Hi I am new Here

[pink lady]

Hi
I am finding Diabetes a difficult condition to get my head round.
I have had the foot and eye check earlier this year, I was diagnosed in August last year.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Pink lady, welcome to the forum.

It can be difficult at first but you'll get there with the right info and support. Do you know what your blood glucose numbers are?

If you can share a bit more about your situation and what you're struggling with and we'll be happy to help.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @pink lady

i am glad that you have found the forum. There is plenty of experience to draw on, so do ask any questions that you have. It is a lot to take in at the start but it does get easier as you find a way that works for you.

 

[pink lady]

Thanks to all of you I hope to find ways to cope with this condition.

 

[pink lady]

I have a blood glucose machine but i am confused about the readings they seem to differ from the GP readings.
I have not been shown how to use it just read the leaflet that came with it.

 

[trophywench]

If the GP 'readings' are from a sample of your blood extracted from a vein in your arms and sent off to a lab for testing then they are expressed in different way because they aren't a reflection of your blood glucose right at that split second, which is what the blood glucose meter tells you.

The first test is called the HbA1c test and reflects how much spare glucose in your blood stream has adhered to your red blood cells over the last approx 90 - 120 days. Usually in double figures (or could even be over 100) on diagnosis, anything above 48 means you have diabetes. This test is done sporadically to make a judgment on how well or otherwise) your diabetes has been controlled during the last few months.

 

[Lucyr]

I have a blood glucose machine but i am confused about the readings they seem to differ from the GP readings.
I have not been shown how to use it just read the leaflet that came with it.

For learning how to use the machine, if you pop the make into YouTube there will most likely be an instructional video. It’s quite easy once you get used to it.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I have a blood glucose machine but i am confused about the readings they seem to differ from the GP readings.
I have not been shown how to use it just read the leaflet that came with it.

Welcome back @pink lady

Sorry to hear you’ve been finding diabetes difficult to get a handle on.

For your BG meter readings, the general guidance for T2s used to be to aim for 4-7mmol/L before meals, and no higher than 8.5mmol/L after meals.

Don’t panic too much if your levels don’t fit into those neat little boxes to begin with. The major benefit of using a BG meter is that you can use the information to see how your body is reacting to different foods, and to change and tweak your meals to aim for smaller rises by tweaking your meals.

Many people on the forum use pairs of BG checks, one before eating and another 2 hours after the first bite, to see how much a particular meal has affected their BG levels. Ideally you would be looking for a ‘meal rise’ of 2 or 3 (the difference between the before and after checks). Initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them, so don’t get overly concerned if you see ‘high’ numbers - Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing the amounts of carbs in meals and trying different types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference). Gradually tweaking and tailoring your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline and your BG levels 🙂

If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework.