Everybody keeps telling me that I don’t need to test 4 or 5 times a day and that I should only test before meals for Type 2?
I only take Metformin once a day.
I test when I get up, Before a meal, 2 hours after, and bedtime.
A1C is 5.5
Thanks,
Chris
I sometimes test 5 times if my BG is high 2 hours after a meal like it was tonight.
UGH dang sweets! 
In the DIY diabetes game, it is always more prudent to be slightly obsessive, than to be lackadaisical. Knowing you are going to test 2 hours after a meal, especially after known sinning a little, that future test will be a little nagging voice that says do you really need to eat more sweets. Not testing, kind of puts it out out of sight and out of mind which often leads to reckless excess.
You may want to try testing 1 hour after meal, which is most likely when your BG peaks.
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If you get value from testing, and make assessment of your choices based on results, then it is a productive activity, especially if it helps modify behaviors/choices to maintain/improve your control.
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Testing after meals helps to understand how specific foods, combined with other variables, may affect blood sugar readings.
A loaded baked potato will likely test differently than a plain baked potato and both will likely test differently if exercise is added after consumption.
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I’m not a type 2 but even as a type one insurance only covers 4 test strips per-day. I think that’s totally insane to expect good control on so little information. Luckily I have a Dexcom and only use blood strips a few times per-week.
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Exactly! But, the physician can put in an override for more strips. When I was on the G4 I was able to get 10 strips a day with the doctor’s letter. I didn’t need as many with the G5, because you can dose off of it.
I’m type 2 and currently on MDI with a Dexcom G6. But my insurance only allowed for about 1.5 test strips. In 90 days I would get 125 strips. My solution was to put their meter in a drawer cancel any more strips and buy a couple of True Metrix GO meters from Amazon and strips at 12 to 13 cents per strip.
Some times it is just cheaper and better to go out of pocket for some supplies. I just started on pens, Lantus and Humalog. The cost for needles through my insurance was twice the out of pocket cost from Amazon. I know a lot of people aren’t fond of Amazon, but as a retiree on a fixed income every dollar saved is one I can spend on Fancy Feast -
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for the cats, Silly!
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@mm1 I would say it helps me make better choices when it comes to eating.
Like yesterday we stopped at Subway and I had a 6" Tuna melt on wheat bread and loaded up on veggies. I knew Wheat would be a better choice than any of the others. I had sunchips ( which are made of wheat). and Power Water ( acai and berry ) to drink and I was right. my BG was 108 2 hours after eating that sub.
I think I also do it for control…
I wanna know where I stand before and after a meal.
I dont test with snacks but I do with my main meals.
Don’t let ill-informed or uninformed opinions of others influence your drive to be as healthy as you can with T2D. It’s especially galling that people who enjoy the luxury of a healthy metabolism voice their opinions the loudest.
Since you do not take insulin or any drugs that can lead to hypoglycemia, your need to test your blood sugar level is not so much safety-driven as it is an attempt to educate yourself about how your unique glucose metabolism actually works. That is no small project! Good for you for detecting the value of closely watching your glucose levels as you attempt to live your life.
Learning your body’s individual response to different kinds of foods, exercise, and sleep patterns are important lessons that cannot be taught with minimal or non-existent finger-poking. As a society, we tried that method (before home finger-sticking was a thing) and found that it failed big-time.
The best way back to full health for you includes educating yourself about the impacts of various factors that affect your glucose and developing consistent motivation to perform healthy behaviors. Testing your glucose enough, unencumbered by the shallow and nonsensical notions of uniformed and ill-informed bystanders, is one such behavior. Keep up with your good sense to learn how your metabolism works and poke your fingers whenever you think you need to learn more!
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If you are not on insulin at all, just metformin one a day, I doubtful would test. I am age 77, on metformin 3 / day, & insulin s daily.
Juist because they say you don’t have to doesn’t mean that you can’t. Just remember insurance is not on your side, the extra costs is most likely on you. The information you will gain is worth it. Test on my friend.
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I test 4 to 6 times a day because I take oral medications and two different types of insulin. It’s what my healthcare team recommended
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I agree. I get lancets and test strips from Amazon. It is easier and not cost prohibitive. Since I have a CGM, I typically only test during the 24-36 hours after I change my Dexcom sensor. My last supply of strips expired before I could use them all.
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I get my lancets free from Medicare. I test 5 times a day or as needed. Nancy
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