So how often do you test your blood sugar?

[johgn]

I have an appointment with a new endo in march and am forced to get my prescriptions from a walk-in clinic. So I asked for a test script prescription that says test 6-8 times a day and he said you CAN'T test that much and gives me one for 3 a day (my lantus was also frozen solid when I picked it up from the pharmacy, the pharmacist said it would just be a "little less effective").
I hope health care for Diabetics is easier outside the US.

[SuzannaOR]

You need a new doctor! There is no way you can successfully keep in control and only test 3 times a day! At least I know I couldn't. I test between 6 to 8 times a day, depending on what is going on. My doctor prescribed 6 tests a day and the pharmacy gives me 200 a month. I always worry I'm going to run out of strips, but some days I can get away with 5 tests so it works out. I would not have accepted frozen Lantus! Everything I have read says insulin is not any good anymore if it is frozen. Have you tried using it yet? and is it working? Good luck!

Suzanna/OR

[gettingby]

I test anywhere from 8 to 10 times a day.

[Cinnabon]

10-12 for me

[Lethander]

Myself being that i have to pay for everything out of pocket.. and usually not even my pocket.. I'm usually around 4-5 times a day. Using the wal-mart ghetto blaster meter here strips run 50$ for 100 of them i figure at worst case if its off by 10% its still ballpark and better than no test at all

[tanyatype1]

I test about 7 or 8 times a day, or more. Your experience so far is ridiculous! Don't stand for it!

[spring]

10-12, though right now since I just switched insulins (nph to levemir) it's quite ridiculous, like 15 or so a day.

[Emm]

I had a similar situation when my doc insisted I was testing too often. It was quite a relief to hear that a lot of others here are as *ahem* obsessed (pfft) as I am.

I test 6 - 10 times a day generally. If I'm having a real simple day with no odd foods, spontaneous exercise, or anything else out of the ordinary, I may get away with 5. If I'm crook or things are weird, I might get up to 12.

It's worth it.. even if my doctor moans about my prescriptions.

I hope you can get more strips somewhere. 3 a day might suit a type 2 who doesn't take insulin/meds, but a type 1? yikes!

[sweetcheeks]

well im type 2, and in order for me to continue the right road that im on now i need to at least test 5 times a day i would like to test about 7, my doc orginally said 2 x per day, i went back and insisted more, i got a script for 4 times a day, im still not satisfied, im gonna ask for an endo referral to see if i can get my scripts correct. my dr says you dont need to test that much, im like YES I DO

to me its like that thing called

outta site outta mind..... you dont check it, you eat the wrong foods cause you think hey i dont have to check my sugar i can cheat today

so for me and my health i wanna check more even tho im type two with only oral meds

[JediSkipdogg]

Firstly, I would find a new doctor. For a type 1 you MUST check with every injection of insulin you give. If you don't, you are a recipe for disaster and a walking death trap (for yourself and others.) Therefore testing more than 3 times a day is generally needed. I'd find a new doctor.

As for the insulin, I would demand another vial. Lantus is one that is very touchy when it comes to working. The vial you have may only be 50% effective now. Then when you get to a new vial if you are still giving twice as much then you could really cause harm. Insulin should never be heated or frozen, especially Lantus.

[poodlebone]

I test between 10-14 times a day. I'm lucky that my insurance covers that many and my doctor and CDE don't give me a hard time about writing for that many. My CDE thinks I'm obsessed with testing/control/diabetes and I guess I am. So she'll make a comment each time she writes the script but she does it without an argument.

I test as soon as I wake up, then I take my thyroid medication. I test again an hour later and eat breakfast. I test 2 hours after that, once I'm at work. I test before lunch and at least every 2 hours after. After lunch, I usually do 3-4 tests while still at work. I test as soon as I get home. I don't always eat dinner right away so I test again before I eat. I test 2 and 3 hours after dinner and before bed. I do other random tests if I'm high or low or feeling weird.

[2high]

I usually test abt 7-10 times a day... the last few days it's been more like 15-20 times tho... :****mate:

According to my endo, if I dont do before and after tests with each meal, as well as one before bed, It's not enough for optimal control... but then, when asked how many I do and I said 7-10, she said I was letting the testing rule my life... HUH?!?!

[Stuboy]

Dont accept Frozen lantus, infact, dont accept any frozen insulin ever. It's YOUR health and you need to demand that you get the right treatment and the right supplies in tip top condition, not half frozen and only half what you need.

I test from anything between 7 - 14 times a day.

I'd love to come accross a doctor personally who says a type 1 needs to test X times a day. It's just not possible to know how many times you need to test from day to day. As Deus says, there are SO many variables in one's life from day to day, no day is the same.

Put the argument across that unless your doctor or pharmacist is a diabetic, how the **** could they possibly know what is enough. I used the same argument to get my soft clix lancets instead of ultrasofts... IM the one who has to stick myself 10+ times a day for the rest of my life with that device, and im SO sorry that i'd like to do it in the most comfortable way i possibly can.

These supply issues we hear about all the time on here, really boils my blood!!

[Gangrel]

Well, currently I am testing at least 7 times a day usually. Probably a bit more when i switch to Levemir.

Once I get that dialed in, and I make sure my carb ratio is good, my GOAL is to test only 4-5 times a day, but we'll see how well that goes.

[Cyborg]

Sorry you have to deal with quacks like that. I woulda told him to kiss my butt. :reddy:

[princesslinda]

I'm know T1's usually test more than T2's (by necessity), but seems to me that whatever type you are, the more often you test, the more you know the control. The better the control, the more complications can be avoided. Personally, I test 5-6 times a day, though like Sweetcheeks, my doc says that's too many. I was told to test only fasting levels, but frequent testing makes me feel more in control.

[mark-TN]

Refer to: Do they really understand or are they just nodding in agreement?? (http://www.diabetesforums.com/type-1/15221-do-they-really-understand.html#post179943) The topic of this linked thread turned to having a health care provider that has diabetes to get the needed care. I would tend to agree with that. My current NP is a Type 1 and she will write me a script for as many strips as I feel I need. I get 400 per refill and they last me about 35 days or so. Get on the phone and find a doctor that understands this disease. Also use a different pharmacy. If your town is anything like my town you will have a pharmacy on almost every street corner :1eye: .

Mark

[belyro]

I test 8-10 times a day on average, but lately it's been more....just trying to get things figured out.

I always check before each meal/injection, and almost always once between meals to check where I'm at. I also check before I drive any long-ish distance or before I walk a long distance (I walk to-from work). Also, always before bed, and most often I end up waking up once at night and check then too.

I could never....EVER get away with 3-4 per day.

My doctor doesn't give me trouble, but every now and then I get some flack from the pharmacist filling my script - who many times hasn't even been alive for as long as I've had diabetes......gets me a little riled up.

The frozen insulin thing is bogus. Don't ever accept frozen insulin. That's poor of them and exceedingly unprofessional.

[w5wjp]

Myself being that i have to pay for everything out of pocket.. and usually not even my pocket.. I'm usually around 4-5 times a day. Using the wal-mart ghetto blaster meter here strips run 50$ for 100 of them i figure at worst case if its off by 10% its still ballpark and better than no test at all

That walmart ghetto blaster is a rebranded Precision XTRA meter should be very good.

[MJM]

The more you test the more info you'll have as regards how your body copes with your present regime. Like Belyro I test 8 - 10 times daily, but sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on circumstances such as before walks, after walks, before cycle and after cycle, before any physical activity and after any physical activity, to name just a few. The more you test the quicker you'll be able to deal with any arising problems.

[sydneya]

I test from 4-6 times a day, if everything is going smooth and if I don't do any exercise. I don't trust how I feel, so if I'm having a bad day, I will test during those bad moments. Then I'm usually glad that I did. I do test before and after exercise, too. I use about 150 strips a month. The nurse from the insurance company that calls once a month approves of my testing regime and so does my doctor. If they didn't I probably would still test the same. I knkow it keeps me in line.

[johgn]

I simply don't understand why a doctor would think it's wrong to test more.
Also thanks for the concern but I did take the Lantus back.

[Injecto]

I was doing only 4/day, but after talking to people here on the board, I jumped up to a minimum of 7, and more often than not 8/day. (not including hypo testings).

[Keezheekoni]

I test 12 to 16 times a day. More often it's around 13... I would definitely look into getting a new doctor or maybe a CDE to advocate for you on the test strip front.

Glad to hear you took the Lantus back.

[spring]

Yeah, sometimes I may get a little obessive with knowing... but I don't feel that it's in a harmful 'running my life' kind of way (which a lot of those in the medical profession seem concerned about. That I'll burn out or something. :p) Checking it is like checking my watch.. I can do it without even stopping motion (I've tested whilst jogging when I thought I might be low but didn't want to stop moving) etc etc as I'm sure most of you can relate. I test when I wake up, I test an hour or two after breakfast, and if I require a correction I'll test an hour after that injection. I test before lunch, two hours after, before dinner and an hour or two after and before bed. If I'm low I'll test fifteen minutes after treating and maybe a half hour after that to verify. If I decide to slip a small snack in my mouth, then I'll test to verify how much insulin I should take, and I test if I'm 'feeling funny'. I like to know... lol

[gettingby]

4 times a day or less for a type1 just blows my mind. I look at it like this, the more you test, the more you know.

[JJeenn]

I test 8-10 times a day on average. I test when I get up, after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, before dinner, after dinner, bedtime, and then any time I feel off, and sometimes in the middle of the night. If I eat snacks or give corrections between meals I test for those, too. My endo, thankfully, doesn't care how often I test (and he's not diabetic). But then, a few years ago (with the same endo) I used to only test 2-3 times a day, so I think he's just happy I've gotten things under better control.

[Dewey]

I test anywhere from 8 to 15 times per day, dependent upon varying factors (i.e. if battling a high sugar, I'll test more to ensure it's going down). I agree with Cin, the more we test, the more we know where we're going (& where we've been).

[grace girl]

I average 9-12 times a day, but more often if I'm dealing with hi's or low's. I've never had a doc argue with me about how often I test, but then, I don't have insurance, either.

I'm glad you took that lantus back. It has got to be the MOODIEST insulin around!

[xMenace]

6 or 7 on a standard day. 9-12 when I'm profiling. My max in the last month was 14. My minimum was 6.

[am1977]

Right now, only 3-4 times a day... that's b/c I'm w/o insurance at the moment... I need to make this one box of 100 last til February and I've already used some up :eek:. I'd like to get back to testing about 5-6 times a day. IMO, it really is key to control :top:

[DanG]

I do humalog at each meal and lantus each evening. I test before each meal.
I am at a loss to know what you do with 8-12 test results.
I mean, when I test, I find out if I need a normal meal amount, or if I need a bit to cover leftovers from previous meal.

On your schedule, with 5 or 6 more tests than I do now, are you taking more humalog to assist in your management?
Essentially - what do you do with that information?

The test does not manage - I manage... or at least I try to manage. But for sure, testing does not manage.
...just curious to learn what new things I can with all the new information and people here at these forums.
Thanks.

[xMenace]

I want to know 2hrs after eating whether I need to adjust. I also spend a fair amount of time profiling my basal rates. I'm still a new pumper. Information is power!

[grace girl]

I do humalog at each meal and lantus each evening. I test before each meal.
I am at a loss to know what you do with 8-12 test results.
I mean, when I test, I find out if I need a normal meal amount, or if I need a bit to cover leftovers from previous meal.

On your schedule, with 5 or 6 more tests than I do now, are you taking more humalog to assist in your management?
Essentially - what do you do with that information?

The test does not manage - I manage... or at least I try to manage. But for sure, testing does not manage.
...just curious to learn what new things I can with all the new information and people here at these forums.
Thanks.


For me it's like this:
1. Fasting test upon waking
2. Test prior to all three meals to set humalog dose
3. Test two hours after each meal to see if I'm in range, potentially hypo or high.
4. Test around mid-afternoon to prevent hypo's
5. Test at bedtime

That's 9 tests. A hypo or a High reading will bring on even more tests. I occasionally test during the night if I'm awake. I test before I drive my car. I test before major physical activity. I test if I just don't feel right.

I use all of the information to make sure I'm within range, or see where I make adjustments. I test so that I am the one in control.

[NoelD]

5-12 times a day normally

[talibrown24]

before when i didn't care and wasn't pregnant i would test 3-4 times if i felt like it. now that im pregnant and wasnt/need to be healthy and in control i test 10+ times a day. thank god i have insurance now...haha

[Funnygrl]

6 to 10 times for me.

[w5wjp]

I have an appointment with a new endo in march and am forced to get my prescriptions from a walk-in clinic. So I asked for a test script prescription that says test 6-8 times a day and he said you CAN'T test that much and gives me one for 3 a day (my lantus was also frozen solid when I picked it up from the pharmacy, the pharmacist said it would just be a "little less effective").
I hope health care for Diabetics is easier outside the US.

Tell the pharmacist that he will be "much less effective" after you call the pharmacy board. All current literature, including the manufacturer's, say insulin should never be frozen.

[Johnny C]

10- 15 times a day. More if I'm feeling sick, tired or have been drinking alcohol. Lucky to have good insurance. It relaxes me to know where my sugars at. The forearm sticks are painless. If I know my testing opportunities will be limited for whatever reason, going out to dinner etc I'll use the fingerstick as it is the most accurate testing site.

[sofaraway]

For me I'm finding myself in a 'can't really be bothered' phase last few weeks so I'm only testing 4 times a day, before each insulin injection. I'm hoping that this hasn't affected my HbA1c, will find out next week.


I just moved GP's and was worried that they wouldn't be as good as my last at providing strips, but i got a prescription for 200 strips no problem.

[Scratch]

Usually 10 to 12 times a day. If I skip a meal, it might end up between 8 to 10 times.

[type1since82]

I tested 8-10 times a day before getting on the pump and now that I'm on the pump, I'm testing a lot more because i've only been on it for 5 days. I'm testing about 15-20 times a day right now, I know - that sounds crazy, but I just really want to know where I am and have the best info to get my basals figured out.
My doctor was happy to see how many times I was testing at 8-10. I ended up seeing another doctor in the office for a check-up and told him that I needed my rx to be increased from 4-6 times a day to 10 times per day because i was running out. He actually laughed at me, turned around to the nurse in the room and said 'I can't believe she tests 10 times a day, that's crazy... can you belive that?' to which she laughed and said 'no'. :mad:
Needless to say, I've never gone back to that dr.

[KickStart101]

When I was on Lente it was usually 6. I'm on Lantus
since Nov/06 so I test usually 8 times now.

[labob]

I don't know if I would suggest this if you were dealing with your regular physician (with whom you'd probably have some sort of relationship or at least an interest in establishing one), but the next time that you go to a clinic or other health care provider and ask for a prescription for a certain number of test strips per day, you might want to consider memorializing your request in writing and asking the health care provider who turned down your request to sign it.

That might remind the health care provider that he/she will likely bear some responsibility if you hurt yourself or others (e.g., while driving) during a hypoglycemic episode. Making somewhat of a show of the fact that the provider knowingly acknowledged but refused your request for an adequate number of test strips could be enough to get the prescription after all.

[Starlight]

Anywhere from 7-12. It all depends..if its a hypo/hyper day = more tests. Eating high carbs or testing out food = more tests. Activity = tests. My fingers are forever taking a battering!

[KritterMom]

I test about 10 times a day.

[dimes1]

Wow, I am really feeling compulsive! I test around 15+ times a day. I am pretty brittle tho with many lows.

Steve

[Solarismach5]

I live in the UK so my diabetic requirements are handled by the NHS, I do about 8 bloodtests a day and constantly run out of strips and have to buy my own.

The hospital I go to is useless and when I told them the amount of bloodtests I do they told me I should be doing 2 a day, most days and get into the habit of having a few days off doing any bloodtests at all.

[Solarismach5]

Just found the sticky on the main section about the NHS being stingy with strips, might heed the advice!

http://www.diabetesforums.com/diabetes/14060-test-strip-provisions-uk.html

[cheryl]

I test my sugars every two hours till i go to bed and once in the middle of the night. I like to see where I am at all the time.......


Cheryl