New today and scared

[Ralph-YK]

Is it because they don't want to spend the money or would they, for some reason, be against it even if you bought your own?

It's because we're the patient, it's non of our business. They're against testing all together, including self funders. I got told to ignore my BG levels.

 

[Amigo]

It's because we're the patient, it's non of our business. They're against testing all together, including self funders. I got told to ignore my BG levels.

Not true for all of us Ralph. It depends on your GP and individual surgery (and exceptionality in some health cases). I was given a meter and am provided with testing strips. Obviously it could all change but I’d fight it!

 

[Ralph-YK]

*shuffles feet* hmmmm. *make note about making sweeping statements* 🙄😳

 

[Mark Parrott]

I have an SD Codefree & a Contour Next USB meter, but I found the Contour was reading higher than the Codefree!

 

[Maz2]

Hi Amigo. Thanks for your reassuring words - and I'm sorry you have cancer. Yes, I've had a lot on my plate the past few years. I lost my husband 2 years ago and my Dad has been diagnosed and treated for 3 different types of cancer over the last 3-4 years. My eating habits changed. I started eating a lot of ready meals instead of preparing my own food like I used to. I also started having takeaways once or twice a week which we only used to do as an occasional treat. And then there is the lager ....

Somewhere in my head, I knew all this was bad stuff to be doing but there was so much going on that I ignored it. I had a blood test last year and was told I had a level of 45 - prediabetes - but somehow doing something about it got lost in everything else. Don't think I really believed it could be true.

You're right that overweight is contributing to the depression. It's making my arthritis worse - quite apart from the snide comments people think you haven't heard. Working in an office full of younger people who drink protein shakes and go running at lunchtime is not an incentive - it's even more depressing when you have arthritis and can't do it (well, you know the pain of arthritis).

I have wanted to be slimmer and fitter for a long time - as you say, this is a major wake up call. Trouble is, I understand that once you have the label, you will have it for life, even if your blood sugar levels go back to "normal". I presume this becomes a stigma when applying for things like insurance.

Re the testing means, I'll see what the GP says and if they don't prescribe the means to test, I'll buy something.

Apart from anything else, this is going to require subterfuge from family. I live on my own but when we get together, I'll just have to tell them I'm on a healthy eating regime and want to cut down on food, especially carbs (true).

One thing among many that worries me - does this mean I will never again be able to have anything like Christmas dinner or a piece of cake or chocolate or a meal out eating the type of thing I may have had in the past e.g. curry in sauce with rice?

Thanks for your good wishes. All the best to you too.

I was talking to my GP recently as I have gone back pre-diabetic, despite having got out of it once. He said you should treat yourself occasionally. Obviously, not day in and day out but sometimes. My friend is diabetic as is his sister and she said nothing is off limits as long as you control it and don't keep doing it. What you could do if you have a treat is test yourself and see what it does. Then you would have an idea of how often you should eat it. If, after two hours, your bloods are more than 2-3 mmols higher than when you started, then it would not be a good idea to have that food regularly, but only every so often. Other more experienced posters will, I am sure, correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Maz2]

With regard to testing, my surgery does not give testing equipment to Type 2s now. They used to as my friend has one although, in fairness, he does have a lot of medical problems including only one kidney (nothing to do with diabetes). I suppose if they issued them originally patients are allowed to keep them. I think the argument now is that there are so many people with Type II it is unaffordable. It is a big problem where I live. Also as they do hba1c every three months they think it is unnecessary. My GP told me they only give them out now to those who are in danger of hypos so I expect that is Type 1s only.

I have bought my own as I want to know what foods are affecting me and which are better for me to eat lots of.

One of my friends who is borderline diabetic said she was told by the chemist and her GP not to test. I told her if she wants to she should as long as she does not expect her GP to fund it. I also told her it is none of the chemist's business.

 

[Bubbsie]

I meant to ask what people do for snacks. I have been feeling so hungry that I could bite my own hands off! I have cut down on portion size for main meals and cut out carbs as much as possible and am STARVING! I ate a lot of fruit at work one day last week and ended up with a bad stomach. I'm not keen on too much sweet stuff anyway so savoury alternative ideas are very welcome.

Re a testing kit, I asked my GP if I should get one and she said not at this stage. To wait until I have second blood test 12 weeks after the first and take it from there. I'm tempted to get one anyway so that I don't fall into bad habits with the passage of time. Is that a good idea though?

Hi Hafhybrid I believe you'd benefit from one of the best books I have read on the development of Diabetes called 'Type 2 Diabetes The first Year' by Gretchen Becker...she is T2 diabetic and writes about her first year from her diagnosis onwards month by month...she explains what diabetes is...how it develops...answers the obvious questions we all have such as is it my fault...the answer to that is a resounding 'No'...she discusses the benefits of regularly testing our blood sugars...why we need to do that...what we gain from it...diet...activity...weight...she busts a lot of the myths & preconceptions surrounding Type2 diabetes...it's well written...easy to understand..it was a tremendous help to me...you can preview the book on Amazon before making a decision on whether to buy it...it is a great investment for any T2 wanting to understand their condition & achieve good control of their blood glucose levels/diabetes.

 

[Ralph-YK]

My GP told me they only give them out now to those who are in danger of hypos so I expect that is Type 1s only.

Type 2 can be at risk of hypo's too. And risk of hypo's is not the only reason to test.

I think the argument now is that there are so many people with Type II it is unaffordable. It is a big problem where I live. Also as they do hba1c every three months they think it is unnecessary.

Testing can empower the patient (us) and allow us to actually manage our condition. This means reduce risk of complications, which means reduced cost to the nhs dealing with them.
The HbA1c does not tell you what effect your breakfast or dinner has on your BG. For many of use the HbA1c can be 6 monthly or even yearly. With no idea what's going on, which is demotivating.

 

[Halfhybrid]

Well, I have lost 9Ibs since first diagnosis 13th March. Put 3Ibs back on over Easter but have shed them again. Still struggling with the blood test meter and in discussion with the seller about how it isn't working properly.

I wanted to ask if anybody has experienced these problems with reducing/cutting carbs. I like meat and fish, nuts etc so have no problem eating those with enjoyment, however, I have upped my intake of fruit and veg and cut out carbs most days of the week with more at weekends. Trouble is, I feel satisfied after eating a meal and for a couple of hours afterwards, and then hunger pangs start. Rather than making me feel like eating to get rid of the pangs which are painful, I feel a bit sick with it. I can't say I feel "better". In fact, I feel very lacking in energy and tired instead with gurgly intestines as they try to cope with the deluge of veg. Does anybody have any advice?

 

[Jeandp]

Some fruits are very high in carbs, especially bananas, aka candy sticks, and grapes, little sugar bombs. Slowly but surely does it, this is a major change for your body to adjust to.

 

[Mark Parrott]

As @Jeandp says, watch what fruit you are eating. Natural sugars still raise BG. I stick to berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries) but still have small portions of these. Going low carb can cause fatigue & tiredness for a while but your body will adjust.

 

[Halfhybrid]

I'm not exactly sure how much carbs I should be eating per day. At the moment, it's hardly any except at the weekend. I should be happy with the weight loss but at the moment, feel too lacking in energy to feel very enthusiastic.

I'm concerned about taking my eye off the ball as I have done in the past, when a regime of eating unenjoyable food became intolerable after a few weeks.

 

[Maz2]

Type 2 can be at risk of hypo's too. And risk of hypo's is not the only reason to test.

Testing can empower the patient (us) and allow us to actually manage our condition. This means reduce risk of complications, which means reduced cost to the nhs dealing with them.
The HbA1c does not tell you what effect your breakfast or dinner has on your BG. For many of use the HbA1c can be 6 monthly or even yearly. With no idea what's going on, which is demotivating.

I know what you mean about 6 months and yearly. I cannot have another one for a year, hence my testing again to try to find why it has gone up again. Our surgery does 3 monthly ones if you are diabetic. Seems to vary on where you live which is not right really.

 

[Maz2]

Should make clear I am pre-diabetic, got out of it, and in it again. I am not yet diabetic.

 

[Halfhybrid]

I have a question about self blood testing and the HBA1C test:

If you have consistently normal BG levels in your home tests, would it still be possible to get a diabetes or pre-diabetes result in the HBA1C test?

 

[Mark T]

I have a question about self blood testing and the HBA1C test:

If you have consistently normal BG levels in your home tests, would it still be possible to get a diabetes or pre-diabetes result in the HBA1C test?

I would suggest that is less likely, but you have to consider the limitations of both self-testing and the HbA1c.

For self testing, it's a snapshot in time. It depends when you are testing - you could be missing a spike somewhere. Also, the meters are only +/-10% I think.

For the HbA1c, it's an average over 2-3 months heavily biased to the last month. But that's very dependent on you having normal blood iron levels. If those are a bit off then it will impact your test result.

 

[Ralph-YK]

I have a question about self blood testing and the HBA1C test:

If you have consistently normal BG levels in your home tests, would it still be possible to get a diabetes or pre-diabetes result in the HBA1C test?

This came up at a diabetes support group, when we had a doctor there. They said it is possible for the HbA1c to be unreliable. I'm unclear on the reasons. I gather they were quite specific situations.

 

[Maz2]

hi Halfhybrid. When I first went pre-diabetic a couple of years back I mentioned self-testing to my GP. he said he could not provide equipment or strips and I would have to fund it myself. He felt it a waste of time as, because I was pre-diabetic, I would keep getting normal results. I think you probably can get normal results and be pre-diabetic on the hba1c according to what he said. I did self-test though and found horrendous results after bacon and sausage which is unusual according to other posters here.

I went normal and am back to pre-diabetes. I have heard some Korean researchers have found that if you have iron deficiency it can falsely elevate your hba1c. I am being checked for this at present due to blood donoring and weight loss combined. I have been underweight for two years since cutting carbs (never overweight in the first place). My GP is still classing me as having elevated blood sugars though. I would, quite honestly, prefer to be told I was pre-diabetic and keep watch on my testing than be told to carry on regardless because it is "falsely elevated due to iron deficiency" and then find out later that I have gone diabetic. Hope all this makes sense.

I heard sickle cell anaemia can cause false lows but iron deficiency anaemia can cause false highs. Not sure how accurate the research is though or whether it has appeared in the BMJ or Lancet. If it has it usually means it is fairly clinically proven, I think.

 

[Halfhybrid]

Thanks for all your responses. I have to say, I don't understand the HBA1C test at all. For example, the period mine would have covered was Christmas, which I guess, is a time of overindulgence for many people, not just myself. Does that mean half the country potentially goes into pre or full diabetes for a period? So if I had the test during a time of year when it wasn't Christmas, a birthday or a holiday, would my HBA1C be lower?

I don't remember hearing about this test prior to having it myself. I thought you either wee'd into a jar and the sugar level was tested or you had a blood test to test your sugar level at that moment in time.

 

[Maz2]

The hba1c is an average of 3 months and is something to do with red blood cells and haemoglobin Depending on how long the red blood cells last it can be an average over 90-120 days. I believe around 55% of it pertains to the previous 4 weeks and lower percentages for the previous weeks.

My friend is borderline diabetic and has been for a couple of years now. her GP wanted to do another test but said he would leave it until the end of January because "if I did them straight after Christmas everyone would be diabetic." I suppose that time of year is not the best time. My GP is not sure whether my blood donoring falsely lowered mine and hence the "normal" results I had. I had donated a week or two before two of the "normal" results but on the last two "normal" results I had not and my haemoglobin should have been more or less normal again. he is baffled as am I as to why it has gone up again. I think they are not too surprised to see problems in someone my age though (65 next month). I suppose they are more concerned about all the young people who are having the high readings as diabetes is an ageing disease in that you have more of it in the over 45s and certainly the over 65s .

I am not giving in though. Still testing. I don't keep testing the same foods unless it is processed and I change the brand. If I introduce a new food I am testing to see how it works with me. Will have to see what happens next year; wish I could have an hba1c before that but they won't.