Glucose monitoring: when to test?

[peapod]

Hello,

As a brand new diagnosee of Type 2 diabetes who has spent all weekend reading this and other forums about the condition, I've decided that - initially at least - I want to have some feeling of control over things and want to monitor my blood glucose levels myself. This is against my doctor's advice: testing is apparently "a slippery slope", "too hard to interpret" and, "depressing because you can't do anything about the results" but I suspect, as most of you seem to, that it really comes down to cost. I feel the sooner I take control of this the better, and the more in control of it I feel the less likely I am to deal with it by locking myself in a cupboard with several hundred Dairy Milks!

The question is, when should I be testing? What's the ideal schedule (I'm guessing it includes waking, pre- and post- meal tests?) and what's the bare minimum schedule that will at least give an indication of how things are going (just on waking?)? When do you test?

Thank you!
Sarah

 

[daisy1]

Hi Sarah and welcome to the forum Here is some information written by the former monitors for new members which I think you will find useful. It includes advice on when to test which you want to know. It is very important to test as you can see, by testing before and after meals, which foods you can eat, which you have to reduce the portions of and which foods you just can't eat, so that you can control your levels as well as possible. If you have any questions just go ahead and ask as there is always someone here who will help.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.

 

[Ricky]

If my fasting blood sugars are fine now <5.5 often <5.0) do I have to bother testing other than that. I used to test before and after meals but haven't for ages as I am afraid that sooner or later my regular precription for strips will be noticed and will be stopped. I have been lucky as I am Type 2 controlling on low carb/low GI and exercise. In fact I believe the word diabetic is not even in my GP's (who has now retired!!) notes!!! I daren't now even ask for a yearly Hb1Ac!! My last was about a year ago and was 5.5. Sometimes the practice nurse calls me in to take my BP and then decides that I may as well have a blood test!!