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Is once a day testing enough?

I

itsmeme

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
My 83 year old dad was diagnosed T2 in July 2015. I immediately started him on LCHF and started him testing before each meal and two hours after. He reduced his hab1c down from 66 at diagnosis to 52 (he beat my 53!!) within 3 months. He also lost 3 stones in this time. He refuses to take metformin. He has now reduced his testing to once a day - fasting test is with in the 5s and he has maintained his weight loss. However, my parents have started to re-introduce some more carbs, but he does not test after a carby meal or a new carb to see whether he is spiking or not -I think he has tendency to forget. He is very frail, largely housebound and has many other health issues. Should I let him continue with the once a day testing and not worry so much? He is due a repeat hab1c this week. Many thanks
 
itsmeme said:
My 83 year old dad was diagnosed T2 in July 2015. I immediately started him on LCHF and started him testing before each meal and two hours after. He reduced his hab1c down from 66 at diagnosis to 52 (he beat my 53!!) within 3 months. He also lost 3 stones in this time. He refuses to take metformin. He has now reduced his testing to once a day - fasting test is with in the 5s and he has maintained his weight loss. However, my parents have started to re-introduce some more carbs, but he does not test after a carby meal or a new carb to see whether he is spiking or not -I think he has tendency to forget. He is very frail, largely housebound and has many other health issues. Should I let him continue with the once a day testing and not worry so much? He is due a repeat hab1c this week. Many thanks
Click to expand...

If your Dad has been eating more carbs for a while, I might be inclined to hold my tongue until his HbA1c results are in. If they have regressed, it's probably an easier conversation, because there's a clear reason for it. If his results remain good (only his Doc, you and he can decide what good means), then provided the carb ramp hasn't been in the last couple of months, he may be getting away with it.

I am able to eat more carbs than at diagnosis, having lost a few pounds and trimmed my way of eating too, but I do still test more than your Dada, just to keep myself in check, one way and another.

I'll be crossing my fingers for the old guy. :)
 
Honestly, no I do not think that testing once a day is enough. Unless all the foods, meals and portion sizes have been tested previously.

But in your (your Father's) situation i would keep quiet til the results of that HbA1c are in.

Then i would reevaluate.
If it is good, his new slimmer frame and food awareness is allowing him to cope with a few more carbs.
If it is bad, it might shock him back into regular testing and reduced carbs.

It is a lot to expect people to change their eating habits and establish new habits, and the older we get, the harder it is. I am finding this myself :(
And watching it happen with my own father, who is in a remarkably similar situation to your own.

Unfortunately, there isn't really much we can do to make someone do the things we think are good for them. No matter how much we love them.
 
Thank you both - I agree with you, I am worried about some of what he is eating - my mum gave him a Tescos fruit pie the other day at 35 grams of carbs each! But I am in an awkward position - despite being married 61 years and still very much in love, they argue like cats and dogs, and I have to pick my moments to disagree with what they are doing or saying. otherwise WW3 will start and there will be dark mutterings about divorce etc - and I am not kidding. I did have words, quietly, with my mother after the pie incident and I went over again what he should and shouldn't eat. I also discussed re-introducing testing after meals - even just the main meal of the day just to see - that is still to happen.
As you suggest I will wait until after the results are in and go from there.
 
Hi all, just a quick update - Dad's latest hab1c was 50, he has also maintained his weight loss. I have decided to keep a discreet eye on the situation, gently reminding him and mum about maintaining the low carbing and maybe introducing additional testing throughout the day.
 
Excellent!
I was just wondering yesterday about you and your dad.
Thanks for the update. :)
 
itsmeme said:
Hi all, just a quick update - Dad's latest hab1c was 50, he has also maintained his weight loss. I have decided to keep a discreet eye on the situation, gently reminding him and mum about maintaining the low carbing and maybe introducing additional testing throughout the day.
Click to expand...

Thanks for letting us know. Here's hoping your Dad has found a balance that works for him long term and he can maintain his fabulous progress.

As a pure coincidence, I have posted an article I copied from tomorrow's Times, here: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/diet-for-a-year-to-keep-the-weight-off-for-good.99451/ Could it be worth sharing that article with your Dad? He's not too far off the year (although I doubt a trigger clicks over on the 366th or 367th day!) to keep going.

Of course, this isn't about weight loss, but it would seem that for those of us who have gained control by adjusting our diets and getting a few pounds off, keeping the pounds gone is important.

Continued best wishes to the old guy!
 
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