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New diagnosis type 2

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
S

Sharon.bassett

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
just had appt with diabetes nurse and surprised to be told don't need to use blood monitoring machine only need to have 3 monthly blood tests? My mum has had well controlled by tablet and diet controlled type 2 for 20 years and has managed it daily using her daily monitoring? Surely this is necessary if I am to take control of my own diabetes as want to reverse blood sugars with diet and lifestyle changes how will I know I am making progress if only check bloods 3 monthly?
 
Hello Sharon and welcome to the forum. 🙂 They drive you daft not letting us have monitors and strips. 😡 At least you're getting 3 monthly appointments. I've seen nobody yet! Mind you I was only diagnosed February 2016. 😉
 
Sharon.bassett said:
just had appt with diabetes nurse and surprised to be told don't need to use blood monitoring machine only need to have 3 monthly blood tests? My mum has had well controlled by tablet and diet controlled type 2 for 20 years and has managed it daily using her daily monitoring? Surely this is necessary if I am to take control of my own diabetes as want to reverse blood sugars with diet and lifestyle changes how will I know I am making progress if only check bloods 3 monthly?
Click to expand...
Sharon agree with every point you make...type 2's non-dependant on hypoglycaemic medication are regularly told there is no need to test...I was...like you the quarterly HbA1c test was considered sufficient...initially I accepted that advice...for the next two months had no idea what to do to control my diabetes...I had been advised to lower my blood sugars...little advice on how to do that...it wasn't until I joined the forum I realised the importance of testing...wondering if it was your GP/DSN who advised against testing...in my opinion it is essential to test...the only effective way to access how our diet/lifestyle impacts on our condition...are you in a position to self fund until you can resolve this matter with your surgery?...if you can...might be worth while buying a meter & testing strips for now...the SDcodefree is about the most economical to use...I used this initially until I got my meter/strips on prescription...around £12.99 for the starter kit...strips £8 for fifty...lancets £4 for one hundred...whichever meter you choose you will only receive a small sample of strips/lancets in the kit... always wise to buy more strips/lancets at the same time...if at some point you want to challenge your GP/DSN whichever gave you the advice...then come back to us here...several have done exactly that...no absolute guarantee of success...but...always worth trying...good luck...keep us updated.
 
Hello to you Sharon.

As you will see, testing is the way to go.
 
I was prescribed a monitor and told to test regularly. I don't know why you haven't received one. As time goes by I am getting pretty good at predicting what my BG is by the way I feel but I still test every day before and after meals.
 
Welcome Sharon, you have run into the age old problem that a lot of docs don't let type 2's have test strips on prescription, which is so wrong in most peoples opinions. Testing is the only way forward to see which foods effect you and in what way. As Bubbsie has mention the SD code free is the most common meter used on here if one feels like they want to self fund.

With having only the HbA1c test every 3 months, there is no way you can effectively identify what is going on. Cutting down the total carbs in food will help with your levels or switching to slower releasing carbs like going from white bread to wholemeal a favourite bread for some on here is Burgen bread, though it's not to my taste. Pasta and rice is also high carb food, a good book to help with carb levels is one called cars and cals, the best place I found it at is on Amazon, there are several issues of this book look for the newest version as that will be the most up to date one.

It's available from Home health or Amazon. Ordering from home health is easier to get the VAT back as all you do is select the I am a diabetic option and it automatically removes the VAT, don't know if there's any difference in postage costs. In the UK we use the mmoll measurement system so you will need to select that option. The starter kits only come with 10 test strips, so you may want to order extra strips at the same time.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
 
How do I get the HbA1c test? I have had no input or callback since my hospital admission in early April. Do outpatients call you in?
 
I would of thought the HbA1c test results would of been sent to your GP and should be available from there. As you were admitted to hospital this may not be the case. It's worth asking at your docs if they have the results for the test the hospital did and if not worth asking your doc or diabetic nurse if they can do one. If you have not seen a doctor about diabetes query they may well be reluctant to do one if you have not had symptoms of diabetes.
 
I've had the initial results of the hospital tests which came back the same day as my admission as I was so unwell with a BG of 61 at fingerstick and tachycardia. I have been diagnosed with T2D and am on medication. I am also being investigated for coeliac disease too.

I was wondering when the HbA1c monitoring started after the initial tests, whether I would have regular OPD appointments or whether we're just left to get on with it at home.
 
Some docs do the HbA1c tests once a year at the annual diabetic review, others will do one every 3 or 6 months depending on the GP practice and how long ago you were diagnosed. With a reading of 61, I would be asking for a new up to date test as Aprils is quite old and would want to know what's going on.
 
pav said:
Some docs do the HbA1c tests once a year at the annual diabetic review, others will do one every 3 or 6 months depending on the GP practice and how long ago you were diagnosed. With a reading of 61, I would be asking for a new up to date test as Aprils is quite old and would want to know what's going on.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I've maintained good control since starting therapy but it would be nice to think there was some follow-up.
 
Follow up can be very hit and miss, when I was first diagnosed one used to get a call to arrange the annual tests to keep an eye on whats happening. Now I get the annual eye photograph appointment automatically, though last year did have to ring up to get an appointment, my podiatrist appointments are now made when I see the podiatrist as now classed as high risk and seen every 3 months. The annual review is done when I ask for the appointment, HbA1c tests I have been getting regularly as have been trying to sort out a problem.
 
pav said:
Follow up can be very hit and miss, when I was first diagnosed one used to get a call to arrange the annual tests to keep an eye on whats happening. Now I get the annual eye photograph appointment automatically, though last year did have to ring up to get an appointment, my podiatrist appointments are now made when I see the podiatrist as now classed as high risk and seen every 3 months. The annual review is done when I ask for the appointment, HbA1c tests I have been getting regularly as have been trying to sort out a problem.
Click to expand...

I'll probably pass on the podiatry but would be useful to have decent eye care as I have had serious corneal problems in the past .I'll ask my GP.
 
The podiatry appointment is just as important as the other ones, as with them they create a base line of what your feet are like and what your pulses are like as in blood flow through them a bit like an mini ultra sound, sensation feeling determines how well you can feel with them this is done in two ways. First is like a thick fishing line is pressed lightly against the bottom of your feet, the pressure needed for you to feel it gives a indication of your foots sensitivity. The second test is a vibration test where they put a probe against your big toe and vary the vibration of it and that shows how well the nerves are in your feet. They do also look at the general condition of them to see if you have hard skin / ingrowing toe nails etc.
 
pav said:
The podiatry appointment is just as important as the other ones, as with them they create a base line of what your feet are like and what your pulses are like as in blood flow through them a bit like an mini ultra sound, sensation feeling determines how well you can feel with them this is done in two ways. First is like a thick fishing line is pressed lightly against the bottom of your feet, the pressure needed for you to feel it gives a indication of your foots sensitivity. The second test is a vibration test where they put a probe against your big toe and vary the vibration of it and that shows how well the nerves are in your feet. They do also look at the general condition of them to see if you have hard skin / ingrowing toe nails etc.
Click to expand...


My problem is I cannot stand to have anyone touch my feet. I used to take service users to podiatry (was a MH professional in the community) and the whole thing made me squirm just to watch.

I know they are important but how in God's name they will ever get near my feet.....🙂
 
Bubbsie said:
Sharon agree with every point you make...type 2's non-dependant on hypoglycaemic medication are regularly told there is no need to test...I was...like you the quarterly HbA1c test was considered sufficient...initially I accepted that advice...for the next two months had no idea what to do to control my diabetes...I had been advised to lower my blood sugars...little advice on how to do that...it wasn't until I joined the forum I realised the importance of testing...wondering if it was your GP/DSN who advised against testing...in my opinion it is essential to test...the only effective way to access how our diet/lifestyle impacts on our condition...are you in a position to self fund until you can resolve this matter with your surgery?...if you can...might be worth while buying a meter & testing strips for now...the SDcodefree is about the most economical to use...I used this initially until I got my meter/strips on prescription...around £12.99 for the starter kit...strips £8 for fifty...lancets £4 for one hundred...whichever meter you choose you will only receive a small sample of strips/lancets in the kit... always wise to buy more strips/lancets at the same time...if at some point you want to challenge your GP/DSN whichever gave you the advice...then come back to us here...several have done exactly that...no absolute guarantee of success...but...always worth trying...good luck...keep us updated.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing your experience
 
pav said:
Welcome Sharon, you have run into the age old problem that a lot of docs don't let type 2's have test strips on prescription, which is so wrong in most peoples opinions. Testing is the only way forward to see which foods effect you and in what way. As Bubbsie has mention the SD code free is the most common meter used on here if one feels like they want to self fund.

With having only the HbA1c test every 3 months, there is no way you can effectively identify what is going on. Cutting down the total carbs in food will help with your levels or switching to slower releasing carbs like going from white bread to wholemeal a favourite bread for some on here is Burgen bread, though it's not to my taste. Pasta and rice is also high carb food, a good book to help with carb levels is one called cars and cals, the best place I found it at is on Amazon, there are several issues of this book look for the newest version as that will be the most up to date one.

It's available from Home health or Amazon. Ordering from home health is easier to get the VAT back as all you do is select the I am a diabetic option and it automatically removes the VAT, don't know if there's any difference in postage costs. In the UK we use the mmoll measurement system so you will need to select that option. The starter kits only come with 10 test strips, so you may want to order extra strips at the same time.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
Click to expand...
Thank you for your help
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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