[KLD]

I found this article from Diabetes in Control very interesting so thought I'd pass it on. It's the final of a series of articles; if you're interested in reading the earlier articles in the series, the links are at the bottom of the page.

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/issue209/freed.shtml

Karen

[hermitladee]

"7. Rarely did anyone understand the importance of checking his or her blood glucose 2 hours after eating. Most were only doing fasting blood sugars. We explained to them that checking blood glucose 2 hours after eating, will show us if their diet, exercise, or medications are working. The reading 2 hours after they eat is 100% in their control, They will learn something new every time they check their blood glucose after they eat. Whether they ate too much, or they ate the wrong foods, or is their medicine working? If it is too high, they can go for a walk and drink some water. They can have an immediate impact with those blood glucose readings."

My husband's doctor should read that article, especially the above quote from it. When he went to the docs yesterday, she looked at his bs records and was amazed that he checks his levels at fasting and at the 2hr pp time after breakfast, lunch and supper. She said that is wasn't necessary to check that often. What????

Well, like the article states, how else are you supposed to know if what you are doing is helping or hurting if you don't check your bs?

[BeadieJay]

I saw my nurse yesterday (she's not a diabetic nurse, just based at my doctor's surgery)....but she said the exact same thing...that I shouldn't bother testing all the time. She said one of her patients did that, testing before and after meals, and she thought it was much too much.

The nurse said I'd probably be okay if I just tested once a week...but how on earth am I ever to know if I'm eating the right or the wrong things, especially as my doctor doesn't want to put me on meds yet, but to control things by diet alone.

Although my bsl has gone down from when I was diagnosed a week ago, I still don't know if what I'm eating is the right thing or not........and I haven't been told to self test yet either.

I'm glad I saw this.....it certainly seems logical to test after meals, especially if you're trying some new food. I hate needles and pain of any sort (LOL), but I know that I'll be testing regularly, at least to begin with.

[Ashtur]

Especially at this early stage, I'd suggest you test quite abit. I used 4x a day at that point (when I was dxed earlier this year). A morning and bedtime test, just to give me ideas of my baseline, and than one set of pre and post meal (one day I'd do breakfast, the next lunch, and so forth). That's given me enough of an idea to know how my body usually responds to things, and so can make meal choices from there. I mix my testing up a bit now. Some days I'll do 1/day (the morning) just to give my fingers a vacation, some days 5-7 when I'm trying to figure something out (like on Thursdays I'm unable to eat at home, and eating out can be really fussy).

It gets expensive and painful, but everyone is different, and the only person who can figure out your details is... you.

[KLD]

If there's anything you learn quickly as a diabetic, BeadieJay, it's that you have to learn all you can about this disease and take responsibility for managing it yourself. You're absolutely right - how can you learn how different foods affect your blood sugar unless you check regularly. I know many people think I go too far the other extreme, but I check before and two hours after every meal. What the number is before my meal is a consideration in deciding what and how much I eat. By doing this for the past two years, I keep my blood sugars within a very narrow range, between 4.3 (77 in the USA) before a meal and no higher than 5.5 (99) after eating - usually less than that. So stick to your guns and don't let the nurse convince you otherwise.

Karen

[BeadieJay]

Karen and Ashtur, thank you both for your comments - I really appreciate your experience.

I've been looking at testing meters on the internet, and will go ahead and order one. Am not looking forward to daily pain in the fingers (ouch), but I know it's the only sensible thing to do.

I've received so much conflicting information in the space of one week - thank goodness for the internet and the little bit of common sense that I've been blessed with - and most importantly, new friends who can point me in the right direction.

[BeadieJay]

Karen, I've just had a look at that link you posted - it's very informative, thank you

[KLD]

Believe it or not, you get so used to poking your finger that you don't think anything of it after a while! Feel free to ask questions if you like.

I'm glad you enjoyed the article.

Karen

[Lorna]

I agree with the above in that you need to test often. (When I changed onto lantus about 2 years ago i had to test 10times a day for about 5 months!) However, there are a few things you can do to make it less painful, such as choosing a meter which requires a mimimal amount of blood (there have again been enormous improvements in this over the past 10 years) so that you can set the depth on the pricker as shallow as possible. For convenience you may also want one which counts don quickly. I have found that the one touch ultra is good for this.

All the best
Lorna

[DeusXM]

I'm astonished you've never been told to self-test - the first thing they did when they bundled me off to hospital was to get the Accutrend out and since then I've been testing 5-7 times a day every day.

As for buying a bg monitor - you'll actually probably find it cheaper buying one from your chemists - they're usually no more than about £20, and they'll be able to tell you exactly what you need on prescription to use it.

I use the Accutrend Active - takes 5 seconds to do a reading, the stabber's got variable needle depth so it's pretty much pain-free, and it's really tiny (smaller than most mobile phones).

[Lorna]

If you are refered to a specialist nurse as soon as possible! this is also something they might be able to help you with as they get a lot of feedback about these things and also have regular contact with the manufactures, some clinics can even giv you once for free.

[BeadieJay]

thanks for all your comments and advice

I've ordered a monitor (off the net - our local chemist, in the village where I live, although offering excellent and personal service, are Very expensive!!) and I've also ordered a couple of books from Amazon (one was recommended elsewhere on this site, sorry, can't remember where or by whom).

I had my bloods tested again today, by the nurse, and it's still going down, slowly, but at least it's going in the right direction. As much as I hate the pain, I know it's sensible to test myself regularly - even though both my doctor and the nurse still seem against it. Their fear is that I will be so consumed by testing that it will take over my life..........um, I don't think so LOL (hate the pain too much for that!!!)

thanks again for all your advice and support

[HeatherP]

Glad to hear you're having success Beadie!

Two suggestions:

1. (and the medical community seems completely clueless about this, but) When you prick your fingers, use the sides - less nerves there. I've also heard other members here suggest the backs of fingers for the same reason.

2. Depending on what meter is being used, you may be able to use "alternate sites" for testing: arms, legs, etc. Check your meter literature to see if you can w/ your new meter. Important: If you suspect a low, ALWAYS use your fingers for testing - somehow they know faster than the rest of your body.

I wish you continued success,
HeatherP

[BeadieJay]

thank you Heather - fortunately the nurse does test on the side of my finger. I prick myself on the fingertips enough when I'm doing cross stitch, or sewing name labels into my kids' clothes LOL - and it hurts!!!

I think my meter allows for testing on the arm - so I will definitely be trying that option, if only occasionally.

Thanks for the advice about using my fingers if I'm low. I wonder why the fingers know so fast, and not some other part of the body? I guess I'm going to have to buy a stock of plasters to cover my wounds for when I'm doing my cross stitch after testing....geesh, more expense LOL