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Hello

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There are some YouTube videos on technique or this one https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/how-to-test-blood-glucose-levels.html
If you get your technique right it should be painless. Many monitors only require a pin head sized drop of blood.
Many find the GlucoNavii or TEE2 good monitors with the cheapest test strips though the price has gone up recently.
I would try to sort out your finger pricking technique before getting a new monitor.
 
I'll try a bit harder. Thanks for listening to my moaning. I really do appreciate all the help. I've been very busy today contacting my friends abroad. I have many ex pat and Thai friends over the last 13 years, some restaurant owners. They're on the case for me, with healthy vegetable and lean chicken options. One has gone out of his way to find me diabetes friendly food. Every thing I've read so far says that stir fried food is healthy. As soon as I get the diagnosis of my type (I think it's type 2
 
Ok so meeting with nurse. Very helpful. The bloods seem to have got lost so they don't know how bad my diabetes is yet. Typical
So she took some more. I have another appointment next Thursday for a treatment plan. For now I'm allowed 2 slices of Wholemeal bread a day. I've been given advice on breakfast. Berries and yoghurt, shredded wheat, Weetabix all ok. Poached eggs and avocado. The big surprise was that I could have some bacon with it.
They want to stabilise my weight loss and get a treatment plan in place before I return to Thailand. Common sense. Sugar still too high but I feel ok. I think it's dropped a bit since my appointment.
I have mild tachycardia but my heart has a normal rhythm and the Doctor is not concerned. She wants another check in 3 months. She's put it down to anxiety which I've had all my life. I am NOT going back on anti depressants I'd sooner eat a cream sponge! I will drink camomile tea and practice breathing techniques. I think once I stop worrying about my weight I'll be ok.
 
Did they take bloods to rule out Type 1 @Tim19662 ? Type 1 can develop at any age and more people are diagnosed as adults than as children. Your blood sugar is high and you had sudden weight loss so it would be sensible to check, if only to rule it out.
 
Inka said:
Did they take bloods to rule out Type 1 @Tim19662 ? Type 1 can develop at any age and more people are diagnosed as adults than as children. Your blood sugar is high and you had sudden weight loss so it would be sensible to check, if only to rule it out.
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I don't know she just took bloods. I'm sure if they find type 1 they will call me.
 
Tim19662 said:
I don't know she just took bloods. I'm sure if they find type 1 they will call me.
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Type 1 isn’t an illness. There’s no pathogen to detect. Identifying it requires specific tests to look for the Type 1 antibodies that show your immune system is attacking the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. A C Peptide test is often done too as this shows how much insulin you’re making. In Type 1, insulin production is very low but in Type 2 it’s often high because the body has become resistant to insulin.

As you mention going abroad, I’d be concerned with making sure of your diabetes type before you go.
 
Tim19662 said:
I don't know she just took bloods. I'm sure if they find type 1 they will call me.
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I think you may be being a bit optimistic that they will have done the necessary tests and even if they have results can take several weeks to come back as they are only done by a few labs. It would be worth checking if they have and if not request them asap.
You need to make sure your insurance covers you if you are going abroad.
 
Leadinglights said:
I think you may be being a bit optimistic that they will have done the necessary tests and even if they have results can take several weeks to come back as they are only done by a few labs. It would be worth checking if they have and if not request them asap.
You need to make sure your insurance covers you if you are going abroad.
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I don't need to report any new illnesses to my insurers before my next renewal although I'll call them to check. It's not until next year. I have an annual policy. Thanks. I've made a note of this and will ask. I won't be going anywhere until I know what's happening.
 
Tim19662 said:
Ok so meeting with nurse. Very helpful. The bloods seem to have got lost so they don't know how bad my diabetes is yet. Typical
So she took some more. I have another appointment next Thursday for a treatment plan. For now I'm allowed 2 slices of Wholemeal bread a day. I've been given advice on breakfast. Berries and yoghurt, shredded wheat, Weetabix all ok. Poached eggs and avocado. The big surprise was that I could have some bacon with it.
They want to stabilise my weight loss and get a treatment plan in place before I return to Thailand. Common sense. Sugar still too high but I feel ok. I think it's dropped a bit since my appointment.
I have mild tachycardia but my heart has a normal rhythm and the Doctor is not concerned. She wants another check in 3 months. She's put it down to anxiety which I've had all my life. I am NOT going back on anti depressants I'd sooner eat a cream sponge! I will drink camomile tea and practice breathing techniques. I think once I stop worrying about my weight I'll be ok.
Click to expand...
Your nurse must be psychic, as there is no ordinary way she can know that you can cope with eating bread, shredded wheat and weetabix without raising your blood glucose levels - the bacon, well - that is unlikely to have carbs in it, so of course it is safe for a type 2 diabetic to eat it - protein and fat do not raise your blood glucose, starch and sugar do.
Of course if you turn out to be type one or one of the other types which require insulin then that is entirely different.
 
Drummer said:
Your nurse must be psychic, as there is no ordinary way she can know that you can cope with eating bread, shredded wheat and weetabix without raising your blood glucose levels - the bacon, well - that is unlikely to have carbs in it, so of course it is safe for a type 2 diabetic to eat it - protein and fat do not raise your blood glucose, starch and sugar do.
Of course if you turn out to be type one or one of the other types which require insulin then that is entirely different.
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I have no idea but she said they were safe foods for me. Plus porridge. I may of course be type 1 as you say. I won't be eating them all at once of course!
 
Tim19662 said:
I have no idea but she said they were safe foods for me. Plus porridge. I may of course be type 1 as you say. I won't be eating them all at once of course!
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Grains typically contain 2/3rds starch by weight - so almost 70 percent carb. I set my limit at 10 percent, having tested my blood glucose after a few small trials I do not eat grains at all.
If it turns out that you are type 1 then the insulin should make the carbs safe -but if you are type 2 then I would advise that you purchase a glucose meter to check your level after eating.
 
I know nothing at all apart from what I've read. I'm not too concerned about hypos...especially as I haven't even had a reading below 10 yet.
Drummer said:
Grains typically contain 2/3rds starch by weight - so almost 70 percent carb. I set my limit at 10 percent, having tested my blood glucose after a few small trials I do not eat grains at all.
If it turns out that you are type 1 then the insulin should make the carbs safe -but if you are type 2 then I would advise that you purchase a glucose meter to check your level after eating.
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Thanks. Interesting. I wonder if they think I'm type 1? It's possible. Believe it or not I didn't ask. Bloods back soon but there's a different test for type 1 isn't there?
Reading my sugar readings I can't get them below 13 anyway right now. Of course I can't rule out hypos and one Interesting thing she said was to test each time I drive.
I'm completely new and have to trust the diabetic nurse I guess for now. However I'll keep grains low. Sometimes it's hard to know what to eat
 
@Tim19662 I described the Type 1 tests in my post above:

Identifying it requires specific tests to look for the Type 1 antibodies that show your immune system is attacking the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. A C Peptide test is often done too as this shows how much insulin you’re making. In Type 1, insulin production is very low but in Type 2 it’s often high because the body has become resistant to insulin.

The likely reason you were told to test before you drive is that Gliclazide can sometimes cause hypos. Type 1s can eat grains and a pretty normal diet but only if they take the required insulin. The reason people think of hypos in relation to Type 1 isn’t the Type 1 itself, it’s the insulin.
 
Hello. With the AgaMatrix jazz meter, i have the same brand. If you’re still having issues with it, post the error codes and I’ll see if I can help with tips to avoid them.
 
Lucyr said:
Hello. With the AgaMatrix jazz meter, i have the same brand. If you’re still having issues with it, post the error codes and I’ll see if I can help with tips to avoid them.
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I've got the Librelink coming soon. Expensive but worth it. I'm trying to see if I qualify for a prescription. I might if I'm type 1. There are certain criteria I have to meet. I've messaged the surgery this morning asking about type 1 and 2, do they know and can I be assessed urgently if not.
My new biggest worry is continuing to lose weight.
A quick question...can I fry an egg in olive oil or is that bad too?
 
Eggs and olive oil won’t affect your blood sugar
 
Had my second best result today 13.7. That is pre breakfast though. I'll try to cut yet more carbs today to see if it makes a difference. I've been suffering a bit of early morning dry mouth and peeing . I keep drinking plenty of water. I feel like I'm wasting away. Surely there's a way of arresting the weight loss. I'm not underweight just yet probably still a little bit above my ideal weight. And of course anxiety makes me tachycardic which burns even more calories:(
 
Tim19662 said:
Had my second best result today 13.7. That is pre breakfast though. I'll try to cut yet more carbs today to see if it makes a difference. I've been suffering a bit of early morning dry mouth and peeing . I keep drinking plenty of water. I feel like I'm wasting away. Surely there's a way of arresting the weight loss. I'm not underweight just yet probably still a little bit above my ideal weight. And of course anxiety makes me tachycardic which burns even more calories:(
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Have you been checked for ketones or do you have any ketone sticks? You can get ones that you pee on from the pharmacy, or ask for an urgent GP appointment to review them again?
 
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