Whats the best way to start testing blood sugar?

Question

My doctor who diagnosed me with diabetes 1 year ago has yet to suggest blood sugar testing on a daily basis. I see him in two weeks but really am noticing increased symptoms (dehydration, fatique, dry mouth) I'd like to start testing my blood sugar but can I just go buy the items?

Answer 1

Sure you can buy the items. The sooner you know for sure the better for your health. You can get it all under control early.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Yes, you can go just buy the glucometer and test strips at any drug store in the USA!! Not sure you can in other countries.



I recommend that you find a new doctor, ASAP!!! This one isn't doing you any favors!!!



A good doctor, any GP or FP, should have given you a prescription for test strips!! Glucometers are generally free or very low cost. A reference to a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a reference to a dietician!!! That is minimum for diagnosis of diabetes!!!!



A bad doc says, "Watch the sugars!" and pats you on the butt and says "come back in a year and we will see what to do next"



Diabetes starts damaging the tiny nerves and blood vessels in the extremeties and eyes at 126!!!! The higher the glucose is the more damage it is doing!!!



For right now I suggest you go to Walgreen and get the little disposable meter Side Kick. Check your glucose on rising from bed. and 2 hours after a meal. Journal all of this including what you ate and exercise (movement) during the day.



Next step is to go to bookstore and find 2 books: Type 2 Diabetes the First Year and Atkins Diabetes Revolution. These are the bibles for those of us who have idiots for doctors. They answer all the questions the danged doctors don't want to or can't answer.



Come visit the http://diabetes.about.com forum and we will visit more. A bunch of lovely people there who answer questions. We are all diabetics except the Guide who is a CDE!

Answer 4

I am shocked that testing has not been advised, since you have to know what your blood sugar is, before you can start to reduce it. But maybe he didn't suggest it as it is worrying seeing your blood sugar go up and down when you don't know how to control it. Or maybe he's an older style doctor who believes that urine testing is the right way to monitor it (it isn't)



However, as you have symptoms now is a good time to start. Go to a chemist and buy a kit or buy one online. You want one that includes the meter, a fingerpricker, some testing strips, and some way of calibrating it. I have a One Touch meter and I'm very pleased with it. I can link mine to the computer to preserve the recordings and I can note the amount of medication I take.



Prices for these kits vary. You may have to pay around £40 in the UK. You should NOT have to pay VAT so ask the assistant about signing the exemption form (not all chemists know about this, Boots does).



Read the instructions carefully then start by taking readings throughout the first day (Make sure you record the results) to establish a baseline, on waking, just before breakfast, just before lunch, just before tea and just before you go to bed. Don't panic whatever readings you get. After that continue taking readings once a day on a rotating basis. On waking one day, before breakfast the next day, before lunch the day after etc etc. Don't worry if its not convenient one day or if you forget, just carry on the next day.



Take the record with you when you go to see the doctor. He will then be able to treat you better or advise chages to your diet.



IMHO knowing what is normal for you will help you keep better control of your blood sugar and recognise when you need help.



Good Luck

Answer 5

You can purchase a Glucometer at any pharmacy. But if you have health insurance, most companies will provide you with one at little or no charge once you have been diagnosed, all you need is prescription from your doctor. If your doctor diagnosed you with Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1), you should be testing your blood sugar about 4 to 5 times a day in the beginning at least. First thing in the morning, at lunch, at dinner and before bedtime. Check with your doctor for the specific times he wants you to check. It's important to stay on top of it for your health. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Yes you can. You can go to your local pharmacy or Wal-Mart and purchase a blood sugar monitor. Everything you need is in the box except for the test strips that you will need. Occassionally, the meters will come with a sample bottle of a few test strips. Take your first readings fasting (first thing in the morning before breakfast) This number will be helpful to your doctor when you go to your appointment.



If you find that your symptoms become much worse, I wouldn't hesitate to make your way to your doctor early or to the emergency room.



Good luck

Answer 7

RE: What is the price range on blood-sugar testing machines? I think I might have a blood sugar problem and I want to start testing my blood sugar. I know you can get the machines at your local Wal-Mart, but I was just wandering about the price range?

Answer 8

I am highly disturbed that 1 year down the track since diagnosis your doctor has given you no education on blood glucose monitoring. I suggest you a) find another more switched on doctor and b) get a referral to a good diabetes clinic. Your eyes should have been checked for diabetic retinopathy at diagnosis. This doctor is endangering your life.

Answer 9

For type 2 diabetes, often you can adequately manage your diabetes by checking a hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) every three months. Daily checking of your blood glucose, I think, is more important with insulin dependent diabetes as there is a potential for larger "swings" of your blood glucose because of the insulin. If I had type 2 diabetes, I would not check my daily glucose unless I thought I was having low levels. I would depend on the HgbA1c to insure adequate management.



If you want to start checking your glucose that is great. You are being proactive. You can wait until your visit and let your doctor know that you would like to start checking your daily blood sugars. He or she can write a prescription for a glucose monitoring kit. If your insurance covers this equipment they will cover some of the cost. However, I think the A1c test is better when making a decision regarding increasing or decreasing you medication dosage. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

If you are in the US, Walgreens, Osco and a few other pharmacies all sell glucometers. You can ask the pharmacy to provide you with test strips. they are extremely expensive.

Answer 11

You need a new doctor.



You need an endocrinologist.Once you have diabetes you need to test often.



I wish you the best

Answer 12

talk to the doctor about this. write down all of your questions and have them answered before you leave the office. request a referral to a diabetes education class and a nutritionist.

Answer 13

you can go to your local drug store and get strips to test for ketones and for sugar in your urine, and yes you can just buy them. You could also get a unit to prick your finger and read it more exact just ask anyone at the pharmacy to help you.

Answer 14

check it when you first get up before meals and at bedtime

Answer 15

Yes, you may like at Wallgreens, but, it will be out-of-pocket costs. Make sure it comes with plenty of testing strips because they are very, very expensive. try the Lifescan products by Johnson& Johnson, they are very well known and reliable. they also have excellent customer service available like 24-7 on the 1-800 telephone number and, I believe alos on line, but on-line I am not sure if it is 24-7 hrs..... You can test yourself like before a meal, then, after the meal has been eaten like in 20-30 mins you can retest and compare the numbers. YOU MUST KEEP A ACCURATE LOG of all your blood sugar levels so that you can confirm and compare all of the info. You may also want to LOG ALL FOODS EATEN, amount eaten, and, all of your water and drink intakes by the OUNCES for your logging as well. This is what I had to do when I had Gestitional Diabetes while I was pregnant. The amounts of foods I was allowed to eat was dependent on my blood sugar levels BEFORE my meals....But, I was in danger of developing Diabetes and, I was so scared that I actually listened to the doctors! I cut all sugars, fried foods, and the only drink I could really have was water! Yes, I was allowed one cup of BLACK coffee and ONE slice of DRY whole wheat bread / toast without any butter or margerine....And water. Then, for a snack, one small apple,& water. Lunch was one baked chicken drumstick WITHOUT the skin, a small salad without dressing, water, one slice of whole wheat bread. Water. It was very difficult for me, I used to cry because I could not eat any SEE'S candy at Christmas time...But, I was scared for myself and my 2nd baby. So, I stuck with it. I ended up being a size 9 right after having this tiny 6 lbs and 4 oz baby!!! I was NEVER a size 9 prior to this taking care of what I ate!! I was a regular size 11. A struggling size 11 ....PLEASE, if you are having those symptoms, call your doctor because, perhaps you may need to be seen sooner.,,Only a doctor can give you advice. Or, his nurse if she has your medical history. I have worked in the medical field forever, and, I am actually in the LVN program at my local Community College, but, I would never try to give advice to like my boyfreind- he is an INSULIN-DEPENDENT diabetic, and, it is a very difficult, stressful, and, overall just a heartbreaking disease that has become the fastest-growinghealth problem in our country, and, sadly, especially for Hispanics and people of color... I myself am Hispanic, but, Bon is caucasion, and, his juvenille-onset insulin-dependent diabetes has brought him to many near-death experiences. In fact, only weeks ago, his blood sugar level went so low that, after becoming dazed and confused and well, totally disoriented to a point of blacking out, unknown to any of us inside of the house, he sat on the swing on his sister's porch in the front yard and actually passed out. He was out there in the dark for more than one hour that evening, unknown to anyone until his mom called asking for him..At that point, his sister ran out of the house, turned the porch light on and screamed for help because there he was sitting looking up eyes opened, mouth half-opened, skin turning blueish around the mouth area!!! Her husband and another man did CPR, actually had to massage his heart, pumping it manually like, and they had to do CPR for like 15 mins because the 911 call was slow to respond....Luckily, Bobpulled through with the defibrilator and the injections because, he was very close to death at that point his blood sugar level was like a 30!!!!

So, you see, I have been through a lot of terrible scary stuff with this guy and his diabetes-related emergencies...I see how a low blood glucose effects the brain, changes a person's personality in a matter of minuetes!! So please, please call your doctor. See a Registered Dietician for some real professional diet planning and nutritoan information, THIS IS covered by your medical insurance but your DR MUST refferr you and get pre-authorization from the insurance company. There are a lot of REAL RELIABLE INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES LIKE www.cdc.gov/diabetes

Center for Disease Control Govt website. OR mayohealth.org OR www.diabetes.org American Diabetes ***. try www.ama-assn.org/ and www.www.fda.gov www.usda.gov OR www.cdc.gov/nchs (Ntl Ctr for Hlth Statistics). Log onto the free info on the MyPyramid website, try www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines.



Now you have alot of information and some helpful advice. So, PLEASE, follow through and take care of yourself because, you are important. So, eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water, lots and lots of water is a good thing for every single one of us, water is so important and most of us tend to not even think about this...read about this subject- you will be amazed! Keep moving, walk, ride your bike, or whatever it is you are into as far as sports, dancing, working out with wt machines or toning with small wieghts, ANYTHING you really enjoy- just keep moving and you will feel so much better about yourself....Hey, I enrolled in a free wts and lower body conditioning course at the local Community College because #1 I needed the units for my degree and, #2 It made more sense to use our wt room vs. an over-priced over-crowded gym where I would feel out of place and not even have that one-on-one coaching with a personal trainer unless I were to PAY MORE MONEY!!! Besides, my instructor is a real well-qualified, well-educated PE teacher VS a "personal trainer" ????? OK!! And hell of cheaper too!!!



You take care of yourself and, I hope my advice is helpful. Please call your doctor's office on Wed OK? Please? I would feel a lot more at ease just knowing that you did, OK?



Good luck, I'll say a prayer for you tonight now, I am going to bed right now,and, you have a wonderful holiday season

celebrating whatever holiday you are going to be celebrating

and remeber- take it easy on the goodies and ESPECIALLY the bad stuff like alcohol too..... I am almost poitive that you do not drink anyways, so, you just take it slow!!!



respectfuly,



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