I should be testing how many times?
I've been testing like 12 times a day. My nurse just told me on the phone I should never test more than 4 times. WHAT? How am I gonna know what the food's doing to my sugar levels if I don't test 2 hours after?
I don't know what to do.
How many times does everybody else test?
I don't know what to do.
How many times does everybody else test?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shawna Staats on -
I test 8x aday sometimes more if I need to.... When I'm sick I check my blood sugar every hour because my doctor wants to know how i'm doing.... plus I check for keytones too....
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Permalink Reply by Lili on
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Never? Not even when you're sick? Sounds like some pretty irresponsible advice to me!
I test 7-10 times a day usually and up to 20 if I'm sick or something.
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Permalink Reply by Karen on -
OMG, don't listen to her. Is this an endo's nurse? Turn her into the MD, now!!!!
I test 6-8 times a day, sometimes more. For sure you need to test before you eat and 2 hours after, so right there that is 6 times and of course at bedtime, so you don't bottom out during your sleep or correct your bgs if it is too high so you are not high all through the night.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy on -
I test about 6 times during the day and once at 2 a.m. But, don't just test to get a bunch of numbers on a piece of paper. If the information helps, then do it.
For example, I test mid morning to see how high my breakfast took me, but more so to see if I need to be particularly prepared for a hypo before lunch.
I think that nurse was a knothead.
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Permalink Reply by Cody Turner on -
I test minimum 4 times a day. Before each meal and before bedtime. On bad days where I am sick or having a lot of problems with my sugar I could be testing up to 10-12 times a day. When I start new insulin dosages or new meds, then I test before each meal and 2 hours after meals. That way I know what is going on with my body. I am in tune with my body now and a lot of times I can "feel" myself dropping to fast. My sugar will be within normal ranges when I test but I can feel it dropping, so then I keep a really really close eye on it. Do what feels right for your body and listen to what your body is telling you.
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Permalink Reply by MeadowLark on -
I just went to the doc for the first time last month. Because of my previous pregnancies; I've been aware of diabetes and testing. I requested for my prescription of test strips to be at least 6 times a day. He looked at me and asked why? I told him that I can test before and after meals to see what foods did for me. then, I can adjust what I eat next. It helps to lower my numbers. That nurse is a nut without a brain!!! GRRRR!
I'll even buy my own strips if I go over what I asked for. As long as it helps me control diabetes instead of being controlled. Crud! My emotions over this are enough to deal with. Without any other aspect of this dis- ease that I must live with.
Take care and TEST,TEST,TEST. It is the only way you will learn what your body is trying to tell you.
MeadowLark
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
First, I personally test 6-10 times per day, and I can tell you that my "control" improves with the frequency of my BG testing. However...
I do not necessarily believe that your nurse's recommendation is unreasonable, and here's why: most studies haven't shown that there is any correlation between testing more than 4 times per day and improved outcomes. Before you bang your head on the wall because you can't believe it, let me also say that in the real world of diabetes management, 4 times per day is MUCH more than most diabetics test their BG. Some studies have even defined frequent testing as once per day! Our view in the tudiabetes world, because we are all happy, compliant diabetics who stay on top of our health, is that frequency = good management. But the research, and subsequently the guidelines, do not necessarily reflect that. Four times per day is, for better or worse, more than most diabetics will ever test in a single day.
That said, it is my opinion that testing frequently is a good thing, and if you can, you should test more than 4 times per day. Test as many times a day as you need to gain control of your diabetes (that is, to keep your sugars "normal").
Sorry for the long post!
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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Tim,
Do you have any websites where is states that testing 4 times a day is no better or worse than testing 6-10 times a day? I would like to read that information.
If you don't test after a meal and your bgs is above a normal range at 2 hours, how would you know this, if you do not experience symptoms that your bgs is high, and if you did not test your bgs you would more than likely remain high until you tested for your next meal or even remain high until you test your suggested once per day.
How would you ever have the option to correct a high bgs and how by not testing could you have the same health benefits as if you had the option to take that high bgs back to normal range in a short amount of time. I am confused by your post.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on
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Karen-
Its not that testing 4 times per day is "better" (of course its not), its that for most diabetics 3 or more times per day is considered "frequent testing" in the literature.
For example, here is a link to the Mayo Clinic's info page on Blood Sugar Monitoring which suggest Type I's test "3 or more" times/day and Type II's test once or less per day!. Here is a link to the dLife site where they mention the ADA Guidelines for BG testing as 3 times per day.
As far as how frequently most people test, here is a study that appeared in the journal Diabetes Care showing that among insulin dependant diabetics in the U.S. only, "40% monitored their blood glucose at least 1 time/day."
Point is, you and I agree, Karen. I personally test before and after all of my meals, right when I wake up and right before bed. This is what I recommend.
What I was basically trying to say before, was that I understand why the nurse recommended 4 times per day; all of the studies and the American Diabetes Association recommend simply "3 or more times per day."
Bottom line, its not the number of times you test that's important, its how well you manage your entire lifestyle, and that's what really improves your long term health.
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Permalink Reply by S Woodward on -
NOTE: This was a Type 2 Diabetic subject test. There is no correlation to Type 1 management in the study in Diabetes Care.
For T1Ds minimum BG tests should be AM after waking, Pre-Meal (for each meal during the day), Post meal (+2-3 hours) and before sleep. So if you eat once a day that is times, minimum.
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Permalink Reply by jewels on
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I agree Karen, The longer one has this disease and the tighter the control, the less you're likely to feel your low bg's. Are people unaware that alot of car accidents occur because of someone having a low blood sugar?
That is why I am a firm believer in more testing. I get so frustrated with these guidelines that to me are just plain wrong.
Also, four times a day is only accounting for before meals. How do you know what your bg's are doing after?
What about physical activities, exercise, housecleaning, gardening etc? Shouldn't we be testing. I know that if I'm doing something physical and I'm hot or out in warm weather, I don't feel my lows until it becomes dangerous.
Also, exercise can effect your bg's as much as 24 hours afterwards.
What about people on the pump such as myself?
But I've been told that even on oral medications people should be testing more.
Sometimes my symptoms of a low can be vague and ever so slight such as this feeling of "I'm feeling a bit off or weird"
Why are the guidelines wrong? Did they study people on insulin? what about oral meds? What about children? How can a parent send their child out to play. I feel that if my insurance will only cover 4 test strips a day, I might as well just eat, sit and sleep. I can't afford to safely do anything else. I feel sorry for the people who are told they can only test 1 time per day. I mean people need to test as they feel comfortable. But for those of us who want to test more, then let us. I'm just so sick of fighting for things with the insurance. Perhaps they'd rather pay for the complication?
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