I've been reading the posts here for a while now and whilst it's interesting to see what levels people have when they wake up I really don't see what the point is other than the 'feelgood' factor for people ?
A fasting level, whether in the morning when waking or pre-meals is just that an indicator of the level when you are not putting your Pancreas to the test. Simply a baseline for the day or before your meals.
Yes, it might indicate that you are suffering the effects of the Dawn Phenomenon, it might also indicate other things such, as you ate a load of 'bad stuff' the previous evening, that you are going down with something, or for the ladies, the time of the month. There are so many things that will affect your Bg levels it is very difficult to pin it down to one particular thing other than by trial and error.
Checking your fasting level is only one small part of an individuals personal Diabetes control, you also need to test post meals as well, 1 hr, 2 hrs maybe even 3 or 4 hrs depending on the type of food that you have eaten........THAT is what is more important, especially to newly diagnosed who look here and will probably think because they have a waking level of 5 or so that everything is just fine ........It isn't and never will be so.
The advice to test fasting levels comes from some HCP's who seem to think that is all a diabetic needs to know, that and a HbA1c every so often. As I and Sue have often posted here that sort of thinking is bad advice, for the reasons shown above.
An example :
I have a friend who only tests a fasting level when he gets up.....always it is 5/6 mmol/l.....he is also on Insulin. He hasn't had an HbA1c in about 12 months because his Practice Nurse and GP who fancy themselves as 'Diabetes Specialists' tell him he doesn't need one yet. They both have an 'interest' in Diabetes. They have both told him he is 'well controlled'........now I could see just by looking at him that he was anything but well controlled........he has difficulty walking because of nerve pains and lack of energy, eyesight problems, ulcers on his legs which won't heal, a myriad of other things. I got him to test his levels throughout the day after meals........what an eye opener that was for him !!! Average around 14-16 mmol/l through the day, EVERY day !! He went to see the people who deal with him and showed them the levels......."Oh thats alright, you needn't worry. Those levels aren't a problem !!!!" (my exclamation marks) :shock:
By all means test your fasting levels when you wish, just don't think they are an indicator of good control.........there is much more to take on board than some numbers when you wake up.......
I prefer to get Newbies to read the advice that Sue and I put together, and that Daisy, the New Member support posts ........that will show them how to get better control far more than just testing fasting levels..........
A fasting level, whether in the morning when waking or pre-meals is just that an indicator of the level when you are not putting your Pancreas to the test. Simply a baseline for the day or before your meals.
Yes, it might indicate that you are suffering the effects of the Dawn Phenomenon, it might also indicate other things such, as you ate a load of 'bad stuff' the previous evening, that you are going down with something, or for the ladies, the time of the month. There are so many things that will affect your Bg levels it is very difficult to pin it down to one particular thing other than by trial and error.
Checking your fasting level is only one small part of an individuals personal Diabetes control, you also need to test post meals as well, 1 hr, 2 hrs maybe even 3 or 4 hrs depending on the type of food that you have eaten........THAT is what is more important, especially to newly diagnosed who look here and will probably think because they have a waking level of 5 or so that everything is just fine ........It isn't and never will be so.
The advice to test fasting levels comes from some HCP's who seem to think that is all a diabetic needs to know, that and a HbA1c every so often. As I and Sue have often posted here that sort of thinking is bad advice, for the reasons shown above.
An example :
I have a friend who only tests a fasting level when he gets up.....always it is 5/6 mmol/l.....he is also on Insulin. He hasn't had an HbA1c in about 12 months because his Practice Nurse and GP who fancy themselves as 'Diabetes Specialists' tell him he doesn't need one yet. They both have an 'interest' in Diabetes. They have both told him he is 'well controlled'........now I could see just by looking at him that he was anything but well controlled........he has difficulty walking because of nerve pains and lack of energy, eyesight problems, ulcers on his legs which won't heal, a myriad of other things. I got him to test his levels throughout the day after meals........what an eye opener that was for him !!! Average around 14-16 mmol/l through the day, EVERY day !! He went to see the people who deal with him and showed them the levels......."Oh thats alright, you needn't worry. Those levels aren't a problem !!!!" (my exclamation marks) :shock:
By all means test your fasting levels when you wish, just don't think they are an indicator of good control.........there is much more to take on board than some numbers when you wake up.......
I prefer to get Newbies to read the advice that Sue and I put together, and that Daisy, the New Member support posts ........that will show them how to get better control far more than just testing fasting levels..........
