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Times to do blood sugar
- Thread starter Missy128
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I think it depends on for what purpose you are doing it.
1. to keep track day to day, week to week etc. then many take a morning/fasting reading. This will indicate if the lifestyle changes you have made are working and if any medication is helping.
2. to find the effect of meals/food on blood glucose then you take a reading before you eat and after 2 hours. So you can react and modify your carbohydrate intake.
3. If you feel unwell
Of course it may also depend on what medication you are taking.
But what information it is giving you then take opportunity to make good use of it otherwise it is a waste of time and strips.
If your technique for finger pricks is good you should not be getting sore fingers.
1. to keep track day to day, week to week etc. then many take a morning/fasting reading. This will indicate if the lifestyle changes you have made are working and if any medication is helping.
2. to find the effect of meals/food on blood glucose then you take a reading before you eat and after 2 hours. So you can react and modify your carbohydrate intake.
3. If you feel unwell
Of course it may also depend on what medication you are taking.
But what information it is giving you then take opportunity to make good use of it otherwise it is a waste of time and strips.
If your technique for finger pricks is good you should not be getting sore fingers.
TheClockworkDodo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I often prick my fingers as many as 10 times a day and they aren't sore at all, so if yours are getting sore you may need to adjust how you're pricking them. It will hurt a lot if your prick the pads, but if you prick the sides it shouldn't hurt (so long as you don't go right up against the nail, that will hurt a lot!). Also your lancing device may have different settings so you may be able to turn it down a bit so that it doesn't prick so deeply.
Barrowman
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hmm, interesting, I don't prick my pads but I still get sore fingers, in fact, I have a job to get enough blood to work the test strip more often than not - three times this evening for one decent-sized drop.
I do mine three times a day, wake-up, pre-dinner and bedtime.
I do mine three times a day, wake-up, pre-dinner and bedtime.
Hi Missy128, welcome to the forum.
As you can see if differs slightly from person to person but generally testing is done upon waking and 2/3 hours after each main meal. We've got some general info about testing on our main site which may be helpful https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.
As you can see if differs slightly from person to person but generally testing is done upon waking and 2/3 hours after each main meal. We've got some general info about testing on our main site which may be helpful https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.
TheClockworkDodo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Maybe warming your fingers first would help @Barrowman ? - I find it difficult to get enough blood out if my fingers are cold. Or, are you squeezing your finger in an effort to get the blood out? - that will hurt, so better to turn the lancing device up a bit than to squeeze. Other than that, I can't think of anything but worth asking other type 1s (and insulin-dependant type 2s) if anyone else can as we'll all do a lot more finger-pricking than most type 2s will need to.
Barrowman
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Thank you @TheClockworkDodo I will try holding my hands under the hot tap tonight before doing my last finger prick of the day and see if that helps.
I was told 4x per day too (just before breakfast/lunch/dinner/bed)
however as you can see from the replies everyone is different. i started by sticking to the 4x per day but slowly added a couple of extra tests in 2hrs after some meals to see what that meal has done to me which is really helpful because i've adjusted the size of the portion of something based on those readings.
i always test before breakfast but now dont bother testing 2hr after breakfast because i eat the same thing and will have lunch within a couple of hours anyway.
however as you can see from the replies everyone is different. i started by sticking to the 4x per day but slowly added a couple of extra tests in 2hrs after some meals to see what that meal has done to me which is really helpful because i've adjusted the size of the portion of something based on those readings.
i always test before breakfast but now dont bother testing 2hr after breakfast because i eat the same thing and will have lunch within a couple of hours anyway.
If you are getting sore fingers, I recommend reviewing your technique,
The key things for me are
- making sure my fingers are warm so the blood flows easily
- adjust the depth of the lancet so it does not prick very deep
- rotate your fingers. I use all fingers on both hands. If you are pricking four times a day, that could be alternating the hand you use each day and then use each finger by turn throughout the day. Some say to avoid the pointing finger but this has never been an issue for me.
The key things for me are
- making sure my fingers are warm so the blood flows easily
- adjust the depth of the lancet so it does not prick very deep
- rotate your fingers. I use all fingers on both hands. If you are pricking four times a day, that could be alternating the hand you use each day and then use each finger by turn throughout the day. Some say to avoid the pointing finger but this has never been an issue for me.
gll
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I've to do 4 a day (instructed by my DSN) and it was the same for me, pre meals (all 3) and pre bed.
Timing for you will depend on who has told you to test and for what purpose. If it is to let HCP see how you are getting on and / or sorting insulin then the pre meals and pre bed seem fairly standard.
As many have said, rotate fingers, make sure the lancette depth isn't too deep (basically go as shallow as you can yet still get a good sample).
I feel so smug if I do a stab either with insulin pen or finger prick and feel nothing 😉
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