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When/how to reduce testing BG?

Larissima

Larissima

Well-Known Member
As I've opened my last box of strips and it's time to order a new batch, I'm not sure whether to go for 5 or 10 boxes. I currently test FBG and before bed - my food is always LCHF and I stopped testing after meals some months ago. My last HbA1C was 36, and I haven't had a reading higher than 7 at any time since. At the moment, testing my BG feels like a security blanket, another layer of reassurance that I am doing well (the other layer being weight loss - I've reached a BMI of 30.5, from the high of 40). But is there a point of testing twice a day forever? It might become a waste of time (and money).

At the moment, I'm thinking I would continue twice-daily testing at least until I get out of the "obese" category (under 30 BMI). Then maybe just test every other day...? Or twice a week? On my fast days (Mon & Fri)? Every day, but just FBG? I don't want to just stop, as I feel I need some kind of monitoring on a fairly regular basis.

What would/did you do?
 
You are doing really well, congratulations. Your weight loss is terrific and a perfect HbA1c :)

If you don't want to stop testing, then don't! If it is your way of staying motivated, then it is a good thing, and keeping an eye on morning fasting levels is a good way of monitoring your overall control. Unless these start to become elevated again, perhaps cut out the bedtime one? And of course, if you try out a new meal or a new combination of food, test that as well.
 
@Larissima You should test as often as makes you feel comfortable. remember stress will raise your bg levels so if you worry what your levels are, you will raise your levels.
An acquaintance of mine is on diet and exercise for his diabetes and only tests when he does something naughty so he can beat himself up and get back on the straight an narrow.:D he's been doing it for 10 years so he has a good idea how his body reacts to what he does to it.
I would have thought a morning test to help you decide what you need to do during the day would be enough, and to reassure you that you are getting it right.
 
Congratulations on that fabulous weight loss.
Very envious!

I tailed off on the testing when I realised that all my normal meals were just wasting strips. I mean, how many times do you need to see that crustless quiche doesn't spike? lol.

Having said that, I used to always rigorously test if I ate different/unusual/higher carb than usual. It was a checking system. Effectively warning what would happen if carbiness became a habit.

And, just before Xmas I got a Freestyle Libre. Didn't want it for normal food monitoring (although it is very interesting watching that!). I got it to find out things about my Dawn Phenomenon, and test out for any wee idiosyncrasies that could improve my understanding. It has proved INVALUABLE.

In future, I am seriously considering giving up on the prick tests completely, and using a Libre sensor for 2 weeks at a time, every now and then. I think that is the best and most informative option for me, in my circs. If I could afford to, I would run the Libre 24/7/365

But that just shows how different we are.
I think we all need to test the best way that works for us, individually.
 
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