Glucose Testing, advice please

[Dily]

Hi a newbie Type 2
I'm finding sorting the timing of testing a tad problematic as I like my coffee and snacks (diabetic ok ones now) ...and I cook too and taste before its ready and often munch leftovers...I seem to be bringing nums down and losing weight but...i can test ok first thing and 2 hrs after a breakfast ... but then tend to wait for dinner in the evening probably after 9pm as I'm used to working evenings.

Can i test if i've had a coffee with milk in and sweetener at any time?

I stay up late...and can test 11pm ish but often i wash up really late and forget not to eat anything as i'm near the crackers cupboard...and so does that mean i wait another 2 hours?

3 tests is not too bad one early, one before dinner and one very late...but how do folks with not the 'ordinary' lifestyle fit in 6 glucose tests...

I'm used to picking bits of food in-between meals (just 2) or drinking tea or coffee with milk (not much coffee after early evening) anytime....

i'm prob type 2 as i used to drink at least 1.5L fruit juice and probably alot of milk and evian water so had alot of calories from drinking (no alcohol) ...i have changed that and lost about 8lb in a few weeks...and glucose nums are coming down but this postprandial isnt simple for me...

Any good ideas?
Thanks

 

[MrsA2]

You may not like to hear this, but to get the best from low carb and to lower your sugar levels, you need to stop snacking and eat bigger more filling meals (whether that's 1 2 or 3 meals a day is your choice). That way your body has time to process everything properly and to use its stores before you feed it again. Constant eating keeps bg levels high and adds to weight gain

And all this "probably type 2 " is not good enough. You need an official test

And tests, while you are learning what your body can cope with , needs to before 1st bite and then 2 hours after. So if you are eating 8 times a day that would be 16 tests. Another good reason to stop snacking so often. Saves fingers and money!

 

[HSSS]

The problem with isolated tests is that you can’t relate them to your food choices as clearly. The idea of post prandial is to compare it to preprandial and assess your response to the carbs especially. (A normal response is to be back close to preprandial within 2 hrs or at least within 2mmol, so the further from that you are the bigger the issue). Ideally you wouldn’t drink before a test but a small amount of milk shouldn’t have a drastic effect. If numbers are too high then you need to start isolating why. Better than not testing at all

The other issue is continual snacking. It keeps your insulin levels raised, preventing it returning to baseline. This means it’s harder to overcome the insulin resistance high levels of insulin causes against itself. It also means fat loss is harder and fat loss occurs best when insulin is low. Try and bunch the food up together. Surely you can wait 2 hrs after dinner before snacking in order to test dinner? Crackers are high carb too…….

Although you’re obviously making good strides towards control unfortunately it is your usual way of eating that has contributed to your diagnosis. The more of those undesirable habits you maintain the harder the journey to remission will be

 

[Dily]

You may not like to hear this, but to get the best from low carb and to lower your sugar levels, you need to stop snacking and eat bigger more filling meals (whether that's 1 2 or 3 meals a day is your choice). That way your body has time to process everything properly and to use its stores before you feed it again. Constant eating keeps bg levels high and adds to weight gain

And all this "probably type 2 " is not good enough. You need an official test

And tests, while you are learning what your body can cope with , needs to before 1st bite and then 2 hours after. So if you are eating 8 times a day that would be 16 tests. Another good reason to stop snacking so often. Saves fingers and money!

Hi
I have had an official test and an HbA1c, at 111 and my glucose with the nurse (I didnt know i was at the nurse for anything other than a general health test ... and drank 3/4 pint of apple juice just before the apptnt) my glucose was 22.
I knew it was the fruit juice and have taken steps since & a few weeks in i'm between 5.3 and 7...7 when i slip up and have greek yog ice cream for example, having forgotten to check sugar content.
I've also lost 8lb in weight so things are in the right direction but working evenings as a private tutor in peoples houses makes it difficult to lunch (burping, needing the loo) so i eat late.
Thanks for your input...most grateful.

 

[Dily]

The problem with isolated tests is that you can’t relate them to your food choices as clearly. The idea of post prandial is to compare it to preprandial and assess your response to the carbs especially. (A normal response is to be back close to preprandial within 2 hrs or at least within 2mmol, so the further from that you are the bigger the issue). Ideally you wouldn’t drink before a test but a small amount of milk shouldn’t have a drastic effect. If numbers are too high then you need to start isolating why. Better than not testing at all

The other issue is continual snacking. It keeps your insulin levels raised, preventing it returning to baseline. This means it’s harder to overcome the insulin resistance high levels of insulin causes against itself. It also means fat loss is harder and fat loss occurs best when insulin is low. Try and bunch the food up together. Surely you can wait 2 hrs after dinner before snacking in order to test dinner? Crackers are high carb too…….

Although you’re obviously making good strides towards control unfortunately it is your usual way of eating that has contributed to your diagnosis. The more of those undesirable habits you maintain the harder the journey to remission will be

Hi

Thanks reply, i understand testing before a meal and 2 hrs after...but what i dont quite get to grips with is the usual gap to after a postprandial to before the next meal.
ie before bfast is around 9.30, 10.30 (am 66 and 'retired' but self emp evenings tutoring.

So that means bfast post-p at 11.45ish....& the next meal to me isnt until late except a possible small tea time of maybe just bread (thin slice wholemeal and cup of tea) around 3.30pm ish instead of lunch (first tutee prob 4.30pm)...post-p at 5.30pm isnt possible in school terms as i'm not at home.

I should probably have a lunch but am not comfortable with eating a largish meal again until after i finish work 9.30pm...for obvious reasons of being in someone else's home. I think its helping with losing weight too.

So i tend to miss afternoon testing.

Next test 9.30 ish before dinner and after at 11.30pm.

Sometimes i work on the internet late and have a small supper, test before and 2hrs later prob 2am.

I've then six hours sleep...(often in the large intake of fruit juice i was a real insomniac but thats partially compunded by living in a first floor flat with neighb who go out or come in at 5.30am noisily).

My prob is lunch...so i'm mostly not testing mid day, before or after a lunch.

My readings are lower before a meal and higher 2hrs later...which seems to be correct reading down this link

https://www.walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-/diabetes/diabetes-community/diabetes-and-me/monitoring-your-blood-glucose/


I tend to swim a each week 30 lengths mid afternoon so wd have to eat 1hr before swimming....

I liked an afternoon light tea instead of lunch and have given up pork pie for small slice (non sliced loaf..1.5mm ish) wholemeal bread & cup of tea.

I'm probaby avoiding the traditional 3 meals a day...i've had no real lunch and always have dinner late in the evening for a long time...lunch seems decadent unless its a lunch outing.

I'm using an app called Yazio where i can input all foods, have nutrient counts and input glucose tests ea day in notes.

My concern is ...can i keep my hours of living and test twice before and after meals instead of 3 times.

I am losing weight and lowering glucose numbers...but before meals is lower than 2hrs after.

Thx for your helpful reply input.

 

[catinahat]

3 tests is not too bad one early, one before dinner and one very late...but how do folks with not the 'ordinary' lifestyle fit in 6 glucose tests..

It's not about the quantity of tests we do in a day, it's the information we get from the results that's important
If you were to do 20 tests a day and learn nothing from the results, it would be a waste of time and expensive test strips. But the information you can get from just 2 tests done at the correct time around food is essential in designing a diet suitable for you.
If you have trouble fitting in multiple tests a day, just do one meal, breakfast one day, lunch the next. When you have tested a certain meal a couple of times and found it acceptable, you can't learn anything new by testing it again, so move on and test something else.
Maybe test before and after the crackers, the results could be the motivation you need to keep out of that cupboard

 

[HSSS]

….next meal to me isnt until a possible small tea time of maybe just bread (thin slice wholemeal and cup of tea) 3.30pm ish (first tutee prob 4.30pm)...post-p at 5.30pm isnt possible in school terms as i'm not at home.

I should probably have a lunch but am not comfortable with eating a largish meal again until after i finish work 9.30pm...for obvious reasons of being in someone else's home.

So i tend to miss afternoon testing.

….

Sometimes i work on the internet late and have a small supper, test before and 2hrs later prob 2am.

I've then six hours sleep...often in the large intake of fruit juice i was a real insomniac but thats partially compunded by living in a first floor flat with neighb who go out or come in at 5.30am noisily.

My prob is lunch...so i'm mostly not testing mid day, before or after a lunch.

I tend to swim a each week 30 lengths mid afternoon so wd have to eat 1hr before swimming....

I liked an afternoon light tea instead of lunch.

I'm probaby avoiding the traditional 3 meals a day...i've had no real lunch and dinner late evening for a long time...lunch seems decadent unless its a lunch outing.

I'm using an app called Yazio where i can input all foods, have nutrient counts and input glucose tests ea day in notes.

My concern is ...can i keep my hours of living and test twice before and after meals instead of 3 times.

I am losing weight and lowering glucose numbers...but before meals is lower than 2hrs after.

Thx for your helpful reply input.

Ok I’m seeing lots to improve on here.

breakfast looks ok timing wise.

The next meal in the afternoon isn’t a problem being at that time. The choice of bread however almost certainly isn’t helpful and some testing will show you that quite clearly. Why can’t you test at 5.30? You really don’t need to be at home to test. In the car, a pop to a bathroom, etc.

I’m concerned though that eating a lunch would cause you gastro discomfort and side effects in the early evening. What on Earth are you eating that causes that?

evening meal testing is managable by the sounds of it.

why do you need late night snack? Add more food to your dinner so you are not hungry perhaps. If you’re determined to make it your third meal then wise choices that late are required. I’m assuming the fruit juice is a thing of the past - liquid sugar.

There is no need to eat 3 meals a day. 2 is just fine. And even one can work for some people. However eating more times has all the insulin issues we’ve mentioned above. I’m wondering if this is habit or hunger. Are you attempting a low fat diet? Few of us in here managing our diabetes successfully use that sort of diet - that is poorly evidenced for diabetes control and leaves people hungry and craving the next carb (sugar in the stomach) fix. The number of carbs matters far more and reduction in those replaced by more protein and healthy natural fats avoids hunger and keeps us full between meals as well as lowering blood glucose and helping weight loss more than low fat does..

With the readings you are doing how much higher are the post prandials? Are you identifying what elements of the meals are causing this?

Have a read of the links in red that are below my signature. You might find it enlightening

 

[Dily]

It's not about the quantity of tests we do in a day, it's the information we get from the results that's important
If you were to do 20 tests a day and learn nothing from the results, it would be a waste of time and expensive test strips. But the information you can get from just 2 tests done at the correct time around food is essential in designing a diet suitable for you.
If you have trouble fitting in multiple tests a day, just do one meal, breakfast one day, lunch the next. When you have tested a certain meal a couple of times and found it acceptable, you can't learn anything new by testing it again, so move on and test something else.
Maybe test before and after the crackers, the results could be the motivation you need to keep out of that cupboard

The sea salt & black pepper savory crackers are only 1.5 carbs no sugar..i only have 1...q is do i have to wait 2 hours again to test...rhx

 

[Dily]

Ok I’m seeing lots to improve on here.

breakfast looks ok timing wise.

The next meal in the afternoon isn’t a problem being at that time. The choice of bread however almost certainly isn’t helpful and some testing will show you that quite clearly. Why can’t you test at 5.30? You really don’t need to be at home to test. In the car, a pop to a bathroom, etc.

I’m concerned though that eating a lunch would cause you gastro discomfort and side effects in the early evening. What on Earth are you eating that causes that?

evening meal testing is managable by the sounds of it.

why do you need late night snack? Add more food to your dinner so you are not hungry perhaps. If you’re determined to make it your third meal then wise choices that late are required. I’m assuming the fruit juice is a thing of the past - liquid sugar.

There is no need to eat 3 meals a day. 2 is just fine. And even one can work for some people. However eating more times has all the insulin issues we’ve mentioned above. I’m wondering if this is habit or hunger. Are you attempting a low fat diet? Few of us in here managing our diabetes successfully use that sort of diet - that is poorly evidenced for diabetes control and leaves people hungry and craving the next carb (sugar in the stomach) fix. The number of carbs matters far more and reduction in those replaced by more protein and healthy natural fats avoids hunger and keeps us full between meals as well as lowering blood glucose and helping weight loss more than low fat does..

With the readings you are doing how much higher are the post prandials? Are you identifying what elements of the meals are causing this?

Have a read of the links in red that are below my signature. You might find it enlightening

Hi
Thanks reply

Cant test in someone elses home at 5.30pm...only there to tutor for 1 hour.

Need to tutor back to back as its after sch mostly to gain 3 tutees and travel.

Lunch...am just wary of definitely never needing to use facilities in a tutees home

Bread...an a little food intolerant and my wholemeal thin slice doesnt seem to affect .. but will try it with testing just the bread.

I just make resources for the next day late as the internet is faster...

My yazio app is good, i can track carbs,sugar, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in own cooked recipies and shop products from the bar codes and their database.

Thanks confirmation testing x 2 ...am thinking of using the same foods daily ea meal except for 1 food as i'm new to this...i've swapped pasta out ...have small zenb yellow pea now and veg rice & small spiralised veg.

I was just a tad confused trying to fit 3 tests in, but am not on metaformin and hope to stay away from it as i'm not good with chemicals.

Thanks again

Edit
Best results after swimming 550m...5.3, post prand high 6 or 7.0


..

 

[Em16]

Hi Dily, I have a low carb/high fat diet to control diabetes, but I also snack (nuts/small greek-yoghurt mostly) because I am thin and struggle to maintain a reasonable weight otherwise. Initially I tested after all foods, including testing at an hour, an hour and a half, two hours and so on. In this way I was quickly able to see where foods were causing me a problem...and just generally how my body reacted to different foods.

I wouldn't now eat a next meal/snack if my sugars were not in the low 5s, no matter how hungry I might be. Interestingly, prior to knowing I was diabetic and changing my diet, I suffered indigestion and bloating after eating too. This cleared up completely with lc/hf diet. If you are still experiencing this with some foods, it might be a good idea to be fastidious in checking your bloods after these meals....it might be that they are just too carby for you.

However challenging it might seem to do the testing, because of logistics/commitments etc. in my opinion it is the most important thing you can do to help manage your diabetes....I would put it before absolutely everything else. As regards tutoring, can you have a quiet word with your pupils' parents to ensure you can nip out of the room to test (or if they are adult pupils, just explain the situation to them). Testing literally takes a few seconds. Good luck!
Em

 

[Dily]

Hi Dily, I have a low carb/high fat diet to control diabetes, but I also snack (nuts/small greek-yoghurt mostly) because I am thin and struggle to maintain a reasonable weight otherwise. Initially I tested after all foods, including testing at an hour, an hour and a half, two hours and so on. In this way I was quickly able to see where foods were causing me a problem...and just generally how my body reacted to different foods.

I wouldn't now eat a next meal/snack if my sugars were not in the low 5s, no matter how hungry I might be. Interestingly, prior to knowing I was diabetic and changing my diet, I suffered indigestion and bloating after eating too. This cleared up completely with lc/hf diet. If you are still experiencing this with some foods, it might be a good idea to be fastidious in checking your bloods after these meals....it might be that they are just too carby for you.

However challenging it might seem to do the testing, because of logistics/commitments etc. in my opinion it is the most important thing you can do to help manage your diabetes....I would put it before absolutely everything else. As regards tutoring, can you have a quiet word with your pupils' parents to ensure you can nip out of the room to test (or if they are adult pupils, just explain the situation to them). Testing literally takes a few seconds. Good luck!
Em

I definitey wouldnt ask and nip out as its just not done. The parents definitely don't want any info about illness ...its just not the kind of world where you can do anything outside of a basic 1 hour tutoring...as i'm self emp and would lose the work and feedback would be on my online profile, its like parents even every evening...

Its ok to test 2x day...

What i think i need to do is exercise much more...its the exercise thats bringing my glucose nums down.

Thanks reply and suggestions.

 

[Deleted member 543160]

Maybe you could investigate using a Libre sensor (which sits on your arm monitoring glucose levels continuously 24/7) if you're having issues with fitting in pre and post meal testing, and you'd also see more detailed information than that gained from the usual tests before and after meals. 3 scans 8 hours apart will get you a full 24 hours worth of data, but you can also scan at any time that's convenient for you.

More info and free trial offer here: https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/ but also check our forum posts. I've only ever used the original Libre 1 for continuous monitoring for a while with its associated scanner/reader and computer software; the reader will also act as both a glucose and a ketone monitor with appropriate test trips. You can also use smart phones and apps with the current versions.

 

[HSSS]

The sea salt & black pepper savory crackers are only 1.5 carbs no sugar..i only have 1...q is do i have to wait 2 hours again to test...rhx

If you want to know the effect of that one cracker yes. Otherwise I’d test as planned but bear in mind any higher than wanted readings may have been affected by this to some degree.

 

[HSSS]

Hi
Thanks reply

Cant test in someone elses home at 5.30pm...only there to tutor for 1 hour.

Need to tutor back to back as its after sch mostly to gain 3 tutees and travel.

Lunch...am just wary of definitely never needing to use facilities in a tutees home

Bread...an a little food intolerant and my wholemeal thin slice doesnt seem to affect .. but will try it with testing just the bread.

I just make resources for the next day late as the internet is faster...

My yazio app is good, i can track carbs,sugar, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in own cooked recipies and shop products from the bar codes and their database.

Thanks confirmation testing x 2 ...am thinking of using the same foods daily ea meal except for 1 food as i'm new to this...i've swapped pasta out ...have small zenb yellow pea now and veg rice & small spiralised veg.

I was just a tad confused trying to fit 3 tests in, but am not on metaformin and hope to stay away from it as i'm not good with chemicals.

Thanks again

Edit
Best results after swimming 550m...5.3, post prand high 6 or 7.0


..

Test between appointments at the start/end of the journey. It takes less than a minute. Or test those foods at another time of day.

the relevance is not how many tests you do but that you use them to test the foods you are choosing. If you really can’t test at certain times (during tutoring) then test the different foods at a time you can test (eg breakfast or after tutoring)

Peas might be an issue, as can all lentils legumes etc. Rice is pretty awful for a lot of people.

when I asked about the test results I meant what are the pre and post meal readings from the same meal to see what prolonged rise you may or may not get. That said if the worst you’re seeing 2 hrs after eating is a 7 you’re not doing too badly at all at this early stage. Well done.

 

[Dily]

Hi
Grateful thanks. I thought i had to aim for 4.9 post-prand, and 7 was way too high. That said i do better when i cook my own meals than when i opt for processed even though the nutrients aren't much different...mostly the day i swim and use up/gain more calories. I dont use up the extra calories earned by swimming. I really should cook for 2 days as i'm sceptical on the processed reported nutrients.
My aim is to do whatever is necessary to avoid needing metformin... ...
Thanks again.