First meter test, couple of questions

[Caterham]

Got my new free contour meter today. I was diagnosed earlier in the year with a Hbac1 of 16.3, three months later it was 9.2 and I have my next test in September. I am taking 3 metformin 500 per day. I started lower-carbing about 6 weeks before the 9.2 result.

I have lost 47lb since diagnosis, with probably another 40lb to go.

Despite my doctor's relutance, I thought I would get a meter, to give me some peace of mind between the doctor's tests.

It arrived today at 1.00pm. I had breakfast at 11.00am, fairly low carb cooked saturday breakfast treat with 1 slice of wholemeal bread. The result was 4.6 just now.

I am keeping to 125g of carbs a day, to lose weight and control my blood sugars. I have a fairly good handle on low carbing now

So, the questions;

- How many times a day should I test initially, and when?
- Is the contour meter good and reliable?
- Is 4.6 a bit low?

Many thanks as always!

 

[daisy1]

Hi Caterham
This information at the link below will answer your first and third questions. Answers for the second question about meters will come quickly I hope. I use a Contour meter but only the basic model and there are better ones than that now, although mine has proved very reliable. Other members will have more recent models and will be able to give you more details about them.

Here is the link:

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=26870

 

[hallii]

All meters conform to a minimum standard and will do the job. Some are easier to use, some are smaller and so on.

4.6 is fine, in fact it is around the figure of a non diabetic. There are figures that are suggested as being as low as you should go, If you go below 4 or maybe 3.8 have a snack. It is unlikely that you will go Hypo, you are T2 and on Metformin only so should be OK.

Your liver will wake up and dump some sugar before you get much below 4.

Test 2 hours after any new food, once you know what you can and can't eat you can ease up on testing. Test your fasting BGs (when you first get up) maybe once or twice a month, there is not a lot you can do about them but it's good to know what's happening. If you feel unwell, test. Have a glass of whisky and test 1 hour later, Exclaim loudly "Now that is interesting!".

Keep a chart of what you eat and how your BGs respond, record any excercise and note what difference it makes to your BGs.

Take it along with you to the docs who should be mightily impressed especially if you throw in a graph or two. Except if he is like my doc. he will just ignore it and only look at the HbA1c results.

However, you will be able to see a trend, and if you do some simple maths you will be able to have a pretty good idea of what your HbA1c is likely to be.

Happy testing.

H

 

[Caterham]

Thanks for the replies. Hallii, thanks for the comments re the whisky. However, after an incident involving 21 vodka and cokes when I was 19, I no longer drink spirits (and that was 32 years ago!) However, I will try in with a glass on Sancerre!

Due to complete incompetence I only managed another couple of tests yesterday before I used up the free strips :?

However, after a lunch with 43g of carbs I was 6.9 after 1 hour, then 4.2 before dinner. I guess I am hoping that my weight loss is helping, and that my issue is more insulin resistance than shortfall. However, I may be kidding myself. My BMI was 40 , is now 32.5, and I am aiming for the twenties hopefully soon.

Need to go out tomorrow and buy some strips. One thing I was quite surprised about was how little the finger pricking hurt, a lot less than I was expecting.

 

[Grazer]

Your figures are great, obviously your weight loss and diet has made a massive change. Your HbA1c will be much improved again next time - bet you're heading for a SUB-6.5 target achievement! (£1 each way? :lol: )
The 4.6 is fine, and what you should be looking for especially if you chuck in a bit of exercise. I've had 3.2 after golf and that's fine - as said above, you're only on metformin, so don't have dangerous hypo concerns. You can get low blood sugar like anyone else (non-diabetics included) if your fuel intake is less than your energy expenditure - just means it's a good excuse to have a bacon sarni for lunch!
Well done and keep it up.