I’ve ordered a meter

[Hooty]

I have taken the plunge and ordered a blood glucose testing meter.... feeling a bit nervous about the testing but looking forward to understanding the effects that different food have on me. Since my pre-diabetes diagnosis last month I have reduced my carb intake by what feels like a lot. I will be interested to see how my results look. I should have the meter my the middle of next week, so expect I will be looking for more advice then!

 

[Rachox]

Good move! I’ve heard not testing described as like driving with no speedo, you only know you didn’t keep control when the speeding ticket lands on your doormat. With not testing you only know (for sure) that you didn’t do well when you get your 3, 6 or 12 monthly HbA1c result!

 

[Hooty]

Yes, I won’t be having a re-test at the surgery until October and would really like to know if I’m making enough dietary changes to be on track to have my HbA1c back below the pre-diabetic level (it was 42 in Feb, then 43 when re-tested in April).

@Rachox may I ask how often you test yourself?

 

[Rachox]

Yes, I won’t be having a re-test at the surgery until October and would really like to know if I’m making enough dietary changes to be on track to have my HbA1c back below the pre-diabetic level (it was 42 in Feb, then 43 when re-tested in April).

@Rachox may I ask how often you test yourself?

When I first started I used to test fasting, before and after every meal and bedtime. The meal time ones especially to learn how different foods affected me. Now I’m consistently at non diabetic levels I test less often, about 4 times a day just to keep an eye on trends up or down.

 

[Hooty]

Thank you.

 

[ianf0ster]

If back down at non-diabetic levels, then unless you are eating new foods/bigger portions I ( as a newbie T2) feel that 4 times a day is quite a lot. I would expect that just keeping track of the fasting level i.e. once per day would be enough, since you know what the effect of your meals is without the need for re-testing.

 

[Rachox]

If back down at non-diabetic levels, then unless you are eating new foods/bigger portions I ( as a newbie T2) feel that 4 times a day is quite a lot. I would expect that just keeping track of the fasting level i.e. once per day would be enough, since you know what the effect of your meals is without the need for re-testing.

If you’re asking me, I like to keep a close eye on my levels. I enter all the data into the MySugr app and it gives me a constant estimated HbA1c reading, if it were to start trending up I could analyse why it’s happening. I’d rather nip things in the bud than find out at my next HbA1c at the surgery. I think you’ll find all styles of testing on the forum, some choose not to test at all some test 8-10 times per day.

 

[1spuds]

In remission now.If trying new foods I can test 4-6 times a day,when on old faithfuls I will do just a fasting.Overall,I do about 2-3 a day,give or take.I think it keeps me informed,especially trends.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I tested similar to @Rachox , fasting, before and after each meal and bedtime. I also tested an hour after eating, plus 90 minutes, then 2 hours to try and catch the peaks, and continued after the 2 hours to see how long it took me to drop back to where I started. I went through one heck of a lot of strips, but as I am a data freak everything was recorded on a spread sheet, notes added, and averages taken. I carried on like this for probably over 3 years until I started wearing a Libre on a part time basis. Nowadays I only test fasting, before evening meal, and bedtime. I don't do any testing when I have a Libre, other than a few cross checks. It is pointless me testing post meals because nothing really changes.