Should you not test every day or even at all if you’re aT2?

[chrisjohnh]

Seriously, what do you want? What reassurance is enough? Our blood sugar levels fluctuate constantly, we can help control some parts of this condition by what we eat and drink.

Monitoring these blood sugar levels is not the same as monitoring the speed of a car. It's just the nearest example we can come up with. A tenth of a point error margin in a meter doesn't have the same potential consequences as driving a car.

I understand you want certainty but some leeway of its unpredictability is essential with managing this condition without raising stress levels.

I know - it was only a mini grumble! In the past I was in labs measuring things at the scale of atomic diameters, so have some ingrained leanings towards precision, useless or otherwise.

 

[Angela64]

I tested before and two hours after every meal until I was firmly in remission and knew what I could eat without going too high, and kept a food diary - now I still test once a week and also before/after any new foods.

I have been keeping a food diary since diagnosed. Logging my glucose levels for the fasting time before breakfast and before bed. I think I was thought over doing it

 

[Angela64]

I know how I feel about that advice from the doc and I’m probably not allowed to type it here!! Personally I’d test and aim for remission my new goal in life! That involves testing to the point I’ve got free trial libre 2 in order to see what’s going on and what foods spike my blood sugars, it’s interesting!

I have wondered about trying one of those for a short period. I had tried to contact the company as I can be allergic to plasters. They were not very helpful, however someone else had said they used a spray dressing first before sticking the monitor on.

 

[Angela64]

Hug for having a very common type of doctor, sadly.

But a win for testing anyway & keeping a food diary.

( Why do they insist on lumping us all as one, and not consider we MIGHT prefer a choice in managing such tasks ...

As @bulkbiker puts it , you'd look at the Speedo to check your safe, right .

And as l'oreal say..."you're worth it"

Others have it right I say.

Test but make them count for something.
Continuity is the key.

I tested while making a tea.
Others once foot on floor.

Horses for courses, just make it similar each time.

Pre food post food

You know your looking for dangers, & you won't find them blindfolded.

And after a while the dangers diminish as you spot the guilty ones, and no longer have them on your plate.

You got this.
Good luck on your journey.

Thank you. He thought I was obsessing and getting wound up - too late- I’ve had 2-3 years of drastic unexpected health issues, first Atrial fibrilation, I needed a partial knee replacement. THEN the Blue light to hospital diagnosed T2 and if that wasn’t enough, a femoral hernia and recently, my learning challenged younger brother has died through neglect and negligence of the hospital!! I feel this GP is better that others I’ve had. But I will not be coerced. My experiences with the medical profession will never ever make me trust them. I’ve been a Complementary Therapist for 25 years, so will challenge them.

 

[Angela64]

Reading back over this thread seems no one has actually said it depends if your bg is low and under control in which case testing not necessary only optional, but if you are still struggling with bg then testing food is probably still a good idea

Thanks. My glucose levels can be high and I’ve no idea why. I know I’ve been suffering a lot of stress since July when my mentally challenged younger brother who I needed to care for died negligently. I know this will affect my levels. I’m trying to manage so I don’t big get highs and lows. If I get a high fasting level, I will choose a protein breakfast, ie eggs. If its not, yogurt and seeds, fruit. But yes, I’m still trying to learn.

 

[Angela64]

I would still recommend testing for a few days a month, no matter how much control someone appears to have. It's wise, in my experience, to make sure nothing has changed, and keep on top of this condition.

Thanks, yes I’m still struggling to know why I get a high reading, sometimes it doesn’t make sense. The numbers have crept up, I think it may be as a result of my bereavement but then ‍

 

[Angela64]

What hasn’t helped me is people saying ‘oh you can reverse T2 by doing the Dr Moslely’s diet’! If I get a high fasting glucose reading which may well be the ‘Dawn Phenomenon’ fasting may well not help. Also I have had comments ‘oh, its how and what you eat thats caused this’! My diabetes came on suddenly, no symptoms just unable to process any questions. I have consulted a consultant endocrinologist who was exceedingly pleased I’d got my Hb1A down from 138 to 43 in a very short period. She said that sudden onset was being linked to Covid and I‘d had two unidentified nasty viruses and 8 weeks after I’d had a Covid booster ‍
Thank you all for your advice, I‘ll re-start my testing tomorrow and try not stress myself. I want to try to get my levels back to 6’s at least.

 

[Angela64]

Angela64. I think testing twice a per day, even three times per day is in order, although I am not a diabetic specialist. But I had diabetes since 1985.
In my view the main way to manage your glucose levels it to monitor it. You monitor your glucose by testing. Then you can make decisions on the basis of the results. In many cases you have to do nothing all, but you have that piece of mind that your glucose level is alright. When you are sure your glucose level is stable you can reduce the number of tests per day. Even something like three times per week.
Angela with diabetes there is a steep learning curve. Read a lot on the subject and follow research on the subject.
In my view exercise plays a major role in the management diabetes. But I am afraid that exercise is not promoted as such. Although, I noticed that exercise is given a more prominent role now a days in the control glucose levels. This is long over-due.
The main methods I used to manager my glucose levels: Medication, diet, and exercise, exercise and exercise. Some diabetics use fasting. There may be other methods around.

Thank you! I know I need to do some exercise at home and prone to sitting too much, I do visit a Spa where I swim and water exercise 3x week. My hernia op last Christmas put paid to my yoga sessions at home for quite some months My glucose levels have gone from 6-7’s sometimes towards 8s to more 7’s - 8’s! I’ve been on holiday eating out can be a mine field and then my awful bereavement which I’m sure will have affected my levels. At first from hospital I was testing many more times, this Dr was saying ‘you don’t need to test that much’! So I had reduced my testing to 2-3 times a day. I know that pasta, rice will raise my levels. I’ve changed white for brown and add mixed seeds to various meals. To get down to HBa1c 43 I was barely eating anything, the consultant endocrinologist wouldn’t give me a carb level, saying that ‘I’d got to live’. So became more relaxed and not SO restrictive. HBa1C is now 51 ‍ Yes, probably shift myself into doing periods of exercise on the x trainer or bike. Just not got my head into it due to the bereavement.

 

[MrsA2]

@Angela64
In your situation I'd certainly consider using a libre. It takes the stress away from remembering and doing the tests, and more importantly shows the trends. My best example was a day when having breakfasted and lunched on my normal low carb foods, at 4pm an emergency call to a special needs relative in custody! I left the house at 4:30 p.m knowing I would be unlikely to get food for quite a while and told myself it was an ideal opportunity to fast (like the spin huh?). Sure enough that's what happened and I finally got home about 5 a.m.
I was wearing a libre and you can clearly see the effects of stress, peaking when said relative was refused entry back to his "care" home, and reducing nicely when I got back home.
No food or exercise involved at all that day after 12 noon.

Just a few weeks libre may help you see what happens to you.

 

[sue512]

I have wondered about trying one of those for a short period. I had tried to contact the company as I can be allergic to plasters. They were not very helpful, however someone else had said they used a spray dressing first before sticking the monitor on.

I’m also allergic to plasters but don’t seem to be affected by the adhesive on the libre

 

[lucylocket61]

If I get a high fasting glucose reading which may well be the ‘Dawn Phenomenon’ fasting may well not

Your brain processes things as you sleep. You have a lot to process just now. This could cause the fasting reading to be higher. I wouldn't worry about your fasting reading for now

 

[jjraak]

@Angela64
In your situation I'd certainly consider using a libre. It takes the stress away from remembering and doing the tests, and more importantly shows the trends. My best example was a day when having breakfasted and lunched on my normal low carb foods, at 4pm an emergency call to a special needs relative in custody! I left the house at 4:30 p.m knowing I would be unlikely to get food for quite a while and told myself it was an ideal opportunity to fast (like the spin huh?). Sure enough that's what happened and I finally got home about 5 a.m.
I was wearing a libre and you can clearly see the effects of stress, peaking when said relative was refused entry back to his "care" home, and reducing nicely when I got back home.
No food or exercise involved at all that day after 12 noon.

Just a few weeks libre may help you see what happens to you.

Interesting graph .

Noticed the 2 hours peak for stress...and the crash early morning.

If that wave is representative of the fluctuations our BG can face, easy to be impressed just how complicated our bodies 'balancing' of all the components truly is .

@Angela64 a hug indeed needed.

Had read much of covid bringing with it T2D...imagine the two combined so close perhaps means our body struggles to balance, hence the readings.?

I'd second the libre suggestion if you can tolerate the adhesive.

And bravo on the testing
It's yours testing, to use as you see fit ....so a relaxed regime is best.

If it helps..
I always visualised the BG level in our bodies as a 'POT' drip drip drip of excess glucose going into it over the years until it starts spilling over the rim,
Which while we may of had T2D awhile, is when most get diagnosed .

While our bodies still makes & deals with incoming glucose, it doesn't stop filling up & spilling over immediately.

which is what I see myself measuring when I do my FBG ..checking the pot, steady on the stove, before being pushed and shoved throughout the day.
And seeing how much yesterday's input (food stress exercise medications illnesses) affected it.

The aim is to have good control, but our BG is fluid not static

A little like sailing.
In a calm sea it's easy but in choppy waters or a storm, the best we can hope for is keeping an even keel....

And if worst comes to worst, taking a little R&R when back ashore before setting sail once more ( with testing ) once the storm has passed.

Best wishes moving forward

 

[Angela64]

I’m also allergic to plasters but don’t seem to be affected by the adhesive on the libre

I had a massive reaction to the sticky plaster on my partial knee replacement knee! I did tell them about the allergy, useless lot did not record it, so hadn’t a hypoallergenic dressing, took 2 months to go.

 

[sue512]

I had a massive reaction to the sticky plaster on my partial knee replacement knee! I did tell them about the allergy, useless lot did not record it, so hadn’t a hypoallergenic dressing, took 2 months to go.

Ow! They gave me a diferent coloured patient band signifying allergy, purple I think and were careful. Plasters cause inflammation and blistering but I’m ok with micropore and the libre thank goodness.

 

[Angela64]

Your call and absolutely nothing to do with your doctor.

Personally I like to look at the speedo when I'm driving so as not to get a speeding ticket.

"Taking it easy" is presumably what led to you getting T2 in the first place, in your shoes I'd want to be monitoring to get it into remission and show the doctor what fools they are.

‘Taking it easy’! I was a blue light job HbA1C was 138, absolutely no previous symptoms‍ I’d had 2 nasty viruses that might have been covid. It was 8 weeks after having a Covid booster. Due to putting on some weight probably caused by menopause and heart meds, I had cut down and was barely eating much, comments made by my family of not eating much ‍ I have no family link either, so why I have it is a mystery.

 

[bulkbiker]

‘Taking it easy’! I was a blue light job HbA1C was 138, absolutely no previous symptoms‍ I’d had 2 nasty viruses that might have been covid. It was 8 weeks after having a Covid booster. Due to putting on some weight probably caused by menopause and heart meds, I had cut down and was barely eating much, comments made by my family of not eating much ‍ I have no family link either, so why I have it is a mystery.

I meant "taking it easy" diet wise.. overeating carbs is what pushed many of us over the threshold into T2. My personal downfall was the bread in France where I was living at the time when I gained the extra 3 stone that pushed me into T2.
Your carb threshold maybe lower.. unfortunately we just don't know.
However monitoring blood sugars regularly and taking note of the effects that certain food types have on our levels has led to many of us going into "remission". I would still heartily recommend it.
After all your doctor doesn't have your T2 diabetes you do.

 

[Robbity]

I've eaten a low carb/ketogenic style diet since diagnosis, and this alone brought my glucose levels down to pre diabetic within 3 months as I didn't know about testing or have a meter to start with. I 've lost around 30 kilos in weight in spite of no longer being very active, haven't taken any diabetic medications since 2017, and have consistently maintained my pre-diabetic glucose levels, but I still use my meter after nearly 9 years., and I've also learned a lot wearing a sensor for a while. I was used to working with information so it's still essentially part of my life, and I'm interested in trends and patterns, and what issues other than food can also affect my glucose levels so I'll generally test fasting and pre and post meal figures, and on other occasions when I want information, BUT I don't fuss over fluctuating figures and it's no big deal if don't always test.

And @bulkbiker my GP actually recommended Atkins, and is perfectly happy for me to test, but apparently our practice doesn't allow him to prescribe my test strips. Go figure....

 

[bulkbiker]

And @bulkbiker my GP actually recommended Atkins,

A rare and wonderful beast indeed!

 

[Robbity]

A rare and wonderful beast indeed!

And this was actually before we had Dr Unwin on the scene supporting LCHF! !

 

[AutisticMum]

I think it's a way for your local surgery to save costs. If they do not prescribe, you will need to buy on your own.

I think if a person is diagnosed as diabetic, any real chance they have of controlling the blood sugar requires that person to first be aware of their BG levels which requires testing. Personally if one can afford it it is best done using Libre or Dexcom but they are so very expensive. As a minimum though finger prick test is an absolute must. Looking at the trends is how you can decide if a quick walk even within the house will be helpful or perhaps there is a certain food group you definitely must avoid.

Short answer, if you can please do continue monitoring your BG.

You definitely need to test yourself or use dexcom etc if you are on insulin or other medication where hypos. With insulin if you have use rapid acting insulin how much you need to inject is affected by your blood glucose so testing frequently is absolutely essential.