Diabetes Structured educational videos are available here: Freshwell Low Carb Programme.
Supplementary information:
Blood sugar monitors
If you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, blood sugar monitors are not available on the NHS unless you treat your diabetes with medication that can cause hypos. If you wanted to purchase one to monitor your own blood sugars, then any blood sugar monitor should be fine. They are easily purchased at Boots or on Amazon etc. In the NHS we tend to use Microdot, GlucoRX or Contour machines but they are all much of a muchness. With regard to when to use one, fasting levels in the morning before breakfast are useful and if you have prediabetes you should aim for them all to be under 7. In terms of looking at the effect of different foods, you should test around 1 hour after eating. Anything above 11 is a sign that the food you ate is not good for your prediabetes. Basically the lower the number the better and staying under 7 should be the general aim.
Medications for type 2 diabetes and risk of hypos
Diabetes Medications that may cause Hypoglycaemia
- Gliclazide (and others in the same drug group ending in “ide” e.g. glipizide)
- Insulin (all types whether injected once or multiple times per day)
- Repaglinide
Diabetes Medications that do not cause Hypoglycaemia
- Metformin (including modified release versions such as Sukkarto)
- Sitagliptin (and others in the same drug group that end in “gliptin” e.g. linagliptin, alogliptin)
- Non insulin injectables such as Exenatide or Dulaglutide (and others in the same drug group that end in “”tide”)
- Dapagliflozin (and others in the same drug group that end in “flozin” e.g. canagliflozin, empagliflozin)
- Pioglitazone
- Acarbose
Please also be aware that medication from the second group makes hypoglycaemia more likely when used in combination with medications from the first group.
Driving with Diabetes
For further information about driving with type 2 diabetes please visit the government website https://www.gov.uk/diabetes-driving
Footcare
For more information about the importance of caring for your feet when you have diabetes, and addition resources on how to do this please see the Provide Podiatry Service. If you are registered with a GP in the Colne Valley PCN area, and have diabetes and a concern about your feet, you can self refer yourself to this service by calling the service directly or by completing and sending in the referral form on the website.
