Diabetic Tablet Controlled

[Redhelen72]

83 year old woman, been diabetic for 10 years now, is on medication but would not have needed it if watched diet.
Constantly checking her sugars with finger prick.
Is this necessary? I thought it was just insulin dependent that needed to check blood all the time?
Any advice gratefully received

[barry1010]

Jim, I used that for 2 weeks and the information really was very useful. Very easy to use and understand.

[JimF]

Absolutely.

[Sqad]

As I said, Type 2 diabetes is a uniquely personal disorder and we each manage it differently.

[Sqad]

An expensive toy,fine for a Type 1 diabetic but totally unnecessary for a Type 2.
In my opinion.
I am surprised that it is available on the NHS.

[jennyjoan]

My two nephews are Type 1 diabetic - and they have that Libre thing. It does save them from pricking their finger all the time but both have said that the reading from them on the Libre is not that accurate as finger pricking.

[jennyjoan]

They pay £25 a month

[Redhelen72]

She doesn’t adjust her diet, she doesn’t keep track of her readings, it’s almost a status thing.
It was the same when she had her pacemaker.

[barry1010]

At least she's not round your house every day, Helen, expecting to be waited on hand and foot. It could be worse - it is easy to cut a phone call short

[barry1010]

The Libre things are only available on the NHS for some people with Type 1 diabetes - mainly pregnant ladies and those that have bad hypos.
I think it is great for parents of young diabetics as they can get alerts on their phone if their children are about to have a hypo.
JJ, I don't know how your nephews pay £25 a month unless they are subsidised in some way - the sensors cost nearly £50 each and last a fortnight - £96.58 a month VAT free.

[Redhelen72]

Barry, sometimes that is worse - she gets friends to call us in the middle of the night or we get half baked stories on what went on - you know they are not true but when you try and question the stories she changes the subject.
We are expecting a 'drama' this weekend as we are going over to london but not visiting her.

[barry1010]

And you told her? Oh dear. Keep your phones turned off - she has friends she can call if she genuinely needs help.

[Redhelen72]

We told her because the husband phones his mother twice a week and would miss one of the calls - also we are seeing his brother whose children post everything on FB so the family will find out and tell her!
I know she thinks I am behind everything and if I wasn't there my husband would still be there at her beck and call.
We have been together 32 years and married for 25 (soon) and she still thinks that she should be at the forefront of all his thoughts

I know that I sound like a right cow - I have been told often enough on here that I am but she is draining

[barry1010]

I feel for you, Helen, she's obviously driving you mad and causing distress.
Unless your husband is willing to cut ties with her it is a case of put up with it.

[jennyjoan]

Barry re the £25 a month - you know young ones - don't always tell the truth but I believe you are correct they are probably being subsidised. They are bad Type1 - one of them this year has had 3 hypos this year. My mother was a diabetic but in those days in the late 70s nobody took it seriously. She gave herself the insulin and it was a big syringe then but she was very neglectful about it - all because none of us knew how serious it was then. One morning I went up to kiss her good morning on my way out to work and she was giving herself the insulin - upon me looking at the measurements of the insulin I knew it should have been 10 and hers was reading 12 - I said "mother what are you doing - you're giving yourself too much". Ach she said - I'll put it in for good value". So there's a lot of hereditary diabetes in my family.

I wouldn't want that libre thing on my arm - I have seen it on their arms - I just would hate the thought of pulling it out when dressing and undressing. And as I say both have said they are not accurate readings.

sorry Redhelen for digressing but one thing in your favour - you are very lucky she doesn't live near you, then you would be pulling your hair out. My friend never got on with her MIL either and living far away was the best thing ever for her.

[barry1010]

I got on with the Libre very well - it stayed put and I didn't notice it was there really. It measures in a different way and lags a bit compared to the finger prick but overall is very accurate.
My brother is Type 1 and I remember those big syringes in his stomach. Nasty - so much easier for Type 1s today