Diabetics - how do you test?

Babette Robinson · 06-22-2012, 07:45 PM

I have always been told to test 2 hours from the first bite of food - so, if I started my meal at 7pm I would then test at 9pm. Now I'm reading/hearing that people are testing 2 hours AFTER their meal - so if they are done with their meal at 7:30 they would test at 9:30.

I'm just wondering what other diabetics are doing, or what they were told. Thanks!!

biznme · 06-22-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babette Robinson

I have always been told to test 2 hours from the first bite of food - so, if I started my meal at 7pm I would then test at 9pm. Now I'm reading/hearing that people are testing 2 hours AFTER their meal - so if they are done with their meal at 7:30 they would test at 9:30.

I'm just wondering what other diabetics are doing, or what they were told. Thanks!!

I've heard to test 2 hours from the start of your meal. I'm never that exact though. Half the time, I'm at work and I forget! LOL But I try to test around 2 hours from when I ate.

Babette Robinson · 06-22-2012, 08:38 PM

*phew* Good to hear someone was told the same thing! lol Thanks for answering!!

JuneCC · 06-23-2012, 04:46 AM

It doesn't really matter if you time it from the beginning or the end of the meal as long as you're consistent. Some people who eat slowly like to time it from the end but I personally time from the beginning because your insulin response begins as soon as you put food in your mouth, and start chewing and swallowing. I believe the reason they tell you to test at 2 hours is their belief that as long as your sugars are back to normal by 2 hours after a meal you're managing your diabetes okay but it's not that simple. Also, it's really important to find out when your personal peak is after a meal. Otherwise you can miss how high you're really going. Mine is at 1 hour so I no longer test at 2 hours as I know I'll be back to normal by then unless my peak goes really, really high for some reason. It's kind of a pain to find your peak at first but once you know, your testing will be more accurate. To find out, eat a normal meal, then started testing every 15 minutes for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Do this at a few meals to get a true picture of what's happening with your sugars after you eat. We have two insulin releases, phase 1, which is immediate, and phase 2, which takes a bit longer. Some of us have trouble with one of these or the other and some have trouble with both. I suspect not knowing this, and only testing at 2 hours, is why some new diabetics have trouble getting their a1c's down at first, because they're not even aware of how high their post-meal numbers are actually going. Anyway, that's my 2cents.

(Dr. Bernstein explains this much better, of course!)

Vilya · 06-23-2012, 08:22 AM

I generally time my testing from when I start my meal.

Agree with JuneCC about testing earlier than 2 hours, though. I personally peak between 1 hour - 1.5 hours after eating, so that is when I test. Unless I went off-plan and ate something carbier than usual, I know by now that I will be back to fasting levels at the 2-hour mark.

If you eat something with a lot of fat AND carbs, your peak can be delayed by several hours, so in that case I would test every hour up to 4-5 hours after eating. As an example, this happens to me when I eat popcorn that is dripping in butter.

I will see elevated BG for much longer than after a normal, LC meal. That is why I limit my popcorn to once a month only!

dsalazar4 · 06-27-2012, 05:56 PM

Today is day 3 for me. My BG has been all over the place. From 215 fasting to 109 in the late afternoon. It is driving me bonkers. For instance last night for dinner I had chicken salad. Before bed I had a cup of tea with splenda and half and half. Fasting was 189. Got to work and had same cup of tea with sausage and eggs and it shot up to 240.

Kaimi2008 · 06-28-2012, 03:48 AM

I no longer have GD but when I did have it; I was told to test 2 hours AFTER my last bite!

ms_sparky · 07-08-2012, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsalazar4

Today is day 3 for me. My BG has been all over the place. From 215 fasting to 109 in the late afternoon. It is driving me bonkers. For instance last night for dinner I had chicken salad. Before bed I had a cup of tea with splenda and half and half. Fasting was 189. Got to work and had same cup of tea with sausage and eggs and it shot up to 240.

How is your BS now? Did you talk to your doctor about your high numbers? He/she might need to adjust your meds.

dsalazar4 · 07-09-2012, 12:20 PM

I have an appointment in Sept. It has always been high but that was when I was eating all those carbs. Today is day 15 for me and this morning it was the lowest it has ever been. 143. Still not where it should be but at least the rest of the day they are pretty good, for me anyway. I just don't want to do insulin. So I am trying to work on it on my own.

ms_sparky · 07-09-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsalazar4

I have an appointment in Sept. It has always been high but that was when I was eating all those carbs. Today is day 15 for me and this morning it was the lowest it has ever been. 143. Still not where it should be but at least the rest of the day they are pretty good, for me anyway. I just don't want to do insulin. So I am trying to work on it on my own.

143 is better though! In my case, it took a little while (a few weeks) for my body to start realizing that I was going to be taking in less carbs. It really is an adjustment, so hopefully your numbers will continue to go down. The fact that you're monitoring your blood sugar and taking control is awesome! Keep up the good work!

dsalazar4 · 07-09-2012, 03:37 PM

Thanks ms sparky.

I really don't want to be blind and lose a limb like my Dad.

06-22-2012, 07:45 PM	#1
Babette Robinson Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 111 Gallery: Babette Robinson Stats: 311/250/180 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 04-16-12	Diabetics - how do you test? I have always been told to test 2 hours from the first bite of food - so, if I started my meal at 7pm I would then test at 9pm. Now I'm reading/hearing that people are testing 2 hours AFTER their meal - so if they are done with their meal at 7:30 they would test at 9:30. I'm just wondering what other diabetics are doing, or what they were told. Thanks!!

06-23-2012, 08:22 AM	#5
Vilya Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,693 Gallery: Vilya Stats: 285/184/170 WOE: LC/HF for T2 diabetes Start Date: Sept. 2011	I generally time my testing from when I start my meal. Agree with JuneCC about testing earlier than 2 hours, though. I personally peak between 1 hour - 1.5 hours after eating, so that is when I test. Unless I went off-plan and ate something carbier than usual, I know by now that I will be back to fasting levels at the 2-hour mark. If you eat something with a lot of fat AND carbs, your peak can be delayed by several hours, so in that case I would test every hour up to 4-5 hours after eating. As an example, this happens to me when I eat popcorn that is dripping in butter. I will see elevated BG for much longer than after a normal, LC meal. That is why I limit my popcorn to once a month only! __________________ Vilya - dog trainer and uber-geek. Reached the beautiful town of ONEDERLAND on 7/1/2012! Next goal: 185, to hit that Century Club mark. - ACHIEVED!! 11/4/2012

06-27-2012, 05:56 PM	#6
dsalazar4 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Mexico Posts: 329 Gallery: dsalazar4 Stats: 246.8 WOE: low carb Start Date: 6/25/2012	BG all over the place Today is day 3 for me. My BG has been all over the place. From 215 fasting to 109 in the late afternoon. It is driving me bonkers. For instance last night for dinner I had chicken salad. Before bed I had a cup of tea with splenda and half and half. Fasting was 189. Got to work and had same cup of tea with sausage and eggs and it shot up to 240.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-22-2012, 08:38 PM	#3
Babette Robinson Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 111 Gallery: Babette Robinson Stats: 311/250/180 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 04-16-12	phew Good to hear someone was told the same thing! lol Thanks for answering!!

06-23-2012, 04:46 AM	#4
JuneCC Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: The Beach! (Locals don't call it the Shore) Posts: 130 Gallery: JuneCC Stats: 223/147/124, 5' 3.5" WOE: Dr. Bernstein; Last A1C=5.5 Start Date: Dx 12/2010 w/A1C=13.3 & FBG=303	It doesn't really matter if you time it from the beginning or the end of the meal as long as you're consistent. Some people who eat slowly like to time it from the end but I personally time from the beginning because your insulin response begins as soon as you put food in your mouth, and start chewing and swallowing. I believe the reason they tell you to test at 2 hours is their belief that as long as your sugars are back to normal by 2 hours after a meal you're managing your diabetes okay but it's not that simple. Also, it's really important to find out when your personal peak is after a meal. Otherwise you can miss how high you're really going. Mine is at 1 hour so I no longer test at 2 hours as I know I'll be back to normal by then unless my peak goes really, really high for some reason. It's kind of a pain to find your peak at first but once you know, your testing will be more accurate. To find out, eat a normal meal, then started testing every 15 minutes for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Do this at a few meals to get a true picture of what's happening with your sugars after you eat. We have two insulin releases, phase 1, which is immediate, and phase 2, which takes a bit longer. Some of us have trouble with one of these or the other and some have trouble with both. I suspect not knowing this, and only testing at 2 hours, is why some new diabetics have trouble getting their a1c's down at first, because they're not even aware of how high their post-meal numbers are actually going. Anyway, that's my 2cents. (Dr. Bernstein explains this much better, of course!)

06-28-2012, 03:48 AM	#7
Kaimi2008 Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 11,713 Gallery: Kaimi2008 Stats: 197.2/181.0/155 (for now) 5'6" WOE: Jenny Craig At-Home Start Date: November 2, 2012	I no longer have GD but when I did have it; I was told to test 2 hours AFTER my last bite!

07-09-2012, 12:20 PM	#9
dsalazar4 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Mexico Posts: 329 Gallery: dsalazar4 Stats: 246.8 WOE: low carb Start Date: 6/25/2012	I have an appointment in Sept. It has always been high but that was when I was eating all those carbs. Today is day 15 for me and this morning it was the lowest it has ever been. 143. Still not where it should be but at least the rest of the day they are pretty good, for me anyway. I just don't want to do insulin. So I am trying to work on it on my own.

07-09-2012, 03:37 PM	#11
dsalazar4 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Mexico Posts: 329 Gallery: dsalazar4 Stats: 246.8 WOE: low carb Start Date: 6/25/2012	Thanks ms sparky. I really don't want to be blind and lose a limb like my Dad.