Re: Veteran Diabetics

bpq

!!!!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I've been T1 for 34 years. Testing between 6 and 8 times a day works pretty well for me (well, it's the most I can live with anyway). I have a pump, but not a CGM.

....WOW. You guys test a LOT.  I'm a starving college student-slash-full time temp worker (which means next to no insurance >.< ), so I like to make my perscriptions last. >.>  I test on average three times a day; sometimes if I go a day eating a lot of low-carb foods, or eating a lot of stuff that I already know the carb content by heart (stuff I eat all the time), I won't test at all except before bed.  And I've been diabetic for 2 years...that doesn't qualify me as a veteran though does it? XD;  I'm just surprised to see people testing as many as 20 times a day when my endo reccommended 6...wow. XD;;;

Kelsey Smith

....WOW. You guys test a LOT.  I'm a starving college student-slash-full time temp worker (which means next to no insurance >.< ), so I like to make my perscriptions last. >.>  I test on average three times a day; sometimes if I go a day eating a lot of low-carb foods, or eating a lot of stuff that I already know the carb content by heart (stuff I eat all the time), I won't test at all except before bed.  And I've been diabetic for 2 years...that doesn't qualify me as a veteran though does it? XD;  I'm just surprised to see people testing as many as 20 times a day when my endo reccommended 6...wow. XD;;;

I'm really surprised to see how much people test, also.  My endo recommends 4-6 times a day and I usually do about 6, sometimes as many as 8.  When I was pregnant, I was testing an average of about 10-12 times a day - and I thought that was a lot!  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?

I've got a friend whose had diabetes 34 years (since age 12) and she is on multiple injections (MDI) using 3 types of insulin to maintain an A1C of .... 4.7% (I've never gone below 5.7%).  She  injects (with needle - not pen needle - ouch) about every 1/2 hour to maintain "perfect " BG's.  Now for me, that's way too much - but for her - she's had some complications over the years with not taking care of BG's - and this is the route she took.  For myself, I couldn't do this. 

When I was in my 20's (I'm turning 49 tomorrow - pat on the back to moi <lol>) I didn't give much notice to my BG testing / insulin coverage like I have done over the last 6 years.  So, obviously .. FOR ME ... remember  we're all different in how we maintain our diabetes - my hit/miss with BG testing, insulin coverage worked for me.  I think where you know something is wrong with your D is when you start to not heal properly, get infections, yadda, yadda, yadda. 

Did my not testing that frequently effect my internal organs? So far no, touch wood (darn my furniture is from IKEA - no wood <lol>), but maybe with time, since I've been diabetic so long it might.  I just don't look at the evil side of diabetes ... << most of the time  >>.  I've been a sclump lately because of not getting my BG's below 8 / 144 (I'm on an Animas 2020) but it happens to all of us sometimes - stress, whatever.  Anyway,  after having a talk with my Mum the other day where she still can't believe I want to sail across the ocean because "what will you do for insulin, etc." - I told her diabetes doesn't stop me from accomplishing anything - it's just the $$$ bit that does. Please leave me wads of money when you kick the bucket (only kidding, I hope my Mum spends it all before then - and enjoys life to the fullest).

BTW, I live in Canada, so here our blood meter strips are pretty well covered, it depends on the province (aka State) - some have better coverage then others. Where I live in QC, we're pretty socialistic - like France - so we've pretty well covered - even if you are not making big bucks.

Katie

I am on a cgm but before it was like 8-10 times now its like 5-6

Same -- we must be on the same schedule!

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?

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.