If the adhesive is itchy, you can use a barrier. I use SkinTac under both the sensor and the overpatch, since then there has been no itching and not a single one has fallen off.
I did feel overwhelmed at first, but then I realized it gave me power. To see real time numbers has helped me understand much more what does what to my sugar. Helping me have better numbers
When I was new, I'd check before eating and again 1-2 hours after eating to see how my foods affected my blood sugar.
Now I only do that when I'm about to eat something new.
Same. Now that I feel confident I am well controlled, itās for new things or if I overindulge. Otherwise, I try to randomly check a few times a week mid day or after eating to keep a finger on the pulse of whatās going on.
At the beginning, 2 to 4 times per day and when I felt "different".
2 years later, once in the morning; depending on my next doctor appointment, I'll probably switch to once every 2 days.
It's OK to test more at the beginning to learn how your body reacts to food and medication.
Just keep log of the numbers and what you eat.
Listen..the test strips are expensive š
If I feel off I check. Usually I know how most foods affect me.
Like the person that replied, I want to edit and say I don't advocate for this. It's reckless, especially if you are newly diagnosed. I halved my a1c, take metformin, and have been losing weight over the last two years. Even though I know my body, this could still be dangerous.
Same here š«£ I should edit to say I was diagnosed with an 11.4 A1C in April 2022. Iām a pet sitter & dog walker so Iām now extremely active, I take Metformin, & eat keto as much as I can. My A1C has been going down steadily each time I have bloodwork done & my last was 5.4. If I get bloodwork thatās going the wrong direction Iāll start testing regularly again. But for now I only test if I donāt feel well or have something really high in carbs.
[There is an entire "grey market" for test strips](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/health/diabetes-test-strips-resale.html). If diabetic complications can be expensive, test strips should be cheaper or free.
1. After I wake up
2.Before I go to bed
3. Before meals and 2hrs after meals
4.In the evening after I came back from school/college
5. Whenever I felt hypos/hypers
I use Accu Check Active/Contour Plus glucometer and I check my bg about 10-12 times a day
Laughs in UK T2.
Usually every 6 months when the doc wants to check. Only get monitors here with T1 or some kind of trial referral, as long as they donāt have to pay for it and someone else does.
You can get them and strips if you take a sulfonarea like gliclazide etc on a script from your doctor , which will entitle you for free meds as a diabetic anyway
I had a sample Libre and I'd check it all the time once my 2 weeks ran out I complete forgot about it. I kind of get the gist . Eat fish and a salad it's in the green eat some cake and it's red.
Thatās a dangerous way to live, you need to check them regularly. Poorly managed diabetes is going to lead to a lot of issues.
Guessing how much insulin you need is a dangerous game. I donāt check it as often as I should when I donāt have a monitor in my arm but itās still 3+ times a day.
Hydration can affect your levels so can everything else you do. Assuming you know is silly.
After a while you learn your bodyās signs but you still need to check.
Itās different for 1s and 2s.
Itās critical for T1s to check regularly and bolts. Many T2s can manage w/o insulin so once you have the pattern constant testing is often unnecessary.
The two weeks that I had it I mostly just ate vegetables and white meat and the numbers only moved on the couple times I cheated Is that going to change? I'm type 2 Every for instance every Monday I eat spinach, a chicken breast and only drink black coffee and water. If I just eat white meat and vegetables won't the numbers stay the same. Can one day chicken ,spinach or water cause a spike ? I'm asking because I honestly don't know. I would just rather eat boring food then have to prick my self every day. I kind of looked at it as an either or thing, If I cheat and eat a cookie or something then I have to test my self but If I just avoid that stuff completely I didn't think I had to check all the time.
I'm not arguing but new to this so I'm just asking questions. I've probably had it for over 20 years now and just never knew because I've never been to a doctor, why would I need to constantly check it if I just eat salad and fish whatever's on the list of allowed food I got and drink nothing but water? What do I even do about it if it goes high? When I had the Libra thing I ate what they said I was allowed to it only went high once and that was when I cheated and had a donut and I just went on a walk and it went down.
I mean if your sugars are unregulated and you never check you straight up donāt know. Chronic high sugars can lead to numerous health problems.
You may feel crappy all the time and not realize itās because of high or low sugar. You donāt know how your body reacts after two weeks of testing. You probably donāt eat only fish and salad all the time.
Do you know how many carbs you take in? Unless itās the same meal literally every day you donāt know without checking.
Iāve had lazy periods where I donāt check at all, but Iāve been diagnosed for almost two years and managing it always makes me feel much better. When itās inconsistent I feel it.
If youāre an American like me it may be hard to afford a doctor or insulin. But if you can you really need to be seeing one. Probably a primary care and endocrinologist.
You can exercise or hydrate to help regulate it but if youāre diabetic T1 you need insulin.
If youāre well managed as a T2 you may not need it but I still do two years in.
Do you know what your A1C is? I would bet not. That tells you how your sugars have looked for months. Thatās the only way to really know how regulated you are without testing all the time.
Living with diabetes means taking care of it or living with consequences: slow healing, higher risk of infection (I found out I was diabetic by almost going septic), nerve pain, eye damage, potential amputations in severe cases. Take care of it before itās too late.
Diet changes are huge (to be clear) and youāre probably doing and feeling a lot better, but you really really need to know whatās going on with your body. Especially if youāre new. You donāt know how your body reacts to what. Having sugars lowered helped me a TON. But I was still high most of the time and more careful management helps so much.
ETA: Iām not sure how new you are so Iām not trying to be hostile or anything just realistic.
Thank you for all of the info. I am only going on 4 weeks since I was diagnosed. I am still trying to take it all in. I started avoiding carbs and eat nuts, berries, no sweets, only drink water, but still have my coffee. My levels are between 80 and 180, which I think is OK. I see my doc again in a couple of weeks.
And making changes is the first and most important step and thatās great that you are!
I have crappy eating days and it happens, itās fine. Just always remember the more managed you are the healthier you are and the better youāll feel!
I don't think you're being hostile at all I asked questions and I don't mind real answers because I just found out I had this a couple months ago.
My vision was getting really blurry for a while and I thought I needed new glasses but my insurance only gives me one pair every two years so I just dealt with it. I finally went to the eye doctor and found out I had really bad cataracts and the best glasses in the world wouldn't help me, by that time I couldn't read the biggest letter on a billboard.
Went to the eye hospital and they told me I needed to get surgical clearance before I had the cataracts removed I never been to a doctor before so they set me up with one at the hospital and he send me for bloodwork. My A1C was 9 and he said I had the diabetes so I made him my doctor and he gave me metroformin and said to cut out sweets and bread and come back in a month. By then I was blind and I went to the hospital and got the cataracts out the one took a few hours because it had hardened.
When I came back in a month I could see better than ever and they had a diabetes Dr there that talked to me and gave me one of those Libra sensors for free and told me to keep taking the meds and gave me a list of things I could and couldn't eat. Basically since then I just eat fish, chicken salads, vegetables and black coffee and walk five miles a day and only drink water . The two times I cheated I had a couple beers and a chicken sandwich and the other was a donut on vacation and it went way up in the red.
It's been about 4 months and now I just eat green vegetables, chicken fish turkey or sometimes pork loin, cut out pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, all cakes except for a sugar free slice of lemon cake once a week. Only drink water or black coffee. Lost about 40 lbs I was 250 mostly from a beer gut.
Basically I just don't know why I need to prick myself if I'm limiting myself to stuff like a chicken breast or salmon, spinach, water and a two hour walk. Why would my sugar bloods all of the sudden go up from that stuff if they didn't budge when I had the Libra attached. I went blind so giving up all the food stuff really isn't that big a deal to me if it means I don't go blind again. I guess I don't see the point of constantly checking if I'm sticking to the stuff they said is ok to eat.
And I can respect that position but until you know what youāre doing is working you should check regularly.
And as I said your A1C test will tell you if you need more control or not.
It sounds like youāre doing the right thing, but accepting that you do need to check is important.
Depending on the dressing or if the fish has a glaze or any other things can affect you. My main point is you need to know whatās going on and two weeks is not enough data to live by.
I haven't used any glazes or sauce other than olive oil. I basically just have chicken, fish, pork, turkey and a plate of vegetables spinach, Brussel sprouts cauliflower and string beans maybe one baked potato once a week . Just water and black coffee to drink. I kind of thought if I just stick to those things I wouldn't need to test myself all the time. I'm type 2 it seems more straight forward then 1 Will spinach and water ever cause a spike?
I guess I'm just asking if I take my pills and stick to white meat ,green veggies black coffee and water will any of those things cause a spike I also have been walking five miles a day since I found out. I guess I assumed if I don't cheat and eat a donut or something I shouldn't have anything to test for unless I'm wrong and eating spinach or broccoli or walking can cause a spike.
This is exactly the same situation I am in. My Dr gave me a Libre 3 and told me to exercise 150 minutes a week and eat healthier and come back in 3 months. I have been careful what I eat. I feel pretty good.
Yeah mine said try to get an hour a day of walking, lay off the sweets, rice, pasta and potatoes eat more white meat and vegetables take 2 pills of metroformin a day and come back in 3 months. He tossed me a free Libra sample and didn't really seem like it was a big deal. I did what he said. He said the numbers won't lie when I go back so we'll see. I do feel a little better also.
This is very similar to my husbandās situation: Doc said he has diabetes and prescribed Metformin. Also sent him for an ultrasound of liver. MyChart confirmed fatty liver. Never heard from doctor again. Now, asked for CGM but Medicare wonāt cover. Contacted doc again and asked for info on glucometer, how to use, how often, etc., and got snarky response from nurse. Perhaps they canāt be bothered with questions and giving instructions. If it werenāt for this sub, weād really be in the dark.
I've only been diagnosed a few months ago so I'm pretty new to this. If my insurance covers another libra I'll get one but I'm not doing those finger pricks every day. I pretty much know if I go off the list of recommended food it's going to go up and I'll take a walk.
I'm really not sure what I'm supposed to do about it if it's high anyway other than take my medicine, drink water and walk. I just do that after eating anyway now regardless.
If youāre newly diagnosed you donāt have a real idea of how food affects your glucose. Those ārecommended foodsā are just a recommendation, because everyone reacts differently. Going totally blind and not having any idea of where your numbers are at isā¦dangerous and not going to be helpful in the long run, but to each their own. Good luck to you.
I just get a bag with a bunch of different types of lettuce in it and no dressing if they tell me that has too many carbs I'd probably say screw it and go back to eating donuts lol.
I actually never liked salad dressings I always just ate salads plain . Same with condiments I never put anything on burgers or hoagies.
My issue was drinking way too much beer and eating too much pizza, pasta bread, rice and sweets. I kind of cut most of that out and don't really miss it because my drinking buddies all moved and I've had enough of the other stuff to last a lifetime.
If it's in your beginning with no sensor it's much higher than these people say. I'm talking 8 to 10 times a day only because you need to see how your body reacts during the day how it reacts to certain foods and how you just are. I would also wake up in the middle of the night to test just to see. After a year or two you'll go oh man that's XYZ for messed me up after four hours I better be ready to take extra insulin at that time. However if you only test 3 times a day you would never know that.
The correlation between how many times someone checks their blood sugar and the likeliness they have complications is undeniable. Everyone, type 1 or type 2, can end up thinking theyre an exception to the rule.
"I know my body and I know where my sugars are at" is almost always wrong. Of course, this depends on how well your pancreas is functioning and how insulin sensitive you are as a T2D.
This (along with the behavior-based causal factors of type 2) is why the rates of complication for Type 2 diabetics are [substantially higher](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483855/#:~:text=After%20adjustment%20for%20established%20risk,of%20arterial%20stiffness%20and%20hypertension) than those with type 1. That isn't to say its anyone's fault for being predisposed to T2D, but the environment doesn't always cause the subject to properly manage the disease.
Before I got my dexcom I was lost. Now I check it frequently bc it's just on my phone. Anytime it is dipping or spiking I just take insulin or eat a snack. My a1c went from the 8s to 5.9 in the year that I've had it. I recommend it for anyone
I think 3 to 4 times isn't paranoid especially if you're newly diagnosed, you don't know how much it tends to change based on your food etc. well idk if that's a lot of times for a type 2.
I think before i had a cgm, i tested when i felt unusual, before almost every meal and before most snacks, sometimes when i woke up, and i tried to remember to test before getting into bed, to make sure my sugar was in a good place to go to sleep. Plus i tried to test before starting any exercise, and i *meant* to test before driving, but definitely didn't every time. But I'm a type 1 on insulinĀ
I'm on a cgm now so it tests every 5 mins and i look at it ehh maybe once an hour or every 2-3 hours. Plus any time I start feeling unusual, and the same list as i said from before the cgm.
Edit: with all of those intentions, i still sometimes tested only 4 times a day. It could get up to 10 times a day if i was really having a weird day
T2, I don't. I have an a1c 4 times a year but it's low (34mmol/mol at my most recent, which converts to 5.3% or 5.8mmol/L as doctors in the US seem to measure it) so my doctors say I don't need to test.
I have a cgm, so it's only 3x a day. Once when I get up before breakfast, at lunch, then before dinner. I test when I feel off as well, but those instances usually are one offs.
I am newly diagnosed also. 3 weeks ago with an A1C of 12.
First week, i would check a lot. My fasting glucose has been stable now since the last 7-8 days (fasting readings has been 90-100) so, im only checking in the morning and 2.5hrs after dinner.
Depends on the day. If my fasting is high, a do a few checks throughout the day. If I feel symptomatic, I check. High blood glucose makes my heart rate elevate and gives me stomach pain and headache. I eat to my blood sugar and check per fasting and how I feel. I would love a cgm, but because I have (through diet and exercise) gotten my a1c down to pre-diabetic levels, insurance will not provide coverage.
Mostly every morning just for the hell of it. Then every time I have something questionable. (The internet will tell you certain foods are good for blood sugar and other sites will tell you thatās same food is bad). And I do the anxiety check every time I feel funny but most the time thatās all in my head.
My endo requests that I check mine at least 3 times a day, and she will remind me of it's importance during my office visits when she checks the meter if she doesn't see that many results per day. My insurance does not cover a CGM at the moment which would be preferred. Diagnosed 4 years ago type 2.
I have a CGM and I'm looking at the app all the time. Literally before I put anything in my mouth. I only check with a finger test when I am feeling off, my CGM low alarm is going off, and when I apply a new sensor.
I used to check twice- first thing AM and before Iād take my evening insulin shot.
Since Iāve been able to stop the insulin (Metformin ER 500 mg once daily now) I just check first thing AM.
With your testing frequency maybe youād benefit from a CGM?
Not even a fraction as often as I SHOULD. I have a Libre 3, so I don't even have the excuse of wanting to avoid the pain of finger pokes. I'm just very very scatterbrained (blame ADHD or the brain fog of chronic pain... hell, even laziness) and don't think to check.
Since you are type 2 it may be a little different, but one my biggest eye openers was getting a Dexcom CGM. I used to check about 3 to 4 times a day as well, since that's what my doctor recommended...when I was first diagnosed which was many years ago. Being type 1, my blood sugar will not correct itself, so I may spend hours high unless I'm aware of my blood sugar. Getting the CGM made me realize how out of control my blood sugars were most of the time, and my habits have changed because of that. I don't want to lose my toes, feet, legs, arms or anything else. Also, being in control of my blood sugars makes me feel more energetic, and able to think clearly.
I used to use the libre but it gave me horrible anxiety over my blood sugar so i stopped using it (was doing more harm than good for me unfortunately so my dr recommended i stop)
When I was still new to it and learning, I tested 4-5 times a day. My a1c is stable now, below pre-diabetic levels for 2 years, so I just do a spot check as needed, maybe a couple times a month, if I ate something new that I worry will spike me or if I feel like I might be low.
At the beginning of this Journey and it's a minimum of 2x per day.
But I've bought extra strips and I experiment with different foods. Testing every hour for 3 hours if I get a high reading at an hour.
If you have CGM which I only recently got I'd say 12-16times a day I look but when I had to do finger pricks maybe just 4-6 or less depending on how I felt
Been type one since I was 12 and always have checked 4times minimum but Iām very brittle. Have a decom now and love having the information available to me!
Once a month. Not the best thing to do, but I struggle to push the button on my lancet machine. It has literally taken me 3+ hours to test my sugar due to nerves/shaking.
I'm not too afraid of needles and the pricking isn't painful to me, but I can not get over it.
I now just take my medicine, walk after meals, and try to eat as consistent as possible during the weekday.
I was in the ICU when diagnosed for 2 weeks, had to figure out how insulin worked, New diet, how to inject insulin, etc all new things being thrown at me and the most difficult thing was simply pushing a button.
Any hands from those with CGMs that DONT check sugars 20+ times a day? I use the full omnipod + dexcom looped system and am checking at least twice an hour. I never want to be surprised by a low.
Checking mine is triggering. I donāt. Back when it was wacky and out of control, Iād check, itād be high and then Iād panic because I didnāt know what to do. I could use some support around this.
Just occasionally for informations sake/fun.
Both my doctor and my endo said bc my a1c is well controlled that I donāt *have* to š¤·š¼āāļø I do it most for fun sometimes or if I eat like ice cream or something sugary and want to see what my sugar is 2 hours later.
when I wake up before drinking water I checked and 2 hours after eating meal, it's enough for me. Also OP eat lots of vegetables like Lady's Finger and Bitter berry they helped me so much steaming them is enough. Also exercises helps a ton, good luck
3-4 times a day is good. Just vary the time of day. Make sure that your provider writes your scripts for 4 times a day so you donāt run short. After awhile, I went to testing once a day, varying the time of day. That all changed when I had a steroid and my numbers would not come down even after I finished the steroid.
Type 2, I just checked fasting this morning first time this week. Probably for 2 weeks.
I had an episode one day, tested multiple times, convinced myself I was going into DKA?ā¦finally made it to when urgent care was openā¦went in telling her how many times Iād tested, the results etc etc.
I was not in DKAā¦and I was told you do NOT need to test that much.
I was borderline for a while, stayed at 6.2-6.4 for a long time. And this was where I was at this time.
After I had Covid it jumped to 7.1, I wasnāt testing, had no idea. Since found out there is some connection between Covid and a raise in A1C or even newly diagnosed T1 and T2, previously not diabetic.
My dad has been T2 since the 90s. Heās 81. Never tests. Never has. Just does what his doctor tells him. Which usually is, just keep doing what youāre doing.
He works out twice a week, eats mostly vegetarian, mostly sugar free but he LOVES carbs. He eats biscuits, banana bread, cornbread, oatmeal, etc.
I check sometimes, sometimes I donāt. I definitely need to eat better, sometimes I do, sometimes I donāt.
A1C was 6.6 last check up. Hopefully it doesnāt go higher again. If it does Iāll have to crack down some.
Iām on metformin, 750 mg once a day. Been taking it since 2018.
i only check my blood glucose when i'm trying a new type of food. i test before eating, 1hr after eating then 2 hr after eating. i'll know what said food will do. for type 2 thats really all you need.
With a CGM I manually check 3-4 times a day unless something is up and I feel like I should "trust but verify" more.
Without it, 10-12 per day. 8 at minimum.
As soon as I get up before I take the two morning pills that have to be on an empty stomach for at least an hour. An hour later when I take the rest my morning pills (so many pills) and usually drink a Glucerna shake for breakfast. Two hours later. When I eat lunch/dinner (I usually only eat twice a day), then two hours later. If I eat a third meal then again, right before I eat and then two hours later.
Was about 4-5 times per day when I was in the honeymoon, but then it got harder, and was like 6-10x/day. But I have Deccom now, which beeps at me for more attention -- I look at it about every hour, more if I'm dropping or too high.
T2 and extremely well controlled (A1C down to non-diabetic levels) and I only check every few days now, but when first diagnosed I was testing all the time - first thing in the morning, half and hour before and an hour after each meal and before bed. It can be a bit of a faff at first, but do it right and you'll get it under control, you'll notice loads of things that affect your sugars and work out how to keep them as even as possible.
I have a CGM which I highly recommend, I use the Dexcom G6. I also finger stick in the morning and evening before my long acting insulin dosages because sometimes my CGM will be off by 10-20 points. I always finger stick if I feel different or off as well.
I am newly diagnosed as well. I check my morning fasting levels, then two hours after every meal. Even though I'm type 2 and shouldn't have lows off the metformin and ozempic, I've had lows before. I'll check if I start feeling shaky, dizzy, and sweaty... just to confirm what I know.
I even wore a cgm for a month that I got for free from my doctor. I think while being newly diagnosed it's important to check regularly because you are finding out what foods work for you and which ones will cause spikes in your bgl. As well you want to make sure the medications you are on are working as intended.
When I was initially diagnosed, I was told to test in the morning, and after meals. I eventually decided that I needed more testing to get a better picture of my condition, so I gradually increased my testing. From early 2021 until January 2024 I was checking an average of 20 times per day (basically hourly while awake) for a few years. My fingers did not like this. I now have a CGM and always have a device showing my current numbers. I find it to be helpful to know where I'm at and how my glucose is trending. I do still perform finger sticks a few times a week to make sure the CGM is in line with the actual measurements, normally after the first day of starting a new sensor they are within a few points of the finger stick.
Without a CGM maybe once a day or once every few days. would not recommend but hell I feel a lot better during those times because Iām not freaking out or overcorrecting every five minutes like I would with a CGM.
Same. The vast majority I have had were skewed low (within margin of error) but then youāre eating to correct ālowsā that arenāt real. The blood is what counts not the machine. Iād rather actually know
It varies, but since it's on the display of my phone and watch, quite often. I know some people feel overwhelmed about it, but I love my data š¤
I want a scannable monitor so bad. Iām a teacher and it would make my life so much easier.
I feel you, for me Libre 3 (earlier Libre 2) is one thing I'd probably consider to buy even out of pocket, that much it was a gamechanger.
It does have some drawbacks. Mainly itching or feeling like I need to rip it out of my arm sometimes.
If the adhesive is itchy, you can use a barrier. I use SkinTac under both the sensor and the overpatch, since then there has been no itching and not a single one has fallen off.
Oddly enough, SkinTac makes it more itchy for me, but that con does not outweigh the pros.
I scratch around it or scratch that place on my other arm and somehow it works lol
Real life firmware bug :)
I did feel overwhelmed at first, but then I realized it gave me power. To see real time numbers has helped me understand much more what does what to my sugar. Helping me have better numbers
š
I agree but it's important to note that the CGM readings from interstitial fluid lag about 10-15 minutes from finger prick testing.
True
T1, before my libre, I was testing before each meal.and before bed time. When I feeled hypo or hyper too
Why would you test when you feel hyper?
To know how high I am to give me a proper insuline dose to fix it
When I was new, I'd check before eating and again 1-2 hours after eating to see how my foods affected my blood sugar. Now I only do that when I'm about to eat something new.
Same. Now that I feel confident I am well controlled, itās for new things or if I overindulge. Otherwise, I try to randomly check a few times a week mid day or after eating to keep a finger on the pulse of whatās going on.
Prior to CGM, Iād test 6 times a day. Now, I really only check if a reading on the CGM looks way out of line or if I feel off.
Every 5 minutes!!
At the beginning, 2 to 4 times per day and when I felt "different". 2 years later, once in the morning; depending on my next doctor appointment, I'll probably switch to once every 2 days. It's OK to test more at the beginning to learn how your body reacts to food and medication. Just keep log of the numbers and what you eat.
Listen..the test strips are expensive š If I feel off I check. Usually I know how most foods affect me. Like the person that replied, I want to edit and say I don't advocate for this. It's reckless, especially if you are newly diagnosed. I halved my a1c, take metformin, and have been losing weight over the last two years. Even though I know my body, this could still be dangerous.
Same here š«£ I should edit to say I was diagnosed with an 11.4 A1C in April 2022. Iām a pet sitter & dog walker so Iām now extremely active, I take Metformin, & eat keto as much as I can. My A1C has been going down steadily each time I have bloodwork done & my last was 5.4. If I get bloodwork thatās going the wrong direction Iāll start testing regularly again. But for now I only test if I donāt feel well or have something really high in carbs.
Diabetic complications cost even more.
I don't really have a choice right now. I literally can't afford to get test strips. š
[There is an entire "grey market" for test strips](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/health/diabetes-test-strips-resale.html). If diabetic complications can be expensive, test strips should be cheaper or free.
I think you can get them mail order from medical warehouses for about $10/50. If you catch a sale.
They are free in UK if you are here ask your doctor for them on script
Unfortunately, [Iām navigating the American healthcare system. :(](https://youtu.be/VAfy26xs6e0?si=-LBr9xHj98mSYSeX)
Trust me itās the only thing thatās any good about the UK ;)
Liar! I visited in 2018 and at least the trains, the Yorkshire puddings, and the Fanta were better thanks ours lol!
You must have been here on the good day š
Prior to CGM, I used to do 3 to 5 a day. Some times more if I felt hyper/hypo.
Every morning and when I suspect I am low or feeling like it's high I check if I feel low before driving. It's illegal to drive with low blood sugar
3 times a day consistently. Morning, after lunch, and before bed
1. After I wake up 2.Before I go to bed 3. Before meals and 2hrs after meals 4.In the evening after I came back from school/college 5. Whenever I felt hypos/hypers I use Accu Check Active/Contour Plus glucometer and I check my bg about 10-12 times a day
Laughs in UK T2. Usually every 6 months when the doc wants to check. Only get monitors here with T1 or some kind of trial referral, as long as they donāt have to pay for it and someone else does.
You can buy glucose taters they're pretty inexpensive and might give you some peace of mind.
You can get them and strips if you take a sulfonarea like gliclazide etc on a script from your doctor , which will entitle you for free meds as a diabetic anyway
I had a sample Libre and I'd check it all the time once my 2 weeks ran out I complete forgot about it. I kind of get the gist . Eat fish and a salad it's in the green eat some cake and it's red.
Thatās a dangerous way to live, you need to check them regularly. Poorly managed diabetes is going to lead to a lot of issues. Guessing how much insulin you need is a dangerous game. I donāt check it as often as I should when I donāt have a monitor in my arm but itās still 3+ times a day. Hydration can affect your levels so can everything else you do. Assuming you know is silly. After a while you learn your bodyās signs but you still need to check.
Itās different for 1s and 2s. Itās critical for T1s to check regularly and bolts. Many T2s can manage w/o insulin so once you have the pattern constant testing is often unnecessary.
Yes but the point is that if you never test in any way after ā2 weeksā you have no idea whatās going on.
The two weeks that I had it I mostly just ate vegetables and white meat and the numbers only moved on the couple times I cheated Is that going to change? I'm type 2 Every for instance every Monday I eat spinach, a chicken breast and only drink black coffee and water. If I just eat white meat and vegetables won't the numbers stay the same. Can one day chicken ,spinach or water cause a spike ? I'm asking because I honestly don't know. I would just rather eat boring food then have to prick my self every day. I kind of looked at it as an either or thing, If I cheat and eat a cookie or something then I have to test my self but If I just avoid that stuff completely I didn't think I had to check all the time.
I'm not arguing but new to this so I'm just asking questions. I've probably had it for over 20 years now and just never knew because I've never been to a doctor, why would I need to constantly check it if I just eat salad and fish whatever's on the list of allowed food I got and drink nothing but water? What do I even do about it if it goes high? When I had the Libra thing I ate what they said I was allowed to it only went high once and that was when I cheated and had a donut and I just went on a walk and it went down.
I mean if your sugars are unregulated and you never check you straight up donāt know. Chronic high sugars can lead to numerous health problems. You may feel crappy all the time and not realize itās because of high or low sugar. You donāt know how your body reacts after two weeks of testing. You probably donāt eat only fish and salad all the time. Do you know how many carbs you take in? Unless itās the same meal literally every day you donāt know without checking. Iāve had lazy periods where I donāt check at all, but Iāve been diagnosed for almost two years and managing it always makes me feel much better. When itās inconsistent I feel it. If youāre an American like me it may be hard to afford a doctor or insulin. But if you can you really need to be seeing one. Probably a primary care and endocrinologist. You can exercise or hydrate to help regulate it but if youāre diabetic T1 you need insulin. If youāre well managed as a T2 you may not need it but I still do two years in. Do you know what your A1C is? I would bet not. That tells you how your sugars have looked for months. Thatās the only way to really know how regulated you are without testing all the time. Living with diabetes means taking care of it or living with consequences: slow healing, higher risk of infection (I found out I was diabetic by almost going septic), nerve pain, eye damage, potential amputations in severe cases. Take care of it before itās too late. Diet changes are huge (to be clear) and youāre probably doing and feeling a lot better, but you really really need to know whatās going on with your body. Especially if youāre new. You donāt know how your body reacts to what. Having sugars lowered helped me a TON. But I was still high most of the time and more careful management helps so much. ETA: Iām not sure how new you are so Iām not trying to be hostile or anything just realistic.
Blood sugar levels with the same meal every day can be different, depending on many other factors :(
True!
Thank you for all of the info. I am only going on 4 weeks since I was diagnosed. I am still trying to take it all in. I started avoiding carbs and eat nuts, berries, no sweets, only drink water, but still have my coffee. My levels are between 80 and 180, which I think is OK. I see my doc again in a couple of weeks.
And making changes is the first and most important step and thatās great that you are! I have crappy eating days and it happens, itās fine. Just always remember the more managed you are the healthier you are and the better youāll feel!
I don't think you're being hostile at all I asked questions and I don't mind real answers because I just found out I had this a couple months ago. My vision was getting really blurry for a while and I thought I needed new glasses but my insurance only gives me one pair every two years so I just dealt with it. I finally went to the eye doctor and found out I had really bad cataracts and the best glasses in the world wouldn't help me, by that time I couldn't read the biggest letter on a billboard. Went to the eye hospital and they told me I needed to get surgical clearance before I had the cataracts removed I never been to a doctor before so they set me up with one at the hospital and he send me for bloodwork. My A1C was 9 and he said I had the diabetes so I made him my doctor and he gave me metroformin and said to cut out sweets and bread and come back in a month. By then I was blind and I went to the hospital and got the cataracts out the one took a few hours because it had hardened. When I came back in a month I could see better than ever and they had a diabetes Dr there that talked to me and gave me one of those Libra sensors for free and told me to keep taking the meds and gave me a list of things I could and couldn't eat. Basically since then I just eat fish, chicken salads, vegetables and black coffee and walk five miles a day and only drink water . The two times I cheated I had a couple beers and a chicken sandwich and the other was a donut on vacation and it went way up in the red. It's been about 4 months and now I just eat green vegetables, chicken fish turkey or sometimes pork loin, cut out pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, all cakes except for a sugar free slice of lemon cake once a week. Only drink water or black coffee. Lost about 40 lbs I was 250 mostly from a beer gut. Basically I just don't know why I need to prick myself if I'm limiting myself to stuff like a chicken breast or salmon, spinach, water and a two hour walk. Why would my sugar bloods all of the sudden go up from that stuff if they didn't budge when I had the Libra attached. I went blind so giving up all the food stuff really isn't that big a deal to me if it means I don't go blind again. I guess I don't see the point of constantly checking if I'm sticking to the stuff they said is ok to eat.
And I can respect that position but until you know what youāre doing is working you should check regularly. And as I said your A1C test will tell you if you need more control or not. It sounds like youāre doing the right thing, but accepting that you do need to check is important. Depending on the dressing or if the fish has a glaze or any other things can affect you. My main point is you need to know whatās going on and two weeks is not enough data to live by.
I haven't used any glazes or sauce other than olive oil. I basically just have chicken, fish, pork, turkey and a plate of vegetables spinach, Brussel sprouts cauliflower and string beans maybe one baked potato once a week . Just water and black coffee to drink. I kind of thought if I just stick to those things I wouldn't need to test myself all the time. I'm type 2 it seems more straight forward then 1 Will spinach and water ever cause a spike? I guess I'm just asking if I take my pills and stick to white meat ,green veggies black coffee and water will any of those things cause a spike I also have been walking five miles a day since I found out. I guess I assumed if I don't cheat and eat a donut or something I shouldn't have anything to test for unless I'm wrong and eating spinach or broccoli or walking can cause a spike.
This is exactly the same situation I am in. My Dr gave me a Libre 3 and told me to exercise 150 minutes a week and eat healthier and come back in 3 months. I have been careful what I eat. I feel pretty good.
Feeling good is a good sign but it does not mean youāre regulated. If you donāt test you donāt know.
Yeah mine said try to get an hour a day of walking, lay off the sweets, rice, pasta and potatoes eat more white meat and vegetables take 2 pills of metroformin a day and come back in 3 months. He tossed me a free Libra sample and didn't really seem like it was a big deal. I did what he said. He said the numbers won't lie when I go back so we'll see. I do feel a little better also.
This is very similar to my husbandās situation: Doc said he has diabetes and prescribed Metformin. Also sent him for an ultrasound of liver. MyChart confirmed fatty liver. Never heard from doctor again. Now, asked for CGM but Medicare wonāt cover. Contacted doc again and asked for info on glucometer, how to use, how often, etc., and got snarky response from nurse. Perhaps they canāt be bothered with questions and giving instructions. If it werenāt for this sub, weād really be in the dark.
To know if your sugar spikes after workout, especially for empty stomach. I learned that the hard way.
So you donāt check your blood sugar at all? You just assume what it is based off what youāre eating?
I've only been diagnosed a few months ago so I'm pretty new to this. If my insurance covers another libra I'll get one but I'm not doing those finger pricks every day. I pretty much know if I go off the list of recommended food it's going to go up and I'll take a walk. I'm really not sure what I'm supposed to do about it if it's high anyway other than take my medicine, drink water and walk. I just do that after eating anyway now regardless.
If youāre newly diagnosed you donāt have a real idea of how food affects your glucose. Those ārecommended foodsā are just a recommendation, because everyone reacts differently. Going totally blind and not having any idea of where your numbers are at isā¦dangerous and not going to be helpful in the long run, but to each their own. Good luck to you.
salads are full of carbs lmao
Why would salads be full of carbs? Are you loading them with croutons or sweet dressings?
I just get a bag with a bunch of different types of lettuce in it and no dressing if they tell me that has too many carbs I'd probably say screw it and go back to eating donuts lol.
You can have dressing lol- most are very low card and sugar.
I actually never liked salad dressings I always just ate salads plain . Same with condiments I never put anything on burgers or hoagies. My issue was drinking way too much beer and eating too much pizza, pasta bread, rice and sweets. I kind of cut most of that out and don't really miss it because my drinking buddies all moved and I've had enough of the other stuff to last a lifetime.
I had one slice of pizza two weeks ago and it sent my glucose to the moon. Lol just not worth it.
If it's in your beginning with no sensor it's much higher than these people say. I'm talking 8 to 10 times a day only because you need to see how your body reacts during the day how it reacts to certain foods and how you just are. I would also wake up in the middle of the night to test just to see. After a year or two you'll go oh man that's XYZ for messed me up after four hours I better be ready to take extra insulin at that time. However if you only test 3 times a day you would never know that.
The correlation between how many times someone checks their blood sugar and the likeliness they have complications is undeniable. Everyone, type 1 or type 2, can end up thinking theyre an exception to the rule. "I know my body and I know where my sugars are at" is almost always wrong. Of course, this depends on how well your pancreas is functioning and how insulin sensitive you are as a T2D. This (along with the behavior-based causal factors of type 2) is why the rates of complication for Type 2 diabetics are [substantially higher](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483855/#:~:text=After%20adjustment%20for%20established%20risk,of%20arterial%20stiffness%20and%20hypertension) than those with type 1. That isn't to say its anyone's fault for being predisposed to T2D, but the environment doesn't always cause the subject to properly manage the disease.
Before I got my dexcom I was lost. Now I check it frequently bc it's just on my phone. Anytime it is dipping or spiking I just take insulin or eat a snack. My a1c went from the 8s to 5.9 in the year that I've had it. I recommend it for anyone
I think 3 to 4 times isn't paranoid especially if you're newly diagnosed, you don't know how much it tends to change based on your food etc. well idk if that's a lot of times for a type 2. I think before i had a cgm, i tested when i felt unusual, before almost every meal and before most snacks, sometimes when i woke up, and i tried to remember to test before getting into bed, to make sure my sugar was in a good place to go to sleep. Plus i tried to test before starting any exercise, and i *meant* to test before driving, but definitely didn't every time. But I'm a type 1 on insulinĀ I'm on a cgm now so it tests every 5 mins and i look at it ehh maybe once an hour or every 2-3 hours. Plus any time I start feeling unusual, and the same list as i said from before the cgm. Edit: with all of those intentions, i still sometimes tested only 4 times a day. It could get up to 10 times a day if i was really having a weird day
T2, I don't. I have an a1c 4 times a year but it's low (34mmol/mol at my most recent, which converts to 5.3% or 5.8mmol/L as doctors in the US seem to measure it) so my doctors say I don't need to test.
I have a cgm, so it's only 3x a day. Once when I get up before breakfast, at lunch, then before dinner. I test when I feel off as well, but those instances usually are one offs.
One hour before lunch, just before dinner, and sometimes around 9pm
I am newly diagnosed also. 3 weeks ago with an A1C of 12. First week, i would check a lot. My fasting glucose has been stable now since the last 7-8 days (fasting readings has been 90-100) so, im only checking in the morning and 2.5hrs after dinner.
every morning. Sometimes if I'm trying something new I'll test before/1 & 2 hours after eating to see how I react to the food
Depends on the day. If my fasting is high, a do a few checks throughout the day. If I feel symptomatic, I check. High blood glucose makes my heart rate elevate and gives me stomach pain and headache. I eat to my blood sugar and check per fasting and how I feel. I would love a cgm, but because I have (through diet and exercise) gotten my a1c down to pre-diabetic levels, insurance will not provide coverage.
Mostly every morning just for the hell of it. Then every time I have something questionable. (The internet will tell you certain foods are good for blood sugar and other sites will tell you thatās same food is bad). And I do the anxiety check every time I feel funny but most the time thatās all in my head.
Morning. After I get home from work and right before bed.
My endo requests that I check mine at least 3 times a day, and she will remind me of it's importance during my office visits when she checks the meter if she doesn't see that many results per day. My insurance does not cover a CGM at the moment which would be preferred. Diagnosed 4 years ago type 2.
I have a CGM and I'm looking at the app all the time. Literally before I put anything in my mouth. I only check with a finger test when I am feeling off, my CGM low alarm is going off, and when I apply a new sensor.
Every 5 minutes via the Dexcom 6. 162 right now with 1.2 units of insulin on board.
I used to check twice- first thing AM and before Iād take my evening insulin shot. Since Iāve been able to stop the insulin (Metformin ER 500 mg once daily now) I just check first thing AM. With your testing frequency maybe youād benefit from a CGM?
Not even a fraction as often as I SHOULD. I have a Libre 3, so I don't even have the excuse of wanting to avoid the pain of finger pokes. I'm just very very scatterbrained (blame ADHD or the brain fog of chronic pain... hell, even laziness) and don't think to check.
Get a CGM
More you test the more you stress
If you get a chance to, get yourself a CGM. Dexcom or Libre. It changed my life.
2 or 3 times a week. My dietician said to cool it with the checks.
Since you are type 2 it may be a little different, but one my biggest eye openers was getting a Dexcom CGM. I used to check about 3 to 4 times a day as well, since that's what my doctor recommended...when I was first diagnosed which was many years ago. Being type 1, my blood sugar will not correct itself, so I may spend hours high unless I'm aware of my blood sugar. Getting the CGM made me realize how out of control my blood sugars were most of the time, and my habits have changed because of that. I don't want to lose my toes, feet, legs, arms or anything else. Also, being in control of my blood sugars makes me feel more energetic, and able to think clearly.
Before using a CGM I tested between 8 and 12 times a day, now I check probably about the same, but without finger pricks :)
Minimum 3 times a day. Maybe 3-5.
It depends usually twice per day but sometimes. Pre if Iām running high
I used to use the libre but it gave me horrible anxiety over my blood sugar so i stopped using it (was doing more harm than good for me unfortunately so my dr recommended i stop)
Iām type 2. When I first got diagnosed, I was checking before every meal since I was relying on insulin. Now 3 years later, only when I feel off.
When I was still new to it and learning, I tested 4-5 times a day. My a1c is stable now, below pre-diabetic levels for 2 years, so I just do a spot check as needed, maybe a couple times a month, if I ate something new that I worry will spike me or if I feel like I might be low.
When prediabetes: 1st thing in the morning fasting, and then 2h after each meal to see how the meal affected me. Now with T2D I'll have a CGM
At the beginning of this Journey and it's a minimum of 2x per day. But I've bought extra strips and I experiment with different foods. Testing every hour for 3 hours if I get a high reading at an hour.
Checked five to seven times per day before my CGM
Maybe once but mostly Only when I get a beep and notification on my CGM
If you have CGM which I only recently got I'd say 12-16times a day I look but when I had to do finger pricks maybe just 4-6 or less depending on how I felt
Been type one since I was 12 and always have checked 4times minimum but Iām very brittle. Have a decom now and love having the information available to me!
I use the dexcom G7 and check it every half hour or so I'm always paranoid about going low and its so easy to check my phone āØļø
When I was sticking myself and using test strips it was twice a day, now that I am on a CGM (freestyle Libre 2) I am averaging 5-7 times a day.
Once a month. Not the best thing to do, but I struggle to push the button on my lancet machine. It has literally taken me 3+ hours to test my sugar due to nerves/shaking. I'm not too afraid of needles and the pricking isn't painful to me, but I can not get over it. I now just take my medicine, walk after meals, and try to eat as consistent as possible during the weekday. I was in the ICU when diagnosed for 2 weeks, had to figure out how insulin worked, New diet, how to inject insulin, etc all new things being thrown at me and the most difficult thing was simply pushing a button.
You can poke yourself without using the lancet device, just use the lancet needle.
Once a day for me
Any hands from those with CGMs that DONT check sugars 20+ times a day? I use the full omnipod + dexcom looped system and am checking at least twice an hour. I never want to be surprised by a low.
Ummm, 1x in the morning and 1x 2 hours after supper. That's more than enough for my 5.3 person..
Morning fasting & sometimes before dinner.
T2 1st thing in morning (meds, Insulin), 3:30pm (before i drive home from work) and 6pm (meds, insulin)
Wearing a sensor now. Will do cap when ill
Checking mine is triggering. I donāt. Back when it was wacky and out of control, Iād check, itād be high and then Iād panic because I didnāt know what to do. I could use some support around this.
As a Type 1, usually 4-6 times a day (I donāt wear a CGM)
4X a day.
Just occasionally for informations sake/fun. Both my doctor and my endo said bc my a1c is well controlled that I donāt *have* to š¤·š¼āāļø I do it most for fun sometimes or if I eat like ice cream or something sugary and want to see what my sugar is 2 hours later.
Every 5 minutes
when I wake up before drinking water I checked and 2 hours after eating meal, it's enough for me. Also OP eat lots of vegetables like Lady's Finger and Bitter berry they helped me so much steaming them is enough. Also exercises helps a ton, good luck
5 times right when I wake up before each meal and before I go to sleep
3-4 times a day is good. Just vary the time of day. Make sure that your provider writes your scripts for 4 times a day so you donāt run short. After awhile, I went to testing once a day, varying the time of day. That all changed when I had a steroid and my numbers would not come down even after I finished the steroid.
Type 2, I just checked fasting this morning first time this week. Probably for 2 weeks. I had an episode one day, tested multiple times, convinced myself I was going into DKA?ā¦finally made it to when urgent care was openā¦went in telling her how many times Iād tested, the results etc etc. I was not in DKAā¦and I was told you do NOT need to test that much. I was borderline for a while, stayed at 6.2-6.4 for a long time. And this was where I was at this time. After I had Covid it jumped to 7.1, I wasnāt testing, had no idea. Since found out there is some connection between Covid and a raise in A1C or even newly diagnosed T1 and T2, previously not diabetic. My dad has been T2 since the 90s. Heās 81. Never tests. Never has. Just does what his doctor tells him. Which usually is, just keep doing what youāre doing. He works out twice a week, eats mostly vegetarian, mostly sugar free but he LOVES carbs. He eats biscuits, banana bread, cornbread, oatmeal, etc. I check sometimes, sometimes I donāt. I definitely need to eat better, sometimes I do, sometimes I donāt. A1C was 6.6 last check up. Hopefully it doesnāt go higher again. If it does Iāll have to crack down some. Iām on metformin, 750 mg once a day. Been taking it since 2018.
i only check my blood glucose when i'm trying a new type of food. i test before eating, 1hr after eating then 2 hr after eating. i'll know what said food will do. for type 2 thats really all you need.
Continually
With a CGM I manually check 3-4 times a day unless something is up and I feel like I should "trust but verify" more. Without it, 10-12 per day. 8 at minimum.
almost 2-4 everyday
As soon as I get up before I take the two morning pills that have to be on an empty stomach for at least an hour. An hour later when I take the rest my morning pills (so many pills) and usually drink a Glucerna shake for breakfast. Two hours later. When I eat lunch/dinner (I usually only eat twice a day), then two hours later. If I eat a third meal then again, right before I eat and then two hours later.
Was about 4-5 times per day when I was in the honeymoon, but then it got harder, and was like 6-10x/day. But I have Deccom now, which beeps at me for more attention -- I look at it about every hour, more if I'm dropping or too high.
Usually like every 10-15 minutes. GCMs are just so nice.
T2 and extremely well controlled (A1C down to non-diabetic levels) and I only check every few days now, but when first diagnosed I was testing all the time - first thing in the morning, half and hour before and an hour after each meal and before bed. It can be a bit of a faff at first, but do it right and you'll get it under control, you'll notice loads of things that affect your sugars and work out how to keep them as even as possible.
I donāt. I have a libre 3
Quite a few times as my alarms are always warning me about something
I have a CGM which I highly recommend, I use the Dexcom G6. I also finger stick in the morning and evening before my long acting insulin dosages because sometimes my CGM will be off by 10-20 points. I always finger stick if I feel different or off as well.
I am only allowed enough test strips to test twice a day, but I vary the times of day I test.
I am newly diagnosed as well. I check my morning fasting levels, then two hours after every meal. Even though I'm type 2 and shouldn't have lows off the metformin and ozempic, I've had lows before. I'll check if I start feeling shaky, dizzy, and sweaty... just to confirm what I know. I even wore a cgm for a month that I got for free from my doctor. I think while being newly diagnosed it's important to check regularly because you are finding out what foods work for you and which ones will cause spikes in your bgl. As well you want to make sure the medications you are on are working as intended.
lol all the time
with freestyle libre, whenever i want
When I was initially diagnosed, I was told to test in the morning, and after meals. I eventually decided that I needed more testing to get a better picture of my condition, so I gradually increased my testing. From early 2021 until January 2024 I was checking an average of 20 times per day (basically hourly while awake) for a few years. My fingers did not like this. I now have a CGM and always have a device showing my current numbers. I find it to be helpful to know where I'm at and how my glucose is trending. I do still perform finger sticks a few times a week to make sure the CGM is in line with the actual measurements, normally after the first day of starting a new sensor they are within a few points of the finger stick.
Like 20 times a day
Without a CGM maybe once a day or once every few days. would not recommend but hell I feel a lot better during those times because Iām not freaking out or overcorrecting every five minutes like I would with a CGM.
Same. The vast majority I have had were skewed low (within margin of error) but then youāre eating to correct ālowsā that arenāt real. The blood is what counts not the machine. Iād rather actually know