Letting down your guard, be carefull.

[Larry H.]

The other day I had a doctors visit to determine if I could get some test strip coverage now that I had medicare. He sent me for some test, which in all honesty don't seem overly reliable. They used a after eating a large breakfast test which was timed to two hours after the meal was completed. Not the way I was taught here.. But I got a 71 on it according to them.. My average blood glucose over a 90 day period was according to them from107 to 120.. Also not a common way to report.
So the doctors office felt I didn't need to be watching my foods nearly as closely, and certianly not testing regularly. I didn't exactly agree, but then the 71 after all that food seemed convincing.. so I have been eating a bit more like I used to and not walking quite so much.. Well after four days of that I now had a 112 fasting this morning.. My highest of the year. I can only think that their advice was uninformed, and that the doctor just is not very tuned into pre diabetic type problems.. He did say that I was that, but his feeling was that a reading up to 200 after eating was within reason in his opinion.. I probably should be looking for new advice, but it is a bit hard to come buy out here where decent doctors are rather hard to come by. I think I will just go back to what I was doing, testing a bit less maybe, but certianly watching what I eat and keeping up the exercise. What choice do you really have? I can see why so many out here develope side effects, they may be getting bad advice, mostly though take a pill and go about your business doctoring.

[xMenace]

I tend to agree you don't need constant testing, yet. A few fastings a week and a few variable post-prandials a week are fine IMO. You are looking for longer term changes. You don't need to micro-manage as someone on insulin or high meds has to.

I agree you still need to do the things you've been doing, eating and exercise wise.

[ladytaz]

I agree with you Larry, I think they're uninformed or misinformed. 200 after a meal is so NOT acceptable!! Infact, it's considered Diabetic levels!! DUH! [Doctors AMAZE me with their "knowlege" or lack thereof!!]

I would continue doing what you have been doing in the past. I also agree with John here, you already know how the different foods and exercise and all affect your BG. So, such agressive testing isn't really neccessary, but do check your BG at least a few times a week. ;) That way, if I rising trend does come along, you'll know it right away, and can "inform" your doc that new measures are in order! ;)

[wiseguy]

Well Larry, this is just more confirmation to what I already believe. Most doctors are idiots. We need to learn everything we can about our diabetes and think of doctors as just another tool (mainly for ordering tests and writing prescriptions). Keep looking until you find a doctor who will let you call the shots on how you control your diabetes. One that will let you view the actual results of any tests and not just give you their interpretation. One that will allow you to decide how often you test and prescribe test strips accordingly.

I know how conscientious you are about controlling your BG levels and how you've been doing an excellent job of it up to now. Don't let some moron health care provider destroy this.

[JediSurfer]

Just goes to show how the "science" is ever so slightly flawed.

Lets just hope you numbers are caused by something else.

PS

I have tested many family and freinds over the years and seen people with levels of 200 and fasting rates of 112 and non of them have been or have developed diabetes. After all the human body is not perfect and glitches do occur for what ever reason.

Plus the BG meters are not very accurate the manufactureres say they have a 20% inaccuracy. If they say 20% its proberebly more like 35%.

[xMenace]

He did say that I was that, but his feeling was that a reading up to 200 after eating was within reason in his opinion..

Ya, definately a bad number. I've slammed this thinking before and I'll do it again. Only people with no risk of going blind or losing their kidneys think like this.

[Evermont]

Ya, definately a bad number. I've slammed this thinking before and I'll do it again. Only people with no risk of going blind or losing their kidneys think like this.

So John, what is the highest number that IS OK?

[Ronin]

Hi Larry!

The reality in your story is that what you were doing, up till you got the lousy advice, was working. That is what the MD's are missing. They assume you aren't actually doing anything (in particular if you aren't on medication). Most of us Pre-D's can mange our BG levels pretty well with a combination of diet and exercise and even survive the very occasional straying from the regimen without negative effect.

In the end we are all responsible for our personal health.

[Larry H.]

Yes that the point I tried unsuccessfully to make to the doctor for the test strips.. I had lowered my levels so that to most uninformed people things look great.. I even wanted to believe it myself.. Well who wouldn't. I am still not sure how I got the low reading after all the food even with an half hour lag in the correct reading time. Like you said, at least we know what were doing.. I will just have to get back to the old routine and figure I will stick to it to the best of my ability exceptoin rare occasions. If I took the doctors office advice I would probably be on my way to disaster in no time. You would however think a doctor would understand that I had brought the numbers from the brink of type II and not say not to worry?