How often do you test?

[reefedjib]

Not only did I want to try the poll feature :), I am honestly interested in the responses to testing. Sorry for the number of choices!

I am currently testing sporadically (once a week or so) with a basal insulin shot. I am trying to get back to better monitoring and MDI insulin.

[fairyblood]

I test upward of twelve times a day. I have been known to test even more on crazy days or less when things are more even. The poll doesn't completely suit me because I test more then what is offered. You have to take into account for a type I we often have to test before and after exercise and also during and after lows or random highs which can bump those numbers up quite a bit. Many type ones don't do those test either but they are really important to me. I can see that it can be completely different for someone with type II.

[reefedjib]

I test upward of twelve times a day. I have been known to test even more on crazy days or less when things are more even. The poll doesn't completely suit me because I test more then what is offered. You have to take into account for a type I we often have to test before and after exercise and also during and after lows or random highs which can both bump those numbers up quite a bit. I can see that it can be completely different for someone with type II

I hadn't thought about those situations when making the poll. I guess that would fall under "other". I recall reading the recommendation of testing before and after exercise and certainly in the midst of a low. Unfortunately, I had maxed out the number of options I could offer in the poll. I don't know if all of my options will reflect common use among members. It may have been better to have one option for 8-12 times daily, MDI. I don't think I can change it, though. Sorry!

[davef]

I selected other.

FBG, before & after meals & bedtime. I also always test before driving.

I couldn't see an option including FBG.

I'm not on insulin.

[reefedjib]

I selected other.

FBG, before & after meals & bedtime. I also always test before driving.

I couldn't see an option including FBG.

I'm not on insulin.

I see! Back when I was testing 7 + times a day, I would combine FBG and Before Breakfast, so I didn't think to separate them.

Without taking insulin, that is a lot of testing. What does it tell you? Are you focused on diet and exercise effects?

[fairyblood]

I don't know if all of my options will reflect common use among members. It may have been better to have one option for 8-12 times daily, MDI. I don't think I can change it, though. Sorry!

No worries. We all have different experiences with this disease and it is hard to know how others go about it. You had no way of knowing because you have different issues to work with. I didn't vote other, although I guess I should have. *shrugs* it is all for fun anyways.

[Grunch]

Unfortunately, I had maxed out the number of options I could offer in the poll.

That's unfortunate, I see you were going for the world record there.

Lately I'm just measuring fasting and before meals (MDI). After finding good control I don't see much point in measuring after meals but every few months I will go a whole week measuring after to see if things are on track.

[fgummett]

I go with the same option as Grunch above... most of the time I am now stable so I'll test maybe 3 times a day, but on occasion I'll step it up for a week or so to get a better overall picture.

[reefedjib]

*shrugs* it is all for fun anyways.

Indeed! Thanks for playing. The winning number will be announced this evening, a chance to go to a Taking Control of your Diabetes Conference (http://tcoyd.org/national-conferences/santa-clara-2009.html)! ;)

[reefedjib]

That's unfortunate, I see you were going for the world record there.

LOL! LMAO! If I could offer 24 options, it would hit the law of diminishing returns. I could have said ('none', '1', '2-4', '5-7', '8-12', '13+') and not worried about the insulin, which is what exploded the options. Next poll will be better if I ever post another poll. Thanks for the laugh! Always a healthy thing to do!

Lately I'm just measuring fasting and before meals (MDI). After finding good control I don't see much point in measuring after meals but every few months I will go a whole week measuring after to see if things are on track.

I go with the same option as Grunch above... most of the time I am now stable so I'll test maybe 3 times a day, but on occasion I'll step it up for a week or so to get a better overall picture.

Do you guys do a basal shot? If so, do you not measure a bedtime BG?

[Grunch]

I do lantus basal but when I'm not eating I stay pretty stable so I'm not afraid of going very low at night. If I go low usually the liver will kick in and I'll not even drop below 60. So I don't measure at bedtime.

[MCS]

Checked other, no insulin. Constantly trying new aproaches to my condition, which I feel requires constant monitoring. So I check FBG, bed time, before a meal and usually 2-3 times after a meal, some times random readings thru out the day. If I try a new food and my wife isn't lookin I will test every 30 minutes until I peak and start to decline, wait an hour and check to see if there was a latent effect.

[fgummett]

I was on an insulin pump where the "basal" is a slow background/constant trickle of fast-acting insulin. I've been using less and less exogenous insulin these past few months -- most recently I was down to 8.5u TDD with most of that between 02:00 and 0:600 to combat DP... BUT for the last week and a half I have not been using the pump or any exogenous insulin... so I have been testing much more frequently (waking, before and after meals, before and after brisk walking/activity, before bed, random times and during the night if I wake)... so far all is going well ;)

[Granny Shanny]

I checked Other also; I do fgb, after meals & bedtime. No insulin.

[diabetic_z]

I do fbg, before & after meals, bedtime, and when I feel "off" (lightheaded, extremely tired, unusual headaches, etc.). No insulin, nor any other meds.

[lorilei]

I test upward of twelve times a day. I have been known to test even more on crazy days or less when things are more even. The poll doesn't completely suit me because I test more then what is offered. You have to take into account for a type I we often have to test before and after exercise and also during and after lows or random highs which can bump those numbers up quite a bit. Many type ones don't do those test either but they are really important to me. I can see that it can be completely different for someone with type II.

ditto...guess i'm also an "other" and often 10 times is fair play..however, here and there when i feel cocky and pretty stable, i will give my self a wee fingerstick break..

however, if i am being naughty (ie having cocktails or apps or other treats) i test very frequently, sometimes on the half hour b/c i can bottom out or shoot sky high if not attentive..

[telizas]

I just started pumping, and I generally keep my reminders on, so I test FBG, before meals & snacks, 2 hours after meals & snacks and two hours after a correction if I needed one, sometimes bedtime if I needed a correction after dinner or had a snack after dinner.

I'm goin through test strips like water man!

[butterflykisses]

I test 10 (or more) times a days including fasting, before and after meals and before bed. Then there's the other kinds of testings, like when the basic tests are off (high/low) and need tweaking, driving, exercise. This is why I get so irritated about having to fight for freakin strips!!!

[jer.lawrence]

I selected other -- usually 3-5 times a day -- FBG, and after lunch and after dinner.. also before the meal if I'm having something i haven't had before. Sometimes I'll also test after breakfast if it's something I haven't had before.

[xMenace]

My testing follows a set of needs and objectives I've written out mentally. I'll try to write this out in text.

Objective: stay between 3.5 and 7.0 mmol/l.

Routine compliance

During my days I follow standard compliance testing to tell me if I am out of range: AM, pre-meals, post-prandial, and bedtime.

Profiling

There are times I conduct experiments to figure out things like basal settings and I:C ratios or test certain foods or even my meter variances. Specific onetime objectives.

Safety

Depending on your regimen you'll have different safety concerns. As an IDD with virtually no hypo-awareness, I have to test for safety:

- always before driving or during long trips
- after large corrections. Liver dumps and bad sets can creat very dangerous situations. I set alarms to test regularly (or wake DW up to dial 911).
- in unusual situations. Before and after hockey games or other exercise, when skipping meals, when sick, whatever.

[HealthierMe]

according to my meter I tested 102 times in the last 30 days and averaged bg of 113. High of 160 yikes (note to self sugar free apple pie has a CRUST which you have to COUNT as carbs also you can't eat a whole baked potato along with pie and restaurant salad dressing and ...) and low of 58 yikes.

I test when I don't feel quite right and when I'm not sure about foods or dosage of med changed. Also I test in the morning which is before a meal also. So three to four times a day. But I've only been at this for four months or so. Still learning.

[lark 27]

For me, I think the better response would be when don't I test!

FBG
Mid-Run in the A.M.
Sometimes another mid-run depending on level
Pre-meal x3
Postrandial x 3
Pre-exercise at night (trying to exercise bike or do other light exercise while watching TV with wife).
Pre-Bed
Other as needed (if I'm going to eat a significant snack, if I feel odd, if I feel tired, if it's been up and down a bit, etc.)

[UpNorth]

I selected "Other" aswell.
I'm T1 on MDI.

I test first thing in the morning
2h after breakfast
Lunch
1h after lunch (just to get an idea if my dose was right or not)
2h after lunch
Dinner
1h after dinner (not always, but most days)
2h after dinner
Bedtime
At night if waking up anyways

Add a few more if i think my bolus might be off either up or down or if i feel high or low. I usually test about 10 times per day but have been known to reach up to 20:eek:

[howdysf]

all the freakin' time!... actually, probably anywhere from 7-10 times a day..

[Josselyn]

Not only did I want to try the poll feature :), I am honestly interested in the responses to testing. Sorry for the number of choices!

I am currently testing sporadically (once a week or so) with a basal insulin shot. I am trying to get back to better monitoring and MDI insulin.

I checked "before and after meals and bedtime, no insulin" but that would be the minimum. Many days, I test more often to determine how certain foods, combinations of foods, or the timing of eating foods affect me.
I suppose it floats between 5-10 times per day.:o

I get 100 per month via my PCP. I buy the rest on eBay. I can generally pick up 100 strips, shipping included, for about $30.00...only $10.00 more than my co-pay of $20.00.