[doctordun]

Every morning I stick myself and every morning I get nearly the same bg readings. It just seems a waste of strips and I don't particually like to stick myself for no reason.

I thought I would just do it a couple times a week.

Is this a good strategy? Have any of you started doing this?

[soso]

I only test my morning fbg once in a while maybe once or twice every 2 weeks...unless I am having any issues or changing my basel rate.. like you, I don't see the point when it is always in range.
I also do not usually test before meals on a regular basis, agan only if I feel low or once in a while to check I am not missing something...
If my A1c jumped up or I was having highs or lows all the time I would do it, otherwise it is money down the drain to me right now.

[Kim_in_TN]

I've stopped my morning tests as well. My reason is that I was questioning them being a bit higher than most of my day readings and my DE acted like it was no big deal. He said that "everyone's" (I'm assuming non-diabetics as well) is higher in the morning. I mentioned the Dawn's Phenomena thing and he said that is something that happens around 2 a.m. and so I suppose he meant it was likely not happening to me. So ... if he isn't more concerned, then I'm not going to be either. As long as all of my post-meal readings are good, then I'm happy!

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by Kim_in_TN

I mentioned the Dawn's Phenomena thing and he said that is something that happens around 2 a.m. and so I suppose he meant it was likely not happening to me.

Kim. That's just wrong. Unless he's referring to the Symogi effect where you bottom out around 2am. Anyone that has basal tested the full 24 hours will confirm that DPs are real and happen at dawn.

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If it was me, as a stable type 2, I'd test as follows

FBG - 1 or 2 a week on random days
Pre and PP - one meal a week. Do both tests for the same meal. Pick a new meal a week.
Bedtime - once aweek.

These would be my standard compliance tests. I'd probably also test out of curiosity whenever I tried new foods or partook in new activities.

Now if I started getting high numbers, I'd kick it up a notch.

[MJB]

As a T2 on 1 metformin a day I stopped getting anal about testing so much. If everything is routine I test postprandial and fasting about once a week.

Like you I didn't see much point in testing twice a day and always getting readings between 90 and 130. It hasn't hurt me none, last A1c was 5.8

[doctordun]

I test after meals since I am still learning how different foods and amounts effect my bg.

[jacobsam622]

When I was first diagnosed Back in 2004 I would test before and after every meal then the bg numbers started going down and the number of times I tested started going down as well. Before I new it I was not testing at all. Then I only took my meds when I bothered to remember. Now I need glasses to see, have pain in both legs the numbness in the feet both feet and the acid reflux is back with a vengeance. Up until a about six months ago my a1c was always below 7. fast forward to three months ago and my 2 hour after meal numbers were in the 200-270 range. All this happened for one reason I had this silly notion that testing was a waste of time "hey my numbers were good" why test. I was wrong it is the single most important tool we have. Anybody taking sulfonylureas class meds should be testing anytime they drive more the 25 miles. I drive 110 miles round trip to work. I will never again test less then 3 times a day until a cure is found right now I test about 6 times a day.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by jacobsam622

When I was first diagnosed Back in 2004 I would test before and after every meal then the bg numbers started going down and the number of times I tested started going down as well. Before I new it I was not testing at all. Then I only took my meds when I bothered to remember. Now I need glasses to see, have pain in both legs the numbness in the feet both feet and the acid reflux is back with a vengeance. Up until a about six months ago my a1c was always below 7. fast forward to three months ago and my 2 hour after meal numbers were in the 200-270 range. All this happened for one reason I had this silly notion that testing was a waste of time "hey my numbers were good" why test. I was wrong it is the single most important tool we have. Anybody taking sulfonylureas class meds should be testing anytime they drive more the 25 miles. I drive 110 miles round trip to work. I will never again test less then 3 times a day until a cure is found right now I test about 6 times a day.

This sounds like me just before I had my first heart attack. Now I wonder how you all know how much insulin you need if you do not test. You can have a good A1C, but have many highs and many lows to make it that way. I just don't see a good reason not to test.

[Tazmara]

I had been testing first thing in the morning and 2 hrs post meals. I also tested before one meal each day, and that meal would rotate day to day. For example, breakfast one day, lunch the next, etc. My doctor stated I did not have to test first thing in the morning, as long as I was testing pre and post meal once a day. So, I have switched to that, and rotating what meal I test pre and post daily. My best numbers are after supper, so I have not been testing pre meal as often then.

[mho357]

I haven't tested anything in days - 80 hour weeks are starting to take their toll.

[LoDeSp]

Originally Posted by doctordun

Every morning I stick myself and every morning I get nearly the same bg readings. It just seems a waste of strips and I don't particually like to stick myself for no reason.

I thought I would just do it a couple times a week.

Is this a good strategy? Have any of you started doing this?

I cut back on the testing as my numbers started to come down. Now, on average, I test about 1.5 times per day. I regularly test in the morning, after breakfast and lunch, before dinner, after dinner, after my evening exercise, and at bedtime roughly once a week each, and then I sporadically test whenever else I feel like it. If my numbers start to creep up at any period of the day, I'll start to test more frequently.

[MJB]

Penny, if I were on insulin then you bet I would test more often.

If my 2 tests a week started getting higher then you bet I would test more often.

Point is, I'm not changing eating or exercise habits, my random tests are giving extremely similar results as when I tested twice daily, and my A1c is also providing typical results for me at between 5.6 and 6.0

I've never tested over 185 and since off the Actos never below 80. Typical numbers when testing twice daily (and now) are between 90-130. We are all different but this is working for me and a lot of people on this forum would love to have my numbers.

In essence, what I'm doing is working for me. If that stops then I will reevaluate things.