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blood testing

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lynneb

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Type 2
can anyone tell me how often bloods should be tested, I am just diagnosed and am trying diet first for 3 months. Havnt been back to nurse yet as they havt got any apps until next week and am just curious.
 
There is some debate about this issue lynne, but I think that here we mostly agree that you need to test when you are trying new foods to see what effect those foods have on your blood sugar, and also maybe in the morning when you wake up - this might come to 1-4 times a day.

People on insulin have to test more frequently, so that they can calculate how much insulin to inject - maybe 4-8 times a day.
 
blodd testing

thanks for replying, although my mum was diabetic, im just a little confused by it all at the moment. will know more when i see nurse next week.
 
At my hospital they would probably advise in the before each meal - so before breakfast to see what your fasting level is (when you haven't eaten because you've been asleep!). and then before lunch to see what effect breakfast had on your levels. etc etc.
 
It takes time to learn how it is going to affect you - there is so much information about that may never apply to you as it can vary so much in terms of treatment and control. But stick around here, there are some lovely and very well informed people who are happy to help in any way they can🙂
 
blodd testing

thanx everyone, sounds like i need to rob a bank then to get the strips, lol, as they are going to try diet first, i dont get free prescritions do I?
 
lynneb said:
thanx everyone, sounds like i need to rob a bank then to get the strips, lol, as they are going to try diet first, i dont get free prescritions do I?
Click to expand...

No, afraid not, but they might prescribe some strips and that's a lot cheaper than buying them yourself.
 
Northerner said:
No, afraid not, but they might prescribe some strips and that's a lot cheaper than buying them yourself.
Click to expand...

yep, and it'd probably be worthwhile you looking at a pre paid prescription card as it should save you money if you're having several prescriptions
 
I started testing 3 times a day and after a call to nhs direct she said to often so been doing it twice the last 2 month
 
Being Type 1 I normally test an average of 4 times a day i.e. before each meal and last thing at night however that increases if i am exercising ( not a lot at the moment) or if daily routine is disrupted or if i'm feeling hypo.
 
Hello Lynneb

For Type 2s who self-monitor then the important question is what are you going to do with the results? Hanas and Fox (type 2 Diabets in Adults of all Ages) have a good chapter on monitoring but the 2 hours post-meal levels should be 8.5mmol/l as the book was produced before the Diabetes UK guidelines changed. They suggest that on diet and exercis then

"If you doo have a monitor, you could use it two or three times a week, at different times and after different activities to get a feel for how particular activities make your blood sugar rise. You can then discover the effect on the blood sugar of foodstuffs that you have been warned against."

So if your GP/practice nurse support your monitoring that may be the level of testing they expect. Many of us who live with this condition would test more frequently and if you are on sulphonylureas or other drugs that are likely to give rise to hypos then would test pre and during driving as a matter of routine or when any sign of problem.

For example, I've just woken up with signs of hypo and checked to find myself at 3.2mmol/l so waiting for glucotabs to take effect. I've been waking up with, for me, slightly raised pre breakfast levels over the past few days so this is not really a surprise. Apologies, therefore, if anything in this posting doesn't make sense
 
As an insulin user I test 4-7 times a day depending on whats going on.

If you can get your nurse to prescribe some test strips then it would be great, but alot of people have struggled to get this.
 
Hi ther lynne,
as a new T2 you should probably test quite frequently, reducing the amount of testing as you get a a grip on things. As vanessa says, testing is a tool and the results must be used e.g. if you test high go out for a one mile walk straight away and next time you have the meal that caused the spike half the amount of carbohydrate and test again.
The mantra of many T2s who are in control are .... "Test,Test,Test" and "Eat to your meter".
One pice of advice for newbies on tresting was written by an American called Jennifer about ten years ago. It's been kicking around the internet ever since. It's called Jennifer's Smart Advice. Please read it and put i into practice if you can ... it's here ...
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/new.php
HTH

Peter C
 
my doctor gives me 200 test strips and two months worth of pills, so at a guess I'd say 2-4 times a day, but this varies from person to person, what you are eating and the ammount of activity you are doing too.
 
thanks evryone, i will see the nurse next week and ask about testing and strips. I need to see for myself if my 12.2 has gone down, fed up with feeling so tired and thirsty, getting no sleep big vicious circle, drink , pee, sleep, waking every 2 hours. have started to change diet, so hopefully will feel better soon.
 
testing

Hi all have seen the nuse and was down to 8.6, but she says dont test at all for 3 months and then go in for a fasting test. unless i feel rubbish again then i can go in earlier, still confused, but 10lbs lighter, so something good out of it all lol
 
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