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BG testing - a decision made

eastcoastphil

eastcoastphil

Active Member
Messages
31
Location
East Coast UK
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
People obsessed with themselves and anyone who looks down at me. Take me as I am or go annoy someone else.
I previously posted a thread on here with a question about testing (as I was advised I don't need to), which unfortunately and unintentionally got the fur flying. So, I will say up front this is about a decision I have made and is NOT intended to reflect on anyone else's opinions or beliefs.

I was at the DN yesterday to have my second visit following my T2 diagnosis a few weeks ago following a visit to my GP due to fatigue etc. At a previous DN appointment she said I didn't need to test my BG which after reading articles on here seemed odd, in fact I had virtually decided to buy my own meter and test myself anyway.

Yesterday she asked me if I had any concerns so I raised the testing issue. What followed was a very interesting and useful chat which put a different opinion for me to consider; I only wish she had taken the time to say all this at my first visit. She first asked me how I felt now and I had to admit I felt better, not like I had become a teenager again or anything, but certainly a bit more life in me. She told me that my cholesterol from a recent test was 4.7 which is apparently pretty good, and while there she pricked my finger and said my BG reading was 9.0, but given that I had just eaten a bowl of porridge 45mins beforehand was perfectly OK. So she asked what I would do differently if I had a meter as I was already working hard at reducing sugar intake, eating more sensibly, reducing carbs, and taking more exercise. As she said I cannot change my medication if my BG was a little higher than expected, simply alter my diet a bit in the future.

She left me with a very positive view that my own personal discipline not to become a slave to my condition, and my already changed lifestyle which is showing very good early results, is enough at the present time. As she said I will be seen by her fairly regularly in the first year and will have my BG measured on each visit, plus full blood tests for hba1c periodically, which will show what my levels are and whether they are within guidelines. Also I am referred to a Desmond course for further dietary advice etc so my eating should further improve to maintain good BG levels.

So, after some deliberation I have decided, for now at least, to stick to that and not test myself as personally I don't think I need to. Compared to a couple of months ago when I was tired, irritable, and lacking motivation to do anything but apparently 'normal', I am now feeling a little better and have a more positive outlook on life due to changes that T2 has enforced on me that undoubtedly I would not have made otherwise. So being diagnosed a diabetic has ironically helped me in some regard, and I am happy to keep up the process and not burden myself with concerns over daily BG levels. Of course that may change if my condition worsens, but hopefully I have started on a path that will prevent that.

Just a personal option for me - please don't think this is in any way me 'trolling' which I was accused of before.
 
Not trolling at all Phil. However you manage your diabetes is down to you. There will no doubt be some replies here telling you how wrong you are but there you go. We're a passionate bunch here and only have your interest at heart. Take care :-)

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Mo's right - you have to do what works for you. I test to help me manage my diabetes. The tests indicate to me the positive and negative effects certain foods have on my body. It's great that you have a dn who you have a good relationship with. Have you had a 2nd hba1c test yet? As long as the numbers keep going down. Aim for around 40 initially as that takes you to within the high end of norm. My last one was reduced from 79 to 42 which is an average if 6. Dreading next one as had several colds and a chest infection. If you don't get below say 42 then you could consider ditching the starchy carbs and try a spell of testing. Just a thought as you are trying to be as healthy as possible! Keep us posted! There's a great threat called a new you in 42 where a group of people led by the lovely @Jamrox are trying to do 30 minutes exercise a day for 42 days. My workload prevents me from participating every day in the week so I've committed to the summer hols. You might be interested as part of your new regime?
 
I am type 2 did not test my self for along time, but then started having problems I have been type 2 for 4 years now,

I am so glad to start testing myself as sugars went haywire for no reason they are still playing up & might have to go on insulin everyone is different you might have no problems for yrs some might have problems from day 1.
Hope all goes ok for you good luck.



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Scandichic said:
There's a great threat called a new you in 42 where a group of people led by the lovely @Jamrox are trying to do 30 minutes exercise a day for 42 days. ..... You might be interested as part of your new regime?
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will take a look.
 
Thank you for sharing, but this needed a new thread? I would have thought another post on the original would have been enough
 
eastcoastphil said:
I previously posted a thread on here with a question about testing (as I was advised I don't need to), which unfortunately and unintentionally got the fur flying. So, I will say up front this is about a decision I have made and is NOT intended to reflect on anyone else's opinions or beliefs.

I was at the DN yesterday to have my second visit following my T2 diagnosis a few weeks ago following a visit to my GP due to fatigue etc. At a previous DN appointment she said I didn't need to test my BG which after reading articles on here seemed odd, in fact I had virtually decided to buy my own meter and test myself anyway.

Yesterday she asked me if I had any concerns so I raised the testing issue. What followed was a very interesting and useful chat which put a different opinion for me to consider; I only wish she had taken the time to say all this at my first visit. She first asked me how I felt now and I had to admit I felt better, not like I had become a teenager again or anything, but certainly a bit more life in me. She told me that my cholesterol from a recent test was 4.7 which is apparently pretty good, and while there she pricked my finger and said my BG reading was 9.0, but given that I had just eaten a bowl of porridge 45mins beforehand was perfectly OK. So she asked what I would do differently if I had a meter as I was already working hard at reducing sugar intake, eating more sensibly, reducing carbs, and taking more exercise. As she said I cannot change my medication if my BG was a little higher than expected, simply alter my diet a bit in the future.

She left me with a very positive view that my own personal discipline not to become a slave to my condition, and my already changed lifestyle which is showing very good early results, is enough at the present time. As she said I will be seen by her fairly regularly in the first year and will have my BG measured on each visit, plus full blood tests for hba1c periodically, which will show what my levels are and whether they are within guidelines. Also I am referred to a Desmond course for further dietary advice etc so my eating should further improve to maintain good BG levels.

So, after some deliberation I have decided, for now at least, to stick to that and not test myself as personally I don't think I need to. Compared to a couple of months ago when I was tired, irritable, and lacking motivation to do anything but apparently 'normal', I am now feeling a little better and have a more positive outlook on life due to changes that T2 has enforced on me that undoubtedly I would not have made otherwise. So being diagnosed a diabetic has ironically helped me in some regard, and I am happy to keep up the process and not burden myself with concerns over daily BG levels. Of course that may change if my condition worsens, but hopefully I have started on a path that will prevent that.

Just a personal option for me - please don't think this is in any way me 'trolling' which I was accused of before.
Click to expand...
Good for you Phil managing the way you think is best for you and no one can say you are doing it wrong because we are all different
 
eastcoastphil said:
I previously posted a thread on here with a question about testing (as I was advised I don't need to), which unfortunately and unintentionally got the fur flying.
Click to expand...

My GP told me that I didn't get enough test strips and doubled them and one week later the DN told me that I didn't need to test at all. Hows that for the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?

On my Desmond course, they showed us plastic models of fried eggs, bacon and sausages but when asked by one of the attendees, 'but what should we be eating?' the nutritionist answered that they leave it up to us to make our own decisions' The group gave out a collective groan. I had to chuckle otherwise I might have asked, why does the NHS employ you then? It's probably not her fault, she's been told by someone, somewhere higher up in the organisation not to.

You are more or less diagnosed, possibly given a few pills and left to your own devices. My previous DN told me not to contact them unless my readings got to 14 or 15. I always aim to be within normal limits, ie below 6 first thing in the morning and below 7.8 2 hours after a meal.

By the way, porridge used to cause my BG levels to rise but once I started to get control, I am much better at handling it. Don't go in for the quick cook stuff, keep a grainy/chewier texture. The smoother it is, the quicker you digest it. Lots of people have difficulty with porridge.
 
Porridge for me now is 2 dsp of cheap bogg standard porridge with 2 dsp of crushed almonds, put in bowl, pour boiling water from kettle over the porridge to just cover it, wait 10-15mins (have a cup of tea), stir it up and add 2 tsp of thick plain yogurt, stir it up and sit down and enjoy.....about 12g carb so not high and controls bg fairly well



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AnnieC said:
Good for you Phil managing the way you think is best for you and no one can say you are doing it wrong because we are all different
Click to expand...

We aren't 'all different' in this case, if you mean that some people need to use testing strips to monitor their blood sugar levels and others know what their levels are by going on whether they feel good. The OP asked whether measuring BG levels mattered. A number of posters explained why it does. He exercised his right to ignore those points. I don't feel offended that my opinions have been in some way rejected. My concern is solely that other newly-diagnosed diabetics should not read these threads and think that this is a sensible way of proceeding, and that testing does not really matter. The NHS does not want to pay for testing strips for T2s -- end of story.
 
here in Australia every T2 is recommended to test and have subsided strips, it just standard stuff. The first few months I was going through a mountain of strips. Now I don't test every day, as I got a fair idea what's going on.
 
I was diagnosed in January and joined this forum. I started doing all the right things as far as I knew, cut right down on carbs, kept a stringent record of what I was eating, counting carbs, fat, protein, calories etc meticulously. I didn't start testing until mid April following my first review HbA1c. I had dropped from 53 to 50 without testing but was impatient for this to come down further. OMG what a shock I got! Some of the meals I thought were fine were just the opposite! I have had to re-think and amend my diet quite considerably. I am now very happy I am on the right track but not there yet.
 
Phil, while I disagree with your HCP's advice not to test, I wish you well, and luck in managing your D.
 
equipoise said:
We aren't 'all different' in this case, if you mean that some people need to use testing strips to monitor their blood sugar levels and others know what their levels are by going on whether they feel good. The OP asked whether measuring BG levels mattered. A number of posters explained why it does. He exercised his right to ignore those points. I don't feel offended that my opinions have been in some way rejected. My concern is solely that other newly-diagnosed diabetics should not read these threads and think that this is a sensible way of proceeding, and that testing does not really matter. The NHS does not want to pay for testing strips for T2s -- end of story.
Click to expand...

My point was that the OP has weighed it all up and decided he does not want or need to test his BS at this time that is his decision and we all should respect that. It sounds like you are condemning him because he won't follow the advice on here. I test thats my personal choice but if the OP does not want to do it so be it thats his choice. I do not think newbies will make their decisions as to test or not just on one thread they will read plenty of others
 
I'd rather be proactive than reactive, but good for you for deciding on a route and sticking with it.
 
Hmm, ahem, hmm. Don't really know what to say so maybe I shouldn't … but

I agree that it is, of course, always a question of personal choice to decide on how you wish to proceed – or not proceed – in the understanding you have been given the tools to make an informed decision.

When first diagnosed, I was myself not given such tools – only the advice to go onto the internet to find diet advice. My first ressource was obviously to look at the site of the Danish Diabetes Association – they should certainly know what this D-thing is about … - and then to order a lot of rather expensive cook books. When I received them, I thought: "Great! Lovely recipes, not much I need to change in my diet!" (Happy face then …) – but to keep a long story short: They have now all been given away to non-diabetic friends. My numbers barely moved over a three-month period …

It was only when I hit on sites like this and got hold of a meter and started measuring the effects of various foods, that things really – and I mean really – got moving.

Just my take on this …
annelise
 
i didn't read the other thread, but this decision makes no sense, even if you tested one day a week before and after meals just to see what effect the food has on your bg, but to decide to not know whats happening? thats state endorsed denial, i don't hardly test at all any more because i know what my bg will be if i eat certain foods, as you may have heard a zillion times, we are all different and foods effects different people in different ways, by testing your bg you could learn which foods to avoid, not just assume whats good and bad because the nurse told you so or we told you to avoid this or that, you could learn it for a fact, why wouldn't someone want to know? you may by living the right way improve your health, great! but by testing you may improve it more! so if you've decided to be healthier, why wouldn't you want to be even more so, theres no down side to testing, how many folks with different illnesses would kill for the chance to check on a daily or hour by hour basis how their condition was progressing (or cancerous growth was doing for example) so you may be getting the idea by now that i don't understand your decision not to use this incredible gift of test strips humanity has developed for us and not to know the truth, this is not meant as a dig at your decision, you by changing your ways are doing more than many people that ignore it, so i wish you all the best, and remain confused.
 
I expect there are dozens who come on this forum who do not test they just don't say so. Some are just to terrified of needles to do it and for others it is to difficult for them to decide what to do if their health practitioners say no need to test or tell them to eat low fat and carbs then they come on this forum to hear just the opposite so many will still follow their GP and nurses advice rather than do what people say on here and at the end of the day it is all down to personal choice
 
agreed, same as some people choose to post here and some dont, but if we are sitting here, we may as well express an opinion
 
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