To Test or not to Test Type 2

[sebstar12]

I went to see my diabetes nurse for the first time last week and she told me there was no need to test my blood glucose at home. However many people seem to test at least a couple of times a week. Also I am diet controlled at the moment the nurse seemed to consider that my diet was ok but as I have developed diabetes type 2 how will continuing to eat the same help control my diabetes. The only thing I am doing that I don't normally do is exercise each day. I have a monitor but I am not really sure what I am looking for. My blood test showed a blood glucose level of 7.1 which led my doctor to diagnose me type 2. Any help at all will be appreciated.

 

[MrsPugwash]

Sadly, many GP practices discourage non-insulin dependant T2's from self-testing even though this is contrary to the guidelines issued by the NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence). This is largely because of cost issues.

However, it is very important that you be able to test frequently, especially in the early stages, to monitor how your body reacts to different foods and to ensure that you are controlling your BG adequately by diet.

A good rule of thumb is to test on waking, before each meal, on hour after each meal then two hours after each meal and lastly, before you go to bed. This may seem like a lot but it will allow you to build a good picture of how your diet is affecting your BG control.

Ideally you should be aiming for:

Fasting (waking) .....................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals.....................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

 

[m_cooper]

i am t2 on diet and i do not test,you can become paranoid about the levels;apart from which testing every 5 minutes becomes expensive;and i do not work and don't have the money.if your levels are ok by gp;not really any need to test

 

[wiflib]

It's true.

At the start of my journey into diabetes I tested all the time and be came paranoid about my levels being high. So much so, that I worked out what sort of food sent me high by testing and then stopped eating them. I'm not paranoid anymore because I am in control and because I am, I don't need to test much now.

A touch of paranoia is a good thing.

wiflib

 

[IanD]

i am t2 on diet and i do not test,you can become paranoid about the levels;apart from which testing every 5 minutes becomes expensive;and i do not work and don't have the money.if your levels are ok by gp;not really any need to test

I became paranoid at diagnosis - My Dr told me - as a diabetic you are at risk of heart attack; kidney failure; stroke; blindness; various neuropathies & amputation. She helpfully computed my heart attack risk as 25%. I also leart that the disease was progressive, & ever increasing treatment would be needed.

I was afraid of not following all the advice I was given. My BS tests averaged about 7, & after a few years when it drifted up I went onto metformin. All the while the Dr was happy with my control. Then the complications predicted set it peripheral neuropathy was crippling. Dr still thought my control was satisfactory. At that point I discovered this forum, & Fergus' advice on low carb. The neuropathy is substantially gone & I am fully active - & my test results average just over 6.

I'm no longer paranoid - I'm happy with my control. Last Saturday I played 5 sets of tennis, mostly against youngsters. (I'm 70, & 10 years diagnosed.) Move over, Roger.

 

[hanadr]

This paranoia thing is a bit of mis-placed nonsense.
A study was done in Ireland, which seemed to show this, but when the science is taken apart, it was the design of the study that was wrong.
However, as Libby says
a bit of paranoia is a good thing. After all as it is said, "being paranoid doesn't mean 'they are not after you'"
How on earth is anyone meant to know if they have control over diabetes, if they neve rtest. Even the old urine testing kits are better than that.
It's all down to cost.

 

[sebstar12]

Thanks for all your replies. The thing is if you test on waking, before and after every meal uses up lots of strips and they are very expensive. I have already used three drums of strips at a cost of £20.

 

[m_cooper]

that is exactly my point

 

[sugarless sue]

i am t2 on diet and i do not test,you can become paranoid about the levels;apart from which testing every 5 minutes becomes expensive;and i do not work and don't have the money.if your levels are ok by gp;not really any need to test

When you are newly diagnosed regular testing to start with is essential.Testing before a meal and two hours after tells you what that meal is doing to your blood sugars.Keep a food diary for a week and you will see what those particular foods are doing to you. Take the food diary to the doctor,show him you are committed to controlling your diabetes and see if you can get the strips prescribed. Yes strips are expensive but either way there will be a cost,either to your pocket or to your health because your blood sugar levels will not be under control without testing.... Your choice.
Once you have your blood sugar levels under control and know how different foods affect you then you do not have to test so regularly.Even when they are under control you need to test now and again so as not to become complacent.

 

[Graham1441]

I tested from the start even though i had to pay for my own strips because this is the only way i would ever find out what food did what to me.
Now after two years I feel comfortable when i look at food knowing what i can and what i cant have,
sorted. I have learnt to adjust what i eat so if i have a treat i make up later with something realy good and very low.
That study i belive has caused a hell of a lot of problems for a lot of people.
Let the one who has diabetes control there own tests, if they want to let them and help them if no then they dont, simples.
Graham1441 :twisted: :twisted:

 

[hanadr]

Extra info
the "new" Glucoflex-R strips are much cheaper than most and don't need a meter. I have checked and they seem to be generics of the old BM sticks that were discontinued in 2002

 

[Spiral]

How a diabetic can be expected to get to grips with blood sugar and begin to reduce them without testing is beyond me.

Paranoia and anxiety are sometimes normal and healthy responses to a situation.

As for cost, there is eBay. I have just bought 500 test strips with a long shelf life for £90 from a very reliable seller. That lot would have cost me £250 in the pharmacy (before VAt is taken off). I have been using eBay for about 7 years and have only ever had one bad experience. Check the sellers reputation before bidding and set yourself a limit - mine is not spending more than £10 on a tub of 50 strips (and that includes postage).

I'm fortunate that I'm working, but I don't have a limitless budget. At least I don't have to sit around and argue with my GP and the PCT about how many strips I can have and I am still asking for prescriptions for strips - I will argue with them when they refuse to prescribe any more, ther are others who are not in my position and someone needs to take a stand and I really would prefer to spend that £90 on having a good time. But if I had fewer strips I would have tried to make another testing regime that would inform my eating habits - there are people here who do that.

The fasting blood tests done by the GP are meaningless and the HbA1c is an average that does not pick up the spikes that cause the damage.

I'm not prepared to be the passive recipient of a system that has very low expectations of my abilty to manage my diet and inadequate standards for good control. It recommends a diet that poisons me becasue all those healthy slow burning carbs turn to glucose in my body. If that makes me anxious and paranoid it is a label I will wear with pride.

 

[wallycorker]

Ideally you should be aiming for:

Fasting (waking) .....................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals.....................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

Yes - I agree that is a good starting point. However, I recommend that when you get to grips with achieving that level you should then aim for a maximum of 8 mmol/l one hour after finishing eating. I've found that just about achievable without any real difficulty.

 

[Dennis]

Ideally you should be aiming for:

Fasting (waking) .....................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals.....................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

Yes - I agree that is a good starting point. However, I recommend that when you get to grips with achieving that level you should then aim for a maximum of 8 mmol/l one hourafter finishing eating. I've found that just about achievable without any real difficulty.

It depends entirely on your starting point. If you were 4 before your meal then 8 at 1 hour after is reasonable. If you were 7 before your meal then 8 at the 1 hour mark means that you have eaten so little carbohydrate that your body may start to generate glucose to feed your energy requirements, which just becomes self-defeating as it will push your BS levels even higher.

 

[wallycorker]

Ideally you should be aiming for:

Fasting (waking) .....................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals.....................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

Yes - I agree that is a good starting point. However, I recommend that when you get to grips with achieving that level you should then aim for a maximum of 8 mmol/l one hourafter finishing eating. I've found that just about achievable without any real difficulty.

It depends entirely on your starting point. If you were 4 before your meal then 8 at 1 hour after is reasonable. If you were 7 before your meal then 8 at the 1 hour mark means that you have eaten so little carbohydrate that your body may start to generate glucose to feed your energy requirements, which just becomes self-defeating as it will push your BS levels even higher.

Hi Dennis - Personally, I've never experienced a situation such as the one that you describe. I'll take your word that it is a possibility but its not something that I've ever seen myself.

 

[Administrator]

The petition we conducted on this subject found an overwhelming response that testing was invaluable. There were very few responses indicating otherwise.

Good luck,

Admin

 

[Graham1441]

Through high and low readings i have found that small and often, well not that often works just fine for me.
This I know will not work for everyone but it matches my work as a delivery driver.
Driving uses not a lot but humping all the stuff up 2 and 3 flights of staires does, i know when a stair job is comming so half an hour before i have a snack.
Seems to work, I am even still losing weight.
Graham1441 :twisted: :twisted: