Testing with Type 2

[CivicFreak]

I was diagnosed over a year ago with Type 2. My A1c was at 122 and I was put on 2000mg of Metformin a day, and through diet and exercise had managed to bring my blood levels down to acceptable levels, and so at my review last year my A1c was down to 40, which I was over the moon with and at this point the doctors reduced the medication to 1000mg a day, but now my blood sugar is creeping back up and my last A1c that was taken last week was 71.

As a type 2 diabetic you don't get a blood meter on NHS so I bought my own - an Accu-Chek mobile which, while expensive I mainly bought for convenience. I never really used it until recently, though, and really only started using it in earnest since I had my metformin dose reduced back in October as I wanted to know how different foods were affecting my levels.

My question is this though: Are there any other type 2 people out there that also use a blood meter? If so, how often do you test? I started off testing randomly, but having seen my blood sugar slowly increase over recent weeks I've been testing almost obsessively before and 2 hours after each meal - I am probably being overly cautious, but I am so keen to ensure I am only eating the right foods as the thought of causing diabetes related complications scares the hell out of me.

 

[trophywench]

Hi - Yes, about 99.9% of the T2s on here! It's the only way any person can see what eating 'this' at that time, does to their BG.

Please read this http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html and if that's what you are doing already then no - you aren't being obsessive.

Somewhere in Alan Shanley's blog is an article called 'Testing on a budget' which he actually wrote to help British T2s who had to pay for their own meters and strips. I think you chose the meter with the dearest strips - there are reliable cheaper ones available online - the SD Codefree but someone else will have to post the link.

 

[CivicFreak]

Hi trophywench,

Thank you for the reply and the link, it's really useful and yes, it turns out that what is described is exactly what I'm doing now, as I feel I'm in a phase of experimentation. By doing this I have found that I don't need to cut out carbs entirely - rather I have found that not all are created equal. For example, for me spaghetti (wholewheat) doesn't cause as big a spike as potato, and wholemeal bread hardly has any effect at all when taken in moderation. I have, however, moved away from red and processed meats, and now eat more fish and as someone who enjoys fruit and veg, it has been fairly easy to make the changes necessary to bring my BG down, and, more importantly, keep it down. Although even after meals I have still found that my BG can increase from around 5 mmol/l before meal, to around 10-13 mmol/l after, and this is even with low to no carbs, so I guess I'm still missing some pieces of the puzzle here.

I have changed up my diet quite considerably recently, so as I get learn the bigger picture and see what does and doesn't impact my BG levels I will continue to test before and after every meal and once I get used to this I will start to test less frequently. After all the advice I've read online that states T2 diabetics don't need to test, it's good to see that so many do, and it has such a positive impact.

You are also right that the meter I have is one of the dearer ones for testing and I can understand why people may not gravitate to it. For me it's not prohibitive though, and I do like the convenience of not needing to carry strips and lancets around with me, as it is all on board, so it is worth the extra outlay. Also, I am able to get the test cassettes without VAT, so this helps to make the cost a little more palatable.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Sounds to me like you're doing exactly the right things. Good luck!

 

[CivicFreak]

Thanks Eddy!

I was slightly concerned that I could be getting a bit obsessed with testing too often, but glad to know that others seem to be doing the same thing, and not just those with type 1 🙂

 

[Ljc]

Hi. Many people with T2 on here who self fund their own testing strips use the SD Codefree meter as it’s strips are around £8 for a pot of 50. It’s only available online either directly from Homehealth (sorry I’ve lost the link)
You are entitled to claim VAT relief and we use the mmoll version in the U.K.
or
From
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003&th=1

It is possible to become obsessed with testing, if you are worried about this but still want to test then have a read of
teting-on-budget byAlan S
Many on here who are not on meds that can cause hypo’s, test quite intensively initially just to find out what foods suit them then once they are happy with their results they only do spot checks.

 

[AdeV]

I bought an SD Codefree after recommendations here, and after reading the numerous posts here that recommended testing, even though my DN said I didn't need to!. Like you, I test before, 1hr after and 2hr after - sometimes 30/60/90/120 minutes after, if I've just broken open a new pot of strips . I also test 3h & 4h if I've had a pizza, since the effects seem to be delayed with them (T1's seem to have trouble with pizza too, there's a thread about it somewhere around here - aka The Pizza Effect).

I've noticed a pretty strong correlation with the well-known "bad" carbs: Bread, potato, pasta and rice; wholewheat bread less so. After nearly a year, though, I can now eat a naughty Chinese takeaway without seeing a double-digit spike; and my between meals readings are almost always in the 4.5 to 5.5 range; so it CAN be done. It takes time, though. I started with typical readings in the 8-9's with spikes to 13-14, when I first had my meter.

 

[Omar]

I bought an SD Codefree after recommendations here, and after reading the numerous posts here that recommended testing, even though my DN said I didn't need to!. Like you, I test before, 1hr after and 2hr after - sometimes 30/60/90/120 minutes after, if I've just broken open a new pot of strips . I also test 3h & 4h if I've had a pizza, since the effects seem to be delayed with them (T1's seem to have trouble with pizza too, there's a thread about it somewhere around here - aka The Pizza Effect).

I've noticed a pretty strong correlation with the well-known "bad" carbs: Bread, potato, pasta and rice; wholewheat bread less so. After nearly a year, though, I can now eat a naughty Chinese takeaway without seeing a double-digit spike; and my between meals readings are almost always in the 4.5 to 5.5 range; so it CAN be done. It takes time, though. I started with typical readings in the 8-9's with spikes to 13-14, when I first had my meter.

Hi Ade, Exactly the same for me! Almost lost hope thinking that levels would never drop but they did.

Hi @CivicFreak
In answer to your questions: Yes I use a blood meter, I test in the morning, 2 hours after meals with a random test before eating, and of course at night. As people have said you are doing exactly the right thing and do not think of it as obsessive in anyway. I also use Accu Check Mobile. It was a pain to use at first, I have thick skin so took a while to draw blood ha! Remember you are told about these complications so you are aware of them and they may seem a lot to take in, but if controlled properly it will all help 🙂

 

[Pine Marten]

What the others have said about testing 🙂 - I don't test as frequently as I used to, but tend to do it first thing in the morning and usually before bed. I also test when trying new foods, and sometimes before and after exercise. I came off Metformin a while back, and control things by diet & exercise.

The Home Health link is here, if you want to take a look: https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-monitor-sd-codefree-meter-diabetic-monitoring-device/

Otherwise it sounds like you're doing the right things, @CivicFreak

 

[Drummer]

Hi trophywench,

Although even after meals I have still found that my BG can increase from around 5 mmol/l before meal, to around 10-13 mmol/l after, and this is even with low to no carbs, so I guess I'm still missing some pieces of the puzzle here.

That is a large spike - it it is not from what you are eating it should perhaps be investigated.
What sort of things are you eating when you see that sort of increase?

 

[Roberte]

I was diagnosed over a year ago with Type 2. My A1c was at 122 and I was put on 2000mg of Metformin a day, and through diet and exercise had managed to bring my blood levels down to acceptable levels, and so at my review last year my A1c was down to 40, which I was over the moon with and at this point the doctors reduced the medication to 1000mg a day, but now my blood sugar is creeping back up and my last A1c that was taken last week was 71.

As a type 2 diabetic you don't get a blood meter on NHS so I bought my own - an Accu-Chek mobile which, while expensive I mainly bought for convenience. I never really used it until recently, though, and really only started using it in earnest since I had my metformin dose reduced back in October as I wanted to know how different foods were affecting my levels.

My question is this though: Are there any other type 2 people out there that also use a blood meter? If so, how often do you test? I started off testing randomly, but having seen my blood sugar slowly increase over recent weeks I've been testing almost obsessively before and 2 hours after each meal - I am probably being overly cautious, but I am so keen to ensure I am only eating the right foods as the thought of causing diabetes related complications scares the hell out of me.

I am using the same as you . I was giving mine free by the diabetes nurse and it's brilliant . I was diagnosed only 4 weeks ago and they recommend I test in the morning and before my evening meal . I do that on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday . I keep track of my test results as they told me to do so . I'm also taking 2000mg a day .
Hope this helps .

 

[AdeV]

Welcome Roberte!

There's a great link posted up by Jenny (trophywench) at the top of this thread, which might help you more than the morning/evening tests: short version, test before a meal, then 1hr and 2hr after. This shows you how high your glucose levels go after a meal. You can then adjust your diet to try to minimise these peaks. Once you've got a handle on that, then going to morning/evening tests will re-assure you that things are stable.

 

[Roberte]

Welcome Roberte!

There's a great link posted up by Jenny (trophywench) at the top of this thread, which might help you more than the morning/evening tests: short version, test before a meal, then 1hr and 2hr after. This shows you how high your glucose levels go after a meal. You can then adjust your diet to try to minimise these peaks. Once you've got a handle on that, then going to morning/evening tests will re-assure you that things are stable.

Thanks for the info . How strange is this that only yesterday I was giving a book wrote by Alan Shanley who is the guy who wrote blog that the link sends you too .