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Health

Blood glucose monitor

(15 Posts)
dragonfly46 Sun 20-Apr-25 22:03:42

My DH is also Type 2 and has the Libresse on prescription.

Deedaa Sun 20-Apr-25 21:57:46

My husband was type 2 and our GP prescribed a libra for him. He said he was only supposed to prescribe them for type !, but as my husband had been on and off chemo for nine years it would be one less needle to keep sticking in him

rosie1959 Sun 20-Apr-25 21:39:25

loopyloo

And the main thing is get down to a healthy weight.

I know a few type 2 diabetics that are extremely thin and fit. It doesn't always follow that only overweight people get diabetes

loopyloo Sun 20-Apr-25 18:51:48

As you say you are prediabetic I would just get hbaic done each year, watch my weight and walk or exercise as long as your Dr agrees.

loopyloo Sun 20-Apr-25 17:11:17

And the main thing is get down to a healthy weight.

loopyloo Sun 20-Apr-25 17:09:14

Have been diabetic for about 6 years.
I now use a codefree tester which does mean finger tricks but is cheaper and the tester strips last for quite a while.
When pricking the finger use the side as its less painful and causes less nerve damage.
Very revealing to see what pushes up blood sugar and how exercise brings it down.
Libre 2 is excellent but expensive.
You used to be able to get one on free trial.
The newer things aren't accurate enough.

Elegran Sun 20-Apr-25 16:52:57

A few months ago I saw one of the type that uses the same technology as an oxygen level monitor, just clipped on a finger, price about £20. I googled it (just for interest) to see if there were any independent reviews of it. There were - it was no use.

This was the one I saw, but there are others being advertised -
malwaretips.com/blogs/bikenda-non-invasive-blood-glucose-meter-scam/
They say ^". . the product that arrives in the mail is not actually the revolutionary blood glucose meter advertised. The victim receives a cheap fingertip pulse oximeter available on sites like Alibaba for around $3. This type of pulse oximeter simply measures your pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation level. It cannot test blood glucose. Yet the victims have already paid far more than the device is worth, believing they were buying an innovative meter."

Trustplot had a review, too -
uk.trustpilot.com/review/bikenda.com
179 total reviews
5-star - Less than 1%
4-star - 0%
3-star - 0%
2-star Less than 1%
1-star - 98%
You can't give any less than one star on Trustpilot. I suspect the 5 star review was by the seller.

If I were looking for a way to test without finger-pricking and actually getting at blood to measure the level of glucose in it, I would search the internet for more information but NOT from someone who was trying to sell me a cheap gadget.

rosie1959 Sun 20-Apr-25 16:16:21

Try again. My daughter has been diabetic for nearly 30 years the only was to check your blood is by doing a finger prick and using a strip and meter or by having a Libre sensor which is attached to your arm by a small needle and can be read by her mobile phone
As far as I know the clip that goes on your finger gives blood oxygen levels not blood sugars.

rosie1959 Sun 20-Apr-25 16:11:25

In my

62Granny Sun 20-Apr-25 15:25:19

They attach to your finger much like the ones they put on you in hospital to test your pulse. Looking at the information online it is done via infra red , if it works I have no idea. DH is a type 1 and has a Libra 2 type on script, but I know they are very expensive to buy and as a pre diabetic you would not be eligible. TBH I would try and just keep to a healthy diet , cutting down on processed food cutting down if you are a bit carbohydrate eater and to back to the nurse in 6 months for another test to see if it has worked before you go spending out on something that isn't that accurate. Take a look at " Diabetes UK website for some tips and more information.

choughdancer Sun 20-Apr-25 14:48:53

I have been using one for years as I'm a diabetic (type 1). It is now on prescription for diabetics, and I know a non-diabetic friend used one when she went on the Zoe programme. It is very easy to use with a phone app, or with a dedicated reader. There is no finger pricking; you apply a sensor every two weeks to the back of your arm. A tiny needle goes into the skin and this is where the information for the readings come from. Probably best to look it up for a better description! Look up Libre Freestyle.

nanna8 Sun 20-Apr-25 13:00:06

I used to use one but got sick of pricking my finger when the blood tests they do at the GP were quite often different and probably more accurate. I think there are a few new things around now ,worth checking out.

Elegran Sun 20-Apr-25 12:39:25

More than one of the ones on the market that "work" that way has been slated as useless.There may be fancy expensive ones for hospital use which are like oxymeters, but the ones available online for £20 or £30 are probably not worth buying.

Go to a site like NHS and see whether they have any advice. (and ignore any marketing or product advertising that says their item is "NHS approved" - it may be approved as an oxymeter, but not necessarily as a glucose monitor.)

Blossoming Sun 20-Apr-25 11:49:39

I’ve never used one myself, sorry I can’t help.

gransruleok Sun 20-Apr-25 10:58:54

Has anyone any idea how a thing you put on your finger can detect your level of blood sugar/glucose please. Without pricking your finger to test your blood, I can’t see how it works.
I am pre diabetic and would like to monitor my sugar levels.