Comment by Todd T. on July 16, 2009 at 6:38pm

I have given up Michelle, got to the point that it didn't seem what I did mattered. I guess I was doing the wrong thing. So I got back into it. I remember telling my General Dr that I tested up to 8 times a day and he gave me this look. Never mention that again to him. I told my Endo that and he said, "Good, you've got to figure it out for your own body". So I am back into it. Test whenever I feel like and figured things out better. Am in better shape than ever. Hang in there, do what you thin is best, trust yourself and vent to us.
Cheers.

Comment by Revvy on July 17, 2009 at 3:07am

you know, I am convinced that the insurance companies and whomever makes the test strips does not have diabetes themselves. because if they did, they would realize that "4-6 times a day" or even 8 times a day is clearly not enough testing to know whats going on in your body. I too obsess over my bg, but i test 15x a day, sometimes more if my meter gives me a really high or low reading (and i feel fine otherwise, so i haveee to make sure. lol. yay for being neurotic) But i agree with Jim, try to get a CGM. Im currently trying to squeeze one out of my insurance company...tough guys those insurance people. so stingy with supplies! you would think its their job to help the sick but noooo. lol. anyways, good luck managing your BGs.... try to do some basal checks maybe, if its the food/exercise that is staying the same but you have different basal rates maybe one is too high/low?

Comment by FatCatAnna on July 23, 2009 at 7:25am

I am like you Michelle - I feel that I know more about diabetes then my endo does. When I wanted to go on a pump a few years ago - he thought I was being silly - that I was fine with MDI. I just wanted to see what pumping was all about - so went ahead without his approval - but in the end he did agree. He let's me do my own thing - and he writes out the prescriptions I need in order to purchase my legal drugs.

About your BG's varying from one day to the next - even when you're doing the same thing. It's frustrating!!! I have been having really good BG's lately - and not doing anything different - and then BAM - this morning - my BG's are high (10) - and I went to bed with 6.5. So, some wierd hormonal thing must have happened overnight or something (I know I was tossing/turning - didn't sleep to well - had some wierd dreams) - so that probably spiked it up. It can get frustrating - but just try to hang in there - and not beat yourself up. BTW, because of the low BG's I was having in the morning when I woke up (3.5) - I did change my basal rate like Revvy suggested - so not sure if I went to low - but we'll see over next few days.

Comment by Kelly Rawlings on August 13, 2009 at 8:53am

First, let me say I feel your pain! If only diabetes and the resulting blood sugars had simple, single-variable causes and results. But, instead, we're one-person science experiments and very poorly designed science experiments at that!

It gets so draining, physically and mentally, to live with the ups and downs. We've all been there and we truly understand that, far better than any health care pro (as much as I appreciate their efforts).

I heartily agree with the previous posts that talk about moderation. Big doses of insulin to chase a high can give you lows hours later. But, there's really no controlling hormonal changes and stress can be so unpredictable.

Also, it's simply too impossible to try to control everything, all the time. Start small. One time of day or one meal or one event at a time. The more you can eliminate the variables and the more you attack one problem at a time, the better.

For example, testing hourly may help, but even better would be to test in pairs, a concept that meter company Accu-Chek has started to promote. Test to get a baseline before you add a variable (before exercising or before eating) then test after the event (or 1-2 hours after in response to food) and track, track, track. If you run the same mini science experiment three times in a row, you can start to trust the results.

So, what meal or time of day or event do you want to tackle? Let us know and we'll (virtually) hold your hand as you set up your "experiment" and chart and track the results. Sounds like fun, and it's so much better to have help than to try and deal with it alone.

Then, when we've run your experiment, we can start working on my need to wake myself up for middle of the night basal testing. I never hear the alarm ....

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