Aren't most accuchecks ordered ac and hs? Not AFTER meals?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

She is doing a post-prandial blood sugar. But they are usually done 1-2 hours after a meal,, not right after. They are ordered for people who may not be on medication, and the doctor wants to monitor how fast sugar levels go up after a meal. He may stop those after a while and he sees her pattern, then he can better adjust what he may want to put her on.. google it and it might help.

We have a doc that only orders post-prandial sugars even in the hospital,, i have no clue what his logic is,, but thats how he does it. Of course he needed to retire about 20 years ago.

MargRN, BSN · Jun 9, 2005

I was going blank but I don't think I've heard of a PP since nursing school days. Hmmmmmm... I'll check into that some more.

THANK YOU! :)

tvccrn, ASN, RN · Jun 9, 2005

I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and being a nurse I assumed that I would be checking before meals also. But, they have recently gone to the 2 hour post meal check for the type 2's as a way to help assess the body's making of insulin and as a way to trend decline. From the explanation I got, it's supposed to be a more sensitive reading as to how well the system functions and will pick up any decrease in function of the pancreas quicker.

I hope this helps.

tvccrn

rogramjet · Jun 9, 2005

We teach our patients that their BG should be below 140 mg/dl 2 hrs PP. My doctor likes to see a 2 hr PP after your biggest meal to see how well you are processing your meals. It helps our patients by showing them patterns, and by pointing out "trigger" foods. Everybody reacts differently to different foods, by taking a PP and keeping a food diary we can help identify foods that give them trouble.

I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and being a nurse I assumed that I would be checking before meals also. But, they have recently gone to the 2 hour post meal check for the type 2's as a way to help assess the body's making of insulin and as a way to trend decline. From the explanation I got, it's supposed to be a more sensitive reading as to how well the system functions and will pick up any decrease in function of the pancreas quicker.
I hope this helps.
tvccrn

allnurses Guide · Jun 9, 2005

My husband was recently diagnosed with diabetes and his doctor has him check his blood sugar before he eats and then two hours after.

steph

markjrn · Jun 9, 2005

I have always seen accuchecks ordered ac and hs or BID with instructions before breakfast and just before supper.
My MIL lives in another state, has history of mini-strokes (memory trouble), has artificial heart valves and just got a new diagnosis of "sugar diabetes" which her mother had as well.
Her info is vague but she has said that she checks her sugar after breakfast and after supper. I asked her if that's what the doctor told her to do... specifically "after" part. The info I've read said before meals unless specified differently from your MD.
I just don't understand the physiological implications of doing it after a meal versus before.
She's not on insulin. I thought she was on an oral med for diabetes but she didn't know name and something caused constipation and upset stomach and she said the doctor stopped it. I'm concerned with what's going on but I don't "get" the after meals part for accuchecks. Can you help?

DW checks her sugars AC, PP, HS and prn to get a clear picture of what's going on. Regimes are generally pretty individual.

sandiLa · Jun 9, 2005

I have Type 2 and take an oral medication. I check when I wake up in the morning, before I eat and 2 hours after I eat. That's the way it was ordered. I do know the reason for checking 2 hours after is to see if the foods you are eating make you b/s rise too much. I check at other times depending on how I'm feeling. I also check before and after exercise to be safe. This has helped me out a lot.

Maybe you should speak to her Dr. and see what's going on.

Sandy

unknown99, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2005

We do alot of post-parandial blood sugars... mostly on our end stage renal disease patients. For some reason doing this enables better blood-sugar control in these patients.

pricklypear · Jun 10, 2005

Last hospital : fasting, and 2hpp. Present hospital: AC/HS

Difference between the two : last hospital = endocrinologist Present : Family practice

Blood sugars were MUCH better controlled with F, 2hpp checks.

markjrn · Jun 10, 2005

Last hospital : fasting, and 2hpp. Present hospital: AC/HS
Difference between the two : last hospital = endocrinologist Present : Family practice
Blood sugars were MUCH better controlled with F, 2hpp checks.

Yeah, IMHO PP checks are very important - you need to know what that food is doing. Is the patient spiking, or what? Maybe if PP's were done more consistently, there would be fewer renal patients. Just a thought.