[quote user="Katie"]
I am on a cgm but before it was like 8-10 times now its like 5-6
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Same -- we must be on the same schedule!
[quote user="Candace"]
I'm curious to hear from the people that test that often, do you see a vast improvement in your control and A1C's when you're testing that frequently?
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For me, YES! When I wanted to get my a1c down for pregnancy in 2007, I tested 12 x's a day and it worked great. For me, post meal numbers are very helpful so I don't spend 3-4 hours high after eating. I also test before driving if I'm not on the CGM.
When I was younger and on MDI, about 4-6 times per day. On the pump, I test typically 6-10 times per day.
Hmm... 2 years, MDI, not sure if considered a Vet yet. I test 5 times on average; when it's hot out (I can't feel my lows when it's hot) I test around 8 times a day.
I test 4-5 times a day. Probably should test more often than that though......
I dont get why testing that often is needed. From what I understand or understood you are not suppose to inject insulin again until after the 2 hour mark from the first injection and so on. Then when I think about it the pump gives it to more often so that is dumb. grr I swear I am never going to get all of this.
Jessica,
Testing after eating, before the two hour mark, lets you know how high your BG is peaking while your food and insulin go to work. As a general rule, the BG level should rise no more than about 60 mg/dL more than the number you started at before eating (unless you are also taking corrective insulin for a high, on top of the insulin for food, at the same time), if you've "done it right". "Doing it right" involves correctly knowing/guessing the carb count, timing the insulin correctly, and if you're a pump user - using the proper type of bolus for what you're eating. As you know, there are so many variables to consider, and more frequent testing helps us know when we did well, and when we need to make adjustments. Avoiding high post-meal spikes can make a significant difference in A1C results, and if you haven't guessed your carbs correctly, you can hopefully catch it with some extra insulin before you really shoot up high.
Hope this helps!
iT CAN BE CONFUSSING BUT I WILL TRY TO SUM IT UP LIKE THIS. YOU NEED INSULIN AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER TO STAY ALIVE. THE KEY IS HOW MUCH AND WHEN. BASAL INSULIN WHEATHER IT BE FROM A PUMP OR FROM INJECTIONS OF SAY LANTUS OR LEVIMER SHOULD NOT LOWER YOUR BLOOD GLUCOSE BUT RATHER JUST MAINTAIN IT WHERE IT IS AT. sO FOR ME GETTING MY BASAL INSULIN SET RIGHT WAS THE HARDEST AND TOOK THE LONGEST.
BOLUS INSULIN THAT YOU TAKE WITH EVERY MEAL SHOULD NOT BE STACKED OR TAKEN TO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. 2 HOURS IS THE TIME USED TO ALLOW THE FIRST ONE TO REACH FULL POTENTIAL. THEN IF YOU ARE TOO HIGH YOU CAN TAKE MORE AS IT WILL TAKE THE NEW BOLUS AS MUCH TIME TO START WORKING AS IT DOES FOR THE FIRST ONE TO STOP WORKING. THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE 2 HOUR POST BOLUS TESTING. tHE BASAL INSULIN HAS NO EFFECT ON THIS UNLESS IT IS NOT BEING ADMINISTERED CORRECTLY.
Well I am doing everything wrong then. Except giving her her insulin. She is always high and needs corrections at meal times. She gets one unit for every 15 carbs she eats and I guess it still isnt enough. Well see some times it is and some times it isnt a weigh everything out to make sure I know exactly how many carbs she is getting. idk I cant wait for insurance again and to get her to a real endo and not the lady we were seeing.
jessica, different foods and meals are going to have different responses to her glucose. you might be counting every carb exactly right! but because of how the foods are digested, they are going to affect her blood sugars more. if she is eating a meal that is higher in fat, protein, and/or fiber it is going to be digested slower, so her blood sugars are going to rise over a longer period of time. these are times when you might consider giving her 2 shots (if she'll let you). one shot at the beginning of the meal to combat the immediate rise in blood sugars, and one a little later (maybe 30 mins-1 hour later) to combat the high that will come later.
you aren't doing everything wrong :o) you are still learning, just like a lot of us are.
I did get obsessive about it and gained weight. I found myself giving myself insulin when my BS was over 150, even if it had not been enough time after a meal.
I am shocked that so many are on the CGM! If your A1C is under 7, why would you bother? You are already in good control. I wore it for a couple of days and besides being incredibly painful, it made me obsess about my BS and I found myself giving myself little boluses here and there, which caused weight gain. It is just sitting in the box on a shelf...
a lot of people have a1cs under 7 because they are on the cgm. it is useful to know where your numbers are without having to constantly test. i do not wear a cgm, but i would love to. my a1c is 7.1. i am waiting for a little better technology before i purchase one (and for my insurance to actually cover it).
sorry about the duplicate post...still trying to figure this out!
haha. no worries :o) welcome to juvenation, by the way! glad to have you here.
I was actually about 6.2 when the CGM was recommended...it was really not necessary, but I upgraded anyway.
Has anyone else had issues with skin rash/allergy from the tape? I have had that issue for about 6 years and FINALLY found a remedy...Vistaril!
donna, if you type "tape" or "skin rash" into the search feature, you will find LOTS of posts about this! i'm not sure if vistaril has come up before. i'm sure the others will be glad to hear about your remedy in the other threads!
thanks...can you tell I am an adult with attention-deficit :)
haha. we'll file it under "still trying to learn juvenation".