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Newbie to diabetes
- Thread starter Metalknee
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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Yes definitely advisable it gives you control of your diabetes. Depending on what medication you are on you may get one prescribes on prescription but if just on metformin unlikely unless you are lucky.
The best ones to buy are ones with the cheapest test strips as that is the consumable part. The GlucoNavii is inexpensive with cheap strips but prices do seem to be changing so worth shopping around. There can be as much as 4x the price for different strips but they are specific to the monitor.
Some have more features than others so look to see what suits your needs.
The best ones to buy are ones with the cheapest test strips as that is the consumable part. The GlucoNavii is inexpensive with cheap strips but prices do seem to be changing so worth shopping around. There can be as much as 4x the price for different strips but they are specific to the monitor.
Some have more features than others so look to see what suits your needs.
Hi @Metalknee and welcome to the forum.
If I may add that a BG meter is only of use if you actually use it in an organised way - random testing won't help you much.
The best way of using a BG meter is in finding which foods/meals suit your body without spiking your BG too high. These tend to be ones with low carbohydrates and high(er) protein and fat, neither of which raise BG of a typical Type 2 diabetic.
Test just before a meal and then 2hrs after first bite. If the 2nd reading is more than 2mmol higher than the first then that meal probably contained too many carbs or the wrong sort of carbs for your body. We are all different, so some can eat certain foods that others need to avoid. Also it can vary depending upon time of day - many are more sensitive to carbs at breakfast than later in the day. So cereals, toast, porridge, tropical fruits are usually a really bad way to start the day!
If I may add that a BG meter is only of use if you actually use it in an organised way - random testing won't help you much.
The best way of using a BG meter is in finding which foods/meals suit your body without spiking your BG too high. These tend to be ones with low carbohydrates and high(er) protein and fat, neither of which raise BG of a typical Type 2 diabetic.
Test just before a meal and then 2hrs after first bite. If the 2nd reading is more than 2mmol higher than the first then that meal probably contained too many carbs or the wrong sort of carbs for your body. We are all different, so some can eat certain foods that others need to avoid. Also it can vary depending upon time of day - many are more sensitive to carbs at breakfast than later in the day. So cereals, toast, porridge, tropical fruits are usually a really bad way to start the day!
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