What was your fasting blood glucose this morning.

Recording BG values is a very good way observing trends and reminders to keep on the straight and narrow. It was a big thread on that other forum, and provided,

I think, a good way of comparing how you are getting along, even asking others if they have helpful advice. The recordings can include measurements of ketones ie beta- hydroxy-butyrate [ blood test ] and acetone in breath via ketonix.

I shall start off,

Early this morning, FBG was 75 mg/dl ie 4.16 mmoles/l  Acetone via 2015 Ketonix meter 83% with 6 red blinks [ using 30 second breathing time ]

Good idea Pasha. I'm afraid I forgot to test this morning! I'll join you tomorrow hopefully. You won't get any ketone info from me though, just a fasting BG....and maybe a little chat too....

My husband rarely tests these days - the results are too predictable. Fasting/pre-meal almost always in the 4's or a low 5, and after meals (one or two hours, as convenient) usually in the 5's, with some 4's and a rare low 6. This is, presumably, because almost everything we eat is home made and we simply don't play around with the carbs.
We did do a "sanity check" recently and a check while doing intermittent fasting (skipping breakfast). IF produced slightly higher pre-lunch readings (low to mid 5's), but didn't affect readings later in the day.
Sally

6.8 this morning which actually I'm quite happy with. My waking levels have always been a little higher than I'd like, typically around 7 or so. This drops mid morning and I remain pretty stable for most of the day. I've tried the basal testing etc and all fine, I just accept my first test is not my best.

I gave up daily testing years ago and like Sally said "the results are too predictable". I do around six tests once a week over the same day, I am just checking my beta cells are still standing up and have not gone South. Once a month or so I go on a bender carb wise and don't bother wasting test strips, I know the numbers would be grim. So no I am definitely not "cured". In the early days I spent a small fortune on test strips and built up a huge amount of data re food etc. and it's effects.

At the risk of causing a bun fight, I often wonder are some type two diabetics testing too much. When you consider we are always testing after the event, and what is done is done. For example you do a BG test and you are expecting to see a low five number and read 6.8 on your meter, what can you do about it, not a lot I reckon, especially when the margin for error of the meter can be plus or minus a whole point at low BG number levels.

I have found there are so many variables that can take my BG up and down by at least a full point I gave up worrying about it a long time ago. All HbA1c tests since diagnosis would have me classed as a non diabetic but certainly pre-diabetic, I have never been in the fours. At 65 years of age I am prepared to roll the dice. Not that I am encouraging anyone else to do the same, if I was younger and had a young family I would be trying for the optimum.

Anyway that's my two bobs worth, but the very best to all who go for the ultimate, I am in awe of some of the people here and well done Pasha for starting this thread.

I like the morning fasting BG as an indication of how I'm doing generally, but I'm not always consistent in doing it.  Then I'm not really consistent at anything.  

4.8 first thing. Then up to 6.2 because dp kicked off. So far today I've been under 6.7 for the majority of the day. (Range set on cgm is 4.4-6.7). Had a cheesy omelette and slightly missed protein spike so got up to 7.5 for about an hour but made a bolus correction. Showing 6 on cgm now, will finger prick to pre-bolus early for tea. Got finger tips that could be used to file down rough wood

Mrs Vimes wrote:4.8 first thing. Then up to 6.2 because dp kicked off. So far today I've been under 6.7 for the majority of the day. (Range set on cgm is 4.4-6.7). Had a cheesy omelette and slightly missed protein spike so got up to 7.5 for about an hour but made a bolus correction. Showing 6 on cgm now, will finger prick to pre-bolus early for tea. Got finger tips that could be used to file down rough wood

Wow that's impressive control for a T1! I daren't say my figures now lol

Cheers Zand. I'm a teacher on hols at mo so no stress! I do lchf as partner is a type 2 and it really helps me with my sugars. I do make mistakes but this "faddy" diet that we have been following for just over 2 years does make the blood sugar roller coaster so much easier to handle.

EDDIE I've joined Type1Gritters on Facebook. They are parents with type 1 kids and other type 1s who follow Bernstein, Troy Stapleton and all the other low carbers. They are a breath of fresh air. They are as focussed as this forum and your blog.

Following Jan's recipes helps me plan our meals for the week and also helps me focus on diet.
My DSN is lovely but looks at me oddly. I just think WWED? (What would Eddie do?)

Mrs Vimes wrote:My DSN is lovely but looks at me oddly. I just think WWED? (What would Eddie do?)

Contribution to bun fight: I too wonder why some T2's (not on insulin) seem to test so much. At first, my husband tested before and after every meal, though looking back, what we learnt was only the down right obvious, i.e. carbs, in any form, are not a good idea, neither is fruit. The only reason we kept on trying out different sorts of porridge/muesli/pasta was because I kept reading, on another forum, how certain varieties were just fine and dandy and I wanted to keep the diet as broad as possible.
I expect, for some copious testers, the reason is lack of understanding and knowledge about food. I can cook and have a background in organic chemistry/biology (no difficult questions, please, it was all a long time ago), so was able to grasp the subject quickly, but for that large proportion of the population who haven't a clue about cooking, they really are in at the deep end. Testing is probably the only way. And, if you are living on bought, processed food, the result of a test is only valid until the recipe gets changed, or you buy a different flavour.
If I were able to influence government policy, apart from making the eat well plate very low carb, I would re-introduce traditional cookery lessons into schools, but unlike the 1960's boys would take part too.

I don't entirely agree with Eddie that seeing a higher than expected result is something you can't do anything about. Looking back to our early days, the next meal would be adjusted if a prior reading was too high.

I'd be interested in others' views, but do remember that "the bun" is strictly low carb.
Sally

I do agree that some people test too much and it can become a little obsessive for some. To be honest, if I wasn't on insulin, I doubt I'd bother once I was fairly happy with my diet. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food so I would quickly grasp what and how much of certain foods I could tolerate well.
If I do see a reading that is higher than I'd like though, if at all possible, I would go for a walk or something to reduce levels rather than just more insulin. A brisk 20min walk or similar can be just as effective as a couple of units for me.

Sally wrote:Contribution to bun fight:  I too wonder why some T2's (not on insulin) seem to test so much.  At first, my husband tested before and after every meal, though looking back, what we learnt was only the down right obvious, i.e. carbs, in any form, are not a good idea, neither is fruit.  The only reason we kept on trying out different sorts of porridge/muesli/pasta was because I kept reading, on another forum, how certain varieties were just fine and dandy and I wanted to keep the diet as broad as possible.  
I expect, for some copious testers, the reason is lack of understanding and knowledge about food.  I can cook and have a background in organic chemistry/biology (no difficult questions, please, it was all a long time ago), so was able to grasp the subject quickly, but for that large proportion of the population who haven't a clue about cooking, they really are in at the deep end.  Testing is probably the only way.  And, if you are living on bought, processed food, the result of a test is only valid until the recipe gets changed, or you buy a different flavour.  
If I were able to influence government policy, apart from making the eat well plate very low carb, I would re-introduce traditional cookery lessons into schools, but unlike the 1960's boys would take part too.  

I don't entirely agree with Eddie that seeing a higher than expected result is something you can't do anything about.  Looking back to our early days, the next meal would be adjusted if a prior reading was too high.

I'd be interested in others' views, but do remember that "the bun" is strictly low carb.
Sally

"I don't entirely agree with Eddie that seeing a higher than expected result is something you can't do anything about."

I should have made myself more clear, my bad. What I meant was when a diabetic is truly on the case and has months or years of good control, and knows exactly what they can and can't tolerate, there is not much more we can do. BTW I used to test BG on non diabetic family and friends and often saw some very high BG numbers on them. But of course I realised they would be back to non diabetic numbers very quickly say one hour or less, where many of us would be too high hours later.

I test a lot because I train most days. It could be hiit or weights. I like to lift heavy - just call me an iron maiden! But they affect my sugars differently. Time of day I train also makes a difference.
My dp can start at 2 in the morning or 30 minutes after I get up - why? I haven't worked out yet.
Women's stuff also affects blood sugars. And stress. And it feels like the bloody weather does too!
Type 2 partner keeps an eye on fbs. He works away so doesn't always get to eat lchf so he tests a bit more to keep an eye on the affects of new foods.
We also test him for new meals we try and then make adjustments next time round as needed.
I think testing provides awareness and a feel of control instead of putting yourself in someone else's hands who is worked off their feet, responsible for too many patients and is following a script.
He has non-diabetic numbers at the mo on metformin, lchf. If we didn't test we wouldn't spot changes.

The bottom line for a diabetic is us type two's (non insulin injecting or some type two meds) have it very easy. We are only interested in keeping BG down. Obviously a type one has it much harder in having to keep BG up and down. Not for us the fear of a serious hypo, a very frightening experience. The people I truly admire and empathise with are the parents of a very young type one child. Being a parent is one long worry, even when the kids have grown up, having a type one child must be a nightmare. That being said fantastic control for children can be achieved as this parent proves. This Woman should be teaching Doctors.

If you have not seen this video please watch it, a true master-class in type one diabetes control.

mo1905 wrote:I do agree that some people test too much and it can become a little obsessive for some. To be honest, if I wasn't on insulin, I doubt I'd bother once I was fairly happy with my diet. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food so I would quickly grasp what and how much of certain foods I could tolerate well.
If I do see a reading that is higher than I'd like though, if at all possible, I would go for a walk or something to reduce levels rather than just more insulin. A brisk 20min walk or similar can be just as effective as a couple of units for me.

Now I'm just jealous. A brisk 20 minute walk often puts my BGs up.

Mrs Vimes wrote:Cheers Zand. I'm a teacher on hols at mo so no stress! I do lchf as partner is a type 2 and it really helps me with my sugars. I do make mistakes but this "faddy" diet that we have been following for just over 2 years does make the blood sugar roller coaster so much easier to handle.

EDDIE I've joined Type1Gritters on Facebook. They are parents with type 1 kids and other type 1s who follow Bernstein, Troy Stapleton and all the other low carbers. They are a breath of fresh air. They are as focussed as this forum and your blog.

Following Jan's recipes helps me plan our meals for the week and also helps me focus on diet.
My DSN is lovely but looks at me oddly. I just think WWED? (What would Eddie do?)

"EDDIE I've joined Type1Gritters on Facebook. They are parents with type 1 kids and other type 1s who follow Bernstein, Troy Stapleton and all the other low carbers. They are a breath of fresh air. They are as focussed as this forum and your blog."

Thank you for the kind words for me and Jan. We are merely messengers, but we follow some very clever people. As Isaac Newton once said. "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants"

Eddie wrote:I gave up daily testing years ago and like Sally said "the results are too predictable". I do around six tests once a week over the same day, I am just checking my beta cells are still standing up and have not gone South. Once a month or so I go on a bender carb wise and don't bother wasting test strips, I know the numbers would be grim. So no I am definitely not "cured". In the early days I spent a small fortune on test strips and built up a huge amount of data re food etc. and it's effects.

Yes me too.

When I started I tested a LOT, and soon discovered my fasting is nearly always normal and my two hour results were usually heading back that way. The 1 hour tests were what I concentrated on as they showed the most variability, and I'd also test at three hours or more if I'd spiked to see if I was then dropping low, as I used to.

Since then I've become a boring old fart and generally eat the same type of things and a similar amount of carbs so the tests mostly became quite predictable.

Last blood test, after about a 12 hour fast I was 5.5 which is a tad higher than usual.

When I DO tend to test is if I eat out. Sometimes I spike to 8 or so, seldom more these days as the IR has reduced so much and I'm usually careful what I eat. Once I hit over 10 following a pub meal when I ate ALL the roast spuds, so I power walked up the hill, round the churchyard and back down again.

I SHOULD have tested today, I had a major blowout, pheasant partridge and pear pie with roast spuds and loads of veggies and I scranned down the LOT! But then I decided sod it I don't really want to know.

I do such things so rarely now that the odd selfindulgence won't make much difference (OK the real reason is I forgot to take my meter!)

A friend who likewise became so predictable from low carbing stopped doing regular tests except under special circumstances - then once every few weeks he would eat a series of "test meals" and test maybe quarter hourly, then plot the results as a graph which he would overlay on previous graphs to see if there were any long term changes.

I believe there's a strong case for newly diagnosed diabetics to test a LOT, even the loan of a CGM would be invaluable in building up a database.

Once your results start to be predictable you can back off a lot, unless you're Type 1 or on lots of meds of course.

I am beginning to feel like the forum fanatic, this morning 74 mg/dl or 4.11 mmoles/l. Ketonix 84% with 6 red winks. Should write blinks, but I pretend that I am winking to a beautiful young woman, so its winks.

Morning, buggery b@@@@@ks last night. Sorting out low sugars 3 times last night. Okay though cos cgm alarms at 4.4. Had 3 oat biscuits, 4 sugar tablets, 3 gob fulls of lucozade at different times.

Basal rates need changing just like that. Hormones! Insulin resistance built up through the month then plummets.
Deep joy. My poor fella is knackered from all the beeping from my pump. He went to work at 6.00.
Dp was an hour late.
5.4 when I gave up and got up at 5.30, 5.3 at the mo at 6.45.
Hope everyone has a great day!

Morning Pasha.

6.4 grrrr. getting worse.

Hi Zand, surely not stress over the Liverpool match?

lol quite possibly!

As an Evertonian good luck!

Thanks.