Correct way to do a basal check

[endocrinegremlin]

So on Monday & Tuesday I will be doing an afternoon Basal test running from 12am (midday)-5pm I just want some advice from people who have done it before on how you deal with the hunger ! I'm not a breakfast person at all so I will be not eating until after 5pm. It sucks really but can't wait to get that basal right. I'm a room attendant at a hotel currently and am struggling with low sugars during work so we're trying to get that figured out I'm happy to be doing the basal test as I can't wait to get it fixed but the hunger is something I'm not looking forward to!

Edited to make times clearer

Eat no carb things. Meat. A fried egg with bacon perhaps. Cheese. Veggies. Fruits. Drink a lot of water. Loads of ways to fill that carb break hun. Good luck.


Moderator Edit: Original thread which started this discussion can be found in the following:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/any-words-of-advice.82080/

 

[CarbsRok]

Eat no carb things. Meat. A fried egg with bacon perhaps. Cheese. Veggies. Fruits. Drink a lot of water. Loads of ways to fill that carb break hun. Good luck.

Er no this is not correct Fruits have carbs as do veggies if you eat enough of them cheese eggs and bacon contain protein which will raise blood sugars. Hence why no food to be eaten except flavoured gelatine (SF jelly)

 

[endocrinegremlin]

Er no this is not correct Fruits have carbs as do veggies if you eat enough of them cheese eggs and bacon contain protein which will raise blood sugars. Hence why no food to be eaten except flavoured gelatine (SF jelly)

I'm working on the assumption that OP knows which vet and fruits don't contain sugars/carbs. You'd have to eat a small mountain of carrots to impact a bs level. Again, you'd need to eat several blocks and several pigs. My team offer these foods as things to eat when doing a basal test. If you possibly ate enough bacon to impact your sugar it would not do enough to impact the result. If anything eating nothing at all is going to cause ketones.

 

[CarbsRok]

I'm working on the assumption that OP knows which vet and fruits don't contain sugars/carbs. You'd have to eat a small mountain of carrots to impact a bs level. Again, you'd need to eat several blocks and several pigs. My team offer these foods as things to eat when doing a basal test. If you possibly ate enough bacon to impact your sugar it would not do enough to impact the result. If anything eating nothing at all is going to cause ketones.

The no1 rule for basal testing is no food. Sorry you are wrong regarding the amount of protein needed to have an impact on blood sugars. Even one chicken portion with nothing else would cause a blood sugar rise. OP was also instructed to fast during the test.

 

[endocrinegremlin]

The no1 rule for basal testing is no food. Sorry you are wrong regarding the amount of protein needed to have an impact on blood sugars. Even one chicken portion with nothing else would cause a blood sugar rise. OP was also instructed to fast during the test.

in your region maybe, not mine. protein may have an impact but not enough to change the result of a basal test. basal tests come with serious changes. you get told no food, I get sent home with a menu of no carb ideas. seems drs differ. i'm happy with mine if it means getting fed.

 

[CarbsRok]

in your region maybe, not mine. protein may have an impact but not enough to change the result of a basal test. basal tests come with serious changes. you get told no food, I get sent home with a menu of no carb ideas. seems drs differ. i'm happy with mine if it means getting fed.

Nope just means your basal isn't correct. It's basic knowledge that basal testing must be fasting

 

[endocrinegremlin]

My basal doesn't move if I eat nothing (tested when not hungry tyvm) and it doesn't move when eating foods described. I'm sure my Dr and my nurse with her added dietitian qualifications are quite happy.

No...it isn't. Maybe you have folk here that agree but at my clinic no.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Well, mine certainly moves for protein or fat. I've had to stop having belly rashers as the results 12 hours later are always huge highs.

Without a doubt, basal testing is best done without food of any description.

Honestly if you have a good meal beforehand then there really is no need to eat for 10 hours.... Crikey, it is a few hours only for the sake of health. It's mad that everybody has got so used to eating so often and can't go without food for just 10 hours!!!

 

[noblehead]

A basal check has to be a fasting one, so no food and your previous meal must have been 4-5 hours before and low in fat so that the bg results don't get skewed, bacon and eggs in the absence of insulin would have me in double figures.

 

[CarbsRok]

My basal doesn't move if I eat nothing (tested when not hungry tyvm) and it doesn't move when eating foods described. I'm sure my Dr and my nurse with her added dietitian qualifications are quite happy.

No...it isn't. Maybe you have folk here that agree but at my clinic no.

Perhaps your clinic is wrong and everyone else's is right Might be a good idea for you to invest in the pumpers bible Pumping insulin by John Walsh.
The meaning of basal http://www.thefreedictionary.com/basal

 

[buckley8219]

Basal must be fasting.

Protein will skew the results.

 

[endocrinegremlin]

Perhaps your clinic is wrong and everyone else's is right Might be a good idea for you to invest in the pumpers bible Pumping insulin by John Walsh.
The meaning of basal http://www.thefreedictionary.com/basal

Maybe we should but my health is the best it has been in years, my Drs are happy, my hba1c is great, my every levels are fantastic and I'm living life as near to the so called 'normal' as ever. So personally I will stick with my team and our way. I stick by my opinion that protein may impact a result sure, but not enough to show anything that would change a diabetics info on how to change their basal.

 

[endocrinegremlin]

Maybe we should but my health is the best it has been in years, my Drs are happy, my hba1c is great, my every levels are fantastic and I'm living life as near to the so called 'normal' as ever. So personally I will stick with my team and our way. I stick by my opinion that protein may impact a result sure, but not enough to show anything that would change a diabetics info on how to change their basal.

Perhaps your clinic is wrong and everyone else's is right Might be a good idea for you to invest in the pumpers bible Pumping insulin by John Walsh.
The meaning of basal http://www.thefreedictionary.com/basal

you now what? we're not going to agree and this thread is not about us so let's end this with each to their own. OP can decide how they go forward.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Maybe we should but my health is the best it has been in years, my Drs are happy, my hba1c is great, my every levels are fantastic and I'm living life as near to the so called 'normal' as ever. So personally I will stick with my team and our way. I stick by my opinion that protein may impact a result sure, but not enough to show anything that would change a diabetics info on how to change their basal.

Then, I thonk you are very lucky. Even one single boiled egg will raise my basal rates.

I am also the exception to the rule amongst most diabetics (or non diabetics too!). I eat just one meal a day. So if my hubby is off work for one day a week we may eat during the day.. I call this my bolus testing!! Our meal may consist of two boiled eggs at about 11am. I know from 6 days a week my basals are perfect. If I don't bolus for 8g of carbs for these two eggs then my figures will double within 2 hours.

I think if the majority are stating basal testing is with no food then this is the best advised method.

 

[endocrinegremlin]

Then, I thonk you are very lucky. Even one single boiled egg will raise my basal rates.

I am also the exception to the rule amongst most diabetics (or non diabetics too!). I eat just one meal a day. So if my hubby is off work for one day a week we may eat during the day.. I call this my bolus testing!! Our meal may consist of two boiled eggs at about 11am. I know from 6 days a week my basals are perfect. If I don't bolus for 8g of carbs for these two eggs then my figures will double within 2 hours.

I think if the majority are stating basal testing is with no food then this is the best advised method.

Majority on a forum perhaps but my experience in clinics and groups and such is the opposite but as I said, no point in fighting.

 

[CarbsRok]

I'm working on the assumption that OP knows which vet and fruits don't contain sugars/carbs. You'd have to eat a small mountain of carrots to impact a bs level. Again, you'd need to eat several blocks and several pigs. My team offer these foods as things to eat when doing a basal test. If you possibly ate enough bacon to impact your sugar it would not do enough to impact the result. If anything eating nothing at all is going to cause ketones.

Carrots http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2383/2 hardly carb free. What fruit did you think was carb free, a lemon?

 

[buckley8219]

Majority on a forum perhaps but my experience in clinics and groups and such is the opposite but as I said, no point in fighting.

I don't think anybody is fighting, just stating fact.

Protein impacts blood sugars and will skew basal results.

Perhaps not a couple of grams of protein.

 

[endocrinegremlin]

I don't think anybody is fighting, just stating fact.

Protein impacts blood sugars and will skew basal results.

Perhaps not a couple of grams of protein.

exactly. im not telling a person to go eat a pig. im saying have a couple of rasher and an egg and you will feel full and your bloods probably won't move. a serving of carrots won't impact. if you eat a field it will. but who is going to eat a field?

 

[endocrinegremlin]

Carrots http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2383/2 hardly carb free. What fruit did you think was carb free, a lemon?

You imply I suggest OP wanders off and eats a whole bag of supermarket carrots, a box of eggs and a cow. In portions, no, these things are hardly going to impact your results. Melon, strawberries, raspberries? I'm not saying eat all of them. A portion.

 

[CarbsRok]

exactly. im not telling a person to go eat a pig. im saying have a couple of rasher and an egg and you will feel full and your bloods probably won't move. a serving of carrots won't impact. if you eat a field it will. but who is going to eat a field?

I'm really shocked that your team don't know the basics and are misinforming all it's patients