Have you been told not to test your blood sugars?

I've been told I can test my blood as many times a day as I want (usually once or though more when I'm poorly)

I test 3 times a day - but have been told by Diabetes Clinic at Hospital to test 4 to 5 a day. (It's up to the individual really).

I honestly think that it should be your own choice how many times you test a day and if it's with your GP's blessing the better

Hi babsy2 - I just looked at your profile, thought I was on a lot of meds!!! I may test more if I think/feel I might be having a hypo? (Only had 2 and they were scary!!!)

Yep I take quite a handful each day but their monitored by myself and my GP once a month

My GP says type2 diabetics should not self test I have to disagree especially in my case egocentric maybe but apart from being diabetic I have myasthenia gravis. Some symptoms overlap in some respects.

I take mestinon an anticholinesterase which I self medicate adjusting my dose in accordance with how my MG is affecting me some times taking less some times more.
But if I can't tell if its the mg or the diabetes making me feel worse I could overdose on mestinon and that can have a bad outcome very quickly.

I could have a cholinergic crisis
"a pronounced muscular weakness and respiratory paralysis caused by excessive acetylcholine, often apparent in patients suffering from myasthenia gravis as a result of overmedication with anticholinesterase drugs."

So I bought a meter and test its the only way I know what my diabetes is doing and makes me feel much safer.

@JohnEGreen I agree. It's a good investment to purchase your own meter and it's one of the most vital piece of equipment that a diabetic person needs and sensible too. How else can you keep track on your diabetes/blood sugars and check which foods give you highs. William.

I must have my own meter. I know I am the only person who cares day in and day out about my diabetes. I have to take responsibility. I can't imagine turning up to the GP saying I'm really ill and having a 20 plus reading. Too much damage can have been done

My diabetic nurse phoned this morning having told me i didn't need to test because only people who are hypoglycemic need to she is now giving ne a meter instructed by the diabetic specialist. I also have to take another tablet (not sure what one i had just woken up lol)

I'm currently testing around 10 times a day since stopping my diabetic medication in favour of LCHF due to having a few other complex conditions, I saw my GP this morning to catchup on how I've been the past 4 weeks, I've had 3 bouts of infection 2 colds and a brief worsening of one of my conditions.
She as always was sympathetic with my complex health and can see that the recent results have been good, despite the BG rises in days I've been ill, when I ordered my strips I get 200 on prescription, I'd run out a week early last time, the pharmacy then questioned that I'd had 4 boxes only 3 weeks earlier and that they couldn't order them that early, I explained that I'd spoken to my GP and that I was trying new foods and monitoring for spikes, and that I had also quit my meds 18 out of 21 items, they did put an through an order in the end and I got my prescription.

I mentioned this to my GP today and she's more than happy to issue strips as and when I need them, if the pharmacy or anyone at the practice questions my usage to just send her a note and she'll deal with it.

One of the best things has been to seeing the rise in BG, before I get the full on symptoms of illness, I can then plan my days better and not over work myself.

My Dr. told me I don't need to test because they do it every three months. But how can I manage it if I can't test, and I can't afford the test strips in any case!

Dilynn58 said:

My Dr. told me I don't need to test because they do it every three months. But how can I manage it if I can't test, and I can't afford the test strips in any case!

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The cheapest way I know to self test is to get the SD Codefree meter (from ebay, Amazon or direct from Home Health). Works out at about £7 for 50 strips, and a one off payment of £12 for the meter. Other meters can be 3x as much for the strips.

There are a lot of different meters around, so shop carefully!

Only diagnosed the week before Xmas and saw the Diabetic Nurse early January. Before I saw her I had found this wonderful place, full of the type of 'experts' I like, ie the ones who know what they are talking about because they live it everyday.

She is a lovely nurse, very reassuring and gave me lots of advice about low fat, no sugar, 5 portions of certain carbs a day etc. I told her that I had joined Diabetes UK . She was impressed and said it was a great site, full of good advice, (it was only later in the conversation I realised I had missed out the .co ).

I told her that I had ordered some books and a tester, she told me that type 2's shouldn't test as there was no need and would get worried with some of the readings and no way would the surgery provide anything. I asked when I would next get tested by the surgery and she told me a year after the diagnosis!!!

I'm getting the hang of testing and finding out more and more each day, mainly thanks to you here

This is reassuring or not as the case may be. I was diagnosed T2 on Thursday and the nurse said I don't need to test and they will every three months. I then found this forum and have been reading and it was suggested that I got a testing kit. It makes sense to me that if I want to understand what is happening to my blood sugar levels I need to know what they are. I have ordered the SD code free one as it had good reviews and seems cost effective in the long run. I realise that the NHS are suffering cut backs but surely it would be more realistic to prevent the diabetes getting worse and then having other costly complications.

I havent been told either way. My GP hasnt discussed anything with me, just a set of answers given by the receptionist. I guess I could go see the GP but I dont see much point in taking up an appt. My surgery nurse didnt say either way whether to use a meter or not. I chose to buy one so I could keep a check myself. I remember some days, others I dont.

I'd rather speak to someone on these boards as they are going through it too

I was told that type 2's don't need to test, as the surgery was ''controlling'' my levels.......but I only go once a year...... I bought my own meter, and highest reading was 26.6, now hovering around the 10.0 mark, but without testing how are you supposed to know where you are ?......I have now gone from 500mg of Metformin a day, to 1500mg..... simply because I started testing myself.......my diabetic nurse is very good, when you can get to see her, but I really do think that type 2's should test on a regular basis.

Del 80 said:

I was told that type 2's don't need to test, as the surgery was ''controlling'' my levels.......but I only go once a year...... I bought my own meter, and highest reading was 26.6, now hovering around the 10.0 mark, but without testing how are you supposed to know where you are ?......I have now gone from 500mg of Metformin a day, to 1500mg..... simply because I started testing myself.......my diabetic nurse is very good, when you can get to see her, but I really do think that type 2's should test on a regular basis.

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Yes of course we should. It's the usual nonsensical advice

I was told no testing was needed by GP on diagnosis, but when I saw the nurse she said I could have a testing kit and gave me the Nexus one. Going through the strips so eager to get on prescriptions!

At Docs on Friday and am going to ask, it seems to say you can have them as a guide to self management ... Surely that's what I'm doing if testing before/after meals to understand what gives me spikes?

I was diagnosed in Jan this year with a reading of 19.3. The doctor put me on Metformin no explanation of what they were for how they work, told me to make an appointment with the diabetic nurse got an appointment a few days later, she said it was the doctor who wanted me to test every day, she said personally I wouldn't suggest one, I never asked why? as I was still in shock with it all. We all know it is a lot to take in. Was given a meter and strips and needles and off I went to the chemist with the prescription. They had to order them as they didn't have them in stock. Joined this website on the recommendation of the diabetic nurse. Best thing I ever did. Yes we do need to test every day or else how would we know what spiked and what was ok to eat. Also I really do not think that sometimes the doctors and diabetic nurses fully understand what we diabetics needs are, we have to be in control of our own bodies, my doctor and diabetic nurse are really nice and do listen to me, it may be me but sometimes I think when I come away from the surgery am I just another patient with a problem.