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• May 12, 2013 9:18 p.m.

  I am T1 and only recently began testing 3-7 times per day again. What makes it difficult is convenience. I am on the go with my work, my life etc. Sometimes, I just want to sit down and eat or I am meeting people and want to make the most of that meeting and don't want to take the time to test. It's laziness mixed with feeling its a hassle. However, I decided, after seeing another T1 friend almost lose her eyesight, have to miss 8 weeks of work and undergo massive eye surgery that I still had a choice, I am not in those stages and I need to get it together. I just do it now and do not allow myself a choice. I still miss some readings, but before meals I check. It's helped me significantly since I know what is going on, I am encouraged to keep it in tighter control.

  - Loretta

• October 19, 2012 5:25 a.m.

  its amazing, ive been drniinkg the cinnamon and honey mixture like tea every morning for 4 months, now it could all be in my head but, my outlook and everything has increased greatly, my springtime allergies have ceased to exist, (i was a smoker of 2 years) a few weeks after drniinkg it it gave me the strong urge to stop smoking, and helped greatly during that 1-2 week period of weaning off the nicotine, it gives you a great amount of energy if taken with breakfast for the WHOLE day

  - Singa

• February 5, 2012 1:19 p.m.

  I USE WALMART BRAND RELY-ON METER AND STRIPS..EACH CONTAINER OF STRIPS HAS A DIFFERENT RANGE OF WHATS CONSIDERED NORMAL SUCH AS: 104-174 THE NEXT VILE OF STRIPS MAY SAY 99-160..DOES THAT MEAN IF MY RESULTS ARE WITHIN THAT RANGE I AM DOING GOOD?

  - RALPH

• November 28, 2011 10:10 a.m.

  i have been a type 2 diabetic for about 15 years reciently i had a heart attack now i have to find a way to enjoy the foods i like without being hungry all the time

  - chris

• February 19, 2011 4:13 p.m.

  I wish to add to the monitoring barirer list another one: L A Z I N E S S ! Which can be deadly. One of my friend who has multiple serious risk factors and I have known 25 years became extremely lazy. That is not masquerading as depression. A schizophrenic but a somewhat milder degree of severity of the illness going back 30 years his initial medications to control the symptoms were highly unpleasant and suffered a lot, from the cyclical nature of the depot injection's effect that from injection zombied him a bit then the plateau phase as alive and happy and as the drug wore off bit restless and bit disturbed in the 3 weekly cycle. The new generation drugs like Zypprexa oral form he is taking liberated him from the alternating misery of mood and physically feeling unwell to a clearer thinking. But at some costs: he became diabetic as result of the drug's side effect and been liberated from responsibility too. He does not care much about health and refuse the important adjuvant psychotherapy so essential. If he did accept, his medication dose could be reduced with attendant less harm to organs. Could have been educated and given skills to tolerate some level of anxiety and with lifestyle changes plus allowing himself to be inspired by others so afflicted who did the above and decided to go back to work, study, some are psychiatrists in practice! He choose to combat me instead and enjoy a contented parasitic lifestyle on social benefits.-

  - Joseph

• December 14, 2010 8:00 p.m.

  I take insulin for 40 years. I hate testing- I read of a Canadian company testing a pad that goes under their common wrist watch that senses blood sugars; giving results as needed on the watch face. The company was forced out of business a few years ago by pharmaceutical interests & the Canadian government. They were so close to bringing the device to market---too close to be unsettling to Big Pharma. I am so very disgusted & I tried to raise awareness in my country but was ignored & shot down.

  - LEWIS- cANADA

• July 28, 2010 12:36 p.m.

  Any one know of any relation to diabetes and thyroid problems?

  - cindy patterson

• May 25, 2010 3:43 p.m.

  Blood glucose monitoring seems pointless as the only solution that will really make the difference is to lose the weight. Lose the weight and there will be no problems whatsoever, the diabetes goes away, the neuropathy goes away, the complications all go away. It seems providers are all about insulin. I am on pills and will stay on pills. Insulin only makes weight loss more impossible than it seems. I have improved my diet over the years and eliminated many foods that cause high sugars. I'm entering the menopause stage and have experienced vaginal infections that I though were uti's and urologist confirmed they are not uti's. So a new day is beginning to increase walking with the help of better shoes, eating healthy choice meals as they are 300-400 calories and the right portions, and monitoring blood sugar levels more frequently. At least every day is a new start and there's always the opportunity to do it.

  - dee

• April 18, 2010 4:59 p.m.

  I am Type2 Diabetic for the past 17 years. At present I check my BG level every morning first thing when I get6 up. I do not do it more often and have seen this gives me a reasonably good control and awareness. Even when when I am not good with my diet since it will show next morning usually I get back on track within one day.

  - Nick

• March 23, 2010 12:52 p.m.

  Toni: Have you tried using alternative sites to test your blood sugar? You could also try finer lancets.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 16, 2010 8:33 p.m.

  What are the daily nutritional values you should try to meet, e.g. carbs, sugars, fats, etc per/day or per meal?

  - Evette

• March 16, 2010 8:25 p.m.

  Checking my glucose level is painful. I am developing a phobia about it. Do you have any suggestions for decreasing the pain.

  - Toni

• November 19, 2009 9:49 p.m.

  Anita: Newer meters require much smaller samples. Here are a few tips: 1. Use the clear cap on lancing device 2. Besides the arms, you can use the fleshy part of the palm and base of thumb. 3. Rub the area selected with your hand for a few seconds. 4. The area to be lanced should be lower than your heart (gravity). 5. Press the lancing device against the skin with moderate pressure 6. Hold the lancing device down on the skin to force the blood out until you can see the amount of blood needed. Remember that alternative glucose testing site results may differ from fingertip testing (which is the most accurate). Test from the fingertip when you note that glucose levels are changing rapidly (i.e. after exercise). Use fingertip blood glucose testing if you think your blood sugar is low or if you are not aware of symptoms when you become hypoglycemic, or if the alternative site results do not agree with the way you feel.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• November 7, 2009 8:42 a.m.

  Sticking my finger 3 times a day for three months has got my fingers bruised and sore. Is there another way to test B.S.L. without drawing blood from my fingers? I have tried to poke my arms but blood will not readly come out in sufficient amount to activate the meter.

  - Anita

• October 19, 2009 5:02 p.m.

  i never check my bloodsugar, im so ashamed of it. Ill have good intentions, then i just fall off the wagon again.

  - shay

• June 23, 2009 9:27 a.m.

  Many patients are so used to being blamed and criticized for their efforts at diabetes self-management, that they are reluctant to see their healthcare provider. Your thoughts on this subject?

  - Nancy and Peggy

• June 18, 2009 11:13 a.m.

  Checking my blood glucose just gives my doctor another reason to express his "disappointment"

  - JM

• June 4, 2009 11:39 a.m.

  MB: We just want to reassure you. Diabetes is a progressive disease. You can do everything right and still eventually need to go on medication. Keep up the good work and learn all you can about diabetes at the education classes. Your feelings are normal but please discuss them with your healthcare provider.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• May 28, 2009 9:46 p.m.

  I've recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. My Dr. told me five years ago to diet and exercise, which I tried, but obviously failed at doing. I thought I was trying hard and feel like I've brought this disease on myself. I'm so depressed and cry so much that I don't think I have any tears left. Yet somehow my body produces more. I've been on metformin once a day for 5 days and have tested a lot but my numbers are high in the morning and low after dinner. Can I have after dinner snacks? I have to go to more diabetes education classes, but I need to know that I will soon know what I can and can't eat. I feel hungry all the time. I'm on information overload right now. Are my feelings normal. Thanks for any help you can give me.

  - MB

• April 23, 2009 2:28 p.m.

  About diabetes burnout, diabetes burnout is common amongst diabetic individuals because of the high maintenance involved with diabetes management. A good book on diabetes burnout is "Diabetes Burnout" by William Polansky. The author explains symptoms of burnout, why it happens and what you can do about it.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• April 23, 2009 2:13 p.m.

  Readers, any advise for newbie? If you haven't already, I would recommend you see a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and dietitian. Diabetes is a balancing act and it is important to know what affects your blood glucose and how to balance it. I would endorse any books promoted by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Mayo Clinic has a new book on diabetes, "Mayo Clinic The Essential Diabetes Book".

  - Nancy and Peggy

• April 17, 2009 12:15 a.m.

  Suffering from major burn out and trying to break out of the rut I'm in. I've been T1D for 14y and I've progressively been checking BG less and less...I'm trying to figure out why I'm on this path, but more how do I get off!!!

  - Lisa

• April 2, 2009 8:23 p.m.

  Hello All Monitoring can be tedious but it beats the alternative of not knowing what is happening so you can take action. I have been a diabetic for close to 40 years and was very glad when the monitors came out for personal use in the early 80's. No more guess work, urine tests or waiting for the Doctor's office to call with the results. I now have a 5 second meter that talks to my pump. Makes life much simpler and easier. All of you who are working at monitoring keep at it - you are the only one who can do it. Life is much better knowing and controlling than not. CA

  - CA

• March 29, 2009 3:04 p.m.

  I absolutely hate monitoring, and the reasons are very much the ones you cited: I don't like the constant reminder I have diabetes, it hurts, nothing ever seems to be done with the results except to allow my doctor to pass judgement on me based on the numbers, and it is depressing--I feel like crying every time I test, whether the results are "good" or "bad". It is a constant reminder I can no longer eat what I want, when I want, or as much as I want.

  - outback

• March 26, 2009 4:14 p.m.

  Having just been diagnosed with diabetes and faced with all the new tasks involved with managing your diabetes can seem overwhelming at first. As you become more familiar with the process, it will become more routine and less time consuming. Remember, it's an ongoing learning process and you are not expected to know it all initially.

  - Nancy and Peggy