Getting a bit obsessed with my meter!

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I'm newly (ish) diagnosed and have made massive diet changes in the last few weeks, and can already see my BG levels improving. Reading before bed tonight was 5.8 (from 15 or so a few weeks ago), so yay!

I bought myself a meter (still waiting for my appointment with D Nurse!) and have become slightly obsessed with the testing thing!

So my question, how many BG tests are too many? I feel like I'm just getting to grips with new foods, so knowledge is power, right?
 
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Prem51

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Hi @Angelic_Delight and welcome to the forum. Well done on getting your BG levels down so much. The number of tests you do is up to you really. If you are ok with testing several times a day that's fine for you. It seems a lot of people test first thing in the morning before eating, and then one hour and two hours after meals.
Personally speaking, I only test once a day, first thing in the morning. I didn't want to become too obsessive about testing, and I didn't like the idea of pricking myself, I have a needle phobia, though it wasn't as bad as I had feared.
 
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PenfoldAPD

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Great question, I'm newbie too and seem to be testing like crazy! Before meals and then 2 hours afterwards is usual for me. Registering every in the health app on my phone.

I'm starting to be less regimented if it's food I know are ok. As you say @Angelic_Delight knowledge is power so do as often as you want I say.

My doc doesn't think I should be doing it at all, I'm ignoring her
 
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DaveNN

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I would test regularly for a short while, in order to get a better picture of what foods and/or exercise effect your readings. With that you can have a **** good idea where you are at any given time. I would agree that testing in the morning is a good idea ( I always do) as it will set you off for the day in a good frame of mind....unless you've sneaked down to the kitchen at 5am and ate half a dozen Easter eggs, that is.
 
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bulkbiker

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I usually do 5 times a day . once when I get up then before and 2 hours after lunch and dinner. Breakfast has been binned. On fasting days I tend to do the usual when I get up then a couple of times fairly randomly during the day. Seems to work for me.. all results go on a nice spreadsheet (cos I'm a bit weird like that) with weight blood pressure and HbA1c and cholesterol results.
 
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13lizanne

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@Angelic_Delight I test fasting levels then like @bulkbiker test immediately before + 2hrs after lunch and dinner. I also test just before I go to bed - a total of 6 times daily. If I'm away from home for a meal I don't test or if I have visitors for a meal at home I don't test. But! I agree with you, knowledge is power, I want to stay healthy and knowing that I test and record my sugar levels every day keeps me on the straight and narrow. Good luck you're doing great so far
 
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Pinkorchid

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I usually test once or twice a day but not always every day just to keep a check on my levels.
 
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britishpub

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I test my FBG every day (apart from the days I can't be bothered) and then occasionally at other times. On fasting days I usually check around 4pm/5pm especially if feeling peckish, or if I eat something unusual.
 
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muzza3

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Hi @Angelic_Delight and @PenfoldAPD

It is fantastic that you have got meters and are testing as it is the number one way to take control your diabetes.

Sounds like PenfoldAPD has got it about right testing first thing each morning (this give you a consistent benchmark to see how you are going, its like a checkup) and using it to test new or unusual meals to judge their effect.

@Angelic_Delight it is quite natural to be testing a lot when you first get the meter and necessary as you discover how different foods impact you. Once you have tested a meal then you probably don't need to test that again. Too many tests won't hurt you (but will cost a bit in strips etc)
 

amgrundy

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I'm newly (ish) diagnosed and have made massive diet changes in the last few weeks, and can already see my BG levels improving. Reading before bed tonight was 5.8 (from 15 or so a few weeks ago), so yay!

I bought myself a meter (still waiting for my appointment with D Nurse!) and have become slightly obsessed with the testing thing!

So my question, how many BG tests are too many? I feel like I'm just getting to grips with new foods, so knowledge is power, right?
Hi Angelic_Delight We all have had to go through the massive diet changes in the the first weeks. Yes its good your BG readings will improve. Good on you from coming down from 15, I came down from 19.3 from Jan this year. I was the same as probably others as well, it can get a bit obsessive in the beginning, that's normal nothing wrong with that. we have to keep testing or we wouldn't know what foods were ok and what spiked us. I am nearly 8 weeks on now and test twice a day, n the morning as soon as I get up, in the evening 2hrs after dinner. If I have tried something different to what I usually eat then I will test 2 hrs after that meal. Hope this has been a bit helpful for you. Good luck.:)
 

AndBreathe

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I'm newly (ish) diagnosed and have made massive diet changes in the last few weeks, and can already see my BG levels improving. Reading before bed tonight was 5.8 (from 15 or so a few weeks ago), so yay!

I bought myself a meter (still waiting for my appointment with D Nurse!) and have become slightly obsessed with the testing thing!

So my question, how many BG tests are too many? I feel like I'm just getting to grips with new foods, so knowledge is power, right?

I would say whilst you are still learning, and to a lesser extent, whilst you are still trying to trim your blood numbers, your testing doesn't sound extreme.

Once you have reached whatever your own targets are (provided they're reasonable, and same!), and you are eating tried and tested foods and combos of foods, then less frequently can make sense.

You hit the nail on the head when you said, "Knowledge is Power". It is, and sometimes to get that knowledge and empowerment, we need to invest in ourselves and some tools. In this case the specialist tools are your meter and strips.

You seem to be doing fine. :)
 

Robbity

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It's really up to you when you test, and depends on what you are expecting to discover from your test results.

I usually test first thing in the morning and immediately before and 2 hours after meals. I'll very occasionally do a 1 hour after a meal check if I think that I may see an earlier spike. I may also test at other times if I want to discover what is going on - e.g reactions to stress, illness, exercise. All these can impact on my glucose levels, sometimes more than food. It sounds a lot, but I don't worry if a miss an occasional test.

Currently I'm using a Freestyle Libre which gives me all this information and more as a continuous record with no finger pricking involved, and I'm finding this is much less hassle for a lot more enlightenment, but at a higher cost.

Robbity
 

Enclave

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When I first got my meter a tested about 8 to 10 times a ay ... now I hardly test at all, because in the early days I found out what was good and not good for me to eat !!
 

pmtbrew

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Especially in the early days of being diagnosed I don't think you can test too much.

From a cost point of view if you are testing for every meal the Freestyle Libre may be more cost effective
 

Ross.Walker

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I would say 100-350 tests a day would be excessive.

You will work it out, I was doing loads but worked out for me if I tested a meal, say lunch chicken salad 3 times under the same circumstances and it gives the same sort of results. I believe the meal is predictable. Therefore chicken salad is known to me that if I walk to work after my standard breakfast and I eat it at 12:30 it will take me from 5 to 6.5 in 2 hours and be back at 5 for 5pm for dinner. This works as a rule for me and helps me plan based on normal circumstances.

Short answer
  • I test new meals
  • I test in the morning
  • I test at night
  • I test if I am ill or have belly issues.
  • I test if I am doing a 25 mile walk after 1000 calories have been used.
From what you have said you are doing well, good work. If you are testing have a good reason to, learn something from it and keep up the good work
 

Diaplatees

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Good on you girl, you're doing well. If you trust the medicine you are on, you need not test so much. I test only when I get a nausea feeling which lasts too long or anything odd I feel is not my normal healthy self. When I tested regularly (type2) it was in the morning before brekkie and evening time. Now after one and a half years of watching my sensible diet I test monthly.
 
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muzza3

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Good on you girl, you're doing well. If you trust the medicine you are on, you need not test so much. I test only when I get a nausea feeling which lasts too long or anything odd I feel is not my normal healthy self. When I tested regularly (type2) it was in the morning before brekkie and evening time. Now after one and a half years of watching my sensible diet I test monthly.
Hi Diapatees
I was wondering what meds you are on? Have you considered or tried to get your control to the point where you can reduce the need for meds?
 

Osidge

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My view is that we should test for knowledge and that testing that does not really add to what we already know is not really useful. My GPs certainly endorse that and I always get the strips I need. When I hear of people, many years down the line, testing at certain times just because they always do, I ask the question - why? Of course it may be that some people need reassurance about their continued good control as part of their management strategy. As we have seen in this thread, the choices we make are many and varied. If our choices work for us in achieving or maintaining good diabetes management then that is great.
 
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Bluetit1802

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My reason for testing regularly and frequently, 2 years down the line from getting a meter, is motivation. Knowing I will be testing keeps me on the straight and narrow and stops me adding an extra helping of whatever. It works for me and has given me good control without the need for any meds for 2 years. Not forgetting that I am also a data freak.
 
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PenfoldAPD

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@Galja the morning swim is good but ... I have to get up at 6am to do it, bag packed the previous night ... swim, shower, dress, work ... it's a schedule - but worth it