Hello everyone, I was diagnosed Type 2 diabetes 30 years ago, only advice I was given then was cut out white bread eat brown bread and use brown sugar. Over the years and house moves I've gathered a lot more helpful info , for the last 12 years my readings have been stable finally got told I don't need gliclazide now but then told I don't need to self test so no longer get prescriptions for test strips etc. I do need to test though so buying test strips and lancets myself because without testing how will I know my sugar levels are staying stable. I'd welcome thoughts on this. I'm 77 by the way and enjoy walking
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Hello
- Thread starter MaryKate
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @MaryKate 🙂 It sounds like you’re doing well if you were able to stop the Gliclazide. However, in your situation I’d still test, even if only occasionally, just to keep an eye on things and for my own reassurance. If you feel the same, then do test. Lots of Type 2s here do, even if they’re not on medication.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum.
Yes the advise then was not so fabulous and indeed is still not too good from the NHS for many who are Type 2 as it is still too high in carbohydrates for many to tolerate and they end up on more and more medication. It is good that your medication has been reduced so you must be doing something right to keep your blood glucose levels on track.
GP's are only obliged to prescribe monitors and strips for Type 2s who are on medication like gliclazide which has the potential to cause low blood glucose and others are lucky if they do get them on prescription.
Many will self fund and tend to choose a monitor which has the cheaper test strips, they tend to be cheaper if bought on line than at the pharmacy, a couple which people find OK are the GlucoNavii and TEE2 but worth shopping around. Many do reuse the lancets so a box will last a lifetime. If the strips for the monitor you have are expensive you would soon recoup the cost of a new monitor.
Presumably you have been used to testing but having a sensible strategy rather than random tests are obviously more useful so in your case periodic morning test (a few times a week or so ) should pick up any drift with out doing too much testing.
Target levels for more mature people have been relaxed according to some newer NICE guidelines with a personalised approach taking into account other risk factors as it was thought people were being over medicated to keep blood glucose unnecessarily low.
You sound as if you are managing your condition well but even so have a look at this link as it may give you some new ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Yes the advise then was not so fabulous and indeed is still not too good from the NHS for many who are Type 2 as it is still too high in carbohydrates for many to tolerate and they end up on more and more medication. It is good that your medication has been reduced so you must be doing something right to keep your blood glucose levels on track.
GP's are only obliged to prescribe monitors and strips for Type 2s who are on medication like gliclazide which has the potential to cause low blood glucose and others are lucky if they do get them on prescription.
Many will self fund and tend to choose a monitor which has the cheaper test strips, they tend to be cheaper if bought on line than at the pharmacy, a couple which people find OK are the GlucoNavii and TEE2 but worth shopping around. Many do reuse the lancets so a box will last a lifetime. If the strips for the monitor you have are expensive you would soon recoup the cost of a new monitor.
Presumably you have been used to testing but having a sensible strategy rather than random tests are obviously more useful so in your case periodic morning test (a few times a week or so ) should pick up any drift with out doing too much testing.
Target levels for more mature people have been relaxed according to some newer NICE guidelines with a personalised approach taking into account other risk factors as it was thought people were being over medicated to keep blood glucose unnecessarily low.
You sound as if you are managing your condition well but even so have a look at this link as it may give you some new ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I’m astonished at the suggestion of brown sugar! What on earth is the benefit supposed to be of that!
Well done for the progress you’ve made over the years, and coming off gliclazide. Unfortunately many GP surgeries only prescribe a meter and strips for people who are on medications that can cause hypos.
Members on the forum who value the information that self monitoring gives them tend to choose a BG meter with reasonably-priced strips, like the Gluco Navii, Spirit Tee2, or Contour Blue
Well done for the progress you’ve made over the years, and coming off gliclazide. Unfortunately many GP surgeries only prescribe a meter and strips for people who are on medications that can cause hypos.
Members on the forum who value the information that self monitoring gives them tend to choose a BG meter with reasonably-priced strips, like the Gluco Navii, Spirit Tee2, or Contour Blue
Absolutely shocking comment from the NHS - brown sugar!! What absolute nonsense.
I am not doing so well without gliclaside , I feel a bit like my security blanket has been taken away ! Seriously though I am very concerned as I think my sugar levels are no longer as stable. My fasting reading with gliclaside was always between 5.2 and 5.7 . Having to space out testing now so a week ago I took a fasting test and my reading was 8.8 , this morning another test slightly better 7.7. The thought of no testing and waiting for that 3 month check is very worrying. I am watching my diet, walking more I am at a loss. I didn't test every morning, and did random tests in the day so I don't know why I'm finding it so worrying. Except I don't want to go back to taking gliclaside if my control is no longer good.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Random testing is not going to be particularly informative as your blood glucose goes up and down naturally throughout the day and night so may be giving a false impression that you are not managing well.
Try doing some before and 2 hour after meal testing as that will help identify any meals that are too high in carbs for you to tolerate. An increase of no more than 3mmol/l would indicate that the meal was OK and even better if no more than 8.5mmol/l after 2 hours.
Morning readings can still be high as your liver releases glucose to give you energy for the day, testing in bed can be helpful for those people. But getting meal increases managed well should then improve the morning readings.
Maybe keep a food diary for a week of so as it easy for carb intake to creep up. Try to estimate your carbs per meal and log those meal readings. You are aiming at 4-7 mmol/l before meals and no more than 8.5 mmol/l after 2 hours.
Thank you , your information was very helpful indeed. All I knew was fasting test should be between 5.00 and 7.00, the rest of the time readings should be between 10.00 and over 7.00. Copying this into my notebook because am going away for a week....
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
People may go as high as 10mmol/l just after eating but if it is at that level by 2 hours after eating then your meal is definitely too carb heavy.
Keeping your before meals to between 4 and 7 and 2 hour post meal to less than 8 consistently will generally lead to a normal HbA1C./
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