[mooncat]

Does it really make a difference exactly when you test in the a.m., as long as it's before you eat? The reason I ask is, when I test early, i.e. 6-7 a.m. and/or when I've been awake an hour or less, my numbers are higher than when I test an hour or two after that, all without eating. If I wake at 6 but don't test until 8 a.m., is that as valid a result as if I tested at 6:30? Is it important to know exactly what your BG is exactly upon waking, or is your sugar 60-90 min. later (still fasting of course) valid? My sugars are sometimes in the 120's when I test before I get up and get moving, and often drop to 110 or less within 60 minutes. Which should I consider a more accurate picture of my true FBG, or does it not really matter?

Thanks!

[morrisma]

Vicki,
Typically the answer to your question is no, it doesn't matter but how much are your numbers climbing in that hour to hour and a half?

I am type 1 and on the pump. My basal rates are pretty good so that if I do not eat, my morning numbers wont move more than 25 points between 6 and 9am. If you are in that range, I would ignore it.

Morning is a complex time with your hormones kicking in and your met from last night dissipating. The morning hormones generally dump some sugar to help you wake up. Not sure if you are splitting your met dose half in the evening and half in the morning but that might result in more even levels. Nothing you can do about the hormones.
Mike

[Penny]

I wonder about this too. If I get up at 6, I will be very low, I have usually been fasting about at least 8 hours. If I sleep until 8 or 9, (usually have been fasting 10 to 12 hours) or just do not test until then, my numbers can be very high. I do find my numbers are lower if I test before I get up and move around. I have been fasting for 14 hours before, when my doctor tests me and says I am very high. I tell him I have not eaten, and he gives me that "uh huh" look. I test, but almost feel like the morning number is useless.

[mooncat]

Originally Posted by morrisma

Vicki,
Typically the answer to your question is no, it doesn't matter but how much are your numbers climbing in that hour to hour and a half?

I am type 1 and on the pump. My basal rates are pretty good so that if I do not eat, my morning numbers wont move more than 25 points between 6 and 9am. If you are in that range, I would ignore it.

Morning is a complex time with your hormones kicking in and your met from last night dissipating. The morning hormones generally dump some sugar to help you wake up. Not sure if you are splitting your met dose half in the evening and half in the morning but that might result in more even levels. Nothing you can do about the hormones.
Mike

My numbers aren't going up from say, 6:30 to 8 a.m., they are going down. I don't think there's been a 'point spread' of more than 20 points, and even my highest a.m. readings haven't been more than in the 120s, I don't think, or maybe 135 once.

Right now I'm taking the metformin twice a day, and I'm taking it with lunch and dinner. Taking it with breakfast and dinner gave me BGs higher than I was happy about after lunch. But this is just the starting dose my doctor's office prescribed. I'm going to ask them, next time I go in, if I can have the 500 mg three times a day, i.e. 1500 mg instead of 1000 per day, or if I can have the 750-800 mg (or whatever it is) Xtended Release metformin. It seems logical to me that I'd get better coverage over a full 24 hours that way. The diabetes educator indicated to me also that higher night time doses are often prescribed to compensate for morning highs...?

Thanks for responding, Mike.