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Type 2 - How often should I test?

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tomm181

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I have just had the first test of my hba1c since I was diagnosed with type 2 it has gone from 20.9 (YIKES) to 8.6 (Better) but still a lot of work to get to a reasonable level.

I have been told to stop testing before & after each meal and just do the test once each week from now on...is this the NHS saving money or is it the right thing to do? I am still trying to find out what food and food combinations work for me and what doesn't, so it doesn't really make sence...any comments, ideas, experiences? I was only diagnosed about 7 weeks ago!

P.S. - Portion control is soooo difficult!!
 
Going from 20 to 8 in less than 2 months is a MASSIVE achievement. Remember, an A1C is a 3-month average so you still have around 4 weeks of untreated diabetes skewing your average - I would be willing to bet that your next one will be even better!

I think 1 test a week is far too few given you have only just been diagnosed and are still figuring this out. In fact it's too low for anyone but particularly in your case. I am neither a doctor nor have T2 but I think you should be testing at least 2 times a day (morning and night) and then for every strange and unusual food or activity, before and 2 hours after eating it/doing it.

This won't give you a perfect analysis of your control but will ensure you catch any changes before they become major ones, and means you can also expand your diet and activity range.
 
When first diagnosed, I tested before and 2 hours after every meal until I discovered what was ok to eat and what wasn't. This took some many months and I got told off by my nurse for doing so. I got a few strips from my surgery but bought most of may own.

I did the measuring as I felt the advice I got on here, and reading books as well as searching the internet, all indicated the value of measuring.

I,m 10 months into type 2 now, and whilst I still measure each day, I no longer need to do every meal, I can usually predict what is ok to eat and what the readings will be.

Well worth explaining what you want to do with your measuring and ask your GP/Nurse for the strips to do it, you may be lucky.
 
tomm181 said:
I am still trying to find out what food and food combinations work for me and what doesn't, so it doesn't really make sence...any comments, ideas, experiences? I was only diagnosed about 7 weeks ago!

P.S. - Portion control is soooo difficult!!
Click to expand...

I think you've probably answered your own question there. If you want to just keep a general eye on something to see whether it is the same as it usually is, then 1 test a week might allow you to do that (in a very vague way, and depending on how carefully you timed the test).

But it will be 'chocolate fireguard' when it comes to actively managing your diabetes day to day, especially since you do not have years of experience and tests already under your belt. Are you OK to eat a banana? How about porridge? Which is better for your BGs a sandwich or slice of chocolate cake? Without a meter NO ONE can tell for sure.

Almost all of the 'official' naysaying I have ever seen about self-testing written by HCPs fails to recognise it as a method of monitoring and improving dietary and lifestyle changes. As far as those are concerned you should just eat the 'official' diet (disastrous for the vast majority of T2s) and use 3-monthly HbA1c to see if you need more tablets. Anyone who things once a week is enough is not interested in having any kind of usable data.
 
Hi.

If it was me I would test test test to start with around all meals and see what bs you are getting at 2 hours.

Log all tests and what you ate.

You will probably then start to see a pattern.

If I eat A - my bs will be
If I eat B - my bs will be.

My sugars vary from breakfast to lunch to dinner as well so watch out for that.

Once you are pretty confident that you know what your bs are and they are acceptable, you have sorted your diet out and have also sorted out your bs too.

After this you could just then do some random tests on the same meals to check things are still okay.

Sounds like you are doing terrific so far though.

Dont be fooled into thinking your diet has to be too restrictive though and dont think because it says somewhere you shouldn't eat it as a diabetic you shouldn't have it - if you want something, try a little and test.

I cant find the link but someone wrote an article called test, adjust, test which might be worth looking at.

I am not sure why you have been told to test once a week - but have an idea🙄 Have they reduced your presciption by any chance?
 
Thats the one - I knew it was something like what I typed.

Thanks for finding this - I found it a very useful read, so hope it helps.🙂
 
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