self monitoring blood glucose type 2

[phoenix]

I came across this by chance and thought some people might be interested.
It's an article that discusses the recent research into monitoring and then describes a system which it calls 'paired testing'

Paired SMBG (testing before/after specific events) promotes diabetes knowledge and self-management skills and facilitates assessment of the impact of behavioral changes, medical nutrition therapy, and pharmacologic interventions on glycemic levels. New tools have been
developed to assist in using paired testing in clinical practice.'

The article describes how the method was should be used. It doesn't suggest testing to the same degree that I know some people do but by using this method (and having something written in a recognised diabetes journal about it) might perhaps be a way of persuading reluctant GPs to prescribe strips.

article at http://tde.sagepub.com/cgi/rapidpdf/0145721709347601v1(apparently only freely available for a limited time.

The 'new tool' is actually a form of focused log book produced by accuchec. I have a suspicion that this strip manufacturer is envisaging a downturn in sales following recent research and has decided to fight it by demonstrating how monitoring can be used to gain control, rather than merely t used as a pointles recording exercise.(perhaps they are at this moment conducting trials into the use of their new 'tool')
The 'tool' is available on line.
http://www.accu-chek.com/us/data-management/testing-in-pairs.html
The 360 tool also mentioned is at
http://www.accu-chek.com/us/data-management/360-view-printable-tool.html

 

[mikey]

Phoenix,
this is exactly the way I went about learning what I could do to control my BG.
I use an excel spreadsheet but it is the same process.
What I think is so good about this, is that it shows testing being used in a positive way.
I keep hearing that doctors believe that testing only causes worry and stress, so anything that can be done to dispel this belief must be a good thing.
Most people, when they are diagnosed, want to know if there is anything they can do to help themselves. Most are worried and confused.
In my opinion, doing something like this focuses the mind on action and reduces many of the negative thoughts and feelings.
Whenever someone recently diagnosed asks for my advice this is what I tell them to do;
Keep a food diary, test before meals, and again after 2 hours.
Do the same with exercise but test directly after.
Often they come back to me and show me their results.
People learn very quickly by doing this, and you can see a change in their attitude towards their condition.

You are right about the commercial interest, but I also agree with you that it does not detract from the value of testing in this way.
Thanks for sharing this with us, I am surprised that I am the first to comment.

Regards,
Mike.

 

[IanS]

This is in fact where I started. I was given a BG meter by my newly acquired diabetic nurse (and a prescription for the strips and lancets); told what BG range I was aiming for; told to avoid sugar; given all the healthy eating for your heart literature and then told to run along (well pretty well).

For 2 weeks my BG was all over the place, in spite of the fact that I was examining the food labels for any hint of sugar and avoiding them like the plague. And then I discovered this site and the problems with carbohydrates (which the diabetic nurse had neglected to mention).

With this knowledge and with the notes that I had made in my BG diary (oh yes - she gave me this as well), I was quickly able to spot what was causing my BG to go up and down.

After just another 4 weeks, I now have my BG well under control. Average for the last 7 days is 6.4 (mmol/l) with a single peak of 7.4 (after a rather splendid lunch where I simply left what I knew I couldn't touch). Lowest BG is 5.6 (start of day). I now know that I can have the odd potato or a small portion of rice or a little bit of pasta with my meals - or even a beer :twisted: . I gather a little extravagance once in a while is not a problem.

I guess what I did was not unlike the paired testing, but I only test at the begining of the day and 2 hours after lunch and dinner (I don't test after breakfast any more since my breakfast is fairly predictable as it consists of a few fixed and non contentious items).

Testing BG levels and working out what contributes to the higher levels has been key to my achieving the BG levels that I want in (from what I read here), a very short space of time.

I write this in the hope of providing some encouragement to others.

IanS

 

[wallycorker]

Yes - that's basically what I do these days. I generally always test in pairs - i.e. before a meal and - in my case - one hour after finishing eating. Sometimes where I am confident what the pre-meal result would be then I only do the one hour after finishing to save on strips.

 

[hanadr]

I read the article and mmediately sent the address to the secretary of state that was at yesterday's meeing
Hana

 

[mikey]

Hanna,
Tell us more about this meeting.
Mike.