Need some help with testing

Type 1 and LADA
61

Dave -

I am not a medical professional, but I do a lot for researching and reading. Ongoing high glucose levels damage the internal system. I’ve been a diabetic for 36 years. I check a minimum of 9 times a day and I am up to 14 times lately, my A1c’s average around 5.x to 6.4, highest ever was 8. Per pump I had a number of 23’s episodes during the night. I bring this up not to brag, but because inspire of that I have mild neropathy in my fingers and toes. Just a result of the diabetes.

I am driven by not wanting to add any additional complications. By wanting to live a life worth living. We can only do our personal best to manage it and work with our professional team.

You can do it Dave, you have that in you. You did in the past and can do it again. I guess my secret is: My pump doesn’t have a timer feature but my phone, my table and a small timer all do. Set a timer and check. Someday there be a noninvasive glucose meter, but until then. Be relentless.

It isn’t fun or easy but it will become a habit that will reward you in so many ways. I trust these will be words of encouragement Dave.

Michael

62

Personal experience - may not be relevant - but I went through a period that if I tested once in 6 months it would be an event. Told myself that it was because it hurt my fingers too much.

After an epiphany with vision problems and about the time that alternate site testing became possible (my forearms, I began testing). For years I was happy a 3x daily but recently in an effort to lose weight (working) I am testing 7-8x daily.

Might be an idea to change to a differnt testing site to start "new."

63

Echoing some of the ideas already expressed here:

I designed a form similar to Dr B's. His was a bit too busy for me and had things I didn't use. Consequently I had to write very very very tiny to fit in some of the information i wanted. So I designed my own, along the same lines but with a bit more space to write. I keep a detailed log, religiously. It helps in all sort of ways.

I also use the timer on my smartphone to remind me when to test. That makes a big difference too.

As for testing frequency, it really "just depends". When I change something in my insulin regime, I will test as much as 10 times a day to make sure it's doing what I intended and not going south somewhere. When things are going smoothly, I may test only 4 times a day just to be certain things are behaving normally and there is no significant deviation from the regular pattern. Once a week or so, I will test all day just to verify that nothing has snuck up and changed when I wasn't looking. Just depends on what's going on in life at that moment.

There have been lots of good suggestions offered in this thread. As with advice from any source, you need to take what's useful and leave the rest. Find a combination that works for you, and go forward from there. Just keep sight of what's at stake -- eyes on the prize!

64

Try this I was getting lazy myself then I took one of my 4 tester in the bathroom so when I use the toilet its right there thats pretty much the only one I use and I use it more then ever now specially cause I think I need to go to the bathroom all the time and use it as a reason to take a mini break at work lol

65

I think it is easy to want to just deny that you have diabetes. I simply want to live normal and wish I could. It is depressing to think of having to check day in and day out and count carbs and dose accurately but perhaps the scare you are having will motivate you to check your sugars? Perhaps posting a reminder on the fridge saying “Don’t you dare eat without checking or you might end up blind!” Would help?

66

I test everyday, but when I wanted to increase my testing more, I literally left notes that said blood sugar everywhere. I would write it on paper and stick it to the fridge, my computer, the wash room etc. and check every time I saw it. Getting involved in the community will keep it on your mind. Best of luck!

67

Hi Dave — There is an abundance of advice here about testing but I would like to mention a wacky reason why I sometimes don't do all the Diabetic chores I need to. I have a sneaky suspicion that I am punishing myself for being Diabetic, I have been dealing with this for years and am cleaning up my act accordingly. Sheesh, a bit embarrassing to admit this but perhaps it works into your life somehow.

68

hi Dave , I have had diabetes for 48 years this coming Nov 1st , I also have had long periods of not testing , and periods of testing so much that my finger tips had big pits in them that were extremely sore, I have always been truthful with my diabetes team to the point that they shake their heads at some of the things I ate and the amount of insulin that I gave to cover it , I was on a long run of not testing when I found out that my med plan would cover an insulin pump , that to me was something I didn't think I would ever see , it motivated me to test , before every meal 2 hours after and also some 3 am testing to get the best info for the pump set up , my team couldn't believe the turn around and frankly neither could I , I got my pump Oct 31st 2012 , it helps that my pump has the tester built right in , but I test 90% of the time before I eat , my big downfall now is I got out of recording my tests which I think was the best motivation for me to keep good control , I was always 10 or over on my A1c and the 2 since hookup have been 8.5 and 8.2 . my biggest problem with testing was the sore fingers , I didn't think I would like it but turns out I love it ,I started using the adapter to test on the forearm I use a multiclix it takes a drum that you get 6 pokes out of before you have to change the drum if you reset it before each test I hope that some of this info helps you , and with the black spot in your vision don't delay get to an ophthalmologist it could be a retinal bleed or even the start of macular degeneration or a retinal tear non of which are things to fool with

69

I do not know if anyone else suggested this, if your not testing at all why not start off simple and slow. Set an alarm in the morning to remind you and in the evening for the first few days. Then add more alarms for the next few days. After awhile it should start becoming a habit for you. Like taking any type of medication or doing anything you have to set a routine. I am sure at first you did not start testing once a month right a way you built into that. Build your way back into testing. Can not hurt for you to try.

70

Hi Dave,

I'm too lazy to read all the comments, just want to let you know. You are not alone. I was diagnosed just before I turned 11, and am now 27. I've spent most of the time after moving out the way you describe. I think there was a period where I maybe tested 2 times a week. It's a small miracle that I'm still complication-free. What helped me most, was a very very understanding endo, who didn't ask me to start testing like a decent diabetic, but set very reachable goals for me. Just pick one moment in the day where you can fit it in, and get used to testing again. Don't rush yourself! Just now that you're not the only person out there struggling! If you ever need support, this is definitely the place, and these are definitely the people!

Hang in there!

Lieke

71

After 2 months of posting this, and 1200+ views and 6 pages of comments - the first thing I have to say is: Wow. This truly is an incredible community. While some of the comments are a bit redundant, they all have great advice and emotion put into them. I can tell that the comments coming from the vast majority of you are personal experiences, and that's what makes me take them seriously.

You'll all be glad to know that, while the past few weeks I haven't necessarily stuck right to it, I did indeed start testing 2-3 times a day. Much to my surprise actually, during this time (after not testing for literally months, at all), my readings actually weren't THAT bad. If I took the right amount of Insulin based on my carb intake, my readings stabilized quite well. I think my biggest problems with readings right now is that I am scared to take too much Insulin, due to not really knowing where I'm actually at for so long, which causes me to be notoriously high for long periods of time.

I've found (when I was doing it, at least...), that by testing even 2-3 times a day, I could correct for any misinterpretations of insulin dosages and keep my readings around a consistent 5-10. Which I'm thrilled about, to be honest.

I'm on vacation right now and am sort of all over the place, but plan on working hard at getting back into testing when I'm back at home, and continuing to see results. I haven't had an A1C, mostly due to fear of what it might be, for several years, and I think it's about time I took the plunge after some decent control. I'd like to know where I'm at.

As a closing comment though - you people are really, truly amazing. While, in the end, it's completely up to me and my habits to actually test, the advice, and even just general support here is incredible. I keep being surprised by email notifications, months after I posted this article, about people still commenting and giving advice. Keep doing what you're doing, your efforts are greatly appreciated. I hope others reading this thread, that maybe couldn't quite put into words the help they were seeking, have learned a thing or two or motivated themselves to start testing more as well. Keep the advice and comments coming, and I'll try to post again in a month or so when I finally get an A1C done.

Cheers,
Dave

72

Hi Dave,

I think most people if they are honest go through a phase of relying on their body to give the answers as to how they feel. However this is quite a dangerous situation to be in as I have found to my cost of going into hypo’s without any warning signs. I have really poor circulation to and now also a possibility that my diabetes is affecting my stomach. I have lost 3 stone in under a year. My doctors have referred me for a colonoscopy to check what is going on. Since I started having hypo’s with no warning signs I have now started testing myself more regularly minimum twice a day. There is no quick trick or gimmick to this you just have to be diligent. I usually leave my machine in the bathroom at night to remind me to test myself in the morning before I have breakfast, and because the bathroom contains my other tablets I take I tend to make sure it is back there in the evening so I can work out my evening dose after eating my main evening meal. But to answer your question yes I have been through the same stage of not testing and relying on body signals as to how I feel even to the point of not doing regular injections when I should have been doing them. In Britain we get to see our doctor every six months without fail for regular checks on how our diabetes control is going and leg and foot checks. We also get our eyes checked once a year. If your vision is blurred or changed you should go back to your doctor and ask them to refer you for your diabetic eye check as this is a very important check that needs to be done regularly.

73

I would take it serious after you have a stroke or heart attack.

74

Honestly, I set alarms in my phone for times I forget. That way you're reminded at least daily to test. To ease back into it, try checking when you wake up and when you go to bed. Change your lancet often; when I forget to change mine, I get really resistant to testing because it hurts.