Hi , another one , help

[Andy Pratt]

Could you please advise on post prandial testing regarding timings. Some sites say at least 90 mins after a meal , others 2 hours after the meal , is this from the start of the meal and how precise do you need to be. Last night I forgot and tested at 3 hours does this make the reading invalid.

Thanks a lot

 

[Bubbsie]

Could you please advise on post prandial testing regarding timings. Some sites say at least 90 mins after a meal , others 2 hours after the meal , is this from the start of the meal and how precise do you need to be. Last night I forgot and tested at 3 hours does this make the reading invalid.

Thanks a lot

The usual time slot Andy is two hours post eating to show what effect the food had had on your BG levels...but you have to allow for us as individuals...usually after an hour if you test that will show how high your levels have risen...the optimum peak...then roughly another hour after that will show how your body has dealt with that rise...how far it has reduced it...a little bit of experimenting should show you what your best time to test is...try after 90 minutes...then after two hours...compare the difference...there may be none...that will give you some idea of what your best time frame is...since we will all vary slightly...good luck.

 

[Northerner]

Could you please advise on post prandial testing regarding timings. Some sites say at least 90 mins after a meal , others 2 hours after the meal , is this from the start of the meal and how precise do you need to be. Last night I forgot and tested at 3 hours does this make the reading invalid.

Thanks a lot

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum 🙂 What you are trying to discover when testing before and after meals is when, and how large, any increase in levels is after eating a particular meal. Have a read of the excellent Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S which explains how to do it efficiently and effectively 🙂 It does take time to build up the experience and information, so you may need to test the same meal more than once. Record everything in a diary and you will begin to spot the patterns 🙂

 

[CathyB]

Hi Andy and welcome 🙂 Northener and Bubbsie have covered it so I just wanted to say hello

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Hi Andy and welcome 🙂

There's another thread along similar lines here - https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/when-do-you-think-is-2-hours-after-a-meal.70951/ - ignore the bits about injecting insulin, the question about timing is relevant to everyone with diabetes.

 

[Drummer]

Usually testing just before the first bite and then two hours later gives a good indication of the effect of the meal on BG.
Consistency is the thing, though - if you can eat the same or very similar meal three times and get a two number of less rise then you are probably completely OK with that amount of those carbs and you can add another meal to the OK pile to chose from as you please.
If you completely miss the time it is probably better not to bother and try again another day.

 

[Martin Canty]

Usually testing just before the first bite and then two hours later gives a good indication of the effect of the meal on BG.
Consistency is the thing, though - if you can eat the same or very similar meal three times and get a two number of less rise then you are probably completely OK with that amount of those carbs and you can add another meal to the OK pile to chose from as you please.
If you completely miss the time it is probably better not to bother and try again another day.

Great advice but remember to retest the meal every so often.... For most of us our tolerances change over time so 12 months from now we may not tolerate, say, oatmeal for breakfast (or VIce Versa). Also,our insulin resistance changes throughout the day so what is marginal for Breakfast may be OK for dinner.

 

[grovesy]

Great advice but remember to retest the meal every so often.... For most of us our tolerances change over time so 12 months from now we may not tolerate, say, oatmeal for breakfast (or VIce Versa). Also,our insulin resistance changes throughout the day so what is marginal for Breakfast may be OK for dinner.

I have found this many times, over the years.

 

[CathyB]

Great advice but remember to retest the meal every so often.... For most of us our tolerances change over time so 12 months from now we may not tolerate, say, oatmeal for breakfast (or VIce Versa). Also,our insulin resistance changes throughout the day so what is marginal for Breakfast may be OK for dinner.

Great information Martin, I had no idea about this....again a positive argument why testing is so important!

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

It's worth testing in different weather conditions too, a lot of people find hot or cold weather has an effect on their blood sugar.