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Minimum times

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What are the minimum times an insulin user must test their blood sugar? Not including tests for possible hypo.
 
I think the nice guidelines say 8 times a day but in reality I think it needs to be quite a lot more than that to maintain a decent level of control .
 
When I was a teenager (pre glucometer) I did no tests at all...
And before the UK gave out libres to all T1s doing 8 tests a day was one of the criteria that got you a libre.

If you're not worried about hypos then the main reason for doing a test is to calculate your insulin. So before meals is good for an insulin user on MDI (multiple daily ijections who knows how to adjust their doses). If you aren't adjusting your doses then the need goes down, though you'd need results to show your team so as to tell how to adjust your insulin, (and you need to test for hypos if your hypo awareness isn't warnng you accurately).

Pre glucometer, my numbers were always better when I tested more frequently....

What kind of insulin regime are you on now @cdpm ?
 
jaywak said:
I think the nice guidelines say 8 times a day but in reality I think it needs to be quite a lot more than that to maintain a decent level of control .
Click to expand...
Where does this advice come from?
Is it what the break even cost point is for Libre - if you tested 8 or more times a day, you used to qualify for Libre because the daily cost is less than 8 test strips.
I think it depends on your day.
Pre-cgm, I was told to test before every meal (to calculate correction part of bolus), before going to bed and when I felt "off" - either high or too low.
In the UK, you also need to test before driving and every 2 hours when on a long journey.

I do not know the recommendations for check CGM.
My expectations is to test when you are intending to do something with the result such as correct, treat a hypo or calculate bolus dose or when you need the result before undertaking an activity such as driving or exercise.

Depending upon your day/lifestyle, this could be anything from 3 times (if you eat 2 meals, do no exercise and do not drive) to more than 10 (if you do a lot of driving or experience lots of hypos).
 
EllieM said:
When I was a teenager (pre glucometer) I did no tests at all...
And before the UK gave out libres to all T1s doing 8 tests a day was one of the criteria that got you a libre.

If you're not worried about hypos then the main reason for doing a test is to calculate your insulin. So before meals is good for an insulin user on MDI (multiple daily ijections who knows how to adjust their doses). If you aren't adjusting your doses then the need goes down, though you'd need results to show your team so as to tell how to adjust your insulin, (and you need to test for hypos if your hypo awareness isn't warnng you accurately).

Pre glucometer, my numbers were always better when I tested more frequently....

What kind of insulin regime are you on now @cdpm ?
Click to expand...
Basaglar and trurapi.
I eat twice a day.
Rarely get hypos.
I was wondering if 4x a day is enough. When i get up, bedtime and before 1 meal and after 1 meal?
My dr hasn't said anything about how many times or when but is always asking for the numbers.
 
I have a libre2 but it's way too distressing for me to see the numbers. So I'd
Iike to get the minimum ones using a regular metre.
Just for the dr.
 
cdpm said:
I have a libre2 but it's way too distressing for me to see the numbers. So I'd
Iike to get the minimum ones using a regular metre.
Just for the dr.
Click to expand...
I suggest you ask the doctor which ones he needs, though the libre would genuinely give you lots more information.
 
EllieM said:
I suggest you ask the doctor which ones he needs, though the libre would genuinely give you lots more information.
Click to expand...
It takes nearly a week for me to heal after each sensor use. So I have alot of time using a regular meter anyway.
 
I was told somewhere along the line to test before any insulin injections.
So that may be why 4x a day is suggested.
 
my doctor told me 4 times, but for a long time I was too poor to financially afford it and measured bg 2 times a day. My hba1 at the same time was about 6-7
 
cdpm said:
I was told somewhere along the line to test before any insulin injections.
So that may be why 4x a day is suggested.
Click to expand...
A reason for testing before injections is so that you know how to adjust your dose. Have you been told how to do this or are your doses fixed?
 
Nope. I've just always self adjusted and learned most of what I know thru reading and talking to people online. My doses vary depending on what I eat using my ratio which I had to figure out myself.
 
cdpm said:
Did the Dr say when to do the 4x?
Click to expand...

after waking up, before going to bed, and the other two either before eating or 2 hours after eating to see if there is enough insulin or adjust the dose
 
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