Newbie Question

chelny

I was recently diagnosed with T2. My doctor recommended that I take a diabetes education class. She said that I'd learn to use a BG meter in the class and that I should record BG once a day. She wanted to see me again in 3 mo.

I called to schedule the class. They offer morning, afternoon & evening. I chose evening because I work FT. Unfortunately, the next 2 evening classes (5 weeks) are full, so I'm in one that starts at the end of May. I would take a daytime class if it was a matter of taking one day off work (or maybe even 2), but it's 5 days (5 half-days off of work). Does it seem ridiculous that I can't learn to use my BG meter for 3 months? not to mention the other things I need to learn about nutrition?

I guess I should reschedule my 3 mo. follow-up with my Dr since I won't have taken any readings or anything by then. Right? Should I break open the little meter, read the instructions and try to figure it out for myself? I'm sure I can find literature online about diet & nutrition.

Maybe I'm used to living in bigger cities, but I am stunned that there is no other class available to take, or no class at this center sooner than 3 months, no other class less disruptive to my job. I've been in this city for less than 2 years. I've had some other less than positive experiences with my primary care Dr and the mammography center. I think I could switch to the university health care system (totally switch doctors and everything), but I don't know if it is any better. Maybe I'm spoiled from where I used to live. What would you do? What was your experience getting started with an education class?

2t9nty

I never took the classes. The doctor gave me a meter. I watched a youtube video when I got home and read the booklet. I went to the pharmacy to get more strips and discovered the copay was higher than just getting the strips for the Relion meter, so I got one of those.

I used the Diabetes Association diet, and took the metformin. My numbers did not seem to be going down. I did some research and decided to try low carb. I was doing a lot of finger sticks to gauge progress. The low carb brought the glucose readings down quickly and pretty dramatically. I lowered the carb level some more and decided to lose some weight.

I say learn to use the meter and start monitoring. Experiment with the diet a little to see what you can eat and what you need to avoid. I am off metformin now, and my A!C after being off meds for a year was 5.4. I am still very low carb to maintain the low glucose numbers, but I am used to it.

chelny

Thanks for the reply. I am already working on losing weight. I guess I'll take the initiative to learn the meter before the class ever happens.

nvmomketo

I highly recommend the book Dr Berstein's Diabetes Solution by Richard Bernstein. He walks you through possible meds, how to test BG, what levels to strive for, and how to use a low carb diet and activity to reduce your need for meds.

He also has a lot of videos, but they are a bit dry - he's an 80 year old t1d engineer and doctor committed to helping people and not an entertainer.

Dr Sarah Halberg has a great ted talk on youtube on diets for diabetics . She is also running clinical trials using diet and lifestyle to successfully reverse t2d in a majority of participants.