Another question from me - sunday dinner

[Newtothis]

My sugars prior to dinner was 6.4; (slightly higher than usual but I did spend 30mins on the treadmill about 1hr before....🙄); Sunday dinner was chicken, leeks; carrots; cauliflour and sage/onion stuffing. I didn't have potatoes or yorkshire pudding. I tested again 1hr 10mins later and its 8. Do I need to test again or is that the spike for the stuffing?

Sorry to keep asking you these type of questions but I'm managing to put meal plans together...🙂 Amanda

 

[Ellie Jones]

Don't apolagise for asking questions as we are more than happy to answer them...

I would on as Sunday roast is quite a fatty meal so can take a bit longer to digest and perhaps impact on the BG... So I would test at the 2 and 3 hour mark to see what's going on..

 

[Newtothis]

Thank you - I was really hoping the only part of my dinner I'd have to check was the sage/onion stuffing as I had chicken and veg (leek; carrots; cauliflour)- no potatoes/yorkshire pudding nor gravy......

Back to the drawing board.....

 

[slipper]

I hadn't thought of checking beyond 2 hours, so thats a good point. (More strips Amanda, see you on there)

 

[Newtothis]

I hadn't thought of checking beyond 2 hours, so thats a good point. (More strips Amanda, see you on there)

I'm already looking......

 

[Steff]

amanda what meter do you have again sorry?

 

[Northerner]

Thank you - I was really hoping the only part of my dinner I'd have to check was the sage/onion stuffing as I had chicken and veg (leek; carrots; cauliflour)- no potatoes/yorkshire pudding nor gravy......

Back to the drawing board.....

There are carbs in the veg too, particularly carrots, although they are relatively low compared to potatoes of course. Even so, you had a small rise, which was fine, and do remember that there is an element of inaccuracy allowed for in the meter readings, so bear this in mind - you are looking for a general picture of how the food affects you and can't know the absolutely accurate effect with home monitoring equipment.

So, I would say that the small rise was fine, remember what mcdonagh47 said about the first-phase insulin being slow, and personally after a meal like that I wouldn't expect to see it rise much higher (that's not to say it wouldn't - this is diabetes after all!), so I personally wouldn't test again 🙂

 

[Newtothis]

amanda what meter do you have again sorry?

Hi Steff, I have a accu-checker nano. Good meter; strips not to expensive but the finger-pricker is harsh....🙄

 

[Newtothis]

There are carbs in the veg too, particularly carrots, although they are relatively low compared to potatoes of course. Even so, you had a small rise, which was fine, and do remember that there is an element of inaccuracy allowed for in the meter readings, so bear this in mind - you are looking for a general picture of how the food affects you and can't know the absolutely accurate effect with home monitoring equipment.

So, I would say that the small rise was fine, remember what mcdonagh47 said about the first-phase insulin being slow, and personally after a meal like that I wouldn't expect to see it rise much higher (that's not to say it wouldn't - this is diabetes after all!), so I personally wouldn't test again 🙂

Thank you 'font of all knowledge' I did take advice and my 2hr reading is 7.3, which means pre to dinner reading was 6.4; 1hr later; 8; 2hrs later 7.3. So does this mean I can have sage/onion stuffing if I reduce the carrots? I didn't have much but was very tasty....🙄

Another question - how can I stop the finger-pricker from bruising my fingers; I reduce the depth; but can't get anything out; increase and it either bruises or leaves a little lump.....

 

[Mark T]

Thank you 'font of all knowledge' I did take advice and my 2hr reading is 7.3, which means pre to dinner reading was 6.4; 1hr later; 8; 2hrs later 7.3. So does this mean I can have sage/onion stuffing if I reduce the carrots? I didn't have much but was very tasty....🙄

Another question - how can I stop the finger-pricker from bruising my fingers; I reduce the depth; but can't get anything out; increase and it either bruises or leaves a little lump.....

I think with a 6.4 to 8, you could possibly stand to increase the carrots, especially if you start from a lower point 🙂 Your delta is 1.6 mmol/L. For comparison, my salmon, veg, rice and cheese sauce was 2.2 mmol/L (5.6 -> 7.8 @ 1 hour) and I was happy with that (I'd like to start from a lower point, but that just doesn't seem to happen for me).

I struggle to get blood out as well. Often I'll rub my hands/fingers under warm water before I test - drying well too. If I'm still struggling I will tense my fingers to see if that helps and worst case i'll gently squeeze a little, but not near the actual prick point. It seems my blood is most reticent about poking a few drops out last thing at night and first thing in the morning for me.

 

[Northerner]

Thank you 'font of all knowledge' I did take advice and my 2hr reading is 7.3, which means pre to dinner reading was 6.4; 1hr later; 8; 2hrs later 7.3. So does this mean I can have sage/onion stuffing if I reduce the carrots? I didn't have much but was very tasty....🙄

Another question - how can I stop the finger-pricker from bruising my fingers; I reduce the depth; but can't get anything out; increase and it either bruises or leaves a little lump.....

Personally, I'd keep the stuffing and enjoy it with results like those! 🙂

As for the finger pricker, I can have similar problems from time to time, usually when I change the lancet (same pricker) as it seems too sharp and needs a deeper setting to get blood, which then hurts more. Hence I let them get a bit blunt and don't change them very often!

Soem tips are -

warm hands: run them under warm water first
hang your arm down before lancing.
pause for a couple of seconds after pricking and then apply gentle pressure and the blood shoud come more easily.

Your fingers do get used to it after a while and it hurts less. Make sure you use the sides of the pads of your fingertips, not the central part where there are more nerve endings. Also, remember you have 12 such 'sides' (don't use your thumb or index finger).

Hope that helps! 🙂

 

[Newtothis]

Personally, I'd keep the stuffing and enjoy it with results like those! 🙂

As for the finger pricker, I can have similar problems from time to time, usually when I change the lancet (same pricker) as it seems too sharp and needs a deeper setting to get blood, which then hurts more. Hence I let them get a bit blunt and don't change them very often!

Soem tips are -

warm hands: run them under warm water first
hang your arm down before lancing.
pause for a couple of seconds after pricking and then apply gentle pressure and the blood shoud come more easily.

Your fingers do get used to it after a while and it hurts less. Make sure you use the sides of the pads of your fingertips, not the central part where there are more nerve endings. Also, remember you have 12 such 'sides' (don't use your thumb or index finger).

Hope that helps! 🙂

That is music to my ears re the stuffing..... how often do you change your lancet. I sometimes find it difficult to see where the finger prick will be and have on a couple occasions go slightly tip side. I guess its a learning curve...

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I've a multi clix and tend to use the same lancet for at least 2-3 weeks. I used to use them for much longer.