As some of you know I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in Septebmer 2011. I am taking Metformin twice a day. I told my doctor at that time I don't want to have to check my blood sugars (because I'm too chicken to stab my finger), and he said I didn't need to.
However, while I've noticed a vast improvement in my "random episodes of light headedness where I feel like I'm going to faint", I still get them periodically and now that I know it's to do with my blood sugar, I need to know if it's when my sugars are low, or high. So my last doctor appointment I asked for a prescription for diabetic supplies.
Today I went to select a meter. I told the girl that I wanted to look at one where I could test on my arm because I heard that it hurts less. Plus I am in the healthcare field and constantly exposed to all kinds of germs and having to wash my hands frequently or using hand sanitizer. I didn't want a bunch of puncture marks on my fingers to put me at risk for picking up some kind of infection.
I picked this one: http://affordablediabeticsupplies.com/diabetes-monitors-kits/accu-chek-compact-plus-meter-kit/ The machine is free and the strips cost about $81.00 which is about $5.00 more than some of the others. But the machine allows me to test either on my fingers or the heel of my palm or my arm. Unfortunately they didn't have a meter there for me to actually buy today, so I'm going back on Tuesday to pick everything up.
I'm completely freaked out about poking myself, but I think it's necessary for me to do at this point until I can at least figure out what my body is telling me when I start to feel "wonky" at certain times of the day.
However, while I've noticed a vast improvement in my "random episodes of light headedness where I feel like I'm going to faint", I still get them periodically and now that I know it's to do with my blood sugar, I need to know if it's when my sugars are low, or high. So my last doctor appointment I asked for a prescription for diabetic supplies.
Today I went to select a meter. I told the girl that I wanted to look at one where I could test on my arm because I heard that it hurts less. Plus I am in the healthcare field and constantly exposed to all kinds of germs and having to wash my hands frequently or using hand sanitizer. I didn't want a bunch of puncture marks on my fingers to put me at risk for picking up some kind of infection.
I picked this one: http://affordablediabeticsupplies.com/diabetes-monitors-kits/accu-chek-compact-plus-meter-kit/ The machine is free and the strips cost about $81.00 which is about $5.00 more than some of the others. But the machine allows me to test either on my fingers or the heel of my palm or my arm. Unfortunately they didn't have a meter there for me to actually buy today, so I'm going back on Tuesday to pick everything up.
I'm completely freaked out about poking myself, but I think it's necessary for me to do at this point until I can at least figure out what my body is telling me when I start to feel "wonky" at certain times of the day.