One or Two hours?

[Karon]

Hi
I was dianosed type 2 in September and am on 1000g metformin per day. I have just, last week, been given a glucose meter to check sugar levels. I have been asked to check two days a week, on waking and one hour after one of my meals that day. My question is what is the difference between one hour after meals and the two hours i read that most of you are checking?
Many thanks for any help you can give.
Karon

[lgvincent]

My blood sugar tends to be higher one hour after eating than it is at two hours. Of course a big problem I have is if I get my blood sugar into the desired levels two hours after a meal, I frequently go into insulin shock later.

[Belinda]

not sure how the oral meds work too much but with the insulin we have a peak time and depending upon which kind you take it is better to check at 2 hour intervals. I always check when I get up and when I go to bed and about 6 other times throughout the day...if I am feeling bad I check more often also check more often if I goofed and had a really high reading.

[Karon]

Thank you for your reply lgvincent and forgive me for my lack of knowledge but why would you go into insulin shock? Is it because you are using insulin? I assume this would not be a problem for me as I am on metformin.
Thanks again.

[David]

Most of who test often are Type One and we're testing how effective our pre-meal humalog injection/bolus has been on what we've eaten. Injected humalog peaks at about 2 hours so that's the best time for us to see how we're doing. As lg said, his (and my) BGL will be higher at one hr than at two hrs and we cant expect to do much better at this point in medical technology.
You're Type 2, taking an oral med and not using any insulin (other than your own). Your own insulin should peak somewhat earlier than injected insulin would and your doc may want to verify that it's working as it should. If it's not, he may supplement with weight loss, another oral med and/or insulin to increase your own insulin's effectiveness.
David

[Karon]

Belinda and David
Thanks for your replies. It now makes sense why the nurse has asked for testing one hour rather than two hours after a meal. As well as the oral med I am also using diet and exercise as well so hopefully I will not need any other meds or insulin.
Karon