Ok, how obsessive do I have to be about my bloodsugar?

kamaperry

I get frustrated, 'cause it seems like alot of what I read, leaves me with the feeling I can't ever relax about my blood sugar testing. My dr has put me on my meds and has me checking only twice a day. With the price of strips, don't really want to test more often. I kinda like to just do it, and forget about it till next time. With the exception of yesterday, I'm careful with what I eat, and my nutritionist toldme a good rule to follow with carbs is 45 per each meal, and 15 for 2 snacks. Plus, since I workout, my goal for calories is no more than 2000 a day. I am hearing much lower for you all, and well, maybe I am not worried about as much as Ishould be, but thinking about it causes too much stress. I know stress isn't good either. I'm just trying to lose weight and follow dr's orders for now. Anymore than that overwhelms me.

cwrig

This is my personal experience/thinking...

The first month or two after my diagnosis I tested first thing in the morning and before and after most meals. My team instructed me to do so to learn how all the foods I eat affect BG levels.

So, During this time I learned a LOT about food, carbs, and how it affect My BG. My goal is not to spike above 140 after a meal and to be < 100 fasting. After two months of this I was able to predict very closely what my BG would be after each meal. Now I test 2 times as day unless I am eating or trying something new; OR if my BG in the morning is not what I expect.

So, My suggestion is test before and after meals until you are confident you know how food affects you before cutting back to 1-2 time/day testing.

I eat a few less carbs than your budget, but Nobody can tell you the exact # of carbs for you. But; "eating to your meter" as described above is a very good way to learn how many carbs you can and can't eat.

The fact that you are seeking so much info and testing is great. Nobody can take care of you, but you.

AwesomeGuy37

I focused on getting my diabetes under control before I lost a single pound.

GlucernaBrand

You've received excellent suggestions! Each person has to figure out what works best for you in terms of food choices, calorie intake, exercise; and talk with your doctor about medications and frequency of testing. There's no one 'right' way to go about this, and being flexible and willing to make changes is always helpful. I think you're doing great so far! ~Lynn /Glucerna

kamaperry

Thanks all. I will talk to my dr this week about testing more. then he can prescribe a greater quantity of strips, too. I do want to test it at bedtime.

Lizzym911

Test strips can get expensive, but I started insulin and I find I need to test more often but I'm only allowed 100 per month by the insurance company, I've been having to buy some off my brother or friends to get me through the month. You can ask your dr and hopefully they'll allow you more. It's hard getting your BG under control when you can't test as much as you need to.

earlnabby

Right now my doctor is having me test in the morning and before lunch and dinner, no after meal testing. Still, that is 3X a day! I see her later this month so we will see if that changes. My average for all readings from March 1 until now is 108.

kamaperry

Thanks for all the suggestions!

amberj32

I'm testing 6 times a day. I'm new to diabetes and want to see how the food I'm eating is affecting my blood sugar. I can't afford the strips from the meter my doctor gave me. It was the FreeStyle Freedom Lite. Strips were $39.99 for 50 with my insurance and with a manufacture discount card. I bought a Relion meter from Walmart for $16.24 and 50 strips for $9.00. They are working for me.

Alsvic

I also purchased a Reli-on meter from Walmart I use it during the day at work and save the more expensive test strips for the twice a day testing. With the less expensive test strips I may test as often as six or eight times a day, it has been quite an education to see how my blood sugar will spike 15-30-60- and 120 minutes after a meal.

another interesting thing to watch the effect exercise has on you BG levels during and then 15-30-60 minutes afterwards.

kamaperry

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

earlnabby

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

I am doing just what my doctor recommends (3x a day) unless I am feeling funky, then I test to see if I am low and need a snack or glucose tablet. Everyone is different so do what your doctor recommends at the minimum and any extras you feel like doing will add to your knowledge base.

kamaperry

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

I am doing just what my doctor recommends (3x a day) unless I am feeling funky, then I test to see if I am low and need a snack or glucose tablet. Everyone is different so do what your doctor recommends at the minimum and any extras you feel like doing will add to your knowledge base.

Thank you!!!!! This seems so common sense!! I was in another group and it seemed like that was all they did!!

MysteriousMerlin

I get frustrated, 'cause it seems like alot of what I read, leaves me with the feeling I can't ever relax about my blood sugar testing. My dr has put me on my meds and has me checking only twice a day. With the price of strips, don't really want to test more often. I kinda like to just do it, and forget about it till next time. With the exception of yesterday, I'm careful with what I eat, and my nutritionist toldme a good rule to follow with carbs is 45 per each meal, and 15 for 2 snacks. Plus, since I workout, my goal for calories is no more than 2000 a day. I am hearing much lower for you all, and well, maybe I am not worried about as much as Ishould be, but thinking about it causes too much stress. I know stress isn't good either. I'm just trying to lose weight and follow dr's orders for now. Anymore than that overwhelms me.

Depends. How well is your blood sugar controlled with medication? Do you exercise regularly? Do you tend to eat the same type of things regularly? Do you have several days where you over-indulge? Do you have a lot of stress in your life?

Many factors play in. I'd say, if you eat fairly healthy, watch the carbs closely, and exercise regularly, and your daily blood sugars and your A1C are where they should be, then you likely don't have to watch it as closely. however, if you're all over the place with your daily readings, then you're going to want to keep a closer eye on it.

I had to try several things in order to get my strips cheaper. I was paying nearly 1$ a strip when I first started, but I was getting my prescription filled at walmart. For whatever reason, the insurance wasn't paying for them like they should have. I started getting them at my hospital's pharmacy, and suddenly I can get 300 strips for around $50. Ask your doctor about it, if your strips around around 1$ a piece,

Alsvic

I was recently diagnosed so I wanted to test as much as possible. I currently test only a few times a day. But I have a fairly good idea what my levels are during the day. For example I know that if I workout in the aftternoon I can eat a submarine sandwich with my wife and my sugar levels should stay below 130.

For example tonight I ate a bowl of clam chowder my BG was 108 ninety minutes later. By testing a lot I was able to figure out what causes my larger spikes and I have adjusted accordingly.

AwesomeGuy37

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

Are you under the impression that testing your diabetes is treating it?

kikityme

So I'm in a slightly different situation as I'm Canadian, and this stuff isn't quite so bad price wise. But, I know if I'm short on cash I'll just tell my doctor and he always has loads in the back, I haven't done it with strips, but he always gives me at least a couple boxes of Janumet. The doctor gets them free from drug company reps.

Just something you might bring up with him. Maybe if he knows you're not testing enough because of the cost?

kamaperry

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

Are you under the impression that testing your diabetes is treating it?

Yes.

kamaperry

So I'm in a slightly different situation as I'm Canadian, and this stuff isn't quite so bad price wise. But, I know if I'm short on cash I'll just tell my doctor and he always has loads in the back, I haven't done it with strips, but he always gives me at least a couple boxes of Janumet. The doctor gets them free from drug company reps.

Just something you might bring up with him. Maybe if he knows you're not testing enough because of the cost?

Not thcost so much, although it could be a factor. No, I'm not testing more than twice a day, simply becuase I have a needle phobia, which mkes it very unpleasant for me.

AwesomeGuy37

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

Are you under the impression that testing your diabetes is treating it?

Yes.

The testing does absolutely nothing to treat your diabetes. It just gives you a record of your blood sugar spikes. Treatment would require changes in diet. ..like lowering carbohydrate-rich foods.
The simplest way to think about it is
carb = blood sugar rise.
Blood sugar levels over 140 are unhealthy. Shoot for 100 or less fasting and 140 or less after meals(1 hour- 2 hours). Diabetes is a very serious disease if not under control.

kamaperry

You really have to test this much? Isn't it ok to do what your dr recommends? Why do I have to stick myself this much? Seems I would be thinking about it all the time, and I don't want to do that. Am I wrong? Please help.

Are you under the impression that testing your diabetes is treating it?

Yes.

The testing does absolutely nothing to treat your diabetes. It just gives you a record of your blood sugar spikes. Treatment would require changes in diet. ..like lowering carbohydrate-rich foods.
The simplest way to think about it is
carb = blood sugar rise.
Blood sugar levels over 140 are unhealthy. Shoot for 100 or less fasting and 140 or less after meals(1 hour- 2 hours). Diabetes is a very serious disease if not under control.

Working on lowering carbs, and my dr just increased my glimiperide dose.