Cutting back on BG testing?

[Bluetit1802]

Strangely nobody seems to question the veracity of their first HbA1c, the one used to diagnose them with T2D, but when subsequent tests are not as low as they want, they are apparently “unreliable”

Surely, if the later tests read too high, then the diagnosis test was also too high so you may not have had T2D in the first place.

I quite agree. In my case my diagnostic HbA1c was 53, followed a week or two later with a 52. My fastings have always been in the 5's, but I didn't start testing for 2 or 3 months after diagnosis. However, I did have a problem with major carbs post meal, albeit not hugely drastic and not prolonged. Who knows. Maybe I was only ever pre-diabetic, but I am thankful for the diagnosis of T2 as at best it was certainly on its way, and was the kick up the bum I needed.

 

[Derbysocks]

Unless you’re on insulin there is no need to test unless you get hypos. I only test my blood due to being put on insulin after 11 years of only taking pills & never getting a hypo.

 

[britishpub]

Unless you’re on insulin there is no need to test unless you get hypos. I only test my blood due to being put on insulin after 11 years of only taking pills & never getting a hypo.

I think you are on your own with that opinion.

 

[Glucobabu]

Thanks for the eBay tip - although now concerned to hear the meter tests low. You would think something doing such an important job would be relatively accurate. I too am weighing everything that passes my lips. Logging every detail on the low carb program site so can see full breakdown although like you, it’s basically meat + veg with a little cheese occasionally. My first morning I stupidly tried 1 piece of toast and got a 9.2 reading 2 hrs later which hit home majorly carbs had to go!

9.2 after 2 hours isn’t that bad. Perhaps you could have a smaller piece of toast. I have a small slice of whole meal seeded every day with breakfast with pretty acceptable results

 

[Glucobabu]

I test at 1 hour and 2 hours sometimes 3 hours. at 1 hour nearly always my reading will be at its highest and I personally like to know what my peak reading is and 2 hours to see if it is gone back down to pre eating reading some time at 3 hours to see if not back down to normal at 2 hours how long it is staying higher than I would like. If I tested at 2 hours only and it was say in the eights or higher in fact if it was any higher than 6.8 I would fret about how high it had been and not having an idea of what it was at 1 hour.

Having got rid of my retinopathy I don't want it back.

I didn’t know you could get rid of retinopathy! Well done.

 

[ivan 2]

Resurgam offered the best advice ``Stick to the diet and test two hours after having a meal`` and that's exactly what I do. In the beginning I tested several times a day, now only 2 hours after the main meal of the day (dinner). Not even every day.
After all,what I eat is within my powers, the rest depends on liver. In short, low carb and exercise, that's all we can do.
(If you have symptoms of hypo - test it).

 

[Alexandra100]

9.2 after 2 hours isn’t that bad. Perhaps you could have a smaller piece of toast. I have a small slice of whole meal seeded every day with breakfast with pretty acceptable results

I don't agree. I prefer Jenny Ruhl's advice to keep under 6.6 after 2 hours in order to avoid complications. I love buttered toast, but I love lower bgs more.

 

[Glucobabu]

It may not be the lab results, per se,
I use multiple meters, they seldom show identical readings from the same blood drop.
The meters we use to test at home, are notoriously unreliable.
I believe the lab equipments are robust enough in both construction and maintenance, to inspire confidence in me.

It’s such a great shame that despite leaps in technology glucose meters have remained so inaccurate! Adding on Bluetooth etc to download your results to a smartphone are little more than gimmicks, in my opinion.

 

[Emma_369]

9.2 after 2 hours isn’t that bad. Perhaps you could have a smaller piece of toast. I have a small slice of whole meal seeded every day with breakfast with pretty acceptable results

Perhaps if I can get my HBA1C down to normal levels I may occasionally allow myself the luxury of a little toast - I thought the chocoholic side of me would feel it most but I’m actually missing bread more than anything. But I’m so scared of going back and my results being higher that I feel I’ll be angry at myself in the long run if I haven’t done everything I possibly can to try to reduce readings. So for now, the control freak in me needs to maintain BG levels as low as I can

 

[Alexandra100]

I don't agree. I prefer Jenny Ruhl's advice to keep under 6.6 after 2 hours in order to avoid complications. I love buttered toast, but I love lower bgs more.

Here is a quotation from jenny Ruhl:
"Lower is Better
The 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) blood sugar target is a good start, but many of us find we feel better and get even more normal health if we shoot for truly normal blood sugars and keep our blood sugar under 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/L) at all times. If you can do it, go for it. Now that we know that heart attack risk rises significantly at A1cs in the mid 5% (36.6 mmol/mol) range, getting to true normal is that much more important.

What If You Can't Always Hit Your Target?
Many of us will still occasional see blood sugars higher than we'd like even if we eat reasonably well most of the time and use the safe diabetes drugs available to us. The good news is that it takes many years of exposure to high blood sugars to damage your organs. If you spike occasionally, but maintain good control overall, your risk of complications is far lower than people whose blood sugar is routinely going up over 200 mg/dl for an hour or more after every meal--which is what happens to people who shoot for that 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/L) 2 hour post-meal target that the ADA recommends and most doctors consider "great control."

You can read the whole article here: https://www.bloodsugar101.com/healthy-blood-sugar-targets

 

[Emma_369]

Resurgam offered the best advice ``Stick to the diet and test two hours after having a meal`` and that's exactly what I do. In the beginning I tested several times a day, now only 2 hours after the main meal of the day (dinner). Not even every day.
After all,what I eat is within my powers, the rest depends on liver. In short, low carb and exercise, that's all we can do.
(If you have symptoms of hypo - test it).

I think at the minute I’m still new and reading so much helpful but different advice, and panic about getting it wrong. I would like to get to a point where I just feel comfortable that what I am eating I moreorless know is fine so as not to need to keep testing so much. Think just a bit more time and experience and I guess confidence with my own opinions and choices will see me right in the end

 

[Alexandra100]

for now, the control freak in me needs to maintain BG levels as low as I can

IMO your inner control freak is your best friend. I am not sure that treats that can only be enjoyed occasionally are helpful. To a great extent I have now forgotten about various foods that are no longer appropriate for me. I enjoy the foods I can have and don't hanker for anything else. But if I were to eat eg a peach, I am pretty sure I'd straight away be looking forward my next peach, and the intervals between peaches would probably become shorter and shorter, or maybe the peaches bigger and bigger! I'd rather eat as I mean to go on.

 

[brassyblonde900]

Unless you’re on insulin there is no need to test unless you get hypos. I only test my blood due to being put on insulin after 11 years of only taking pills & never getting a hypo.

Have you considered that had you tested, you would have known first hand what foods spiked you, and may have prevented worsening your diabetes.
I'm sure you are aware that going from pills to Insulin means your diabetes got worse.

 

[Angelofthemarches]

Perhaps if I can get my HBA1C down to normal levels I may occasionally allow myself the luxury of a little toast - I thought the chocoholic side of me would feel it most but I’m actually missing bread more than anything. But I’m so scared of going back and my results being higher that I feel I’ll be angry at myself in the long run if I haven’t done everything I possibly can to try to reduce readings. So for now, the control freak in me needs to maintain BG levels as low as I can

There are lots of low carb 'bread' replacements e.g. Carbzone bread, flackers etc

 

[Glucobabu]

I think at the minute I’m still new and reading so much helpful but different advice, and panic about getting it wrong. I would like to get to a point where I just feel comfortable that what I am eating I moreorless know is fine so as not to need to keep testing so much. Think just a bit more time and experience and I guess confidence with my own opinions and choices will see me right in the end

Of course, it’s early days yet. Despite everything keeping BG levels normal is not an exact science. You get unexpected highs and lows - especially for Type 1s. But you try your best because you want to live a long and healthy life. As time goes you will definitely get better at it and also a bit relaxed about it too. As my doctor told me some 40 years ago, “The more you know about diabetes the longer you will live”.

 

[Phoenix55]

I think at the minute I’m still new and reading so much helpful but different advice, and panic about getting it wrong. I would like to get to a point where I just feel comfortable that what I am eating I moreorless know is fine so as not to need to keep testing so much. Think just a bit more time and experience and I guess confidence with my own opinions and choices will see me right in the end

That is where I wanted to be when I started and most of the time now, 3 years after diagnosis, I am reasonably happy with my eating. Initially it was a case of keeping going, keeping a record, spotting cause and effect. Occasionally I have a slip and my colour coded chart has shown that the extended hot weather we had in the UK this summer did me no favours but the cooler weather has brought things back to normal without any effort on my part. Keep on going, smile and you will get to your target.

 

[Alexandra100]

Of course, it’s early days yet. Despite everything keeping BG levels normal is not an exact science. You get unexpected highs and lows - especially for Type 1s. But you try your best because you want to live a long and healthy life. As time goes you will definitely get better at it and also a bit relaxed about it too. As my doctor told me some 40 years ago, “The more you know about diabetes the longer you will live”.

I was going to write, "Lucky you to have such a wise doctor", but I guess s/he must be retired by now. I hope the replacement is as good.

 

[Alexandra100]

There are lots of low carb 'bread' replacements e.g. Carbzone bread

At 3.7g carbs per slice, this won't fit easily into a low carb 20 - 30g daily diet. And who wants to eat just one slice of bread?

 

[Daphne917]

At 3.7g carbs per slice, this won't fit easily into a low carb 20 - 30g daily diet. And who wants to eat just one slice of bread?

I have a slice of Tesco High Protein bread about 4 times a week either toasted with my scrambled eggs or as a sandwich loaded with filling. However I tend eat more carbs than many on here.

 

[Emma_369]

I have a slice of Tesco High Protein bread about 4 times a week either toasted with my scrambled eggs or as a sandwich loaded with filling. However I tend eat more carbs than many on here.

I’m averaging around 60g carbs a day - Bg levels seem ok with that so whilst that’s the case I don’t plan on going with less. Will do some research on the bread suggestions and see if I can find one that agrees with me