A rant about numbers, testing

[BillB]

Hey everybody,

This is rant-y, so if you don't like rants, just skip...

I read a lot of posts here (and other boards) where people are upset with the number they got from their reading "because they waited too late to test" in the morning, mostly, I guess.

The reading doesn't affect your blood glucose; it's the same at 8am no matter whether you test at that moment or not. Testing a little later and getting a higher result only means that you, well, tested later and got a higher result. I mean, is the goal to see numbers on your meter that satisfy some obsession, or is the goal to actually have healthy blood sugar levels?

Similarly, I see people obsessing on their daily readings vs. their A1c. There is no way to "average" those daily readings to accurately predict the A1c result. They are completely different. The daily readings are daily weather reports with cold fronts, thunderstorms, heatwaves and all sorts of minute changes, hour to hour. Surely to goodness (I hope) nobody is waking up to test during the night or multiple times during the night, so that time period is an unknown in every equation. The A1c, on the other hand, is a whole season, a "big picture" version that reflects all those daily readings, and more. My dad has daily BG fluctuations from 80-400 fairly regularly, but still gets an A1c that his (incompetent) doctor finds "fine." On the other hand, I have not seen anything over the 140s on my meter in a couple of months, and my A1c is in the "normal" range, though not exactly where I would ultimately like to see it.

2-3 weeks ago, I saw a trend of my numbers being up consistently 20-30%. A day or two of that didn't worry me too much, but after 10 days, it really started to bother me, and I started (obsessively) trying to figure out what could have provoked the upward trend. Maybe caffeine, maybe laying off the ALA for a few days, maybe stress, maybe increased activity. I tweaked all the things that I thought could be the problem and within 3 days, I was inching back down.

I eat the same VLC things almost all the time. Unless I am eating something different, feel bad, or notice a reading that doesn't make sense, I only test 3-4 times a day. In general, there is almost never a fluctuation of more than 10-15 points, and rarely anything over 130. Why pay for all those expensive strips when the results are generally in the same narrow range. Of course, this is not true for folks who need insulin injections or those who eat carby diets.

End rant.

--bill

[chiody]

Bill,

80 to 400 is a huge range? Why the fluctuations? Any theories on your part? Thanks...just curious...

[BillB]

Hi Chiody,

About my dad...he refuses to use any control with his eating. One day last week, for example, from 8am until 2 pm, he had biscuits and (flour) gravy, milk, orange juice, 3 (yes 3) granola bars (low fat), breaded chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy (KFC) and another biscuit, two enormous slices of chocolate cream cake, and a huge slice of pumpkin roll filled with sick-sweet sugary filling. I have no idea how much insulin he shot that day.

I try to talk with him about his eating and his behavior, but he will not listen. If anyone tries to stop him from having what he wants, he becomes abusive.

<sigh>

It's no mystery, I should have included in my post that his numbers are completely the result of his irresponsible behavior.

--bill

[hpjrt]

Actually Bill, your rant is a good wakeup call.

There are times when I test and can't figure out the cause of a rise. There are other times when I test and I know exactly why there's a rise.

Most of the time, I watch what I eat ... get enough rest ... and my numbers are just where I'd expect them to be. There are times, however, when I find myself panicked because of slight rises ... that really don't add up to much in the long run. Those are the times when I have to remind myself that this isn't a contest ... and I don't win a plush prize for keeping my numbers where they are supposed to be.

I have to remind myself that the reason I'm watching what I eat and exercising and losing the weight is so that I have control of my Type II ... as opposed to it having control of me.

So ... I can understand your frustration with a concentration of the BG readings. I can also understand how we sometimes lose sight of the forest in our zeal to count each tree.

Mary

[BillB]

Mary,

Thanks for your kind response. I am glad my crazy writing could help someone, even a little.

I firmly believe that the testing 10-12 times a day is overkill for people who eat LC or VLC. Of course, injecting insulin is another issue altogether...but...

For me, for example, today: 108 this morning, 118 two hours after lunch. I had some hamburger, iceburg lettuce and a T of caesar dressing for dinner. I think I probably won't test again until bedtime, or maybe even in the morning.

On another diabetes forum, there was a posting from a noo-bie who had had a Starbucks breakfast (egg and bacon on an english muffin, latte with SUGAR IN THE RAW [what a scam]) and was appalled to get a BG spike of 259. Honestly, who are the idiots diagnosing these people but not educating them? It p*sses me off.

Someday soon, I want to try eating one of those coconut Atkins candy bars and monitor what that does to my BG every hour for 3-4 hours. I haven't had anything like that since around June.

--bill

[Marvin]

Hi Bill,
Your rant is helpful. The only other thing that I can add about the "late" early morning testing, is that I find that if I test early, I tend to remind myself to eat something, which stops the morning DP climb I have. If I skip the morning testing, I'm likely to move along an hour or two or more before eating, and by then, my BG has climbed. However, you're right--it isn't necessary to test in order to eat something when I get up.

I appreciate your insights and comments...you're always right on the mark IMO.

[chiody]

Originally Posted by BillB

Hi Chiody,

About my dad...he refuses to use any control with his eating. One day last week, for example, from 8am until 2 pm, he had biscuits and (flour) gravy, milk, orange juice, 3 (yes 3) granola bars (low fat), breaded chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy (KFC) and another biscuit, two enormous slices of chocolate cream cake, and a huge slice of pumpkin roll filled with sick-sweet sugary filling. I have no idea how much insulin he shot that day.

I try to talk with him about his eating and his behavior, but he will not listen. If anyone tries to stop him from having what he wants, he becomes abusive.

<sigh>

It's no mystery, I should have included in my post that his numbers are completely the result of his irresponsible behavior.

--bill

Wow,

That's a frustrating and infuriating dilemma you face. Sorry to hear of it.... Now I understand how his levels can vary so much. You'd think a "son" in control would be an "example" for him to follow???