newbie type II: needs help w/ timing BG tests

Hi - I've been learning to test my blood sugar with a home kit for a month now, since being diagnosed with new Type II diabetes. I've got a few things down pat - the setting up, testing, and breaking down the kit. Logging the results.

Buuuut. But, I am all over the place trying to figure out WHEN to test.

Yes, yes, yes, the diabetes educator has instructed me about the time for a.m. fasting test, then the pre- and post-prandial times, and the before meals time, and the before bed time.

Buuuut. But, it seems to me that these test times ASSUME YOU DON'T EAT ALL THE TIME. (I'm pre-sugery, prepping to get an RNY.) I don't really let more than two hours go by without a meal or a snack. And, as a result, I'm not sure when I should be tesing, given my eating patterns.

My big question is this:

How soon after eating can I test as "before lunch" or "before dinner" or "before bed"? For each of those, should I have NOT eaten for 2 hours? If I've eaten more recently, then should I skip that test and try for a time when the piehole's been shut for a while (2 hours?)?

Does this make any sense? I could not seem to get my diabetes educator to understand what I'm asking. Maybe you have an answer (or at least a better way of asking)? I think she thinks I'm going to magically follow the diabetes eating plan to a T after 15 years of three meals, and two snacks, a day until after dinner when all hel* breaks loose in the eating department.

Any ideas for me? I've been at this testing effort for one month. Each test is pretty much right above the high level of the healthy range or points beyond.

Check your sugar in the moring before breakfast (fasting blood sugar) and record the time then check it 1 hour after you eat and record the time. Check before lunch then 1 hour later same for dinner then check before you go to bed.

It is assumed by your doctors you will stick to some sort of diet after you have been diagnosed being diabetic, you and i know thats not always the case but if you eat meals bweteen meals it will make it almost impossible to control your blood sugar shots or not, i have been there and done that, or tried to. Some bariatric plans will require your blood sugars to be under control before surgery.

Are you taking oral meds or shots or both? Long acting or short acting insulin or both? It is important you keep track of your blood sugars espeacially if you are taking insulin, short acting will bring your sugars down RIGHT NOW and too low is as bad as too high. Long acting will help keep it in check for longer periods. Once you start your two week preop diet you must be very very good about checking your blood sugar, the lower calories will cause your blood sugars to drop. I was able to stop taking diabetes meds during my two week pre-op diet and never went back on them, my A1C is now normal.

I do not know what a diabetes educator is but your doctor should be able to tell you how to check your blood sugars in the proper manner, if they have a hard time ask if you can see an Endocronologist, a doctor who specalizes in diabetes.

I will add that for me having to jump through hoops checking my blood sugars (5 finger *****s a day or more) and taking upwards of 7 shots a day ( 2 lantus long acting and then regular insulin on a sliding scale depending on what my sugars were before each meal) was a major contributing factor in my choice to have WLS. I hated taking shots, my fingers hurt from all the sticks, it basicaly sucked!

Hope that helps..good luck!

Hi - Just oral meds (no shots). I feel like I've spent January getting a baseline of BG data and now am getting ready to figure out how to adjust using food. Like cutting out chocolate late at night. I've been increasing fiber, and attempting to reduce portions (calories). I guess I should increase the number of BG tests I do a day. The educator instructed me to 1) always do fasting-morning tests, and 2) pick one more time during that day to test. I feel I need more data to track patterns related to what I'm eating. I'll check back with the educator tomorrow, and then send the January data to my PCP for her feedback. --- I'm just not used to keeping track of myself so much! :) But, I've realized this week I need to learn so much about body chemistry, exercise science, and nutrition, not to mention learning how to grocery shop & cook bari-friendly. Over. Whelm. Ing. --- But, yep, the new diabetes dx was the last straw. I entered WLS-land without a moment's hesitation.

If your 2-hour post-prandial from breakfast happens to be the same time as your pre-meal for lunch (or snack or whatever), so be it. Just check as often as you can and track the trends.

Check your fasting when you wake up (obviously), and if you can't check 2 hours post-prandial after everything you eat, maybe try checking at 1 hour and then 90 minutes to at least see if, by 90 minutes, your level is starting to go back down as it should.

Thanks!