New to BS testing … queries

[NewbieHelp]

Hi
I’ve only recently started checking my BS levels at home and have a few queries… I did try searching here for answers but maybe using wrong words!

1. When are best times to test …. First thing in morning, before meals and 2 hours after? Is there any benefit to testing at other times inbetween or last thing at night?

2. How do you stop your finger tips getting sore or bruised and what is best area of the finger? I currently alternate but still painful at times.

3. How do you stop yourself getting obsessed… ? Nearly at the stage of wanting to test constantly… watching the clock until I can test again…

Thanks in advance

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi
I’ve only recently started checking my BS levels at home and have a few queries… I did try searching here for answers but maybe using wrong words!

1. When are best times to test …. First thing in morning, before meals and 2 hours after? Is there any benefit to testing at other times inbetween or last thing at night?

2. How do you stop your finger tips getting sore or bruised and what is best area of the finger? I currently alternate but still painful at times.

3. How do you stop yourself getting obsessed… ? Nearly at the stage of wanting to test constantly… watching the clock until I can test again…

Thanks in advance

Hi @NewbieHelp ,

Let's see...

1. Best time to test is before a meal and 2 hours afterwards, so you can see how your body copes with the meal. Aiming for a rise of no more and preferably less than 2.0 mmol/l. And once you've seen a meal be just right a few times, you can skip that one and save strips. The fasting pricking in the morning you don't have to do every day unless you really, really want to, because fasting blood sugars are the last to come down. So once a week, once every two weeks could be enough to establish a trend, if you want to save strips. You could test at other times for sheer curiosity's sake, but strips are a bit pricy to use that way. Otherwise I'd just stick with times you feel unwell and such.

2. You want to prick the side of your finger, not the pad, as that's where the nerve endings are.

3. Tricky one, that! After a while it abates, when you feel a little more confident you're getting the food/meds/etc right. It passes, more often than not, and then it's just run-of-the-mill.

Hope that helps some!
Jo

 

[becca59]

Also for no make sure your pricker isn’t set too high and that your fingers are warm. If you can put in warm water first the blood flows easily.

 

[Pipp]

Additionally, wash hands first, as this prevents false readings caused by anything that could be on your fingers. I have even found toothpaste residue caused a false high reading.

 

[NewbieHelp]

Thanks for the replies.
So if I test before eating and then 2 hours after, if the rise is 2 or less it would be considered an ok meal?

Next question… how long would it take to see a drop in my HBA1c results? I know they say it’s 3 months but if mine was 67 from bloods taken early February, I had bloods taken yesterday…. Would I expect to see a drop in those 4/5 weeks if I’ve been really good?

I will take on board the tips for pricking my finger as well

Thank you

 

[Rachox]

Next question… how long would it take to see a drop in my HBA1c results? I know they say it’s 3 months but if mine was 67 from bloods taken early February, I had bloods taken yesterday…. Would I expect to see a drop in those 4/5 weeks if I’ve been really good?

If you’ve been good and you’ve seen an improvement in your finger prick readings you should see a reduction in your HbA1c, but you’re right you won’t see the true effect for three months.

Another thing you might like to try is a CGM (continuous glucose monitor). Both Dexcom and Freestyle Libre offer a free trial.

 

[Jasmin2000]

Thanks for the replies.
So if I test before eating and then 2 hours after, if the rise is 2 or less it would be considered an ok meal?

Next question… how long would it take to see a drop in my HBA1c results? I know they say it’s 3 months but if mine was 67 from bloods taken early February, I had bloods taken yesterday…. Would I expect to see a drop in those 4/5 weeks if I’ve been really good?

I will take on board the tips for pricking my finger as well

Thank you

A1c results reflect BG levels for the previous 3 months, so if you've changed diet/lifestyle for 4-5 weeks, you will have a mix of the previous 7-8 weeks and the new 4-5 weeks. In this scenario I would be looking for the trend in A1c - going down or going up but it won't be a huge difference.