• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Less regular testing routine

millenium

millenium

Well-Known Member
Messages
434
Location
Singapore
Type of diabetes
Carer
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Urban noise, environmental destruction
Once readings were under control from data collected from seven readings (3 meals a day) for a straight 5 days on and off for 2 cycles in two weeks.

If meals taken were those tested before. What do you recommend as a less regular routine?
 
Could you clarify, please?

You have been testing for 2×5 day cycles in two weeks and want to know how soon you can lower the frequency of testing?
 
Personally although I’ve now been testing 7 times (minimum) a day for over a year, I’m not ready to give up control - for me the readings (and I take them even when skipping meals so I have comparison data) provide motivation and help to keep me on track. It also means I get early warning of any unwanted upward trends, so I can take the necessary action promptly.

This is of course a personal choice and once you’ve tested often enough to be confident of your general trends less regular testing is definitely possible. I’d say that the pre-dinner reading gives a good idea of where your levels have been at for the day and then testing any new foods would also be possible.
 
I do quarterly hba1c but have cut back a lot on regular monitoring. I have a libre on now but have not done that for 6 months. I suspect I will do a libre once or twice a year unless I get an hba1c I don't like. My line is pretty flat on my libre and I end up getting annoyed over pretty small increases (e.g. 5 to 6) so not much to see. If you are seeing more variance I can see how you would want to test more regularly.
 
Guzzler said:
Could you clarify, please?

You have been testing for 2×5 day cycles in two weeks and want to know how soon you can lower the frequency of testing?
Click to expand...

I am taking care of a patient. I am currently focusing on getting the carbs right in every meal as the patient glucose control is stable. I am doing only some random checking like a fasting reading once a week and 2 hours postmeal reading only when he is eating a meal menu i have not tested before like once every 3-4 days.

I want to see what others are doing and compare.
 
Goonergal said:
Personally although I’ve now been testing 7 times (minimum) a day for over a year, I’m not ready to give up control - for me the readings (and I take them even when skipping meals so I have comparison data) provide motivation and help to keep me on track. It also means I get early warning of any unwanted upward trends, so I can take the necessary action promptly.

This is of course a personal choice and once you’ve tested often enough to be confident of your general trends less regular testing is definitely possible. I’d say that the pre-dinner reading gives a good idea of where your levels have been at for the day and then testing any new foods would also be possible.
Click to expand...
Once I'd got a good idea of what I could eat, I reduced testing and just eat the same kinds of meals but I recognise it is possible to eat just a little bit more sometimes and succumb to carb creep.
 
The more data you have the better, in my opinion. A two week period is not very long in terms of showing trends.
 
I still test several times every day, and have done for 4 years. It is my personal motivation to keep myself on track. If I didn't test I could well be tempted to stray.
 
I'm still testing on a regular basis after four years.

It's not only food that can affect glucose levels, but other factors such as state of health, medications, etc, can do so too, so if you're doing the testing on behalf a patient under your care, you may also need to take the possible impact of such issues into consideration.

Robbity
 
It depends on the patient. Some will become 'sneaky' if control is too tight, others prefer a regular daily/weekly routine so they know where they are but control is not too tight. One thing that a diagnosis of diabetes has taught me is that we are all individuals and there are no short cuts. Personally, I have relaxed control to once a day testing as long as the result is within the tight parameters I have set myself. If they slip outside that I will go back to a tighter control, I might even return to my HCP if I can not control the readings..
 
Phoenix55 said:
It depends on the patient. Some will become 'sneaky' if control is too tight, others prefer a regular daily/weekly routine so they know where they are but control is not too tight. One thing that a diagnosis of diabetes has taught me is that we are all individuals and there are no short cuts. Personally, I have relaxed control to once a day testing as long as the result is within the tight parameters I have set myself. If they slip outside that I will go back to a tighter control, I might even return to my HCP if I can not control the readings..
Click to expand...

It took me well over a year of testing around 10 times per day to feel confident about staying in a good range. It's not just the food but when it's eaten and when and how much activity happens in a day. Surely in the end it's about self empowerment and that's an individual thing?
 
Back
Top