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What time of day to check glucose levels

R

Rozan

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Please can someone tell me the best time of day to check glucose levels, I tend to do this before and after my evening meal is this right?
 
It really depends what you want to achieve from testing.

To get a general view of how well you diabetes is managed a fasting test first thing in the morning in the is a good indicator.

In order to discover how certain foods affects your bg its a good idea to test before eating to get a basline and then 2 hours after eating to determine how certain foods affect your bg.
 
I tend to do mine before breakfast and again before my evening meal. Then before bed - if I remember.

If I have increased my insulin I tend to check before breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed and do this for a few days to see how things have settled down.

Rarely do after meals..
 
Be aware that testing around breakfast time can give mis-leading results due to the liver dumping glycogen to give you a start of the day energy boost. Personally I would advise testing before and 2 hours after large meals.
 
I check my fasting level first thing in the morning and then again 2 hours after breakfast. If they are both ok, then I figure I'm set for the day as I always eat more or less the same thing every day.
 
Depends what you want to achieve.

If its to minimise how many tests but remain "safe" then I would work out a range of "safe" meal options for breakfast and lunch by testing combos out for a while then when you're happy only test immediately you wake up and again just before and two hours after your main meal.

I suggest the wake up one as if you wake up a bit high then simply doing a 5 to 10 min fast walk will normally drop your BG's quite a bit. If you wake up ok everyday then just do before and 2 hours the main meal.

Remember you should try and get back to your pre meal value after 2 hours and try to never regularly exceed the 7.8 magic number where problems DO start from.
 
Dear Xyzzy

That is exactly what I do. Test my fasting level first thing and then after dinner, my main meal in the evening. For economy I stick to two tests per day and every now and then I randomise them. So sometimes I test pre-lunch and after lunch just to see if I am on track. A walk of 20 mins is incredibly effective at bringing down pre-dinner numbers and the effect lasts beautifully for the rest of the evening. Which fits nicely with my lifestyle as I usually take my dog for a pre-dinner walk and it makes me feel really balanced and healthy apart from being good 'thinking time'.
 
Camilla said:
I usually take my dog for a pre-dinner walk and it makes me feel really balanced and healthy apart from being good 'thinking time'.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. We have two very very very large dogs which need walking. We do the dog walk just after our main meal in the evening. Normally walk for around 45mins to an hour. They are all part of what's making me better and like you say the walk is an excellent time to de-stress from work and walk off the cals and carbs just consumed.

I have a very simple rule about the morning 10 minute "power" walk. Wake up more than 6.0 do the walk whatever the weather and however busy I am otherwise its optional depending on how much time I have, the weather and if I want to etc.

Not a lover of structured or formal exercise but have no opinions if others want to do it but its not for me.
 
Dear Xyzzy

Walking after dinner is even better I think. It helps the digestion and I am sure the benefits of your very long walk last for hours afterwards. I don't feel the need to join a gym or do any formal exercise either. I do my own workout for about 15-20 minutes after breakfast and then aim for a 30 minute walk pre-dinner. The main thing is that exercise is good whenever we can fit it into our daily lives, it simply enhances your whole mind, body and spirit. I am also a fan of meditation and deep relaxation which I do before sleeping - unless there is a book I cannot possibly put down!
 
Camilla said:
Dear Xyzzy

Walking after dinner is even better I think. It helps the digestion and I am sure the benefits of your very long walk last for hours afterwards. I don't feel the need to join a gym or do any formal exercise either. I do my own workout for about 15-20 minutes after breakfast and then aim for a 30 minute walk pre-dinner. The main thing is that exercise is good whenever we can fit it into our daily lives, it simply enhances your whole mind, body and spirit. I am also a fan of meditation and deep relaxation which I do before sleeping - unless there is a book I cannot possibly put down!
Click to expand...


"Walking after Dinner More Effective than Pre-Dinner Exercise in Type 2’s"
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/index. ... 8&Itemid=8
 
phoenix said:
Camilla said:
Dear Xyzzy

Walking after dinner is even better I think. It helps the digestion and I am sure the benefits of your very long walk last for hours afterwards. I don't feel the need to join a gym or do any formal exercise either. I do my own workout for about 15-20 minutes after breakfast and then aim for a 30 minute walk pre-dinner. The main thing is that exercise is good whenever we can fit it into our daily lives, it simply enhances your whole mind, body and spirit. I am also a fan of meditation and deep relaxation which I do before sleeping - unless there is a book I cannot possibly put down!
Click to expand...


"Walking after Dinner More Effective than Pre-Dinner Exercise in Type 2’s"
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/index. ... 8&Itemid=8
Click to expand...

Yes go with that Phoenix. I seem to get near enough the effects the study shows.
 
I always walk for an hour after my breakfast and then do an hour of exercise in the evening after my evening meal. After lunch I either walk the dogs or do some exercise on the Wii. It keeps my blood levels down and has helped me lose my 4.5 stone.
 
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