[mg_2204]

... I always make sure I never run out of test strips. I went to the pharmacy today to get more supplies and unfortunately I will have to go back later today as they don't have what I need in store at the moment. The pharmacist found me quite eager to get my supplies. And he made this comment, which surprised me :

'People hardly test. Many have run out of supplies weeks, and sometimes months ago. If I don't have what they need they often don't come back before a week or two. They renew their pills but most do without testing' ...........

I find I have better control when I test. I couldn't do without it. And if the pharmacy doesn't have what I need by the end of the afternoon, you can bet anything I'll go somewhere else. I can imagine doing weeks and months without testing...

[KrisinNM]

That is probably much more true of T2s than T1s. I can see myself putting off testing if there is not going to be an immediate consequence. I was at a T2 friend's home one evening without my testing kit and asked to borrow his....he couldn't find it.

[duck]

I test upwards of 8 times a day lately. I once forgot my testing kit at home when I went to work about two years ago...Man did I feel lost. I broke down and went to the local Target and bought a meter (needed a backup anyway).

I now have at least six testing kits--one at work, one I carry in my brief case, one for my bedroom, one for my home office, one for the basement, one for each of my cars...I am considering giving my parents a kit to hold onto.

You're right, though about not testing enough. As much as I'd like to be insulin free, if I had to chose, I'd take an easier, constant blood glucose monitor over an implantable pump...Testing is just a pain all around.

[mg_2204]

... Duck, you just made me realise something : I only have ONE meter. I think it's a great idea to have at least two.

[dixiepixie64]

Yep, I use two meters too but keeping up with the different test strip refill status for the Accuchek and the MM BD Logic is confusing. My insurance will only refill one type or the other every thirty days....

I know what you mean Duck about feeling lost without a meter. Ran out of the house last weekend in a hurry to catch a movie and I forgot mine. I was scared to eat anything and was so relieved to get home and discover it was at 124. *whew* The whole time I was out I was obsessively checking my site connection & imagining ketones....

[nantomsuethom]

Thomas tests about 10x a day.

Just the other day I counted, didn't realize he has 8 meters!

[jeggeman31]

Originally Posted by mg_2204

I only have ONE meter.

I also just have one meter. It goes where I go, but just got the one.

[dixiepixie64]

That is one of the reasons I like my Accuchek, it uses an AAA I think. One of those easy ones to find. The one in my BD logic, one of those circular thingies, is a BEAST to find. I went to CVS, Walmart, Kmart and finally a light bulb went on and I went to a local store we have here called "Batteries Plus" ~ all they sell is batteries... Anyway I showed it to the salesguy and he immediately said "oh, for a glucose meter" and had one. He says people come in all the time panicky because they can't find the round batteries for glucose meters.

[rzrbks]

What you're all talking about is exactly why I like having my InDuo.

I can't go anywhere without it. The blood meter and the insulin injecter are part of the same unit.

But then I am prejudiced, admittedly.

[am1977]

It surprises me, too, that some people don't test that much! To me, it's the only true way of knowing where you stand in managing the disease. I test about 5 times a day, sometimes more, sometimes less (maybe 4 times). I just have the need to know and I feel more comfortable knowing where my blood sugar level is. If it's too high or low...I can treat.

I understand that some are scared of what they see. They almost take it a s a passing or failing grade, but how do some expect to manage the disease if they just let things go? I know it might be part of living in denial, but in the end not testing is, IMO, just going to lead to problems.

I, personally, have no problem testing. In fact, I'd like to test even more than I do (if insur. would cover ). It was hard and it hurt at first, but now testing is just a miniscule thing that only takes a second, but is so essential to managing my diabetes.

[mg_2204]

Originally Posted by am1977

I understand that some are scared of what they see.

... they should be even more of what they don't see!

[Mario]

The best way to worsen a problem is to ignore it. Even if your BG are high, you'll know the fact and be able to do something. If you don't know how high you are, how would you correct it ?

[lgvincent]

I don't check my blood sugar as often as I like, but I keep a few strips on hand. I have this fear of running out of insulin, especially, as well as glucose strips. It probably comes from my childhood. Even though I had no way to the drug store and had no money to buy insulin, my parents only had one vial of insulin on hand, the one I was using at the time, and I would get scolded whenever it ran out. I think it has had an impact on my feeling of never having enough insulin or strips on hand.

[mark-TN]

I agree that some poeple do not take testing seriously enough. I used to be one of them (up until about 2 years ago), but I now test a minimum of 7x per day:

Upon waking
2-3 hrs pp Breakfast
Before Lunch Bolus
2-3 hrs pp Lunch
Before Dinner Bolus
2-3 hrs pp Dinner
Bedtime (which is at least 5 hrs after Dinner Bolus).

On days that I workout (3-5days per week) I test at least before and after, and sometimes during.

On days that I change infusion sets (every 3 days) adds 1 or 2 additional reads.

On days when things are not going right (ie, illness, site problems, gremlins, etc) can add any number of more reads.

So I test any where from 7 to 10 or more times per day.

Mark

[jeggeman31]

Before I became insulin dependent I never checked my sugar. My very first Dr who told me I was diabetic back in 1990 told me that unless you take insulin, you don't need to test your sugar. So until I started taking insulin I never checked it once. Now however I check it 4 times a day, and some days more.