[sberger]

Hey folks,
My name is Sam. Last January my doc diagnosed me with Type 2 but allowed me to see if diet and exercise and weight loss would help resolve the issue. Well, I've lost about 20 lb's since then, and am working out 4-5 hours a week, but at my app't today he felt the readings, which had come down, still warranted 1000mg/day Metformin.

My question is about testing. My doc didn't say anything about it. I'm going back in a month, but mostly to check on blood pressure(also a bit of a problem), and I assume he'll order up a blood test then. But in the meantime, should I start testing myself(I purchased a kit a while back that was on sale...'course, I have no idea how to use it)? Or is it normal to be prescribed a med and not start testing right away?

Glad to have found this fourm. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[Eddy]

You ask a very interesting question. There are debates on here (and gripes about medical professionals!) about what constitutes "insufficient" and "excessive" testing.

At a minimum, I suggest testing first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. Those of us who are on insulin and have "twitchy" blood sugar numbers also test before and after meals -- even when we feel like it.

One gathers data to look for trends.

"I wonder what a thirty-minute walk would do." Check before and after.

"I wonder what a bowl of oatmeal would do." Check before and after.

"I wonder what getting angry because I listed to Rush Limbaugh would do." Check before and after. (Yes, listening to Rush Limbaugh angers me enough to cause a noticeable blood sugar spike.)

If your A1c is running at 5.4% without insulin, and you never go above 150, you probably needn't test much.

If you make no insulin of your own, you recently had an A1c of 10%, and you find that your blood sugar varies by 100 mg/dL per day, you'd better make good friends with your meter.

[jacobsam622]

Welcome to the forum.

[DCaplinger]

Welcome aboard. However, if you get angry listening to Rush Limbaugh, I'd say you are probably one of them "liberal" fella's that Rush is always spouting about. Hehehe. Nope, not trying to start a political debate. My statement remains the same for forever... I don't care how you vote, you have diabetes, just as I do... that makes you my brother (or sister) in the fight against the D monster. Sorry to steal the thread for this comment, but I just couldn't resist it. What can I say, I'm a dittohead (a Limbaugh fan), although, I don't always agree with him.

Anywho... welcome aboard sberger. Please ask any questions you may have. There are a lot of very helpful people here (haven't found one who isn't yet), so please, make yourself at home, grab yourself a cup of coffee, and jump right in.

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the forum, Sam. Congratulations on the weight loss thus far.

As far as testing goes.........you should be testing before and after a meal so that you'll know how your blood sugars are running. Testing also gives you an idea of which foods you do well with and which ones you need to avoid.

Karen

[princesslinda]

Hi Sam, welcome! Glad you found the forums.

Regarding testing, I'd encourage you to test often. If you test 2 hrs after your first bite of food, you'll learn which foods affect your blood sugars negatively, and be better able to make smarter food choices.

We're all different in our tolerances, so if you don't test, you won't know what works for you.

My doc told (and still tells me) to test once daily, fasting. However, I like knowing where I am blood-sugar wise at different times a day. If you're having to buy your own strips, you could start with fasting and then before a meal and 2 hrs after the first bite of that meal, choosing a different meal each day to check.

As you learn what your "safe" foods are, you needn't test after those meals each time.

[jillrapp]

Hey Sam,
Ask your doctor to provide you with prescriptions for testing supplies, - test strips and lancets - at least enough to test 4-5 times per day. Insurance will normally cover a large portion of this and it gets expensive trying to cover it on your own! Welcome to the Forum!