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T1s how many tests do you do?

How many tests do you do a day on average?

  • 1 or none

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 2-3

    Votes: 1 2.7%

  • 4-5

    Votes: 9 24.3%

  • 6-7

    Votes: 17 45.9%

  • 8-9

    Votes: 4 10.8%

  • 10-12

    Votes: 1 2.7%

  • 12-14

    Votes: 2 5.4%

  • 15-20

    Votes: 3 8.1%

  • 20+

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    37
K

Klang180

Well-Known Member
Messages
130
Hello

I posted a question about how to get glucose test strips whilst away for a couple of months and in explaining how many i used it got me wondering how many everyone elses use on average?

I am not sure whether i use a lot, a little or about average and how bad i should feel when i go to the docs to renew my prescription.

So how many tests do you do a day on average?
 
This thread could come in handy for a lot of type 1's struggling to get enough strips on prescription.
 
On average 7 times a day however whenever ill or doing a lot of exercise maybe up to 9 times a day. Having spent a lot of time in and out of hospital when im in they normally test me every hour in daytime and at night 3/4 times as well.
 
Thanks for the responses so far. I am weary of my cost to the NHS and also how much they might apply pressure on me to cut down (they haven't yet) but it is interesting to guage that my average usage of 7-8 a day isn't outrageous.

I guess there is a fine line, at my most controlled i would probably use less, say 4-5 a day and at my least i.e. when ill or first few days of a holiday i would use 10-15 a day so i guess control does dictate how many you use. However if you have excellent control on 15 sticks a day then who are they to argue? Similalry if you use only 1-2 sticks a day but run at 10 a1c then they should be worried about the cost at a later stage rather than immedietly.

I do remember that when i went to my old nurse at Surrey Uni she said that 5-6 was too many and i should use "no more than that", which i thought was arbitrary and uncarring for what is essentially a difficult condition.
 
I test anything from 6 to 10 times a day I'm staying in Thailand now and ts costing a fortune but I need to know
 
Klang180 said:
Thanks for the responses so far. I am weary of my cost to the NHS and also how much they might apply pressure on me to cut down (they haven't yet) but it is interesting to guage that my average usage of 7-8 a day isn't outrageous.

I guess there is a fine line, at my most controlled i would probably use less, say 4-5 a day and at my least i.e. when ill or first few days of a holiday i would use 10-15 a day so i guess control does dictate how many you use. However if you have excellent control on 15 sticks a day then who are they to argue? Similalry if you use only 1-2 sticks a day but run at 10 a1c then they should be worried about the cost at a later stage rather than immedietly.

I do remember that when i went to my old nurse at Surrey Uni she said that 5-6 was too many and i should use "no more than that", which i thought was arbitrary and uncarring for what is essentially a difficult condition.
Click to expand...


I was told only a year or so ago that 4 strips a day was enough, the above poll will come in handy for those under pressure to reduce their usage by their gp's.
 
only least month my dr said we have been told to cut back on prescriptions and in the next breath said,with the change in the driving laws you need them so here you are.love my dr he is ace. :D
 
I also have a brilliant GP who never questions my test strip use - credit where credit's due.
 
I generally do 1 before each meal & advised to do another 2 hrs after (I do if I remember). Also if I feel a hypo I'd do another test. In Ireland we don't have to pay for diabetic medication and I try not abuse the system.
 
My levels are dynamic and I like to be flexible with my insulin doses depending on any activity, so I test between 6 and 10 times per day; averaging at about 7.
 
Hey there!

I use 7 a day usually. Before and 2 hours after each meal and just before bed. When I've had a hypo I use a couple more. Usually I try to use my fasting as pre breakfast and pre driving to work to avoid doing another test. Sometimes I do an additional test mid morning as I seem to have a tendency to go a bit low at that time. I use additional tests if I'm driving more than 2 hours. I don't know how anyone on MDI can do fewer than 7, but maybe you can if you're more experienced.

Smidge
 
The answer all depends on what I'm doing and where I am. If I'm exercising (e.g. swimming) then there'll be an extra test before, one after, maybe one or two during (depending how long I'm exercising for), plus before meals, 2 hours after meals, before bed.
My old GP said that he would only give me one box of strips at a time, meaning that I was going back every week for another prescription. The justification was cost, that the testing companies can give away the test meters because they're making their money back on the test strips.
My present GP seems happy to prescribe the test strips that I need.
Diabetes costs are a thorny issue. I was diagnosed in the days when one had to use a glass syringe and disposable needles. The advice was that the needles could be reused. When I moved to a pen syringe I was again told that it was ok to reuse needles. That advice turned out to be rubbish and my injection sites suffer the after effects now. It's not a cheap condition, but the cost of not treating it correctly is likely to be much more.
 
etmsreec said:
It's not a cheap condition, but the cost of not treating it correctly is likely to be much more.
Click to expand...

Indeed :thumbup:
 
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