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

Measuring Blood Sugars

jclegg73

jclegg73

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi All

Just got out of hospital after suffering keto acidosis and have now been moved off Metformin onto insulin injections.

When measuring my sugar level after eating how long after eating should the test be taken?

Cheers
 
jclegg73 said:
Hi All

Just got out of hospital after suffering keto acidosis and have now been moved off Metformin onto insulin injections.

When measuring my sugar level after eating how long after eating should the test be taken?

Cheers
Click to expand...
It Depends on your insulin but 2 hours is the usual guideline
 
I tend to aim for 1hr and 2hrs as it gives me a good indication as to how the insulin (and food) has impacted. However as JCBBFC27 has said 2 hrs if fine.
 
2 hours should be OK unless you have hypo symptoms in which case check straight away.
 
jclegg73 said:
Thanks all

Can anyone recommend where to find free very low carb diet plans?
Click to expand...

There are lots around, in essence you cut the carbs you eat - starches & sugars - right back, and increase vegetables and possibly dairy & meat. If you are used to cooking your own food from raw ingredients it's not that hard. But this is one:

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

Meal Planners

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Please click here for further information. Welcome to the home page of the free Freshwell Meal Planners! We hope that you find some inspira…
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
 
I try to test 1 hour after and 2 hours after. I made myself an insulin chart in a word document. From left to right it reads Date - Time - Food - Carbs - Medication - Pre Meal BG - + 1 Hour - + 2 Hours. I enter the values each day and I include the direction my BG are moving according to the information displayed on my Libre 2 meter.

Of late I have been trying my hardest to get the amount of carbs in each meal as close to correct as I can (weighing foods etc), so as to be able to adjust my insulin accordingly. It is not perfect by any means, but it does give me reference points and I can look back at past events for help, especially when I've been prescribed medication that significantly spikes my BG.
 
Grandadfatboy said:
I try to test 1 hour after and 2 hours after. I made myself an insulin chart in a word document. From left to right it reads Date - Time - Food - Carbs - Medication - Pre Meal BG - + 1 Hour - + 2 Hours. I enter the values each day and I include the direction my BG are moving according to the information displayed on my Libre 2 meter.

Of late I have been trying my hardest to get the amount of carbs in each meal as close to correct as I can (weighing foods etc), so as to be able to adjust my insulin accordingly. It is not perfect by any means, but it does give me reference points and I can look back at past events for help, especially when I've been prescribed medication that significantly spikes my BG.
Click to expand...

If you use Excel instead of Word a whole world of automatic calculations & colouring opens up.
 
jclegg73 said:
Hi All

Just got out of hospital after suffering keto acidosis and have now been moved off Metformin onto insulin injections.

When measuring my sugar level after eating how long after eating should the test be taken?

Cheers
Click to expand...
Hope you’re feeling better
 
I know the common advice for people with type 2 is to test before eating a 2 hours later as has been mentioned above.
But the OP clearly stated they are taking insulin so I wonder whether the advice should be closer to that for someone with Type 1?
Given fast acting insulin lasts about 4 hours, it is rarely worth testing within those four hours as there is still insulin on board to bing blood sugars down. The only reason for testing earlier is to understand if the dose was taken at the right time.

Also, if the OP is on fixed insulin doses, care should be taken before adopting a lower carb diet.
 
jclegg73 said:
Hi All

Just got out of hospital after suffering keto acidosis and have now been moved off Metformin onto insulin injections.

When measuring my sugar level after eating how long after eating should the test be taken?

Cheers
Click to expand...
I'm confused. Have your diabetic team given you no advice about when to test? Struggling to think how you could move someone to insulin without giving such essential advice....
 
Back
Top