Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology (INE): Glucose Testing Resource Page

Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology (INE):
Glucose Testing Resource Page

INE glucose testingThis page contains all the activities related to testing your glucose at home.

Quick Link Index:

 

#1: Order a glucometer and learn how to measure your own blood glucose.

Glucose TestingIt’s very empowering to be able to measure your body’s response to the foods you eat and the lifestyle habits in which you engage. Testing your own blood glucose is the ultimate way to determine what’s really happening inside your body in response to food. It’s not that hard to do, once you get the hang of it.

On this video, I show you how to use your glucose meter to measure your own blood glucose and share my evaluation of several meters. Watch the part at the beginning where I demonstrate how to test, a few times if need be, until you feel comfortable enough to try it on yourself. Soon you will be breezing through it.

Glucose Testing Demo and Meter Review

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Downloads: Video (Mp4) | Audio (Mp3) | Testing Procedure

  • Glucose Meter Comparison Chart (Online): See the results of Dr. Ritamarie’s comparison tests among various glucose meters and strips. Compare price and accuracy to help you choose the best meter and strip combination. Check online version for latest updates.
  • Glucose Meter Comparison Chart (PDF): This is a pdf version of the online document. It’s possible that this is not as up-to-date as the dynamic version linked to from above. This is formatted better for printing.

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#2: Learn how to track your blood glucose and begin using your Glucose Tracking Chart.

Decide if you want to use the simple glucose tracking chart shown in the video or track your symptoms completely using the full version of the glucose tracking chart. Important Note: If you’re not testing your blood glucose, use the detailed tracking chart and focus on tracking the symptom components.

Glucose Testing: Glucose Tracking Chart Demo

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Downloads: Video (Mp4) | Audio (Mp3) | Transcript

  • Glucose Tracking (Simplified): It’s a great idea to keep track of how your body responds to food and exercise. This is the spreadsheet that is demonstrated in the video above and offers the simplest form of tracking your response for up to 6 hours after.
  • Glucose Tracking (Simplified): This is a PDF version of the simplified tracking spreadsheet above. This sheet can be printed and symptoms tracked by hand. I recommend you print several and staple them together so you can monitor over time.
  • Glucose Tracking and Graphing Charts: Beyond food and exercise, this chart includes additional symptoms that can be tracked to indicate your body’s response. The first tab is a symptom sheet designed to track your response to meals for up to 6 hours after. The second and subsequent tabs can be used to graph your glucose response to test meals and foods. Simply put the time and your glucose reading in the chart and watch your graph magically appear. There is a worksheet example you can see. To fill in your own, click tabs at the bottom for new sheets. If you run out of tabs, follow the directions in the final tab for creating new pages.
  • Glucose Tracking: This is the same as the first tab in the file above but it’s a PDF version. This sheet can be printed and symptoms tracked by hand. I recommend you print several and staple them together so you can monitor over time.
  • Glucose Conversion Chart: International to US Units: If you use a glucose meter that provides readings in Standard International units (mmol/L), print and use the chart below to convert to US units (mg/dl) so that you can easily follow any blood sugar balancing program recommendations (which are listed in US units in Dr. Ritamarie’s programs).
  • Blood Glucose Converter Tool: Convert between US and International readings. On videos I refer to the blood glucose readings in US units. But our friends in Canada, Europe, Australia and beyond measure blood glucose in Standard International (SI) Units. This handy tool converts both ways.

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#3: Learn how to understand your glucose and insulin pattern results.

Watch the video below to learn how to interpret your “Glucose Tracking Chart” and understand the relationship between glucose, insulin, and what you eat.

Glucose Testing: Understanding Glucose and Insulin Patterns

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Downloads: Video (Mp4) | Audio (Mp3) | Slides: Full | Slides: Printer-Friendly | Transcript

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#5: (Optional) Learn about the glycemic index and glycemic load (how foods affect glucose and insulin).

  • Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load: The glycemic index is a rough estimate of how a food will act in your body. We’re each unique. Learn how the glycemic index of food is calculated and what is meant by “glycemic load”.
  • Effects of Food on Glucose and Insulin Chart: Glycemic index, glycemic load, insulin index, and carbohydrate grams all affect how your body handles carbohydrates and manages blood sugar and insulin levels.
  • Online Glycemic Index and Load Searchable Database: Here’s where you can go to enter the name of a food and see its glycemic index, glycemic load, typical serving size, and grams of carbohydrate in that serving. Use this as a guide only and test everything on yourself. These charts were made from the composite averages of a mixed population, including so called “normal” people as well as diabetics. Your response to a serving size that you’d more likely eat is going to be unique to you.
  • Very Comprehensive Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Data: This spreadsheet from http://www.mendosa.com provides numbers that are to be used as guidelines only, keeping in mind that each of us is unique and you might have a different experience. Testing your blood sugar is the best way to determine how YOU respond to a given food. Recall the disclaimer when you purchase a car: “your mileage may vary”. Such is true also of glycemic index.

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#6: (Optional) Review these extra testing tools for blood sugar imbalance.

  • Lab Testing for Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar Dysregulation: It’s a good idea to get as much testing done at the beginning of the program as your budget allows. Follow-up testing at the end of the program shows you how much progress you’ve made. All of the blood tests can be ordered through Direct Labs at http://www.DirectLabs.com/DrRitamarie.
  • Hemoglobin A1C to Blood Glucose Converter Tool: As you’ve discovered in the lab document above, hemoglobin A1C is a measure of how sugar coated your red blood cells are. This tool estimates your average blood glucose from your hemoglobin A1C. This average is 24 hours a day, so it reflects fasting glucose averaged with post meal glucose. Ideal range of hemoglobin A1C is 4.5 to 5. to average.
  • HOMA-IR Calculator: HOMA-IR stands for Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance. It indicates the presence of and the extent of insulin resistance you might currently express. It is a great way to see the relationship between your fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin.
    Healthy Range: 1.0 (0.5 – 1.4)

    • Less than 1.0 means you are insulin-sensitive which is optimal.
    • Above 1.9 indicates early insulin resistance.
    • Above 2.9 indicates significant insulin resistance.

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