Diabetes

[jennyjoan]

would anybody know how to get a reading down as in losing weight.

Like how many pounds would you need to lose to bring your diabetes reading down a point or two.

[eleanor2]

Thanks for this post Jenny by the way, very helpful.

[barry1010]

eleanor, the figures you gave are meaningless as I don't know if they are mg/dl or mmol. They are either very good or not so good.

[Sqad]

Eleanor........those results are just fine and have improved in the last 2 years.
N9 big deal.

[eleanor2]

Quite barry! No indication as to either. Should have asked at the time, but didnt. Thanks for getting back, night x

[eleanor2]

From the way she spoke I thought it wasn't good & there was room for improvement. Thanks sqad.

[barry1010]

If the reading was lower in 2019 than in 2021, which is how I understand them, they have got worse. Has the heat got to me?

[barry1010]

I understand your readings to translate to 6.2 in 2019 and 11.5 in 2021. From good to not so good

[Sqad]

No barry....the heat as got to me....I took 44 and 21 as the Hb1ac readings and of course 21 is the date.-:)
I amnever at my best at 5he end of the day.
I think that I couldn't believe a hb1ac of 102 could be correct.
My mistake.

[barry1010]

Easily done, Sqad.

[eleanor2]

Yep, 102 was my last reading that prompted the doc to call me in. The lowest reading I've managed on the test strips is 9.0. My last reading was 16.5. A way to go still.

[barry1010]

I'm glad you've come back to this tread, ellie. I am quite cross that you have been given your results with no interpretation or context - what's the point of that?
How long have you been diabetic? Were you given a booklet explaining the condition, the possible complications, the glucose levels and what they mean, diet recommendations and advice on how to manage the blood sugar levels on a day to day basis and how to cope if you have a hypo?
Have you been invited to an NHS diabetes education course or offered dietary advice by a specialist?

Sorry for bombarding you with questions but I really do find it disconcerting that you don't seem to have been given the resources you need to understand your glucose readings.

[barry1010]

I should add that when my glucose reading was just over a hundred the nurse wanted to start me on insulin. That was when I really started to worry.

[eleanor2]

Hi barry, I started on medication in April. All I got was an Accu check user manual & a home monitoring diary. I had about 3 phone consultations with the nurse since then, and nothing since. No to the rest of your questions.

[barry1010]

eleanor, I am appalled. Make good use of the forum I linked to but you might also find this simple, straightforward guide helpful. It is similar to the one the NHS diabetes nurse gave me when I was first diagnosed
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2018-07/Type%202%20Education%20pack%20for%20Scotland_0.pdf?_ga=2.175324263.493103794.1532334566-1627760137.1524050055

You should also get an annual eye test where drops are put in to your eyes and photos taken. This is free.
Please use moisturising cream on your feet every day - any sort will do. Dry skin on the feet is not good for us.

Also, take your finger prick tests as soon as you wake up, 2 hours after breakfast and then before each meal and 2 hours after. Keep a record of what you've eaten and the readings. If you have a big spike after eating a certain food don't avoid it. Remember to take a reading two hours after you next eat it and see if you have the same reaction. If you do, cut it out for a while.
This should be a good indicator of what you can and can't eat. We are all different so what is good for me might be bad for you.
Yes, it is a blerdy slog but it puts you in control and type 2 diabetes is something that many people can get the better of.

[eleanor2]

Thanks for that barry!