiliary Action

Yup, seems to be that. Worked fine first time.

Fancy it being me and not the equipment.🙄

Don't thinks I've written the words Capiliary Action for about 40 years😛

and now I'm thinking about Glacial Moraines, Oxbow Lakes, the Chartists, differential calculus and the 5th year trip to Gottingen; look what this diabtes has done to me....... arrrghhhh🙄
 
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