Best time to test?

[ladybird64]

Morning peeps, hope all is well.

I haven't participated in the "morning glucose testing" thread for ages now, primarily because no matter what I seemed to do, the numbers stubbornly refused to shift and I was getting the hump. :roll:

I have gone from very persistant 8's down to 7's, this morning was 7.7, yesterday 7.3..you get the picture. Not great but definitely moving slowly in the right direction. Anyway, I digress...

As someone who has very limited access to test strips and isn't in a financial position to buy them, I am wondering if this morning testing is giving a true picture of how things are and whether I would be better testing before and after evening meal.

The reason I say this is that although the numbers seem to be going down, they often seem to have no connection to what I have eaten the night before or even the day before. I have seen many occasions where I have eaten something that I would expect to give me higher readings in the morning and it hasn't happened but other occasions where I have been very vigilant with my evening meal and portion size and pulled unexpectedly high numbers.

So..my gut feeling is to now go with pre and post meal testing, once daily, probably my main evening meal which we have about 7pm. My diet is still a work in progress but generally, I am aware of what seems to cause higher reading and I try and limit those foods to small portions.

Opinions welcomed as usual. Thanks.

 

[pianoman]

Fasting BG is a useful test but I' don't think it is the most important measure of control.

Each BG test is just a snapshot in time and without a series you can't really tell if your BG is stable, rising or falling; so the more the better if you are looking to establish an overall picture -- hence the increasing use of CGMS devices to show BG trends through the day.

BUT of course there are always practical and economic considerations.

I'd suggest that so long as your daily routine is fairly "routine", you can get a better overall picture of BG control by staggering tests over several days: Fasting and after breakfast for a couple of days, around lunch for a couple more, and then around supper, physical activity, snacks, during the night etc...

Over time, and as you gain confidence in how a certain meal affects your BG, you may need to test less around that meal so you can focus more on testing when things change; like during illness or when trying new foods.

 

[lovinglife]

I don't do my morning one much at all ladybird - I too have to buy test strips and In my opinion unless you are having massive problems with morning fasting reading like you say there isn't much you can do with the info. - You may just be one of those that has DP and no matter what you do it won't change much then its a wasted test.

I am 2 years in and very stable with my numbers - I don't test much now except when I eat a new meal or feel a bit off - saying that I have upped my testing as have been doing a food diary as my wieght loss has really stalled - (some surprising results re the diary but thats another thread)

I haven't participated in the "morning glucose testing" thread for ages now, primarily because no matter what I seemed to do, the numbers stubbornly refused to shift and I was getting the hump.

One of the negative side effects of that thread imho - not complaining about the thread but it will make some people feel as if they are doing something wrong or are failing

I think you are right for the time being to ditch morning tests - if it's making you stressed it's counter productive anyway

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi Ladybird,

As you are still new to this and have not been able to test often due to cost, if I was in your shoes I would do a whole day testing just to see if the foods that you think are OK are not raising your blood sugars. You MIGHT get some surprises. You obviously cannot afford to do this on a daily basis but it might give you more confidence once you see what is going on throughout a whole day. If no pattern emerges then it will not have been in vain.

 

[ladybird64]

Thanks for the replies folks.

I just had to add this to my post-forgot to do my pre-dinner test (brain like a sieve) but 2 hrs post din-dins..6.6!
That is the lowest I have got so far and after a meal of beef stew, medium spud, green beans and cauli/broccoli mix I am a very happy bunny! Onward and upward!

 

[pianoman]

Great news!

I sometimes wonder if there is not too much focus on Fasting BGs which are invariably subject to DP and to large extent out of our control.. having been asleep for the previous however many hours.

My worst BGs tend to be my Fasting numbers but they are only a blip on an otherwise good day... so maybe I'm not doing so badly after all :?