Testing is one of the most important tools in gaining control of your BS numbers.
While many medical professionals only advise testing on a much less frequent basis, many of us here have found the following method extremely helpful in gaining personal control of this disease. Knowledge put to use is power!
The test we do for meals is for our own benefit, to see how the food we eat affects your BG. The doctor might tell you different testing times for his/her information, but this is for you.
We usually test 2 ways here: Two (2) hours after the first bite of food or one (1) hour after the last bite of food. I find the one hour after the last bite easier because it takes me different times to eat different meals and it’s easier to remember. You have to decide what works for you. The goal is to find your “peak” rise, the highest number that your BS rises with the meal. The one and two hour ranges are flexible, and you also might want to try experimenting with other timing within the 2-hour range until you find your usual “peak” time.
I don’t know how many test strips your doctor prescribed, but when you first start out you’ll use a lot until you get the hang of it. Try to get as many prescribed as you can. Some doctors will prescribe more, some won’t. Insurance companies might also only allow a certain amount. You don’t need a prescription to buy a meter and strips, and it’s well worth it to buy your own if you can’t get the amount you need to test as you should. Look at this post for information on low-cost varieties: click here
Regarding the numbers, were you given targets? Here are some sources for target goals:
RECOMMENDED BLOOD GLUCOSE GOALS
ADA:……..A1C…..<.7.0…..Fasting….90-130….PP*…….<180
JOSLIN:..A1C……<7.0….Fasting….90-130….PP*…….<160
AACE:……A1C…..<6.5……Fasting……<110……PP*…….<140
NON-D:….A1C..4.0-5.7…Fasting….70-99……PP**.70-120…**Non-diabetic
*ADA: “Post-prandial glucose measurements should be made 1–2 hours after the beginning of the meal, generally peak levels in patients with diabetes.”
ADA = American Diabetes Assn. Joslin = Joslin Diabetes Center AACE= American Association Of Clinical Endocrinologists
**Non-diabetic= ranges compiled from goals of all agencies.
Unless you test both before and after it’s hard to really know how much your BS rose from the food. For instance, if you started out at 120 and after the meal were 150, that may be out of your target range, but it’s only a 30 point rise, which is good.
Most of us strive for no more than a 40-point rise. If the number is too high, reducing the amount of carbohydrates in the meal will help to lower it.
Don’t get frustrated if you don’t meet those goals right away. This is a long-term lifestyle change, not a short-term “diet”. It’s also a good idea when you first start out to keep a diary of what food you ate, the carb counts, the activity levels (exercise)
before and/or after the meal, and the numbers. This will help you figure things out too.
Testing on a Budget:
If testing so often is too costly, you could try focusing on one meal at a time. For instance do a fasting test, then after breakfast for a few days. Then do a fasting, and before and after lunch for a while, then dinner. It might take longer to see the trends, but you’ll still get the information.
Hang in there, you won’t always have to test this much after you become familiar with how your body reacts to different foods.
Lizzy
© EMO 3/12
When I was diagnosed, close to 11 years ago, I was told “you are diabetic”, given a prescription for some medication, and told to wait for a nurse to come in and give me an insulin shot. When I picked up the prescription I was given a 10-page booklet telling me “All About How to Mange Diabetes”, and sent on my way. That was the extent of my “education”. 
I really need more info about the dawn effect. I have told my dr. that my numbers are very acceptable all day and evening but no matter what they are awful, sometimes really awful in the a.m. I get up at 4:30 and walk 2 1/2 miles and then the numbers are even higher. A hours later right back down.I also have cll cancer. Sometimes its hard to work up a care. Knowing how to lower the a.m reading would be great! Thank you for your help-best I have gotten anywhere. GiGi
The info you’re looking for is right on the blog: click on the titles
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/03/14/d-p-or-why-are-my-morning-numbers-so-high/
and
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/03/20/dp-when-nothing-you-do-seems-to-work/
Lizzy
I was diagnosed in February 2012. So I am fairly new to this. I thought I was doing pretty good until I started testing following your plan. Holy cow was I wrong! I do have a few questions. Should I follow the portion sizes my diabetes nutritionist suggested? Should I try to consume the number of calories they want me to have? I find this difficult to do as so many carb friendly veggies and fruit are also low in calories. I am starting to see a pattern of good for me foods emerging. Thank you for your blog. I have learned so much!
Hi Connie,
Oh my, you should know that I have major problems with the advise from many dietitians which is why I recommend eat to your meter. I would say just use their input as a starting point and learn how your body reacts.
If you need to gain weight you can increase the protein and good fats. If you want to lose stick with the veggies and some fruit(not all). If you think you’re missing some nutrients add a good multi-vitamin. Most of us don’t really count calories, we just eat to our meter and it seems to work out.
Your body knows more about you than any outside person who isn’t living in it.
Lizzy
Thanks Lizzy!
Lizzy has it right. For me, apple pie and bagels are super sugar risers. I found that I could eat only 1/4 of a bagel so I pass on that always choose something else for breakfast. I tried 1/2 of a small piece of apple pie and my body didn’t like that either. Now I have a bite or two of the hubster’s piece and let that suffice.
The first bite or two always taste the best anyway. It goes down hill from there.
Lizzy
I am a type-2, insulin-dependent diabetic. I am trying to improve my management of blood glucose. Today I took several readings from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. I had my usual moderate breakfast w/ 5u short-acting insulin at 7am. At 10:30, my bg was 244. At 12:20 it was 225. At 12:40 it ws 198. At 1:00 it was back up to 209, even though I had not yet eaten! This seems to be happening both mornings and afternoons. Most nights I don’t feel like eating a bed-time snack and so my morning readings are generally not where I want them.
Any guidance?
Hi Art,
First, I think testing every 10 or 20 minutes is a bit much. For some every half hour (for a limited time) can be helpful, but for most the 1 and 2 hours after the meal serves the purpose.
Next, meters are a great tool but not 100% accurate. Meters are allowed by law to vary -/+ 20%, although most are more like about 5%. So 198 and 209 are about the same reading. Your BG also varies from moment to moment constantly. So unless there’s a large variance, like 30 – 40 points or so, I wouldn’t worry about it.
You also don’t state what your reading was before eating, this is important. If it was 260 before and 280 1 hour later, that’s pretty good.
Also why did you wait from 7 until 10:30 to start testing? That’s much too long to determine the effect of a meal.
Since you waited so long to test after the meal there’s really no way to know either if the insulin dose or meal carb amount were accurate.
Lizzy
I am new to your website and want to put a strong exclamation point to your posts.
I am a 53 year old female, weigh 116 lbs. and work as a personal trainer. I had gestational diabetes 25 years ago with my first child, and embraced the carb counting lifestyle at that time. I had a great nutritionist and endocrinologist who taught me well and gave me books and brochures I have to this day. When I got pregnant with my second child 6 years later I was still counting carbs and did not get gestational diabetes as a result (Did the whole FGGT). I have had my blood checked many times since then, and my FG has always been in the mid- normal range so I began to get complacent. Consequently, the last time I went to the doctor I discovered my FG had risen to 99. Well, that was enough to scare me back to testing again and keeping tight control. (I watched my grandfather go blind and die of kidney failure due to diabetes so the complications are very real to me.) I now keep my FG less than 90 and try never to go over 120 1 hour post. In my opinion I AM A DIABETIC and always will be, even though the standardized tests say otherwise.
Thanks for all you do to educate.
Hi Karen,
You’re very wise to continue to follow this because gestational almost always leads to diabetes sometime in the future. To stay in full control you must always continue to monitor it. As you saw it can change fairly quickly so you always must be on top of it. There’s also the fact that it runs in your family, so you have the genes for it.
It’s not just fasting numbers that determine it though, you are still checking after-meal numbers as well, right?
Lizzy
Yes, definitely checking post meal readings. That’s the only way to know what foods make me spike. Thanks!
I was wondering my son (12yrs old)took a bloodtest because he was passing out at baseball practice. The doctor never called me back but I checked over the internet at his results and his total insulin was 47.3 mu/L. On the chart it has 1.7 – 31.0 as good so does this mean he is diabetic? Thanks for your time!
You need to get in touch with the doctor, don’t take no for an answer keep calling until your concerns are addressed. You can’t diagnosis someone from internet information.
Lizzy
Question. I’ve been testing for about 6 months now. There is some question if I have diabetes or not. I have been classified as borderline. My fasting number is NEVER over 100. I have tested all different kinds of meals and only about 4 times in 6 months was my BG level at 150-160. (and this is with no medications). The 150-160 was with very bad meals such as waffles with syrup, biscuit & gravy, pasta, etc.
My A1c has been 5.7 in October 2012. 5.4 in December 2012 and 5.1 in March 2013.
I have cut way back on testing, especially when eating right, since my numbers are always low. How often should I test just to make sure that nothing is changing. I’m thinking about once per week, or a couple of times per week.
Any advice on this?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Douglas,
Borderline or “pre” diabetes is still diabetes IMO. Don’t stop testing at least a few times a week and continue to follow the diet for life. Things can change very fast, and if you slack off with control that will be pretty certain to happen.
Remember a non-diabetic would never have numbers 150 – 160 no matter how many carbs they ate.
Keep on keeping on.
Lizzy
Thanks a bunch! I agree with you 100% and will continue to keep close watch on the “numbers”.
My husband is in a nursing home for rehab from a brain hemorrhage. He has been type two for years and on tight control for a few years. He takes Novalog at meals and Lantus at bedtime. The problem is that the bg’s are from 90 to 435. The regimen is sliding scale and they give the insulin anywhere from 2 hours before meals to an hour after his meal. I am ready to bring him home and forget the therapy lest they kill him. He has always calculated his doses according to how high his pre meal bg is and then added 1 unit per 10 gram of crab to be consumed. The nurses and physician are afraid to do that because DH is not able to talk at this time. Any suggestions? He is losing ground be cause he feels so bad.
Belinda
Hi Belinda,
Hospitals and medical facilities are notorious for not giving proper insulin support. It’s a sad but true fact. You could try to get his doctor involved in dictating his treatment. That might be of some help. If they don’t follow it they’re refusing to follow doctor’s orders. Also continue to make them aware of your concern, in writing too.
Lizzy
thank u very much about this information
I was so happy to find your site, for at least a few months. I was diagnosed in June as Type II but now the labs show Type I (? I don’t get it either since I am a senior citizen). I have not found a site I like as well as this, so, can a Type I tag along?
Hi Renee,
Sure you can still read here. People of any age can contact type-1, which is an autoimmune disease. I’ve even seen folks in 70′s diagnosed with it. The title “juvenile” diabetes is an old incorrect one, it can happen at any time.
Lizzy
Folks please address all questions to me.
Tests that help determine type-1 include:
Islet Cell Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies ICA Measures a group of islet cell autoantibodies targeted against a variety of islet cell proteins One of the most common islet cell autoantibodies detected at onset of disease. Detected in about 70-80% of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics.
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibodies GADA Tests for autoantibodies directed against beta cell protein (antigen) but is not specific to beta cells Also one of the most commonly detected autoantibodies in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics (about 70-80%).
Insulinoma-Associated-2 Autoantibodies IA-2A Tests for autoantibodies directed against beta cell antigens but is non-specific Detected in about 60% of type 1 diabetics.
Insulin Autoantibodies IAA Autoantibody targeted to insulin. Insulin is the only antigen thought to be highly specific for beta cells.
Lizzy
Thank you for your reply. I forgot to tell you I’m 78 years young . I’m on a sliding scale, but a different one from the scale I received in the hospital. Are there any ‘helpful hints’ as to the best way to use it. Thank you all so much for the help.
The best tip I have for those on insulin is to buy a copy of the book “Think Like a Pancreas” which explains all about insulin and the different methods used. It’s easy to read and very helpful.
Lizzy
Dear Lizy
OK here goes a confused question. If you test one or two hours after eating, how does that determine the rise in carbs if you have taken your insulin just before eating?
Renee
?
Of course it would depend on the type of insulin you’re using Renee. Rapid starts working in about 15-30 minutes. The whole point is that you’re trying to find the highest number or “peak” that the numbers go to after eating. For most people using insulin or not, that’s usually between 60 and 90 minutes. Insulin might keep it from rising as high, but it will also tell you if you’re using the right dose for the amount of carbs you’ve eaten. Numbers too high…..either to many carbs or too little insulin.
Lizzy
please notify me by e-mail. I didn’t see the box to check. Sorry.
Linda whether or not you checked the box, your answer is still in the comment section. Please read the answer there.
Lizzy
I am so glad I found this site. Thanks Lizzy for all the great info. Recently diagnosed , have not gotten to classes yet but have read several books and none of them explained testing as well as you!!! Doctor said just to test once a day at different times and see what was happening. BG’s were all over the place but didn’t know what it meant. With your info am now going to test before and after meals to see how different foods are affecting my BG. Again thanks for all your help!!!!!
Hi Mary,
As far as I’m concerned most doctors are clueless as to the power of testing to gain control of the numbers. This is one disease in which the person has the most control with their actions. Don’t give the power away to a doctor, it’s your body.
Lizzy
Got a question. Have been having neuropathy in my feet for about one year. My fasting blood glucose numbers have always been in the 90′s. Finally decided to to a GTT and it shot up over 200 (which indicates diabetes). Then decided to do a A1C test. That number came in at 5.7.
So, now I got some very conflicting numbers. Numbness in my feet is the “only” symptom I have. No pain, no tingling, no frequent urination, no thirstiness, no feeling bad, not overweight, get plenty of exercise. Any advice on what to make of all this? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Douglas,
First of all have you been officially diagnosed with neuropathy? Even if so, there are many things other than diabetes that can cause it. Your OGTT and A1C however indicate “pre”diabetes at the very least. Of course I’m of the opinion that there’s no such thing as “pre” diabetes, it’s early diabetes to me.
Diabetes is often called a “silent” disease because you don’t always have obvious symptoms until it’s pretty far advanced. It’s also possible the nerve damage can start to occur in so-called pre-diabetic levels. If you often go over 200 after meals for instance, years of that can most certainly cause damage.
My advise is to get a meter and test strips and start following this method: http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/14/getting-started/
The meter will teach you a lot! Don’t wait for obvious symptoms to appear, catch it now early on.
Lizzy
Thanks Lizzy. I really haven’t been diagnosed with anything “yet”. I was sent to a neurologist to see what was going on with my feet. After extensive testing and follow-up blood work, he found that the nerves in my lower legs and feet are definitely not working right. However, the only thing that came back with a red flat was the OGTT. I got those results a week ago and have been reading like crazy since then about diabetes. I wasn’t shocked, mad or scared, just concerned and wanting to do what I could to prevent any further damage. I have certainly enjoyed reading your posts and have found a lot of good info. here. I have also ordered the meter and am going to test like crazy. (I may run out of blood!). I want to know the BG effect of everything I put in my mouth, in all sorts of combinations.
In the mean time, I’m going to do better with my diet and exercise. I figure it can only help, whatever the diagonsis.
Again many thanks!
Douglas you might also want to read this link if you haven’t already:
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/23/diabetes-complications-neuropathy/#more-442
This has helped a lot of people including my friend Morris who wrote the article.
Lizzy
This was so helpful. Tomorrow I am going to test before the meal and sfter and see where I stand. I can see where this makes a lot of sense. Thanks Lizzy.
Hi. I just found out my latest A1c test is 6.1. When I was diagnosed in May it was 13. Of course they loaded me with insulin in the hospital for a week and in rehab the next 2 weeks, but by the time I got home I was down to just Metformin 1000mg twice a day. Since then I’ve been learning what to eat and when to test, and have even lost some weight. I’m really happy about my latest results, but here’s my question. Have you ever heard of anyone’s A1c dropping so much in 3 months? I’m starting to go into that denial mode again—you know, do I really have diabetes?
Hi Scooton,
I hear about it all the time, I was one of those people myself.
If you want to know for sure if you really have diabetic eat a super-sized Mickey D meal with a regular soda and test every 30 minutes for the next two hours or so. That should nip your denial in the bud.
Lizzy
ok, point taken.
Thanks for the reality check. I am curious, though. What happens to “normals” (non-diabetics) when they do something like that?
Scooton next time give some background so I don’t have to search out what you’re talking about.
“Normal” people would never have numbers any higher than 140 at the peak time, usually not higher than 120 depending on their age with older being higher. Teenagers could eat twice that amount and probably never go higher than 100.
Lizzy
Thanks Lizzy. I’m sorry about making you look through a zillion posts to figure out what I was referring to. I was the person who was in denial and you jokingly suggested I try the McDonald’s test and see if I still think I’m not diabetic. Next time I ask you a question I will be sure to give you more background information to work with. You’re a big help to a lot of people, especially those who are newly diagnosed, like me.
Okay scooton, I forgive you
Lizzy
I inadvertently found your blog from my “living with type 2 diabetes” newsletter. And I am so glad I did. I was diagnosed a couple of (or maybe 3) years ago. I was diagnosed hypoglycemic at age 17 (just a couple of weeks before my 18th bday), and was told then that diabetes was almost inevitable. I was given a small amount of paperwork but other than that, I wasn’t educated on hypoglycemia or diabetes at all. I got a little more information when my grandmother was diagnosed as pre-diabetic when I was in college, and I borrowed the booklets she received from her Dr. Even with my diagnosis, I just got a booklet that is similar to what she received almost 20 yrs ago, with instructions to keep my blood sugar under 180 after meals…that ideal meals have “only” 60 g of carbs. I have been researching on my own for a while. And I test a lot more often than my Dr prescribed, so my insurance only covers about 1/2 of my testing supplies each month. I am currently pregnant, and I have found with the very strict diet they have me on that my BS is testing at non-diabetic levels without medication. They want my fasting blood sugar to be under 90, after meals (2 hrs after last bite) under 115, and overall average 100 or less. And in order to stay with in these limits, I have found that I cannot eat more than 30 g carbs in each meal or snack. And I have to count fruits and veggies (even super low carb ones like green beans), even though they said they could be in addition to my meals. I am so grateful I read once that everyone is different, and that some foods will affect us differently even at different times of day. I would have been so frustrated if I hadn’t read that. Knowing that I might not be able to eat oatmeal for breakfast, but I might be able to tolerate it as a snack has made all the difference in my attitude. It has made it easier not to give up/throw in the towel and just eat whatever, whenever.
Yes Jennifer, it’s sad the small amount of information that is given to people. It’s also sad that they give out one-size-fits-all information as though we’re all clones. What I always try to stress is that you’re an individual and that “your” diabetes is yours and may not be like anyone else’s.
You have to find what works for you.
Lizzy
Recently diagnosed here. Highest reading 330, lowest 116 … although my avg is in the 200s … starting the eating well thing. My concern is the pain. I have extreme pain in my legs and feet. It isn’t continuous and is mostly at night. I don’t have health insurance and JUST found out. I am on metformin, glazapid (?) and some nerve med gabapentin … i have been glued to the internet as a resource! I feel i am not treated well at dr because i am a self pay and being billed as per a person insured. I have never not been insured til now! lemme tell ya, its a huge difference in how you are treated.
What is your sugar limit as a diabetic? I see fruit is bad
Carb limit? I am clueless for i have always eaten what i want when i want … i am 5’4″ 140 lbs so weight isn’t a problem … ack i don’t know where to start!
I also have neuropothy and am clueless about that too … don’t know what to believe or follow … the pain is unbearable … any suggestions
Hi Neva,
In time as your numbers lower and stabilize the nerves may start to heal. Also read this post:
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/23/diabetes-complications-neuropathy/#more-442
Kut
Neva sugar is a carb, you don’t have to count it separately but just as a carb. Read the Testing 101 and All About Carbs links which will tell you how to find the right limits for your body.
Lizzy
Hi Lizzy,
Recently diagnosed with Type 2…taking Lantus and Metformin (500 2xday); do you know of any computer application that helps track crabs, sugar, calories, etc…
Hi Carla,
I’m sure there are plenty out there but I’m very low-tech and just write mine down in a book. BTW, sugar is just a carb and doesn’t need to be tracked separately but is part of the carb count.
Lizzy
I went to a dietition yesterday and he gave me a book that tells all food and there carb count and how much you can eat.Its called take charge by counting carbs.Written by sanofi oventis. Good luck to you.
I prefer the calorie king book myself, and only your meter can tell you how much you should eat
Lizzy
Hi Lizzy, I’ve just discovered you and thankfully so. You said in an email reply to someone that you prefer the calorie king book, I guess for figuring out carb content of foods. What is this and where might I find it? Ps, my Emil address is with lower case h and m.
Hi Mary,
Calorie King has both a book, available in most places or Amazon, and a web site: http://www.calorieking.com/ You don’t have to buy any products that they advertise, you can just read the site.
Lizzy
Hi Lizzy, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO grateful for your site! Thank you for Caring! I was just diagnosed on Monday and though I have suspected it, i am still so very overhwelmed and saddened. When i was told by the doc where i was tested, he was so unepmathic, so un-informing. He simily told me i was diabetic then walked out of the room and was done, however i did have the nurse called him back to explain to me what all this meant. But even then, he did not really explain anything to me. He had not advised that i begin testing my BG levels, just nothing, So then i began my quest for information. I found you on the ADA website, and although their’s is good, I have learned more from your site than from the other 50 or sites found via google. So again thank you so much. I feel much better after touring your site, reading blogs etc.
Hi Cynt,
I’ve been talking with newly diagnosed people for over 10 years on mostly a daily basis, plus I was one and remember what it was like. Far too many people have your type of experience. It’s really sad, especially when they don’t know where to turn for information. The internet can be a real jungle, with lots of false information and lots of SCAMs. I’m glad you found me, keep checking back.
Lizzy
I agree my Doctor left me to do all the work and still unsure of what to eat and watch for,I ate something with to much sodim and my blood presure went to the sky.
I had been watching my carbs and colesterol .
I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I took a class but I am still confused with the timing of the testing. When you talk about testing after fasting do you mean before breakfast or does that mean any test more than 2 and a half hours after starting to eat a meal? What measure do you use if its before your meal but you had a snack 2 hours before?
Debra I don’t know what you mean by 2 1/2 hours before a meal, you never test that far before or after. You test fasting as soon as you wake up, and you should eat something asap after that. The main reason that you test before a meal, and that’s right before, is to see how the food you eat affects your numbers and how high they go. Then you test from one to two hours after. You find your usual peak or highest time and then keep testing at that time after.
Lizzy
Hi Lizzy!
Don’t know if there is anything to remedy my (perhaps persnickety) concern.
I am definately a Werewolf. I am not hungry during the day. In fact, the idea of most foods in the AM is repugnant. (At home, anyway. Love Denny’s.)
So I’m an evening eater.
But an evening meal is way off most folks’ charts.
As a compromise, I may check 2-1/2 hours after starting a meal. or 1-1/2 hours after ending. (I eat slowly and an awful lot.) But after a BIG plate of spaghetti, some bread, milk, a couple cookies (maybe 4 – 6), maybe through in some ice cream or a grapefruit (but usually after a half hour or so); 1-1/2 to 2 hrs after the end, I’m generally <120. Rarely test at bedtime. But when I have, still under 130 or so.
But fasting is rarely < 160. Might be as high as 180 – 210.
A1c is 5.7 – 6.0 over the last year or so.
User metformin and glyburide, and recently Doc said try Janumet. Very recent but no difference so far.
Crazy or what? Can't beat the Dawn Phenomenon.
Wonder if you've heard anything. Or am I being crazy and should be happy simply because of the consistently low A1c?
Rob
What you eat at night does influence your fasting numbers. At night cortisol levels are lower, that hormone raises BG levels and is one of the hormones responsible for the Dawn effect. it slowly increases throughout the night.
The Glyburide could also be responsible for your lower numbers until it wears off. It stimulates natural insulin production.
Now lets talk about delayed stomach emptying. Eating a huge amount of food at once could be a problem is you have any tendency towards that at all. Janumet could make this worse because it actually stimulates delays. This causes havoc with BG numbers, making them either high or low depending on when the food finally processes. Problems with this can develop even at pre-diabetic levels. What are your numbers during the day when you aren’t eating?
Two posts of interest:
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/29/complications-gastroparesis/
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/03/20/dp-when-nothing-you-do-seems-to-work/
Lizzy
Ron I’ve been thinking about your comments and wanted to add more.
Not eating all day is a VERY bad idea for a diabetic. It doesn’t matter if you’re hungry or not, you have a disease and have to make certain concessions to it.
If you take either medication without eating you also are in trouble, especially with the glyburide. if you take that without eating your numbers will eventually go low without eating because it stimulates insulin production. When you go low your liver responds by “dumping” glucose and it doesn’t discriminate even with the metformin it can go very high. If you go low too often your liver can be depleted of its glucose reserve and you could go into a coma. This is very bad! A1cs can be very deceptive. Many lows can balance many highs giving a relatively low overall number. If you continue on as you are you’re walking a slippery slope.
Eating large amounts, especially with many carbs, all at one time can also cause what’s known as a “reactive low”. Your numbers spike and then drop low (or in your case perhaps lower and appear normal) within an hour or so. This is another possibility.
I think you should test much more often throughout the day to see just what’s happening with your numbers and body. Remember that complications can develop even at so-called pre-diabetic levels, especially when achieved by high/low balances.
Lizzy
Lizzy,am glad I found this site also, am new to this and so upset that when you find a web site for Diabetic food or what you can eat they send you junk and regular menus to make.I am having a hard time finding food I can eat,I thought suger=free popcickles or anything suger free was ok.I can’t spell sorry.I need help understanding more then how to fill a plate up.Thank you .
Hi Karen,
Read the rest of the posts in this link: http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/14/getting-started/. They will give you ideas about what foods to eat. There are also links to a board for recipes and cooking tips from Chef Angie. There’s a lot of good food out there, no need to eat junk.
Lizzy
I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic almost immediately after my husband died in December. Then we had 3 more medical emergencies from January through May. I am just now dealing with all this. I have tested myself upon rising in the morning, around noon to 2 o’clock and just before bed at night. My BG is all over the place. Not real high but anywhere from 118 to 179 at any time I test. In the last month I have tried to keep my portions down but sometimes I guess I feel I am eating foods that comfort me. I am really having trouble staying away from ice cream especially. Do I need to see a dietician. I mean I know portion sizes I should be eating, etc. I try to stay away from breads & potatoes. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Sylvia,
So sorry to hear about your husband and medical emergencies. The best way to test is around meal to determine the impact of the foods you eat and how many carbs you can handle. Whether you see a dietician or not is up to you, but you can learn a lot more from reading this link:
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/14/getting-started/
and some of the other posts in the newly diagnosed section of the blog. Some foods may comfort you in the short term, but in the longer picture they will do you harm and you’ll feel even worse.
Only you can find the strength within yourself, it’s there you just have to find it.
Lizzy
Hi, I”m type 2 diabities. I just had my blood sugar level go up to 409. How dangerous is this. I take Metforin but they have had me on steroids for skin problems too. Before the steroids my BS was about 130 , then it started going up between 200 and 240. When I went over 400 I got dizzy and had blurred vision. Thanks for any help. Larry
Hi Larry,
You really are getting into the dangerous range. It is certainly because of the steroids, but depending on how long you will have to take them you might need some type of other medication. Metformin alone won’t keep them in check. Call the doctor and report your numbers asap., don’t let it go on any longer.
Whenever a doctor wants to prescribe steroids, make sure you tell them you are diabetic. As I said steroids are well know for raising numbers even in non-diabetics. In the mean time eat as low-carb as you possibly can. Eating carbs will just make the numbers higher. Also drink plenty of fluid. I’d call the doctor first thing in the morning.
Lizzy
Thanks very much. That was a big help. The Dr knows I am diabetic when he gave me the steroids,, but it was to help stop the skin problem. He said it might raise the BG and to watch it very closly.. I just didn’t expect it to go so high. It’s been 5 hours now and it’s back down to 234 so it is going down. I will contact him in the morning,, thanks again.
Good that the numbers are going down Larry. You should be back to normal as soon as you stop taking them.
Lizzy
Is it ok to use alcohol wipes before testing. My dr. did this in his office, but I’m not sure it would alter the test results?
Hi Dee,
It’s really not necessary since you should always wash your hands before testing and that’s enough. Even my doctor told me not to bother with the alcohol wipes because they dry your skin out.
Lizzy
I was diagnosed with Type 2 about three years ago. I am a Kaiser customer (group medical insurance), and was required to attend these classes that they offer. After the first night of class I left in tears, frustrated by an instructor who was more interested in telling us about her “stupid sister” who died of diabetes complications, and treating us like we were all bad children who had been sent to the principals office, than giving us the information we needed. I did not return to the classes, but instead began a quest to find good information on my own that I could utilize to comprehend my condition. But diabetes is a bugger and figuring it out has not been something I have had a great deal of success with. Today I discovered your blog site. It is the best resource to date that I have found. I am thrilled to find a person who is unwilling to “dumb down” the information I need. Thank you so much. This site gives me hope that i really can finally understand my own body’s issues and successfully manage my own health. Thank you so much!
Thanks Michelle,
I think you used the right word “dumb down” for these classes. They think people can’t really count carbs so they teach a “fill your plate method” and “carb units”. Counting carbs is the most accurate and, to me, easiest way to go. They also advocate way to many carbs for most people and tell them they need them. Bull, there really is no minimum amount of carbs. Your body only needs about 10%, the rest can be manufactured from protein and fat.
In their defense though they do have people who want to be told exactly what to do and don’t want to have to figure out anything on their own. That’s why they come up with the “one size fits no one” methods that they mostly use. This takes a lot of work at first, but like any new thing the more you do it the easier it gets. The reward is that you have a program developed by you for your body alone.
Lizzy
why is it that if I test with say my right finger and then test again with my left finger the numbers are different by 30 or 40 points. Should this be something to worry about?
Hi Ellen,
It’s not unusual to get different readings from different hands/fingers because your BG changes from moment to moment. The 30 -40 point difference is a bit much though. Did you wash your hands before testing? A lot of times there may be a piece of food stuck to a finger which will change the reading. Also if it’s a meter that you need to code, make sure the code is correct. All meters also have a -/+ 20% variance that’s allowed by law, but they mainly fall around 5%. Meters aren’t 100% accurate but they’re still the best tool we have. Before meters people had to pee on strips and according to the color they could only tell if their numbers were greater than 180, so we have come a long way. Do some further tests and if you still see such a large difference call the meter company.
Lizzy
Thanks I will see what happens over the next couple of days to see if it levels out some.
Thanks for the rubber band suggestion, Lizzy. I’ll give that a try. It’s been so difficult to get a blood sample that I’ve just given up a number of times. It’s all such a hassle! Thanks for being there.
You’re welcome Marti. I think that, along with the warm water and shaking your hands, should work. Also make sure that you’re drinking enough fluid, dehydration can make it more difficult too, along with making the numbers higher.
Lizzy
I have great difficulty in testing. I am limited to one side (due to lymph node removal for cancer) and also have thick skin and calluses on my hands from playing violin and piano and using a computer all day. The blood drops I get are often too small to use (the strip gives an error message and I give up in frustration. I can’t imagine doing all that testing you advocate — my hand would be a very sore pin cushion. I’ve tried running warm water on the area, massaging it, holding my hand lower, and using different types of lancets. If you have any other suggestions, I would like to hear them. Thanks.
Hi Marti,
Try wrapping the rubber band around the joint. That should help the blood pool enough to get a good sample. There’s no substitute for testing until you find what food affect you and how. After a time you don’t have to test nearly as much, but in the beginning it’s very important.
Lizzy
what does BG & BS mean?
Hi Chuck,
BG is the standard abbreviation for blood glucose. And BS is the same thing but is Blood Sugar. They both mean the same thing really but blood sugar is pretty much out of favor. It also is the abbreviation for something else (know what I mean??)
They both mean the numbers on your meter.
Lizzy
I am new to testing so I have been practicing… I have tested twice within a minute and have received results that vary 50 points or so… how can the results vary so much? how do you know what is accurate?
Hi Diane,
Your BG will vary from minute to minute. Also if you use the dame drop of blood twice you’ll get different results. Did you wash your hands first? There could have been a food particle on one finger that would affect the readings too. You’ll almost never get the same reading twice in a row, although it usually doesn’t vary by 50 points! Just keep testing and if you continue with the problem you might want to call the meter company. Read my post of caring for meters and test strips too.
Lizzy
Got to tell you, I was washing strawberrys one day and dryed my hands and then did a test and it was 340 I almost called the doctor and realized I needed to rewash with soap and re took test and it was 105,Ha now we know.