New here Type 2
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| Thu, 10-11-2007 - 6:13am |
Hello everyone
I was just diagnosed with type two diabetes after many years of borderline numbers and even going through several GGT when I was PG with my son. I have had eye problems and numb and painful feet and legs for years. I was diagnosed with Fibro and arthritis several years ago but no one said anything about diabetes. It took a neurologist to catch the diabetes and confirmed neuropathy in my legs with total loss of sensation in my feet (that is until something hits them then they go nuts with pain).
I knew something was not good at my GGT that I took a week and half ago. I could not stay awake at the lab and they had a heck of a time waking me up to get the last draw, then (I can't belive they let me drive home) at home I could not get warm it took several blankets and my husband to even warm a bit. DH threatened to call Dr. or go to ER if I did not improve. Well my fasting BS was 162 and the 2hr was 254.
Saw my PCP she put me on Metaormin 500mg 2x a day, and I will see a diabetic educator to learn all the in's and outs of eating and other stuff. I have not started the med yet because I want to be able to see what is happening on the monitor in relation to med. Dr suggested I wait to purchase the monitor until I met with the teacher since there seems to be so many different kinds and costs involved. I would love suggestions on monitors since this is new to me as a consumer of diabetic products and diagnosis. Although I am familiar with both type 1 and 2 diabetes due to a family member with type 1 and I work with clients that have mostly type 2. Amazing how much you don't know once it happens to you... I am a total rookie.
Sorry for the length but glad I found this site thanks in advance for all your help.
Connie

Hi Connie,
Welcome to the board. This is going to be a really short message from me. My husband, who is also diabetic, is quite ill right now and in the hospital. There is much I would like to tell you. But I want you to know that you have come to the right place to get your questions answered.
My name is Mary Frances and I am one of the community leaders for this board. I am a type 2 diabetic and a registered nurse. Any advise I may give is not a substitute for seeking medical advise from a health care practitioner of your choice.
On the issue of monitors, your diabetic educator may have several monitors that she/he can show you and ultimately give you. I personally use an AcuChek Compact. I was just in a lancet trial and in that trial I used a Bayer Ascencia. What a nice meter!! Small, fast and didn't require a large sample. It will all depend upon what your insurance will pay for. So check with your insurance as the meter, itself, isn't that expensive. It is the supplies that are very expensive.
If your doctor started you on Metformin 500 mg twice per day, that should be your ultimate dose. Metformin needs to be started at a lower dose until your system gets used to it. It would be better to start at 250 twice per day and work up to the 500 twice per day.
Anyway I must run. Others will be here to help you and I will post as my time becomes more available.
Hi Connie. I was just dx'd Type 2 back in January/February this year. At the second appointment (after a second fasting glucose to confirm the dx since I had been ill with pneumonia just prior to the first one and between illness, medication, and the herbal tea I was using to help with the coughing, the results might not have been totally accurate the first time), my endocrinologist -gave- me the meter (I guess she then billed the insurance directly, I never paid out additional cash for the meter itself), after asking if I wanted one that was really little. I said "I'll take whichever lets me close my eyes and not look and doesn't hurt" (lol) - I really dislike seeing blood (or did, now it's no biggie). So, instead of the littlest compact one, I've got the AccuChek compact plus. I haven't used any others so I can't compare but this one is easy. I particularly like that it has a drum of test strips so I don't handle each one individually each time - I don't ever have to touch the test strips themselves at all (except for touching it to the droplet of blood), just push the button and they get ejected and they're sealed into the drum when I put it into the meter. I'm sure there are others with similar systems but that's been a big plus for me with this one.
Welcome
--Deb
Hi Connie and welcome to the board!
Also, remember to keep those receipts (in whatever form) for the copays and other out of pocket expenses for the test strips, meds, meter, etc. - if the total exceeds a certain percentage of your income, you can deduct some of it from your income taxes.
--Deb