A Test You Can't Fail - Part Three - How to Test

During the last few days I have been reading instructions on various sites about how to test using a glucose meter.  Most of them are pretty good and get the high points really well.  However, there are a few things they miss, which can make all of the difference in the world when testing.  So, here is the process I follow for testing.

When do I test? I test when I first get up in the morning before I eat or drink anything except water, and then at night before going to bed.

The steps I always follow are:

1. I wash my hands carefully using plain soap; soap without any fragrance.  I found scented soaps would effect my readings - make them higher.  The last thing I ever need is a fasle higher reading.
2. Dry your hands using either a clean hand towel or paper towels.  I use paper towels because I know they are not putting anything on my fingers.  If you paper towels are scented, do not use them.  (Heck, I don't even know if scented paper towels are made, but I thought I'd hammer the un-scented thing one more time.)
3. Give the hand you are going to test on a few shakes to get blood into the tips of your fingers.  This might be more important for you to do in the morning than the evening.
4. Get the lancet ready.  Do whatever you need to do like inserting it, or cocking the lancing device.  Just make sure it's ready to go.
5. Insert a test strip into the meter.  For me, the insertion of a strip turns the meter on, so I have never had to physically turn a meter on with an extra step.
6. Lance the side...the side of your finger.  It's less sensitive than your finger tip.  I have no clue why every picture I have ever seen of someone lancing their finger shows them using their finger tip.  It hurts far more than using the side of your finger.  In fact, I don't even feel the lance about 50% of the time on the side of my finger.  By the way, I have used one of two fingers on the same hand for the last few years - I don't vary it.  Do what's best for you, though.
7. Squeeze your finger a bit so a drop of blood appears.  It doesn't take much to test - far less than a drop.
8. Apply the testing strip to the drop of blood.  It will pick up the blood it needs through capillary action.  Be careful not to touch your skin with the strip - it could pick-up contaminants that will effect the reading.
9. Rinse the blood off of your finger as your meter gives you results.
10. Dispose of the lancet properly - in a medical sharps container.  DO NOT put it in the trash.
11. Dispose of the testing strip in the same manner.
12. Record your reading on your log.
13. Put your meter and supplies away.

I know supplies can be a bit pricey, but use lancets and strips only once.  That's important so I will repeat it - use lancets and strips once and then discard properly.

You have done it!  You have taken the test you cannot fail.  But, will fail in your battle on diabetes if you do not test!

There are so many meters on the market, that I won't get into any one brand right now.  If you do not know what your meter is capable of, or the information you can gain from it - learn.  Read the directions that came with the meter, or find them on the internet at the manufacturer's site.

As always, thank you for reading.  Fight the good fight and you will win your war with diabetes.

"Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting." ~Napoleon Hill

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~Philo

A Test You Can't Fail, Part One

The whole idea of having to test my blood twice everyday was a huge challenge to me...just the idea of lancing my finger to get a drop of blood kind of made me a bit scared.  Looking back on it, I don't know why it was like that, but it was.  I just did not want to prick my finger.  Why make yourself bleed?

Why indeed?  Well, first, I have to tell you that pricking my finger was no big deal.  Yes, there is a bit of pain, but if you read the directions on how to use your glucose meter (which I strongly suggest you do), you will learn where to use the lancet so it really isn't painful.  I won't kid you, there is just the tiniest bit of discomfort once in awhile.  But, if you prick the side of your finger - yes, the side, and not the tip, you may not feel a thing.

Wait, that's important enough to repeat - prick the side of your finger!  Somewhere between no pain and very, very, very little pain.  Got it?

And, while I am at it - you only need a little drop of blood.  The scientists have figured out how much you need to give up and it varies from meter to meter.  For me, it's just a bit bigger than the head of a pin.  I'm serious.

Meanwhile back at glucose testing - which is what you do at home with your meter - it's suggested that most Type 2 Diabetics test twice a day.  Once in the morning just after you get up and then once at night before bed.  That's it.  Twice a day.  Now, when I was just figuring things out in the beginning, I was fortunate because my doctor prescribed enough strips and lances so I could test three times a day.  The truth is sometimes I tested three times, other days two times and sometimes even four times a day as I was learning how to manage diabetes.  I got so much good information from doing this.

I tested in the morning, before lunch, two hours after lunch or dinner began, and at night.  I knew what my body was doing when; I knew about what my glucose reading would be within 10 points after a few months even as it was going down and stabilizing.

What did I do with this information?  I wrote it down in my food log.  Learning what I ate and seeing my reading gave me invaluable information and immediate feedback.  I very quickly learned what I could and could not eat.

For example, some folks can eat wild brown rice.  Not me.  Any rice no matter the color or type causes my readings to go up.  And, I loved rice!  But, I learned that if I wanted to control diabetes, rice did not love me and became a 'has been' in my diet.

then, again, I learned that a basic (stressing the word BASIC) hamburger really didn't hurt me.  You know the kind - a basic hamburger from In N' Out.  Not a lot of dressing and the bun is not huge.  Although, I found that any number of french fires - any number - were off my menu.

How did I learn this?  By frequent testing and comparing the results to what I ate.  Recording everything - food and test results in the food diary helped me so very, very much to begin to gain some sense of control.

The message here is clear, I hope.  Test.  Test often  Keep a food diary.  And, use the results to learn how to best manage diabetes.  That is the first step to gaining control.

Remember, to manage diabetes you have to give yourself a glucose test at least twice a day; more often during the first few months if possible.  It's a test you cannot fail, but you will fail to manage diabetes if you don't test.

The First Day...I Do Remember

I know I have referred to the first day my doctor told me I had diabetes.  Fear.  Fear.  Fear.  I was afraid of everything from what could happen to me with diabetes (I have a vivid imagination) to the fear of changing my diet (and to what?) to the fear of medication (what if it took my sugar down too low...vivid imagination kicks in, once again).

At this point some folks just freeze and don't do anything hoping it will all go away.  News Flash - it's not going to go away.  Changes have to take place.

So, my biggest fear was the damage diabetes can do.  I won't go into it.  Chances are you already know, but in the event you don't, read about it here.

First things first.  Get the medication.  For me it was 1,000 mg of metformin twice a day.  I was also changing the way I ate - I have referred to that in a previous blog.  If you want more details, all you have to do is ask.  And, I started testing as soon as I could as much as I could.  It happened that I could test up to like 3 times a day.  In the beginning I tested four times a day.  I wanted to know exactly what was happening.  How fast was my glucose going down? Was it getting dangerously low?  Because I was testing so often, I knew exactly what was going on.  I began to gain some confidence in the process of diet, medication and exercise.  And, being a bit anal, I kept some records.

In case you don't know, your glucose meter keeps records, too.  It probably can go back at least 90 days to give you averages, and might be able to go back seven days for specific readings including date and time of day.

Remember, it's just your first day...things are going ot be changing - a lot will be changing!  Make the dietary changes, take your medication religiously (NEVER, EVER MISS A DOSE), make a few life style changes, and test, test, test the first few weeks if you have enough test strips to do so.  If you don't, ask your insurance company and doctor if you can get more.  You aren't going to need extras forever, just a few months as you learn you can control diabetes.

Because of all of my testing and record keeping I know within 10 to 20 points, or so, where my glucose is at any given time.  The last time I went in to see my doctor we got into a discussion about my current reading.  It was about 4:00 in the afternoon and I told him it would be about 80.  He said that wasn't possible.  It should be around 90 or 100.  I just said, "Test me."  He did and what was the reading?  78.  He lowered my medication, which caused me to change my diet a bit (he wanted me to lose about 7 pounds, anyway - but that's another story) and increase my exercise a bit to compensate for the lower medication.

You see, I like lower numbers.  It means that I probably won't have the side effects of diabetes. But, remember I have been testing and working through managing and controlling diabetes for about three years - knowing about where you are won't come over night.

So, you see, there is good news.  If you are a bit diligent you can control this disease.  I am here to assist you in anyway I can.

Thanks for reading.