Parent has type 2 Diabetes

[SussexLass]

My mum was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes 2 years ago and I have only just found out that she has not moderated her diet at all

I have several questions

1. Home Blood Sugar testing.
What are the difference between the two types of readings?
mmol/L
mg/dl

I have a Contour XT. This gives only gives mg/dl readings.
Is this acceptable?

2.
I also cannot seem to find out when she should check her blood sugar levels?

a. Should she check after waking but before she takes her medication or after her meds? Then 2 hours after her main meal.

b. Or should she test 2 hours after her main meal and then just before bed?

I am so confused?!?!

Also need advice about how to encourage someone who is struggling to accept that they cannot continue to consume fried food, cakes, crisps, chips, OJ etc.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

1. Home Blood Sugar testing.
What are the difference between the two types of readings?
mmol/L
mg/dl

They're just different units for the same thing. (1 mmol/L is about 18 mg/dl). mmol/L is what's used in the UK, mg/dl is used in most other countries, I think.

Normally meters are sold set to give the appropriate units, so any idea why yours isn't?

It's not a disaster to have the different units (they're different enough that confusion isn't likely) but (presuming you're in the UK) it'll be a bit annoying (because all our advice is based on mmol/L). If you're not in the UK then it's likely mg/dl is what you want for the same sorts of reasons.

 

[SussexLass]

They're just different units for the same thing. (1 mmol/L is about 18 mg/dl). mmol/L is what's used in the UK, mg/dl is used in most other countries, I think.

Normally meters are sold set to give the appropriate units, so any idea why yours isn't?

It's not a disaster to have the different units (they're different enough that confusion isn't likely) but (presuming you're in the UK) it'll be a bit annoying (because all our advice is based on mmol/L). If you're not in the UK then it's likely mg/dl is what you want for the same sorts of reasons.

Thanks Bruce.
My parent lives in the EU so I guess the XT is set to the appropriate unit.

 

[Toucan]

Hello @SussexLass and welcome to the forum to you and your Mum.
It is so good that you are trying to help your Mum, as having some good support is a very significant factor in Diabetes control.

I will try to answer your questions:
I think that you can convert mg/dl into mmol/l by dividing by 18. Eg 100mg/dl = 5.5mmol/l (more or less) - not sure about this, but I'm sure other forum members will verify this - or not!

A good guide to when to test can be found on test-review-adjust
Morning readings are best taken before meds or food.
The objective of taking readings 2 hours after food is mainly to see the effect of different food types on blood glucose levels.
May be this is a way to show her the bad effect that high carb snacks etc has on her readings.
Target ranges for people with diabetes should be individually agreed with her diabatic team, but should generally be between 4-9mmol/L.

You can find much more information on the 'Learning Zone' tab at the top of this page, and we can offer much more advice on diet, but it is important to get her 'buy-in' to making changes first, and it sounds as if this may be a challenge.
Possibly a bit harsh but maybe talking to her about some of the serious side effects of uncontrolled Diabetes would provide a jolt.

Please keep posting and we will do our best to help and answer questions.

 

[leonS]

18 is correct, you can multiply by 18 the targets given above to see what the readings should be on your meter, but you can not change the meter's readings.

Fried food is actually fine as are full fat food items, but crisps, bread, pasta rice and other high carb foods will cause problems for most type 2s.

 

[SussexLass]

Hi Toucan,

thank you for your support and advice. I am not sure if you can tell but I am going a little out of my mind with worry.
I feel guilty having to go through the negative effects of not controlling her blood sugar levels and I’m not sure I’m getting through.

However, I am visiting and taking control of the cooking. Last night Trout with stir fried veggies and not a grain of rice in site. Followed by natural yoghurt with blueberries.

This thread is a great support to me.
Thank you.

 

[SussexLass]

18 is correct, you can multiply by 18 the targets given above to see what the readings should be on your meter, but you can not change the meter's readings.

Fried food is actually fine as are full fat food items, but crisps, bread, pasta rice and other high carb foods will cause problems for most type 2s.

Thank you so much.
Yes. The biggest issues are all the above, and those nasty processed yoghurts, pasta, OJ, and potatoes.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the forum Sussex Lass.

What are the difference between the two types of readings?
mmol/L
mg/dl

I can never remember which is which. All I know is that my meter uses the scale that is used in England. (I believe the sort of numbers given on the scale used in America are massively bigger than the English one.) And the HbA1c used to have numbers that looked like finger prick test, except aren't.

I also cannot seem to find out when she should check her blood sugar levels?

This will partitally depend whether you're on insulin and or gliclizide or not.
If not, then the idea is to see what affect food (and pos exercise) has on blood glucose (BG levels). (And any changes you make.) So before eating and 1 - 2 hours after. You then look at what the difference is. Your mum should keep a food diary and a record of her BG levels. Hopefully, after a couple of weeks you should start to see a pattern.

a. Should she check after waking but before she takes her medication or after her meds?

That would be immediately she wakes, before doing anything. Then just before having breakfast, as BG can go up from waking to the time you have breakfast.

 

[Toucan]

I am visiting and taking control of the cooking. Last night Trout with stir fried veggies and not a grain of rice in site. Followed by natural yoghurt with blueberries.

That sounds like a lovely meal and I'm sure she will have enjoyed it, and she is very lucky that you are helping her. please keep posting and let us know how it goes.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @SussexLass

Glad you have found us.

Sorry to hear that you have been so worried, hopefully the calm and wise heads of the forum will offer you peace of mind and practical steps you can take to support your Mum.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach, but hopefully suggestions and experiences from other forum members can give you tips and strategies to help you and your mum find your own ways through the maze 🙂

 

[SussexLass]

Thanks so much. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions (mainly mine). This thread has been an absolute lifesaver for me.

 

[SussexLass]

Well, we’ve had a breakthrough, as they say.

Earlier this week: Massive spike after a bowl of cornflakes with a little sugar was unbelievable. (14.11) This was to prove my point that Cornflakes are not a friend.

Second test was a Vietnamese lunch out with a glass of red wine spritzer.
(I had to leg it to a shop to obtain some sugar- free mixer due to restaurant only stocking standard stuff.
Huge meal of lovely spicy food but no noodles or rice.
We took a post meal walk of around 15 mins, followed by 4 flights of stairs and loads of water.
Lowest reading to date: 6.111🙂
Took mum’s blood pressure too, and it’s the lowest it’s been for ages.
Feeling great.
Helps that I’m following this meal plan too.
Don’t think I can go back now.
It seems to be the perfect way to look after yourself.