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Type 1: How many test strips do you use up a month ?

therower said:
Not sure how many test strips used monthly is relevant, what is far more important is how many test strips you use to make informed judgements to control your diabetes.
Taking driving or machine operation out of the equation I personally believe that testing more than 6 times everyday shows that diabetes isn't being controlled. If every test falls within range everyday then why test so often? If tests are constantly out of range then control is not working.
On a DAFNE course a guy was testing everyday 2hrs after breakfast and every test was perfectly in range. When asked why he checked everyday but knew what the result was going to be he said he just wanted to make sure. In my opinion a total waste of a test strip.
Obviously if you change anything in your life that could impact on sugar levels then more testing is essential but it shouldn't become continuous.
A test strip gives you information, you have to use that information to help you be in control, sadly I feel some people don't use the information as much as they could do.
Apologies if I've upset anyone. It's only my opinion.
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Hi,
You know me? I like & respect your posts..

If every test falls within range? Why bother.. It's easy to not bother let it slip & not notice as on slowly enters into a bad territory acclimatising to slowly increasing BS (building up tolerance level.) without adjust regime to suit, thus damage/complications ensue...?
If tests are out of control? Same reasons as above..

To be fair. With regards to driving & operating machinary.? It's all about the "low" control & no one condones a drunk at the wheel or at work.. It's all about how "sober" you are DVLA (or an employer.) only care about habitual "sobriety". Until one looses the eye sight.. Then they care about the "fitness to drive." :banghead:
 
Hi @Jaylee. I agree it is very easy to let good control slip by being blasé. Likewise over testing doesn't necessarily lead to good control. It's finding that happy medium which is what we are all striving for.
I wasn't suggesting that constant good readings should stop testing but should lead to more confidence and take away the need to " just check " as I think a lot of us do, myself included.
Nothing annoys and pleases me more than preempting correctly what the meter says.
Annoyed because I knew the result.
Pleased because I knew the result.
Crazy world we live in as diabetics.
 
Hi @mahola. That's annoying.:) My 5 yr old granddaughter actually shows me how to use this **** iPad sometimes. Makes me feel old and even more useless.
Seems this diabetes thing is easier than us grown ups make out.
 
therower said:
Not sure how many test strips used monthly is relevant, what is far more important is how many test strips you use to make informed judgements to control your diabetes.
Taking driving or machine operation out of the equation I personally believe that testing more than 6 times everyday shows that diabetes isn't being controlled. If every test falls within range everyday then why test so often? If tests are constantly out of range then control is not working.
On a DAFNE course a guy was testing everyday 2hrs after breakfast and every test was perfectly in range. When asked why he checked everyday but knew what the result was going to be he said he just wanted to make sure. In my opinion a total waste of a test strip.
Obviously if you change anything in your life that could impact on sugar levels then more testing is essential but it shouldn't become continuous.
A test strip gives you information, you have to use that information to help you be in control, sadly I feel some people don't use the information as much as they could do.
Apologies if I've upset anyone. It's only my opinion.
Click to expand...


Must be nice to have such a consistent body. When you're a lady or have other health issues that come and go (in my case endometriosis) that affect your blood sugars on an almost hourly basis I'm afraid it's not as simple as "well it worked yesterday so it'll work today too".

Please try not to make such sweeping statements about other people; until you've walked a mile in mine or anyone else's shoes you should maybe look for a smaller horse than the high one you were riding when you wrote that comment (ahhh, love me a mixed metaphor!)
 
@1abRat . Sorry I may have upset you, that wasn't my intention.
My comments/ observations are purely directed at type 1 diabetes, adding endometriosis to the discussion obviously changes the debate. As the title thread says " type 1 how many test strips do you use a month" I saw no reference to other conditions.
I fully sympathise that you have extra issues to contend with which ultimately leads to extra testing.
I have walked many miles in different shoes and have many more to walk.
Please accept my apologies and I hope we can be united in the fight against diabetes if nothing else.
 
therower said:
@1abRat . Sorry I may have upset you, that wasn't my intention.
My comments/ observations are purely directed at type 1 diabetes, adding endometriosis to the discussion obviously changes the debate. As the title thread says " type 1 how many test strips do you use a month" I saw no reference to other conditions.
I fully sympathise that you have extra issues to contend with which ultimately leads to extra testing.
I have walked many miles in different shoes and have many more to walk.
Please accept my apologies and I hope we can be united in the fight against diabetes if nothing else.
Click to expand...

Can I have my shoes back please? :joyful:
 
Not upset but maybe a bit irritated at the tone of your comment.

Anyone who uses mansplaining type phrases of the order "in my opinion anyone who....insert arbitrary rule....is doing it wrong/is an idiot" is liable to get the sharp end of my tongue!

I agree that it's better for us all to focus on people vs the diabetes together rather than trying to create divisions between the naughty wasteful diabetics who use too many test strips and the saintly ones who only use 6 per day unless operating heavy machinery :banghead:

Anyway, 'nuff said on the topic, I think I've made my feelings clear and I do appreciate that you weren't trying to cause offence @therower
 
@mist. If my recollection is correct, then your shoes have walked far further than anyone should have to walk in shoes.
I don't think I could have walked as far as you in whatever shoes.
 
I use 180 - 200 strips a month (more when I'm ill, which is often).

They're on prescription and I can readily get more if I need.
 
Hi I am newly diagnosed a year ago
I use at least 25-30 a week I am always having trouble getting them from doctors! They don't know how much I eat or how many hypos or hypers I have so they should just give us them without all the questions!!
 
Cindysully said:
Hi I am newly diagnosed a year ago
I use at least 25-30 a week I am always having trouble getting them from doctors! They don't know how much I eat or how many hypos or hypers I have so they should just give us them without all the questions!!
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Agree. in the pharmacy i asked last time why cant we get more, they said its a law coz they dont want us to buy with prescription then sell it full prize or do anything nasty taking advantage of our illness.... I was so ****** with that answer. They dont understand we need to test to notice the possible hypos etc, Im sure there r some nasty people but i dont think that anyone with this disease could think of taking advantage of it that way. Thats totally disgusting they made this law with that mentality. I can see on my next appointment im going to cause my doc some headache.
 
Here are the NICE guidelines on T1 diabetes management (assuming you're in the U.K.): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/1-Recommendations#blood-glucose-management-2

Please see section 1.6.10 on self monitoring of blood glucose i.e. measure 4 times a day (which works out to be roughly 120 times a month).

Also read section 1.6.11 for recommendations on when to test more frequently e.g. to avoid hypos, before driving, when ill, pregnant, sport activities, etc.
 
Ledzeptt said:
Here are the NICE guidelines on T1 diabetes management (assuming you're in the U.K.): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/1-Recommendations#blood-glucose-management-2

Please see section 1.6.10 on self monitoring of blood glucose i.e. measure 4 times a day (which works out to be roughly 120 times a month).

Also read section 1.6.11 for recommendations on when to test more frequently e.g. to avoid hypos, before driving, when ill, pregnant, sport activities, etc.
Click to expand...
Thank you, unfortunately i live in Hungary, here law says we cant get more on prescription.. /:
Im newly diagnosed so i still have a lot to figure out, i need to test often.
 
About 200 per month, much less since I've been using a Libre. Never had a problem getting a many as I need or for which ever make or model of meter I had at the time.
 
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