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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
You normally feel lathargic after a meal but maybe your blood sugar is on the high side. I would test & make a note of what you are eating. See if you could try & lower bg. Good luck 🙂
The diabetes nurse is talking rubbish, I'm afraid. The only way that you know you are eating a healthy diet for your diabetes is if you test your blood sugar levels to make sure you can tolerate the meals you are eating. Fruit juice is 'healthy' but it will send your blood sugar levels soaring! I'd suggest reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, if you haven't already, and get yourself a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker so you can get a better understanding of what it all entails. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals will try and fob you off with what they perceive as the cheap option, or use arguments that they haven't investigated (like the one about you becoming anxious if you test) Having heard the stories of hundreds of people here and elsewhere over several years, I doubt if a single person has succeeded in getting good control and understanding of their diabetes without testing at some stage.
What i would recomend is get a week or two of readings writen down. So then you can make a few ajustments. See what type of test strips dsn use & ask her for a tub. & buy the meter to match. Meter normally less than ?20 & you get about 10 strips with meter. If you went for a walk after your dinner do you still feel tired ? Have a go at experimenting. Let us know how you get on. 🙂
I've seen a meter for around ?20 that has 50 tests and it's all in one. lance and reader. Are they any good and do you think I should buy one while I see the nurse again in 4 weeks?
I've seen a meter for around ?20 that has 50 tests and it's all in one. lance and reader. Are they any good and do you think I should buy one while I see the nurse again in 4 weeks?
The SD Codefree Meter has test strips that are only ?6.99 for 50 - this appears to be the cheapest meter our members have come across. Most meter companies will send you a free meter, but you will then have to pay for strips which can cost up to ?40 for 50 strips. What is the meter you have seen?
I didn't mean about the legality; I ment about the medication. Do you think it would make a difference to the reading or is that just advertising jargon? Yhinking about it I reckon it's just advertising jargon.
I didn't mean about the legality; I ment about the medication. Do you think it would make a difference to the reading or is that just advertising jargon? Yhinking about it I reckon it's just advertising jargon.
When you are on insulin it will make a difference to why you might need to test, although usually so you know when to time your injection or if you are going low. If not on insulin it's still important to know how your body tolerates your meals so that you know whether or not to include certain things in your diet. Your readings will be your reaction to your food intake and your circulating insulin, whether injected or produced by your own pancreas.
A person without diabetes can expect their bodies to cope with all meals, whatever their content, so a meter wouldn't be any use to them.
I thought I'd let you know, Diabetes UK runs a Peer Support service, where you can talk to other people with Type 2 diabetes. It's 1-to-1 via phone on 0843 353 8600 or email through http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Peer-support .
All the volunteers are trained, and it's confidential, so it's a great place for a rant as well as sharing your thoughts and experiences.
Since I'd posted on here I had one massive 'meltdown' and sobbed for a whole day. I embarassed myself at work and at the pre-arranged blood test at the GP. I think the shock period had passed and I was actually becoming more aware of the lifechanges needed. Not foodwise but healthwise.
I stopped looking at anything to do with diabetes until after Christmas. I ate carefully though.
Last week I purchased (a very costly exercise!) a monitor, strips and lancettes and have begun the occaisional testing. This week also had an eye test, podiatrist care, a blood test and accepted a flu jab (I'd refused initially).
After looking at a few web based support groups I've found this the warmest and most human (IYKWIM) so I'm sticking around here for a while if that's OK. 🙂