BG peak testing

[slipper]

In view of the constraint on strips,I may have to cut down on so many tests.

How important is the actual peak reading. All the books and papers on line seem to say that provided you are below 8 at 2 hours, all is well and I haven't found any mention of the peak increase.

I do feel uneasy just doing the 2 hour reading though, as I haven't finished testing all my meals yet.

 

[Northerner]

The main point of discovering the peak reading is to work out what foods spike your blood sugars, and as we are all different and food doesn't just peak at 2 hours, it's a good idea to test at other times, like one hour, so we can learn what goes on. It is thought that the variation in blood sugar levels is as important, if not more so, than the pre-meal readings. So, a meal that produces a rise of 6 mmol/l after one hour, but is only 1 mmol/l higher than pre-meal at 2 hours wouldn't be apparent if only a 2 hour test was taken. Yet it is thought that this big swing can be more harmful than actually having a pre-meal of say 8 mmol/l that never rises more than 2 mmol/l, because the variation is much lower. It sounds logical as your body/blood vessels etc. is not having to cope with extremes.

Once you have determined what foods spike you in this way, you don't need to test for them again. Admittedly though, it can take quite a while to build up your experience of all the food/meals you enjoy and need to test!

 

[slipper]

Yes, that makes sense Northerner, I did ask Nurse but she just reiterated the standard test only the fasting level first thing in the morning.

Seems a good investment then to continue for a while, I have done all the standard things like ham, eggs and pastrami, soups where a no no, so look for more variety.

It is the peak that seems to be my problem, fish fingers for example, up from say 5 to 9 or 10 at the hour but down to seven by 2 hours. I will get there🙂

 

[Northerner]

Probably the breadcrumbs on the fish fingers - batter might spike less, although there may be more calories/sat fat etc. Swings and roundabouts! 🙄

 

[mcdonagh47]

In view of the constraint on strips,I may have to cut down on so many tests.

How important is the actual peak reading. All the books and papers on line seem to say that provided you are below 8 at 2 hours, all is well and I haven't found any mention of the peak increase.

I do feel uneasy just doing the 2 hour reading though, as I haven't finished testing all my meals yet.

Another important reason for finding the peak if you are a type 2 is so that you are physically active/exercising at or about the peak time to soak up glucose and blunt the peak.

The peak probably wont vary from carb to carb but will increase in intensity to those you are most sensitive to.

 

[slipper]

Thanks guys, had a look around and this article looks for very tight control, not sure I could match the 1 hour; the 2 hour no problem.

What you don't want to see is readings that are consistently in the range of 160 mg/dl and higher (8.9 mmol/L) at one hour after eating or readings that don't drop below 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) at two hours after eating. And consistency is key here. Readings that are high day after day are what we have to avoid. But if you see one or two high readings occasionally, don't panic.

http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2011/05/when-to-test-after-meals.html

 

[daisymoo84]

Hi Slipper,

Thanks for asking this question. It's one I've been wondering about too!

It's complicated this diabetes malarky 😛

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks guys, had a look around and this article looks for very tight control, not sure I could match the 1 hour; the 2 hour no problem.




http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2011/05/when-to-test-after-meals.html

Not sure what the perceived problem is of falling back down by 2 hours. Low GI should help even the curve, of course, but phase 2 insulin will be pulling back on BGs for many (most?) t2s at this point I think.

Best bet for an even bg graph IMO is to keep post-meal/peak readings as low as possible.

 

[slipper]

No problem with the 2 hours Mike, but I was surprised, having done a little more reading, that the spike, whenever it occurs, really is important, inthat keep the rise very low, and short in duration.

Actually, having reread that quote I made, I think there is a typo in that I think he meant to say it should be below that figure at 2 hours. Else, you are right, it dosn't make sense.

 

[slipper]

Hi Slipper,

Thanks for asking this question. It's one I've been wondering about too!

It's complicated this diabetes malarky 😛

Your welcome Daisymoo, I tread where angels fear to go

Seriously, isnt it nice to know that you can ask, not get ridiculed and get a good response.🙂

 

[Jill]

For quite some time I was testing after 2 hours and thought all was fine. Then I read on here about finding the peak so began testing after one hour and then two hours. I found many foods which tested OK at 2 hours were 9, 10 or 11 at one hour. So I began to fret if any damage had been done during my 'ignorant period'. Then I thought, sod it - no point in worrying - I know better now so just get on with it.

 

[slipper]

Agree Jill, adjust to what we learn, the past is the past.

 

[GlucoseGary]

Interesting thread... especially as my DSN told me categorically today that testing anything less than 2h after a meal was "wasting a strip".

 

[slipper]

I concentrate now on the hour or spike time and if it is bad, I test again on 2 hours. With limited strips, thats the best I can do I think.

I think someone mentioned that the nurses have a half day course Gary, not sure if thats true or joking, but I think to be fair to them, they are there to book your tests and to carry out some tests that they can do, from the NICE recommendations.. Dont think they are experts on diabetes.

 

[novorapidboi26]

Interesting thread... especially as my DSN told me categorically today that testing anything less than 2h after a meal was "wasting a strip".

There not thinking on the same lines as the diabetic patient..............

Yes, at that time nothing can be done with the reading, but the knowledge and experience gained is invaluable.....