I am confused on when to test my BG, when first diagnosed I was told to test before meals, having read some replies on here and in the monitor guide it seems most test 2 hours after a meal. Today I tested before breakfast and then 2hiurs after. Reading were 12 before and 22 two hours after. Is there a correct time to test. I am type 2 but some on here have advised to get checked again due to having reading in the twenties most days. Contacted DN have telephone appointment next week to discuss things.
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BG testing
- Thread starter Franklin
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2 hours after eating was when I was told to test. I’m type 2 and was having readings in the high 20s 2 hours after meals. In my case, it was a clear indication that I wasn’t able to control it with diet alone, and I was put on metformin which got sugar levels down in a couple of weeks.
It may be that you just eat lots of carbs to cause to to go to 22 - my old breakfast of a large bowl of porridge and a banana would likely still do that to me even though my HbA1C is now back down to non-diabetic levels.
Don't just test your BG, keep a food diary and find out which foods to avoid or cut down on!
Aim for a 2 mmol rise from just before eating to the test 2hrs after 1st bite and one you get a handle on that, aim for a maximum BG reading of no more than 8 mmol and you will be on your way to remission.
Not everybody can do it, but about half can if they are given some encouragement.
Leadinglights
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Your question about when to test depends on the purpose of the testing regime you adopt. This might be useful as a guide to testing.
This post by AlanS suggests a helpful framework
loraldiabetes.blogspot.com
This post by AlanS suggests a helpful framework
Test, Review, Adjust
Managing blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. Learning how to achieve long term control by testing and diet.
I started on metformin change my diet, that did not bring my hb1c down and my BG were staying high. A year ago I was put on insulin which I inject twice daily. My BG has slowly raised again now in the twenties when testing 2 hrs after food. High teens before eating.
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Good to hear you have access to test strips @Franklin.
It sounds like you might be on a mixed insulin (these are the ones often injected twice daily). Or possibly basal-only?
Has your nurse given you an idea of the amount of carbohydrates you should be aiming for to balance your insulin doses? When on mixed insulin it is helpful to eat a measured and consistent amount of carbohydrate each day.
It sounds like you might be on a mixed insulin (these are the ones often injected twice daily). Or possibly basal-only?
Has your nurse given you an idea of the amount of carbohydrates you should be aiming for to balance your insulin doses? When on mixed insulin it is helpful to eat a measured and consistent amount of carbohydrate each day.
My DN has not given me any information on cabs I shall ask her, the insulin is Humulin the dosage has change so much over the year this time they reduced it which I feel is the cause of high BG reading.
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Sounds likely - and that the dose may need looking at again.
Confusingly there are several varieties of Humulin - is it Humulin M3 or Humulin I?
SB2015
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Hi @Franklin getting readings in the 20s two hours after a meal, is an indication that something needs to change. It sounds like it would be good to get another appointment with your nurse.
If you were able to start working out how many carbs you are eating at the meals when you test that will also help you and them to make informed choices about what to change. Your higher levels could be
- The amount and types of carbs you are eating at the meals don't match the insulin dose you take
- That you are in fact T1 and the remaining beta cells have finally given up.
Let us know how you get on.
If you were able to start working out how many carbs you are eating at the meals when you test that will also help you and them to make informed choices about what to change. Your higher levels could be
- The amount and types of carbs you are eating at the meals don't match the insulin dose you take
- That you are in fact T1 and the remaining beta cells have finally given up.
Let us know how you get on.
I have started counting my carb intake and will put a post here next week after my consultation. Thank you for the help and information
The box my insulin comes in is green and is called Humulin 1 kwikpen, the one is in green . It contains 3ml of isophane insulin made from insulin crystals. None f the above makes sense to me. The more I read on here the more confused I feel.
Leadinglights
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No wonder you are confused, I think because you sort of fall between two stools or many stools actually, as with diabetes there seems to be many variations in treatment and dietary regimes not just depending on whether you are Type 1, Type 2, LADA or 1.5 or even 3c,but what the policy is of your local health authority or GP.
Even here there are different ideas as how people manage their condition but at the end of the day you have to make your own mind up as to what suits YOU best having weighed up all the options. People can advise based on what you say but your diabetes specialist team should also be in the loop as only they know your total medical history.
I hope by reading around the forum and the site it will start to make more sense.
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Sorry about the increasing confusion!
Humulin I is an ‘intermediate acting’ insulin.
It builds up over the first 45-60 minutes, and then acts at full strength for about 7 hours before gradually fading up to 22ish hours from the injection.
Are you injecting morning and evening? It seems likely this is intended to provide some ‘background support’ for your own insulin production?
But if you are consistently seeing high teens before meals, and twenties after, it sounds like your meals, and your insulin aren’t quite in balance?
Inka
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Don’t worry about asking whatever questions you want. There’s no shame in feeling confused or asking for clarification or to have things repeated. We were all where you were once 🙂
To help your confusion, that’s not a number “1” after the word “Humulin’, it’s the letter “i” - i for isophane. It’s a slow-acting background insulin. If you’re going high after meals, you might need a fast-acting insulin in addition to that slow Humulin isophane in order to deal with the rise in your blood sugar from the food you’re eating.
rebrascora
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Hi BG levels will make you feel fatigued and mean that you struggle to focus or understand stuff. It really is not pleasant to have levels that high most of the time so I do hope that they will review your insulin regime soon and hopefully give you more support to control your levels better.
Whilst it might be confusing and overwhelming at first, do stick with the forum though as we can give you tips and support and advice and explain stuff that the nurse may not have time for or you may be unable to take it all in at your appointment but we can explain it in every day language to you here, when you can read it at your leisure and ask if you don't understand. Eventually the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together and you start to make sense of it all, but there is an awful lot to learn and get to grips with and it can be daunting.
It may help to know that there are several different types of insulin which act in slightly different ways and it may be that the one you are currently using is not ideal for you or it may just be that the dose needs adjusting. Keeping a food and drink diary along with your readings will help the nurse to see where problems are and how best to tackle them and whether a change of insulin may be appropriate. Good luck with your appointment and let us know how you get on.
Whilst it might be confusing and overwhelming at first, do stick with the forum though as we can give you tips and support and advice and explain stuff that the nurse may not have time for or you may be unable to take it all in at your appointment but we can explain it in every day language to you here, when you can read it at your leisure and ask if you don't understand. Eventually the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together and you start to make sense of it all, but there is an awful lot to learn and get to grips with and it can be daunting.
It may help to know that there are several different types of insulin which act in slightly different ways and it may be that the one you are currently using is not ideal for you or it may just be that the dose needs adjusting. Keeping a food and drink diary along with your readings will help the nurse to see where problems are and how best to tackle them and whether a change of insulin may be appropriate. Good luck with your appointment and let us know how you get on.
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