It would be interesting to see if your median is more often than not the first test you do, you may find that statistically you don't need to do 3 tests..........
But I would have though the mean would be more 'accurate' as you are using 3 numbers which could be up to 15-20% off the actual result so averaging by mean should reduce the discrepancy?
Testing a particular meal just once or twice and making a decision on the result, whether an average of 3 or not, is not a good plan. Just as one example, time of day matters greatly when insulin resistance is there. Our IR varies throughout the day, as do our own insulin levels in the blood stream, and whether our liver has decided to dump just as we are eating but our pancreas is still asleep also enters the play. It can also make a difference if we don't eat the foods on our plate in the same order each time we test the meal.
Over a period of time any rogue readings will work themselves out, as there will be just as many low ones as high ones. People tend to forget that it isn't just high numbers that may be rogue ones. Swings and roundabouts. There is nothing scientific or mathematical about finger pricking.
Experience tells me what narrow range I can expect at any time of day, and anything within that range is good enough for me. If it is well outside that range I will re-test and take it from there. It doesn't happen very often. Most meters will be accurate enough most of the time.
...I'd have to feel *really* confident that the 9.4 was more about meter inaccuracy than glucose levels.
Haha! My head is now going to explode.
I'm really torn now. The median has it's appeal, however for...
8.1, 8.1, 9.4
...I'd have to feel *really* confident that the 9.4 was more about meter inaccuracy than glucose levels.
And getting two numbers the same means that the "mean" is pulled very strongly towards them: it would be 8.5 in this case. Much closer to 8.1 than 9.4.
I think the real conclusion is: I need a continuous glucose monitor
who to say in this 9.4, 8.1, 8.1 scenario you didn't have 2 duff strips and an accurate one..........
With a CGM, you will add in another variance - the delay between interstitial fluid and Blood glucose - a delay which as with everything diabetic isn't static either.
You also have to be aware of "confirmation bias" if you decide to ignore one reading.
Would you feel the same, for example with 8.1, 8.1, 6.7? There might be a temptation to include the more favourable outlier but ditch the less favourable outlier.
I think you are right to stick to the same methodology regardless. At least it gives consistent results.
Testing a particular meal just once or twice and making a decision on the result, whether an average of 3 or not, is not a good plan. Just as one example, time of day matters greatly when insulin resistance is there. Our IR varies throughout the day, as do our own insulin levels in the blood stream, and whether our liver has decided to dump just as we are eating but our pancreas is still asleep also enters the play. It can also make a difference if we don't eat the foods on our plate in the same order each time we test the meal.
Over a period of time any rogue readings will work themselves out, as there will be just as many low ones as high ones. People tend to forget that it isn't just high numbers that may be rogue ones. Swings and roundabouts. There is nothing scientific or mathematical about finger pricking.
Experience tells me what narrow range I can expect at any time of day, and anything within that range is good enough for me. If it is well outside that range I will re-test and take it from there. It doesn't happen very often. Most meters will be accurate enough most of the time.
I'd go along with that. I learned early on that porridge oats was a great food for me, until it was a horrendous one. In the end it turned out that more often than not, it's horrendous. I'd never have discovered that from doing one accurate test (3 readings either side), but it eventually became apparent with many inaccurate tests (1 reading either side) over a few weeks.
One of the many flaws in my meal-testing is that I generally test new foods at breakfast (even if the meal is not traditionally designed to be a breakfast). I do this based on some research that suggests the biggest spikes from the same food is often in the morning, so I'm hoping my results are worst-case. However I don't always re-check the same foods at other times of day, and I have no idea whether I fit that pattern. There are so many things to check to be sure of things and my fingertips are already like pin-cushions. Seriously tempted to save up for a continuous monitor; not necessarily for life, but for a few months, to get a feel for how my body works. Even then I expect it will all change a year later!
Would you feel the same, for example with 8.1, 8.1, 6.7? There might be a temptation to include the more favourable outlier but ditch the less favourable outlier.
So going to back, how often do you find the first test is the median?
So going to back, how often do you find the first test is the median?
I can definitely tolerate more carbs later in the day. I always keep breakfast and lunch to less than 10g and save the majority of my carbs for my evening meal. I’ve never thought to test a meal at the ‘wrong’ time!
What makes us think that an increased BG does the same harm regardless of the time of day?
Remember that the research shows having most of your food at breakfast time gives the best long-term health results.....
If i were going to do 3 tests to average results in an attempt to get a really accurate idea of the effect of a particular meal, Id test the same meal on 3 different occasions and average those results rather than 3 consecutive tests on one occasion
I do a before food and 2 hours after for my two main meals a day. I use urine sticks to spot trends and to monitor new foods. It seems to work. Diabetic clinic today says gold standard, and have maintained this for over 3 years.I only do this triple-before-and-after at most once a week these days, sometimes only once every two weeks. It can cost as little as £1 depending on how cheaply I've managed to bag the strips for!
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