How many times would you check.

[emmgeo]

Since I have been taken off insulin and put on Metformin tablets, I was told I don't need to check my BG levels anymore by my doctor, she also removed strips from my prescription.
So my question is would you still check your levels anyway and how many times a day would you check and best time of the day to do so.
At the moment I am self funding my strips as I don't want to slide down a slippery slope thinking my BG are ok but they are not.
I am checking at the moment first thing in the morning before evening tea and two hours after, then last thing at night before I go to bed.
I know this is probably to much testing as I am not on insulin.

 

[Ljc]

Well done for being able to come off insulin, you must have worked hard. It a shock when your told not to test and strips are withdrawn, isn’t it
As your not on meds that normally cause hypo’s , unless you have symptoms I wouldn’t test before bed .
I would test on waking, then test what you feel is right for you and when your trying out anything new

Many self funder use the SD Codefree meter as it’s strips are around £8 for 50 , it’s a no frills meter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-Glucose-Monitor-Monitoring-Testing/dp/B0068JAJFS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1506485682&sr=1-1&keywords=sd+codefree+meter+mmol/l&linkCode=sl1&tag=xfm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003&th=1

 

[Davein]

I came off insulin several months ago and have continued to test but certainly not as regular as when on insulin. I requested that strips were kept on my prescription but cut them down to one pot (50) per month. I obviously do not now need to test prior and during driving so that saves quite a few strips.
Originally, after stopping insulin. I tested on average 3 times a day but as time went by I now test a couple of times a week just to keep an eye on the BG levels being reasonable. My HbA1c did rise by a couple of points in the period after insulin and I'm about to book in my next 3 monthly blood test.
If like me you keep your diet consistent, you should get more confident about less testing. Good luck and well done. It takes a lot of hard work to achieve such a positive step.

 

[Drummer]

You are still testing as though you were on insulin, I think - as I needed to know how what I ate affected my levels I tested at the two hour mark, to assess my meals.
Once I was consistently under 8 after a meal I was confident I had it cracked and stopped testing, just ate the same way. As my last meals were more varied than my first I was testing after dinner from time to time, but now that I regularly see under 7 - the 7.1 I got last was due to finishing off a punnet of strawberries rather than have to throw them out next day.

 

[emmgeo]

You are still testing as though you were on insulin, I think - as I needed to know how what I ate affected my levels I tested at the two hour mark, to assess my meals.
Once I was consistently under 8 after a meal I was confident I had it cracked and stopped testing, just ate the same way. As my last meals were more varied than my first I was testing after dinner from time to time, but now that I regularly see under 7 - the 7.1 I got last was due to finishing off a punnet of strawberries rather than have to throw them out next day.

Yes almost still testing like I was when I was on insulin, I know I am testing to much a bit paranoid I guess, but also still fairly new to all this Diabetes and its been a bit of a roller coaster ride for me one way or another.
From first thing in the morning to last thing at night, I am normally between 5 and 7 so maybe I should just test first thing and then 2 hours after my evening meal.

 

[ajax]

Imagining myself in your place ..I would continue with the same habit of ✻testing✻ ..as I'd otherwise only be whittling about my blood sugar levels drifting out of the ✻normal range✻

If my next HbA1c had parity with the previous ..I'd do a deal with myself to then stick the glucometer in a drawer.

In parallel with all of this ..I'd be applying all the advice proffered in the Metformin ✻Patient Information Leaflet✻

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good luck with adapting to your new non-insulin regime @emmgeo

Many members here have an intensive period of before-and-after pairs of BG checks around meals until they have developed an understanding of how different foods suit their metabolism - and can then drop back to much more occasional checks just to make sure things aren’t drifting or changing.

I guess the important thing with BG checks is that each one has value and leads to action or better understanding of how your diabetes is doing.

 

[emmgeo]

Good luck with adapting to your new non-insulin regime @emmgeo

Many members here have an intensive period of before-and-after pairs of BG checks around meals until they have developed an understanding of how different foods suit their metabolism - and can then drop back to much more occasional checks just to make sure things aren’t drifting or changing.

I guess the important thing with BG checks is that each one has value and leads to action or better understanding of how your diabetes is doing.

I was taken off insulin about 3 months ago, I think I was only on it as I was in hospital with Pancreatitis for 13 days and 8 days in a high dependency unit with other related complications, the doctors couldn't decide what type diabetic I was, they still are not sure but I should know in two weeks time as I have had some more blood test last Friday, ready for when I see the diabetic specialist doctor with the results. At first told I was type 1, then told I am either type 2 or type 3c, so this is why in my original post I said its been bit of a roller coaster ride for me.