Hello
I ran a poll on this a few months ago and i think the average was about 6-8 a day. I myself am taking nearer 10 at the moment as i am experimenting and doing a lot of sport but Gary Schneier recommends 4-8 in the long term and i think that sounds reasonable.
What does not sound reasonable is a receptionist telling you to test once a day, i think she might be confusing you with a T2 but even so who is she to say that. Does she live with diabetes everyday? Does she have to account for exercise, carbs, GIs, stress and the numerous other things that make managing diabetes a full time job. I would have been absolutely spitting if my receptionist said that! I would make a formal complaint about this, it is just not on. If she is following some directive from higher up then she won;t get in trouble but if it is her own advice then she should be repremanded.
I knwo this all sounds a bit extreme but diabetes is so hard to manage and you don't need anyone of any qualification patronising you with advice like that.
I have had similar if not as strict advice from two seperate nurses, both of which shuddered when i said i tested 8 times a day. They seemed to think 2-3 was max a day but i didn't have the guts to push back at the time. I would now and in fact i went to my GP to discuss it. His response was that there was no rationing at all and that i should test freely. As long as he is writing the scripts i have no issue.
God this makes me fume.