It's caught up with me at last

I’ve recently had to take another blood test as my blood sugar has been creeping up again. As from this morning I’m on a very low dose of Gliclazide at breakfast time. I have to take another test and see the Doctor again in three months.

Anyone who has been reading this blog over the past ten years will know that I spent 5 years from 2005 to 2010 testing my blood sugar several times a day. I managed to control things by eating sensibly. Then my Doctor retired and I had a period of 5 years with Doctors who didn’t believe in “pre diabetics”. I appreciate that I have managed to stall taking medication for this for 10 years. At least I don’t have to use insulin.

 My present Doctor’s advice is to avoid sweet things (which I’ve always done) and take more exercise. I know that I have to lose weight too. I’m off now to put on some music and do a bit of ‘keep fit’.

Glucose tests a waste of time?

I was very shocked this morning when I listened to the news broadcast on BBC radio 4. A report has just been released which says that there is no point in people like me checking their blood sugar levels on a regular basis. The report says that constant checking causes worry and even depression in patients. I strongly disagree. My father was on the verge of losing his toes before he was diagnosed with diabetes. I made sure that my doctor knew that there was diabetes type II in my family for two generations. I consider myself fortunate that abnormal blood sugar levels were spotted quickly and that using tests I could adjust my diet. Testing strips and lancets for finger pricking are expensive, but surely they are a lot cheaper than insulin injections, hospital stays and rehabilitation costs after amputation? I won’t go into the subject of blindness and other organ problems diabetic patients face. I’ll be discussing this with my own Doctor next time I see him to see what is going to happen in France. I’d be interested to know what other people think about this subject; diabetic, pre-diabetic or not.