It took me about a week after my diagnosis to muster up the courage and now I do it without thinking. I am a big "whoose"!!

If your poker has a depth setting put it on the lowest setting, if it doesn't rush right out to Walmart or local pharmacy and pick up a poker LOL They have them with different depth settings. Once you get that and get it loaded and it's on the lowest setting just push the button and reset push the button and reset push the button and reset until you get used to the sound. Then put it on your finger. Put it towards the side of your finger not in the center of the tip.. Hurts less and yields plenty of blood. Mine doesn't hurt at all. In fact most times I don't think it's poked but squeeze my finger and enough blood comes right on out. They are very inexpensive to purchase and most lancets fit most pokers. Hope that helps. The more you do it the less it'll cause anxiety but I've been a diabetic for 20 years and I do still have a small amount when it comes to testing, but honestly it doesn't hurt.

Well.. I finally got it over with. I ate about 30 minutes ago and my blood sugar right now is 190. I'm not sure what that means. My doctor isn't very forthcoming with information.

Honestly, the way he told me I was diabetic is he had one of the nurses send me an envelope stuffed with Type 2 Diabetes pamphlets and a note that said:

"Your sugar test was elevated. 7.7% - Goal is under 7.0% - 7.7% is equal to 174/24 a day. Besides watching your diet we do need to add a medicine - prescription for Glimepiride 2mg 1 a day."

He didn't call me. He didn't talk to me about it on my next visit. I've tried asking questions but he skirts the answers.

I don't understand what any of that means. I don't know what Glimepiride is. I have the prescription but I've yet to take it. I had to ask my doctor for a prescription for a meter so my insurance would cover one. He wanted me to start the meds without even testing.

I... I just don't know what else to say.

My doctor has me test only once a day in the morning before eating. Blood Glucose will be like a roller coaster all day long and you can drive yourself nuts testing. If your fasting BG is good and your A1C (blood test at the doctors office) is good you are on track and it is considered under control. Your fasting BG should be between 90 and 120 --- but don't panic if it's a little higher or lower for a day or two. If however it remains about 120 for many days you should talk to your doctor about an adjustment. Your A!C should be below 7. You said yours was 7.7 which definitely calls for an adjustment in meds if you are sticking to you diet. If you are not sticking to your diet --- well the time has come to do so.

The internet is wonderful for finding information about a diabetic diet. Basically it is a low carb high protein diet. I try to keep to 150 carbs a day. I use the web site 'myfitnesspal.com' to keep track of the carbs I eat.

GoldenMas, get a new doctor! A good doctor would have sent you to a diabetes training session and talked with you about diabetes. You deserve better health care.

Golden....For sure get a new doc....that is terrible. Look on the internet and you will find a lot of info about how to test etc. But be sure you change drs.

I tried those pen things to test and got tired of loading it. I just take the needle and stick my finger....LOL. Have to use the tip of the finger the side does not work for me.

Ter....I know what you mean taking those numbers all day long does drive you nuts and fluctuates way too much. My BG is the highest in the morning.

Make an appt with a dietician. They can make a plan tailored for you to follow, as far as carbs/protein/fats, etc. Mine wrote out a whole meal plan, including snacks. Snacks are important to keep your levels steady throughout the day. After a while it becomes second nature. As for testing, it's a good idea to test a few times a day, at least for a while.Test before a meal and 1-2 hours after to see how your body is processing the sugars. And, as everyone else has said find a new doctor who will explain everything to you and answer any questions you may have. Best of luck! :+)

OMG!!!!!!! GET A NEW DOCTOR LIKE YESTERDAY.. Your insurance will pay for a visit with a nutritionist if you get a doctors referral also it could pay for some diabetes education as well with a referral. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GET A NEW DR ASAP AND get referrals for these other folks. If you don't you're sure to be lost.

The internet has an overwhelming amount of info some factually based and some opinion based and it can be hard to decipher which is which. After getting a new dr. if it were me, i'd consider calling the folks that handle complaints about drs in any given state and let them know how you were informed. That's just not ethical at all.

Get online, call health departments and hospitals in your area and see if they have any FREE support groups or classes they can offer you.. Controlling diabetes is hard even when you KNOW what you should and shouldn't be doing, but it'll be even harder if you are ignorant to the disease. Testing that short after eating doesn't give you the info you need..


Test first thing in the morning.. Test a few hours after eating/drinking any given meal or snack and test again before bedtime (but again be sure it's a few hours after eating/drinking).. These will be the best results you can get and will let your dr. know if the medication is working.

You can look the medicine up on WebMD or read the printout the pharmacy gave you (if they didn't give you you can call and ask that they print you out one).. Talk to the pharmacist if you have questions about it. That's what they are there for and generally LOVE customers that ask.

ON testing your sugar..... If it hurts you are doing it wrong.

Use a new lancet each time you test. Set the dial on your lancet at the lowest number and test it on your finger. If you didn't get enough blood adjust the number up and try again. Repeat until you get a good sample. ( Mine is set at 4).

Use the ring finger or little finger, they tend to work better.
Test on the side of the finger, there are fewer nerves on the side.
Dont Push in. Set the lancet on the finger, and press the button. One of the biggest mistakes I see, is people press the lancet into their finger and then complain the it hurts.
Breath.. Nice deep breaths, Sounds stupid but is true. Holding your breath only makes it worse.

Biggest advise... Get over it. This is what you need to do everyday for the rest of your life. The less you test you sugars the shorter your life.

I researched the Mayo clinic and got a wealth of information. The American Diabetics Association is another good source of information. And for those pesky numbers, try not to stress out too much. Stress can and will shoot them up. And being sick does that too It will hurt for a few seconds and then it is all over. I rather have a sore finger than the complication that can arise if you do not look after yourself.

yes find a doctor who will work with you not against you, many doctors have their own idea of diabetes and if they don't live it, then some just don't get it...we are not text book we are all different. I also hated needles but now I can test without thinking of it and of course the various blood work etc lol.. I just now consider myself a human pin cushion. do ask questions, we will answer and help guide you thru this new journey of life.

also test 2 hours after a meal, your numbers are still going up half hour after eating...test in the morning before eating, when going to bed and then pick a meal and test 2 hours after...the goal is about 100-140 after a meal but In time you will figure out what makes you feel better and comfortable range