Should I test?

[Newtothis]

As I've just been diagnosed; not prescribed any medication just recommended to continue weight loss and physical exercise. Had 1st HbA1c blood test yesterday - is it worth me testing? The nurse who took my bloods said no but I'm wondering if this is good advise.

If I should be testing which is the best tester to buy?

🙂 Amanda

 

[Northerner]

I would say, yes, it is worth testing because it will give you the information you need in order to make good food choices - not just now, but for the forseeable future. Although we are all advised to 'eat healthily', this can have a slightly different slant when you have diabetes. Fruit is perceived as healthy, and indeed it is, but if you were to eat for example a dozen grapes, you might test and discover that your blood sugar has shot up because the sugar in the grapes acts so quickly (it has what is known as a high Glycaemic Index, or GI). Strawberries, on the other hand, may have only a small effect on your levels. Because we all have different tolerances, the only way to discover what works best for you as an individual is to test your blood, preferably one and two hours after eating (and before eating so you can calculate the rise). As time goes on and you establish what you can safely eat and in what quantities, you will have less need for testing - only for spot checks and when trying something new. This way, you retain greater flexibility in your diet, you can happily enjoy those foods that you can tolerate well and it makes for a much easier life in managing your diabetes 🙂

I hope I've convinced you! Don't buy a meter* - you can get a free one by looking in the Useful links thread. You should also read Maggie Davey's letter to newly diagnosed Type 2s and Jennifer's good advice for guidance and reasons to test 🙂

* meters are all pretty much the same so don't spend money on them!

 

[Andy HB]

I'd say that it depends on the following ...

1) Whether you know how different foods affect you (ideally which ones to avoid).

2) Whether your levels are predictable (if they're not, then you need evidence to put in front of the GP, DSN or consultant).

3) Whether you are feeling unwell or not (if you're hypo or hyper it's useful to know).

Not testing means that you're reliant on the HbA1c which is great if your levels are nicely stable. If your levels are all over the place then it won't necessarily pick that up.

Andy 🙂

p.s. Oh and which meter is the best? Who knows! But I love my old Bayer Contour. 😉

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Yes.

If you don't know what happens when you eat different foods (and everyone is different) then you can't possibly know which ones to avoid. Cutting out sugary foods is only part of the equation. Any carbs you eat might be causing your body high levels.

If your HbA1c comes back too high that will only tell you that you need to change something - but it won't give you any detail.

If you begin testing and find levels are higher than you'd like try not to get disheartened. Look at the differences before and after meals. If you try to reduce those, then as your levels generally fall (which they more than likely will) then you will begin to come back more 'into range'.

It will also give you confidence to throw the rulebook out and give yourself a treat every now and then. Knowing what happens when you eat what you think of as the 'wrong things' will allow you to judge how often you'll let your hair down 🙂

 

[Newtothis]

I'd say that it depends on the following ...

1) Whether you know how different foods affect you (ideally which ones to avoid).

2) Whether your levels are predictable (if they're not, then you need evidence to put in front of the GP, DSN or consultant).

3) Whether you are feeling unwell or not (if you're hypo or hyper it's useful to know).

Not testing means that you're reliant on the HbA1c which is great if your levels are nicely stable. If your levels are all over the place then it won't necessarily pick that up.

Andy 🙂

p.s. Oh and which meter is the best? Who knows! But I love my old Bayer Contour. 😉

Hi Andy,

I've only been diagnosed 2 weeks with a fasting of 7.4 and a random of 11.4. I've cut out all saturated fats (diagnosed with fatty liver in July); sugars; eat limited bread and potatoes. Fruit is also limited. As I have no symptoms its hard to know what food is good or bad for me. I'm not sure about hyper or hypo because I don't feel unwell - just anxious all the time (my own fault for reading too much internet and scaring myself).

I had by HbA1c blood test yesterday - don't know when I'll get the result but had appointmen with Diabetic Nurse on the 9th.

My diet is quite limited; I eat a lot of fish; salad's; if I do eat wholemeal it's normal pitta bread and the odd jacket potato. Nurse who took my bloods yesterday gave me a healthy eating plan booklet. I know I've got to get a healthy plan together but I'm also trying to lose weight (have gone from 13stone to 11.10 since July 1) and try and walk 10,000 steps a day (hence, have burning feet and hoping its nothing sinister - chriopodist told me to stop worrying).

The meter sounds a good idea - nurse against it but as I haven't had my HbA1c result yet just going to continue with the weight loss; exercise and trying (very very hard) to stop worrying...... Amanda

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The meter sounds a good idea - nurse against it but as I haven't had my HbA1c result yet just going to continue with the weight loss; exercise and trying (very very hard) to stop worrying...... Amanda

There was some research which some GPs quickly leapt on (because prescribing test strips is expensive) that suggested that T2s who tested just upset themselves and got depressed by reading numbers out of range all the time.

There is something in this I suppose, but from the sounds of things you have already made significant diet changes in the *hope* that you are doing the right thing, but have no way of knowing whether they are working.


Your nurse will be toeing the party line: T2s don't need to test it will upset them. Bonkers! You are stressed and upset because you CAN'T test!

With a meter you could experiment with different foods and may find that some things you have thought are 'out of bounds' are actually fine. Other things you though were 'safe' should be avoided, or eaten in smaller quantities and only in the evening.

But without a meter how can you know?

 

[gail2]

dont pay for a meter most of the sites you can get them free there are links on here. if the worst comes to the worst and u have to buy the strips try ebay i know some people on here who have had the same issue do this

 

[chrismbee]

Haven't posted this for a while, but it is as pertinent as ever:

When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind'.
William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) 1824 - 1907

 

[Newtothis]

I've taken on board all your comments and have ordered a free tester - which will hopefully arrive in 28 days. During this time I have my 1st appointment with the diabetic nurse - so will discuss this with her. Will hopefully learn what my first HbA1c blood test during this appointment.

Until then will continue with healthy eating and weight loss. Won't read any other internet sites and will put my trust in my GP. 🙂 Amanda

 

[Andy HB]

I've taken on board all your comments and have ordered a free tester - which will hopefully arrive in 28 days. During this time I have my 1st appointment with the diabetic nurse - so will discuss this with her. Will hopefully learn what my first HbA1c blood test during this appointment.

Until then will continue with healthy eating and weight loss. Won't read any other internet sites and will put my trust in my GP. 🙂 Amanda

Fingers crossed that you get your levels on the level quickly. That way you'll be able to relax and test infrequently (or as frequently as you feel the need!).

Losing that weight should help (I hope!).

Andy 🙂