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How often do you check blood

Lilliepop

Lilliepop

Well-Known Member
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Being prediabetic how often do you check your blood sugar? And do you check everyday? Asking because my Dr said not to bother but if I do only check a couple of times a week. She said I'm worrying to much. I think she is being very flippant about it.
 
When newly diagnosed I tended to test more since I was learning about the food I was eating. I did not see a problem with that. Now that I have made adjustments to my menu I just test once a day if I wish to know if I am keeping on course.
 
As Squire says, until you know how certain foods or exercise affect your BG levels it's good to check frequently at the beginning. However, many docs won't prescribe strips and they are not cheap so depends on your budget really.


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My readings were high although not in the pre-D range. I wanted to keep tabs on them so I bought a meter. Tested regularly for about two weeks to get to know what was what, and am now finding that testing is getting less, unless I eat something new and want to check its affect on my BGs.

In the early days, test first thing in the morning; after breakfast (2 hours after); Before lunch, 2 hrs afterward; Before dinner, 2 hrs afterward. Before supper if you have any and Before Bed if you wish.
Log it all down.
 
The only reason to test is when you have question like: How fast did this food raise my bg? And for how long?

Make a food diary and test. What does my usual breakfast do to bg after 1 and 2 hours respectively?

What do different kinds of foods do? This the question you want to ask.

It is recommended you test two hours after eating. I find I get a better picture if I test at one hour and then test until my bg is back to baseline. I aim for foods that only raises my bg 1-2mml/l from baseline, ever, so go for a rather strict LCHF for the moment. And it works.
 
Totto said:
It is recommended you test two hours after eating. I find I get a better picture if I test at one hour and then test until my bg is back to baseline. I aim for foods that only raises my bg 1-2mml/l from baseline, ever, so go for a rather strict LCHF for the moment. And it works.
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Quite right... doing it this way you avoid the high spikes after foods which can be important.
 
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DiamondAsh said:
Quite right... doing it this way you avoid the high spikes after foods which can be important.
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I disagree. This way you learn what spikes you, then you choose to eat it anyway or avoid it. Granted, to test tells you what you should avoid, but it is your own choice to do so or take the risks of high bg (as in dementia, blindness, amputations, cancer etc.). You might still choose it, but this will be an informed decision.
 
Totto said:
I disagree. This way you learn what spikes you, then you choose to eat it anyway or avoid it. Granted, to test tells you what you should avoid, but it is your own choice to do so or take the risks of high bg (as in dementia, blindness, amputations, cancer etc.). You might still choose it, but this will be an informed decision.
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that's what I said. In a roundabout way.
You test to see when the spikes occur and then you can avoid those foods....
 
DiamondAsh said:
that's what I said. In a roundabout way.
You test to see when the spikes occur and then you can avoid those foods....
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I know you did, but you are dedicated to the road to health, but so many aren't. I feel the crux is the ability to choose. And you need a meter to be able to do so.

You and I are on the same path and I agree completely with you, I just wanted to state that what we choose to eat is very much is a choice, and to make an informed choice we need a meter, but is still a choice. I might choose to have pasta once or twice in my life, even though I know what it might do my bg.

It is a matter of choice, but to be able to choose you need to be able to test. And take the risk of carbs.
 
I'm not prediabetic, I was diagnosed T2 on January 2nd. My GP and DSN told me not to test, for various reasons, when I found this forum the most important thing I picked up was the importance of testing. I self fund my meter and test strips and I test at least 8 times a day -
When I wake up
Pre and post breakfast, lunch and dinner
Before I go to bed
I'm constantly amazed at what makes my BG spike
You'll see this a lot here - test, test, test and eat to your meter. Great advice.
 
Sorry, should have put 'IMO' at the end of that sentence
 
I'm T2 on diet & exercise so I have to buy my own test strips.

I test before breakfast and 2 hours after breakfast, lunch and evening meal. My biggest spikes come from olive oil, which I though was good for me!
 
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