Is it worth me investing in a BG monitor?

[Squiggles]

Second week of being on Metformin and 'loving it' lol. My GP has told me that I will not be given a blood glucose monitor on the NHS (well, she said it wasn't worth it unless I have to start insulin) but I was wondering, as diabetes checks are usually only done once every 6 months or yearly, how I am going to know that the meds are working, or that any changes I make to my diet are improving my numbers? Anyone else bought themselves one, and if so, how often do you measure and which meters would you recommend? Many thanks!

Oh, The Witcher image is simply here to make my post more interesting. Gives me something nice to look at when I come back to look through any responses. 😉

 

[Martin.A]

Second week of being on Metformin and 'loving it' lol. My GP has told me that I will not be given a blood glucose monitor on the NHS (well, she said it wasn't worth it unless I have to start insulin) but I was wondering, as diabetes checks are usually only done once every 6 months or yearly, how I am going to know that the meds are working, or that any changes I make to my diet are improving my numbers? Anyone else bought themselves one, and if so, how often do you measure and which meters would you recommend? Many thanks!

Oh, The Witcher image is simply here to make my post more interesting. Gives me something nice to look at when I come back to look through any responses. 😉

If you're doing things designed to bring your BG down then how do they expect you to know whether it's working unless you test? Wait for your next HbA1c they'll say, but to me that's a fingers-crossed event. I can't imagine anything worse than spending months thinking you're doing all the right things and then finding it's not worked.

Admittedly random testing won't tell you anything meaningful, and this might be where HCPs are, but if you stick to a regime of testing on waking, and before and then 2 hours after a meal, and record the results, over time you'll be able to see which way your BG is trending - downwards (good), upwards (not so good) or whether it's flat.

It's your diabetes and if self-testing helps you manage it then why not do it?

 

[trophywench]

Hear hear!! @Squiggles you have hit the nail precisely on the head.
Bit like setting off to drive from eg Lands End to Truro and having observed that you kept to 30mph whilst driving along your street, never checking your speedo again at all for the rest of the journey.

What @Martin.A has said - I agree with too.

 

[Leadinglights]

Absolutely, a must to my mind.
The GlucoNavii or TEE2 are a couple of monitors with the cheaper test strips available on line. Tick the box to say you are diabetic and you won't pay VAT.

 

[Annette&Bert]

I have been on 2000mg Metformin for a couple of years. I can honestly say I have no idea what difference it has made to me, but you are the first person to use the phrase “I love it” where this drug is concerned. I used to test all the time but don’t do it as much now. However, I see a benefit to you in buying a monitor, they are not expensive. The NHS only provide you with one if you are on any drug likely to cause a hypo, insulin is just one such drug.

 

[Sharron1]

Second week of being on Metformin and 'loving it' lol. My GP has told me that I will not be given a blood glucose monitor on the NHS (well, she said it wasn't worth it unless I have to start insulin) but I was wondering, as diabetes checks are usually only done once every 6 months or yearly, how I am going to know that the meds are working, or that any changes I make to my diet are improving my numbers? Anyone else bought themselves one, and if so, how often do you measure and which meters would you recommend? Many thanks!

Oh, The Witcher image is simply here to make my post more interesting. Gives me something nice to look at when I come back to look through any responses. 😉
View attachment 29373

Simple answer, yes. My GP also told me not to bother testing. But it is the only way to find out which foods are ok for me. Five years later I test very little, and my GP is none the wiser. Win, win.

 

[Pam123]

I think its a must regardless of what medication your on.

 

[Annette&Bert]

As I have already stated, it is a must if you are on meds that can cause hypos, in which case your surgery will issue a monitor to you. I have never been on any so far. I was supposed to have my HbA1c taken at the beginningm of December, you guessed it this is March and still waiting for the surgery to phone with an appointment. I know my BG levels are very high right now so I’m fed up.

 

[Drummer]

Without the Tee 2 + I'd have never known that I can extract more carbs than usually credited to beans and peas, almost double.

 

[Annette&Bert]

I have always thought if people have been diagnosed then the GP should provide a monitor just so the patient knows their levels

 

[maceg1]

Second week of being on Metformin and 'loving it' lol. My GP has told me that I will not be given a blood glucose monitor on the NHS (well, she said it wasn't worth it unless I have to start insulin) but I was wondering, as diabetes checks are usually only done once every 6 months or yearly, how I am going to know that the meds are working, or that any changes I make to my diet are improving my numbers? Anyone else bought themselves one, and if so, how often do you measure and which meters would you recommend? Many thanks!

Oh, The Witcher image is simply here to make my post more interesting. Gives me something nice to look at when I come back to look through any responses. 😉
View attachment 29373

I'm type 2 currently diet controlled but stong family history, diabetes 2 and autoimmune problems. Surgery supplied Accu-Chek meter, presented to me by the diabetic specialist nurse, now longer there. That had a cassette with 50 tests on it. I was having monthly Hb1Ac tests but this seems to vary now.

I test every day first thing in the morning before food. Easy to see trends, such as small increases when I have a cold or infection (sinus currently, up to 7mmole/litre)

Several years into the diabetes journey, I have a Gluco-Rx meter which takes test strips. I'm not sure if I bought that or the surgery did! Once I'd been told diabetic, I decided to get testing. So I buy more test strips for Gluco-Rx to supplement the others. Cheapest ones. I'm an industrial chemist and was taught to do at least 2 tests to check a result where possible, so its an ingrained habit!! So I do use more tests than some think I should.
I was told the percentage error is 15% for tests, not sure if anyone can confirm or deny that.

I prefer the gluco-Rx, for arthritic hands, but can manage both.

Came off metformin, made me feel sick, hence diet control at present.

Hope you find a good meter soon. Carol

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm type 2 currently diet controlled but stong family history, diabetes 2 and autoimmune problems. Surgery supplied Accu-Chek meter, presented to me by the diabetic specialist nurse, now longer there. That had a cassette with 50 tests on it. I was having monthly Hb1Ac tests but this seems to vary now.

I test every day first thing in the morning before food. Easy to see trends, such as small increases when I have a cold or infection (sinus currently, up to 7mmole/litre)

Several years into the diabetes journey, I have a Gluco-Rx meter which takes test strips. I'm not sure if I bought that or the surgery did! Once I'd been told diabetic, I decided to get testing. So I buy more test strips for Gluco-Rx to supplement the others. Cheapest ones. I'm an industrial chemist and was taught to do at least 2 tests to check a result where possible, so its an ingrained habit!! So I do use more tests than some think I should.
I was told the percentage error is 15% for tests, not sure if anyone can confirm or deny that.

I prefer the gluco-Rx, for arthritic hands, but can manage both.

Came off metformin, made me feel sick, hence diet control at present.

Hope you find a good meter soon. Carol

The % variation is one that is allowable for most monitors so clearly the higher blood glucose the wider the range +/- of the reading you get is what is allowable.
As a biologist it was always 3 repeats but people tend to repeat the test if they are suspicious of the reading they get or get an error message otherwise you will be going through more strips than necessary.

 

[Burylancs]

Second week of being on Metformin and 'loving it' lol. My GP has told me that I will not be given a blood glucose monitor on the NHS (well, she said it wasn't worth it unless I have to start insulin) but I was wondering, as diabetes checks are usually only done once every 6 months or yearly, how I am going to know that the meds are working, or that any changes I make to my diet are improving my numbers? Anyone else bought themselves one, and if so, how often do you measure and which meters would you recommend? Many thanks!

Oh, The Witcher image is simply here to make my post more interesting. Gives me something nice to look at when I come back to look through any responses. 😉
View attachment 29373

You've been asked to drive down the motorway with a blindfold on. Every T2 should be self testing and then 'eating to your meter'.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

but I was wondering, as diabetes checks are usually only done once every 6 months or yearly, how I am going to know that the meds are working, or that any changes I make to my diet are improving my numbers?

We have many members who find self-monitoring hugely helpful, in terms of tracking their progress, and seeing how their body responds to different meals.

The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to various foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself.

You can use a BG meter, taking a reading immediately before and again 2hrs after the first bite of a meal. That way you can see what the differences are, and how much the meal has raised your glucose levels. This can give you really direct feedback about which sources of carbs cause a rapid and significant BG rise (sometimes called a spike). Initially in a way you could argue that the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them, and that keeping the ‘meal rise’ low will alloe your overall levels to gently drift downwards. Ideally you would want to see a rise of no more than 2-3mmol/L at the 2hr mark.

Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing portion sizes of the carbs where you see bigger rises. You might find that you are particularly sensitive to carbohydrate from one source (eg bread), but have more liberty with others (eg oats or basmati rice) - It’s all very individual! You might even find that just having things at a different time of day makes a difference - with breakfast time being the trickiest.

Over weeks and months of experimentation you can gradually tweak and tailor your menu to balance with your meds, and find a way of eating that suits your tastebuds, your waistline, your budget and your BG levels - and that is flexible enough to be sustainable long-term. 🙂

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

If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £10 for 50

 

[maceg1]

The % variation is one that is allowable for most monitors so clearly the higher blood glucose the wider the range +/- of the reading you get is what is allowable.
As a biologist it was always 3 repeats but people tend to repeat the test if they are suspicious of the reading they get or get an error message otherwise you will be going through more strips than necessary.

Thanks LeadingLights. I think I have probably been told 3 repeats as well but years ago.
I appear to be a new member, I think I had lost my password and had computer issues, so I 'rejoined'.

 

[maceg1]

Thanks LeadingLights. I think I have probably been told 3 repeats as well but years ago.
I appear to be a new member, I think I had lost my password and had computer issues, so I 'rejoined'.

 

[gll]

*Tosses a coin to your Witcher*

I am definitely in the camp of testing is a good thing.
However, if you are testing just for the sake of testing there's not much point.
I also appreciate testing can add anxiety if you don't have tools to bring your levels down (eg rapid insulin) but that's a whole other can of worms.

I used the link Mike posted when I first started out to see my response to foods. Can't go wrong there!