How often should I test my BG when I?m in reasonably good control?

[Mark T]

I?m not on insulin; therefore I don?t need to be testing 4 ? 8 times per day. We have a regular menu with little variation (mostly due to my wife?s IBS) and therefore my response is mostly predictable. Differing activity levels, stress, illness can upset things ? but that isn?t so often.

I was imagining that it would be useful to do a bedtime and a fasting once per week and then throw in a monthly test where I eat something to get a idea if my post meal response differs (usually one morning with burgen bread toast). So that would be about 10 strips per month. Or should I add a bit more in?

I?ve not so far had any problems with test strips, but it does seem silly to be testing for the sake of it - especially if I?m not going to do anything because the reading is where I expect it to be.

So if you where just background testing to make sure things are staying stable ? how often would you test?

 

[Caroline]

about 5 seems standard. One on getting up then a couple of hours after each meal (i.e breakfast lunch and dinner) and some folks test before going to bed. I think a lot depends on your regime and how tight your control is.

 

[AlisonM]

Since you're stable and you know pretty much what your food reactions are likely to be I think you've got the right plan for you.

 

[Copepod]

Your plan sounds right to me, Mark. No point testing if you can't make use of the information / learn something new. Worth havving some strips in reserve in case of illness etc.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sounds like a pretty good assessment to me. Would be good not to let testing slip entirely, but with at least a weekly data-point you'd spot if things started to change.

M