timing of testing?

[Jake]

Being diagnosed in May 2008 with T2, I am trying to get things to make some sense. I have a question on how accurate the time of testing is on the results.

Here is my question: I eat my dinner around 6:30 PM and take my 1000 mg of metforman with my meal. I was taking a 1.5 mile brisk evening walk around 7:30 PM, which takes about 1/2 hour. Then I would do my evening testing around 8:30 PM and my number have been to my satisfactions ( I only test once a day and this is the time). Being that we are going into the Fall Season and it is getting darker earlier, I started to go earlier for the walk, about a half hour earlier to avoid the dark (my walk is around a field in the country). I would test around the same time and my numbers were about 20 points higher, which perplexed me some( I was exercising sooner after eating and testing at the same time). I am now back to walking a treadmill one hour after eating and testing one hour after the exercise and my numbers are more to my satisfactions and are 20 point lower then they were. I am confused about this whole timing matter. I want to be the good little soldier and follow the rules but is this in line? I am testing roughly 2.5 hours (less in some case) after eating and 1 hour after exercise. Do you think I am getting an accurate reading or should I just take a Chill Pill.


Which has more of an influence on the test results, the time of testing after eating or the time of testing after exercise?

Thanks

Jerry

[JoanW]

Hi Jerry, As a newbie to diabetes you are doing very well with your exercise program and paying attention to your BG numbers is also very important and a great tool in helping you gain control of your diabetes.

However, you seem to be trying to find a time to test when you will get a 'good' (within normal range) result on your meter. As nice as it is to see these numbers, it is more important to take many tests throughout the day, especially when you are new to diabetes. The timing is important only if it tells you something. The recommended time for testing your blood after eating is 2 hours after the first bite, and this is to tell you what the food that you hav eaten has done in terms of raising your blood sugar. You should test first thing in the morning before breakfast to see how your overnight numbers have been, so of course, you would need to test before going to bed to see whether they have gone up or down during the night. Then two hours after breakfast you would need to test again to check on how your breakfast affected your BG. It is helpful to test before meals too if there is a long gap, to see what your numbers are before you eat, and then again 2 hours after. All these numbers should be written in a log book alongside notes of what you ate. After a few weeks of this type of record keeping you will begin to see patterns and also what foods to avoid, and what foods you can eat without spiking your blood sugar. Once you have some kind of routine, you can back off a little with the number of tests if you are consistently getting the same numbers and eating the same types of food. Also always test when you feel unwell, or extremely sleepy, to see if you are low or high and then treat accordingly.

I have had Type 2 for almost 20 years now, and was on oral medication for many years, and now insulin for the last 10 years, and I still test at least 5 times a day.

You are doing well to be wanting to get control, and asking questions here in this forum. I am sure other people with respond with similar suggestions, and other ideas, as there are many helpful and informed people here. Good luck with your efforts and let us know how you are doing. You didn't say if you were on any medications, or what kind of numbers you are getting.

Exercise will often lower the blood sugar, so if you test after your exercise you won't get an idea of how your food is affecting you. You should test before exercising and after to see what a difference it is making. Then you can adjust your routine to be the most helpful to you in terms of what time to exercise to keep numbers down.

Cheers Joan

[shutterbug]

Jerry,
Thats the beauty of this disease. I'm 7 months into this disease and sometimes get confused. Since you are mixing your exercise, food and testing etc, you are going to get a mixed results. Remember that if you start eating food at 6.30 (first bite of food) then you should measure your 2 hr post pandrial at 8.30.

You should also be looking at your fasting numbers which is as much of importance as your 2 hr reading. With your exercise routine I think your number should improve soon. Stay with low-carb food and it helps your BS numbers.

[volleyball]

Jake, testing at 2 hours after first bite and 2.5 hours after first bite could explain the 20 point difference. A walk is not strenuous exercise to raise your BG so doing your testing 2 hours after first bite should be your standard regardless of your exercise routine.
I would suggest that you test more times in a day. You can skip days if you don't have enough strips available to you.

[Jake]

Hi

Thanks everyone who contributed. So, this evening, I ate dinner at 6:30 PM, walked on treadmill 3 miles an hour for 1/2 hour, finished, tested 10 minutes later( got started walking a little late tonight) and my results were 96. I just though that my exercise would raise my number. I am happy with the results.

My meals are very similar everyday. In fact many days are an exact duplicate of the day before. I started testing in the morning when I got up and after dinner when first diagnosed. I now only test after dinner, which was advised. I have my appointment this week to go over the test results of my recent blood test. I will let you know if and what has changed.

Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. I was just curious about what is has a bigger influence on the test.

Jerry

[JennyLynn]

I want to be the good little soldier and follow the rules but is this in line?


I test around 2 hours after a meal. Sometimes it's 2 1/2, and sometimes 3 hours after a meal. Depends! Life seems to get in the way of diabetes you know :)

Now if I usually test 2 hours after a meal and am usually around 108 I gather I'll be perhaps 104 after 3 hours. Be curious! I have tested at many different times and also when not feeling good. You'll get to know how your body reacts to food, exercise, and little ailments like a cold in the winter time. There are days when I run low, and there are days when I run high. But I stick to the same diet and exercise program. Go figure!

[davef]

Jake,

Welcome to the forums.

It is generally recommended that you test at least twice a day, first thing in the morning to establish your FBG (fast blood glucose) and last thing at night. The thing about that is that while it is far better than not testing, it doesn't really help you learn what foods work for you. I generally test first thing in the morning, then before each meal and two hours after first bite. My target numbers are below 110 for my FBG and before meals, and below 140 two hours after first bite.

Some people (I'm one of them) find that if you test immediately after exercise that your numbers are elevated, they drop quickly after that. While others find their numbers are down immediately after exercising. That's the thing about diabetes it's a very personal disease.

If you are looking for some good reading material I would recommend the Gretchen Becker book "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes". Aside from that I'd highly recommend sticking around the forums, it's a great source of information and support.