Minimal testing

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lucy123

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Type 2
Hi All,

I have a doctor who absolutely won't prescribe scripts (see my previous thread). I have the accucheck aviva nano and the strips are extortionate as I am sure many of you already know.

I have therefore decided to do minimal testing and buy my own strips as I am motivated to keep to my diet and exercise this way.

I was diagnosed as my fasting was 7.9. I have my Hba1c in a couple of months.

I was planning on testing first thing in the morning and then once in the day maybe 1.5 hours after eating a meal (not sure which one yet).

Can anyone help - does this seem the best way - I am trying to get the strips to last a month - and maybe will eventually stop testing when I get a good idea.

Also, am I correct in thinking if waking is below 7 and after food below 8.5 - that is good? I read somewhere that if its a home kit, fasting shoudl be 6.1?

If anyone knows where i can buy Aviva nano strips cheap pleeeease also let me know.

thanks all
 
Lucy, this is so wrong- this is the sort of information which your health care team should be giving you - how on earth can you get your head round this and gain confidence and control with such a negative approach😡

You may find this article helpful as a guideline- it attempts to explain when and how often diabetics should test. What I like about it is that it differentiates between the testing needed for diabetics at different levels of their treatment. So if you fall within the "good control" you would only test a now and again but if you see levels going up you can change food/lifestyle or seek medical advice regarding meds.

http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/easdec/prevention/glucosetesting.htm

This, in my opinion is how our GPs should plan everyone's care- it is a personal thing, not a one size fits all approach we need.

Have you no access to a diabetes specialist - either a consultant or a nurse?
 
I saw the GP once who shook her head in despair at the fact I had bought a tester. I now see the nurse who said no to strips full stop. she also said no need for a dietician as i am losing weight no problem - no mention of eye test or foot specialist - just told me to keep a look out for pressure sores and cuts and monitor them.

Is this because I am 'only just' a diabetic diagnosed with a fasting of 7.9. I just diet and exercise, no meds.

She did say she would occasionally ask me to test, but would let me know when and that wasn't for a long time yet. I have my annual check in a few months which i think is just blood pressure weight and hba1c along with cholesterol etc. nothing else mentioned.
 
Sounds a bit to me like they are hoping you'll stay well, rather than helping ensure it, and they'll only act when you get worse! What kind of approach is that? Certainly not preventative! :(
 
Sometimes i dont test at dinner ( i know i should now, but i dont feel like i need to)becuase i have a good breakfast and just eat fruit before dinner so i know they are always fine. Unless i am sick.

If you understand the food you eat and your own body you should be ok. I still think your doctor is being unfair, you should be able to test when you need to, they are very costly.

x
 
Thanks for your comments. The links were great and i have really learnt something and now totally undestand how i have to look at what i have ate compared to levels. Yippee it makes sense at last.

Now i do have a confession and would appreciate your comments on it. i have lost 1.5 stone in the last 3 weeks and feel great for it. All done by good exercise and diet. However i had a well deserved and rare lie in this morning, and when i got up ate a toffee crisp standard bar and 2 coffee with semi milk. I felt awful after eating it and didn't actually enjoy it. I have jsut tested approx 2 hours after and my level is 4.6. it has never been lower than 5.8 before. Does this mean the choc bar actually did me some good? I would have expected it to go high? As you can see i am still learning.
 
I'm in the same boat when it comes to strips and usually buy mine off eBay for around half price. When first diagnosed I was given all the strips I wanted and tested before each meal then 1, 2 and 3 hours after, as well as before and after exercise. Now I have to pay for them I'm only testing first thing and before bed unless I think I might be hypo. With my current PCT it's extremely unlikely that I'll be prescribed strips until I go on insulin.
 
AlisonM said:
I'm in the same boat when it comes to strips and usually buy mine off eBay for around half price. When first diagnosed I was given all the strips I wanted and tested before each meal then 1, 2 and 3 hours after, as well as before and after exercise. Now I have to pay for them I'm only testing first thing and before bed unless I think I might be hypo. With my current PCT it's extremely unlikely that I'll be prescribed strips until I go on insulin.
Click to expand...

Is that still the case Alison, even after your recent 'episode'? :(
 
Northerner said:
Is that still the case Alison, even after your recent 'episode'? :(
Click to expand...

Probably. The new doctor is going to talk to the PCT but he said not to hold my breath.
 
If you find that your fasting levels are always below 7 then you might consider not testing fasting every morning. It is generally considered best to test 2 hours after meals to check that you are back to 8.5 or below for a type 2. Just make sure that each time you are testing you are thinking about what you are going to do with the information. it seems what Dr's don't want is people tetsing for the sake of it and not making any changes based on the results. Some people have managed to get their GP to prescribe some strips once they have demonstated how they are using the testing.
 
lucy123 said:
Thanks for your comments. The links were great and i have really learnt something and now totally undestand how i have to look at what i have ate compared to levels. Yippee it makes sense at last.

Now i do have a confession and would appreciate your comments on it. i have lost 1.5 stone in the last 3 weeks and feel great for it. All done by good exercise and diet. However i had a well deserved and rare lie in this morning, and when i got up ate a toffee crisp standard bar and 2 coffee with semi milk. I felt awful after eating it and didn't actually enjoy it. I have jsut tested approx 2 hours after and my level is 4.6. it has never been lower than 5.8 before. Does this mean the choc bar actually did me some good? I would have expected it to go high? As you can see i am still learning.
Click to expand...

Hi Lucy,

All that weight loss might be helping your diabetes symptoms due to improving your 'insulin resistance' (i.e. your body may not have been using the insulin it was producing properly before, wheras it may be now).

That's certainly something that happened to me. But keep an eye on your readings to confirm it.

Sounds like you're doing really well, by the way!

Andy🙂
 
ah thanks so much. I must admit I do feel great - strange that it takes something like this to kick me up the bum.

I also bought a dress yesterday and....had to take it back because it was too big! Yeah.
 
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