Hi toolip,
I have just arrived home from my latest visit to the clinic where I saw the Educator and the Dietician and I have been told to reduce the testing to twice day and to vary it - either before or after breakfast and either after lunch or after dinner - not the same time every day - and to aim for between 4 and 6 mmols. The reading this morning before breakfast was 9.3 so while there is still a way to go it is down from the initial 17.9 fasting level.
The slow release tablets are available here but since I haven't had any side effects with the Diaformin I was advised to stay on those. I have also been given details of the gym visits but I have to have a doctor's referral to take advantage of the reduced cost of these - $90 approx. $10 a visit. (roughly 55 p to the dollar at the moment).
I have had a lot of information given to me about the various foods I can eat and as the dietician said it is a matter of common sense and restraint - I can have chocklit but not a whole bar at once, fruit but not several pieces, bread and other carbohydrates but not more than 3 serves at breakfast lunch or dinner. I was shown a website that looks to be very good -
www.calorieking.com.au
This site gives the calorie, carbohydrate, fat, etc. values for a whole range of supermarket and take-away foods. To access the information on the food values of a huge range of foods click on Recipes, Articles & More and then on Browse Our Food Database in the drop down menu. This site is not just for diabetics but can be used for anyone wishing to lose weight. You can also have a diet created for you if you become a member of the site - this is free.
I haven't cut out sugar completely - I still have it in my tea but sometimes I only have 1 cup of tea a day. Depends on how I feel and how hot the weather is - yesterday it reached 35C and at the moment it is 38C inside the house and 33 outside so I will be heading for the air conditioned bedroom with a good book and a cold drink (water!) very soon. I was also told not to be pedantic about what I am eating - eg. a small tin of baked beans could be 100 grams in weight and the recommended serve 90 grams - the extra few grams is not worth worrying about.
I was with the educator for about 30 mins and with the dietician for nearly 90 mins and both have said that I am welcome to make another appointment to see them again at any time or even to 'phone - the dietician gave me her email address, too. I was advised to check the info. panel on foods frequently since what was once a 200 gram pack of yoghurt is now a 175 gram pack.
As far as support goes one daughter lives in Melbourne and the other is in the process of moving from a 20 minute drive from me to a 40 minute drive away so while they are often in touch with me I am mostly on my own.
Bye for now
Hazel xxx