Hi 3 months diagnosed

[RedStu]

Hello all first post, diagnosed after the initial shock I'm coming to terms with it all. Prescribed Metaformin 1000g daily 500 morning and 500 in the evening. Had my optician screening all well this time. Been to 4/6 expert classes huge emphasis on diet and carbs but had already changed my diet to lower carbs. Not been back to see GP yet not sure if I get a call or need to book in, will give them a call this week to check. Already been browsing the forum but decided I'd better get signed up and get involved a bit.

 

[Grogg1]

Hi Red Stu and welcome. Did you get given a meter to test your blood sugar?

You can see my journey in my signature. I'm almost 11 months into this club!

 

[RedStu]

Hi Grogg no I wasn't given anything to test, just looking at some of the threads on this. Do some buy their own equipment or is it a matter of asking/ insisting on a test set up.

 

[Grogg1]

I am T2 and I was given a meter but only 50 strips a month. As the strips for my meter are £15 for 50 I bought the Code Free meter recommended on this site from Amazon and pay £6 for 50 strips as I buy 250 at a time.

Link to Amazon but you can buy elsewhere. We are mmols in uk.

With testing you test upon waking, before meals and 2 hours after a meal and before bed.

WHEN you have control you are aiming for 4-6 waking, before meals and under 8.5 two hours after meals.

 

[trophywench]

Hi Stu

Also read http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

 

[Amigo]

I am T2 and I was given a meter but only 50 strips a month. As the strips for my meter are £15 for 50 I bought the Code Free meter recommended on this site from Amazon and pay £6 for 50 strips as I buy 250 at a time.

Link to Amazon but you can buy elsewhere. We are mmols in uk.

With testing you test upon waking, before meals and 2 hours after a meal and before bed.

WHEN you have control you are aiming for 4-6 waking, before meals and under 8.5 two hours after meals.

NICE recommend 7 or below waking/fasting level and no more than 8.5 two hours after a meal.

Even 2.5 yrs in, I can’t achieve any 4’s or very few 5’s on waking so don’t panic if it doesn’t come down that far.

My Hba1c (this week) was 42 and I’m not on meds. I’d definitely recommend home testing.

 

[Grogg1]

NICE recommend 7 or below waking/fasting level and no more than 8.5 two hours after a meal.

Even 2.5 yrs in, I can’t achieve any 4’s or very few 5’s on waking so don’t panic if it doesn’t come down that far.

My Hba1c (this week) was 42 and I’m not on meds. I’d definitely recommend home testing.

I struggle with my morning one too regardless of what I eat or don't eat at night and timing of my metformin. My Hba1c was 43 this week but I'm still on 500mg of met twice a day.

My BG gets better as day go on and I'm usually in mid to high 4s by 5pm and retire on a 6 usually. My waking one is usually 5.8 - 7.4 but usually about 6.8. I asked my DN if altering the timing of my med could help as I've tried not eating after 8pm, having a piece of cheese before bed etc and nothing works.

 

[Grogg1]

Just did my BG 5.4. I had chicken Kiev food food at 6.30 then a few too many crisps and at 10pm Welsh cake with butter. If I had eaten that lunch time I would be in high 8s

 

[Mark Parrott]

Welcome to the forum.🙂

 

[RedStu]

Thank you for the welcome and advice will look to get a test set up asap.

 

[Wirrallass]

Hello RedStu from another Type2 and welcome to our friendly forum ~ anything you want to know then do please ask ~ there's usually someone around to give you an answer. Yes being dx (Diagnosed) does come as a shock doesn't it ~ I and many others felt the same ~ although diabetes might seem a daunting prospect at first it is actually a very manageable condition providing you keep to a healthy low carborhydrate diet and exercise regime.

How are you getting on with Metformin ~ any side effects? If you are experiencing *laxative* side effects then I suggest you consult your GP who would probably prescribe the SR (Slow release) metformin ~ its kinder on the stomach.

I see you have taken the initiative to go low carb ~ thats a good start to managing your diabetes. I advocate the CARB & CALORIE COUNTER book ~ Amazon £10.99. It has over 1700 coloured photo's of a wide range of food & drink. The carborhydrates ~ calorie ~ protein ~ fat ~ unsaturated fat ~ and fibre values are displayed in colour-coded circles below each photo. This book is the perfect support tool for carb counting in diabetes ~ weight management ~ portion control and general healthy eating. It's a book worth buying IMO. Photo attached.

I attended a six week X~Pert diabetes education programme and found it enlightening. Good to see you were referred too. If you're unsure as to when you should see your GP or DSN then I would suggest you contact your GP's practice to make an appointment ~ far too many people new to diabetes are left out in the cold after being dx. It's not uncommon. Here is a link that you will find useful:~

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/

Take care & good luck on your Diabetes journey.

Dx Type2 April 2016
Diet control and exercise only

Tap to expand.

 

[RedStu]

Hi Wirralass,
No issues with metaformin so far, infact the instant change after taking it was surprising. Thirst went immediately, eyesight issue was corrected within days now 20/20 after some major fluctuations pre-diagnoses I'd already spent money on glasses that are no longer any use.
I got the carb and calories book a couple of weeks ago it's a huge help not just for me but my wife seemed to be increasing portion size after early changes to keep it small, when serving food. And me being me I was eating it. But the book helps with regulating portion size.
Yes the expert program is helpful if a little repetitive but I'm guessing it's the way to get it through to those like me who've been making bad choices with food for many years.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum RedStu. 🙂 I'm still making bad choices, it's all a learning curve.

Jackie, your mention of the word journey reminds me...yesterday got a text message from Freemans telling me "Your journey has begun..." felt like texting them back to say "Cut the c**p and just tell me when my new washing machine is gonna arrive!" 🙄

 

[RedStu]

I am T2 and I was given a meter but only 50 strips a month. As the strips for my meter are £15 for 50 I bought the Code Free meter recommended on this site from Amazon and pay £6 for 50 strips as I buy 250 at a time.

Link to Amazon but you can buy elsewhere. We are mmols in uk.

With testing you test upon waking, before meals and 2 hours after a meal and before bed.

WHEN you have control you are aiming for 4-6 waking, before meals and under 8.5 two hours after meals.

Ordered the codefree tester so will start when it arrives thanks for the link Grogg1

 

[Grogg1]

Ordered the codefree tester so will start when it arrives thanks for the link Grogg1

You can watch a youtube video to see how to use kit - so much easier than reading instructions.

Basics -

• Make sure hands are clean so wash in warm water if possible. Not the end of the world if you can't wash them but results more reliable if there is no lotion, food etc. on your hands.
• Warm hands bleed easier so do a little warming up with them. Be it nursing a cup of tea or shake them all about.
• The finger pricker has various depths the needle goes in. On nice warm hands with quite soft skin you maybe able to get away with most gentle setting. You only need a pin head. I always use most gentle setting and if it fails to bleed just press it in harder to finger.
• Use the sides of your fingers not the pad of them, less sensitive.
• Instructions tell you to change lancet after each prick! I do it when it feels blunt, some do it annually lol!! Do not share your needle with anyone else. If family/friend want to test their blood use a fresh needle.

So to begin with test when you wake, test before a meal and test 2 hours after a meal and test before bed. You only need to do this in early days to see how different meals/drinks affects you. Then you can pick and choose when you test. As a minimum I would say morning and night every day but I also test after most meals but not always before as I've become comfortable with what level I want to be before food.

My DN gave me a target of 8-10 waking and before food and a rise of 2-3 after food in the early days as I was in double figures. It took me a couple of weeks to into a single figure and another couple to get to the more "recommended levels"

Good luck and enjoy controlling your BG