Required to send in numbers?

[kel4han]

Does your Endo require you to send in numbers every month? My Endo flat out told me I can leave the practice if I continue to manage my numbers myself :eek: She wants my numbers every month, forever. Forever! What a PITA. My a1c was 6.2, so it isn't like I am doing poorly. It really irritates me. I know, I should be happy she cares so much, but I already log and obsess over my 7yr old's numbers...it is just too much for me to even log or record mine too, I'm doing fine!

[JediSkipdogg]

Mine just wants mine every doctor's visit. And she just simply connects it to a computer and downloads and prints out the last 30 days worth of results. Then we talk about them briefly as she tries to figure out a pattern, however, since I'm on an odd work schedule vs. my days off, it's impossible to determine a pattern. Besides when I see her, I never send results in.

[lisa821]

Hi Kelly,
Wow, that sounds like a huge power play to me. If your endo starts sounding like a gestapo agent. maybe it's time for a new endo? If she says she has your best interests at heart, why is she being so intolerant of your needs? You're under enough stress dealing with your own AND your daughter's diabetes without having this person breathing down your neck. And you're the one paying the bills. :eek:

[SueM]

I can honestly say that for 20 years no one had asked to see my numbers.
I nearly fell off my chair with shock when the endo I see for my addison's asked me to bring in my bs numbers the next time I visited :eek:

[dgrilli]

At first in the beginning they asked for the charts and graphs from the Animas eZ Manager Software that I downloded but they really haven't asked for them any more.

It's now a more casual hows your numbers doing and what are your Basal settings.

She loves you.

[Penny]

My doctor never asks for them, but my insurance co. just sent me yet another log to fill out! It's only been 4 months since I did the last one!

[pjams]

One endo who is now retired never looked at the numbers, but solely relied on HbA1c. I check a minimum of 6 times a day, put them in Excel spreadsheets, color coded, based on low, normal or high. My new endo spends a lot of time studying the pattern and making recommendations based on the log. She also downloads from Ultrasmart and reviews with me. Not many doctors spend as much as 90 minutes with a patient, when necessary.
Surprisingly the insurance co. has never asked for anything.

JayP

[BriOnH]

Yes. All my doctors ask, retina specialist, psychiatrist, GP and nephrologist ask for my numbers whenever I see them. I just send them to diabuddies.com and it's right there for them.

Plus it helps promote mine and this site ;)

[gambi]

Mine asked for my bg/carbs/insulin emailed every week!!

They treated my for 7 months and my AIC never got any better than 7.4%!!!!

I basically got them to order my pump, and said see ya later. See a new doc next week.

[Alice]

Yes, mine have all asked for numbers...typically they want to see about 2 weeks worth...they don't have to be picture perfect. They just want to see fasting trends and after meal trends.

The last few years the log sheets have pre-meal and two hour later boxes to fill in...

My last endo (I've moved since) did it a little different. She would alternate days where I would post for one day, a fasting then after breakfast...then next day...dinner and after dinner. So, just one meal a day...each day.

Truthfully, that was a little tough to stay on "schedule"...so I just filled it in whenever I remembered. I would leave some blank if I didn't write down the after meal.

Logging is the worst part of being diabetic...to me. I use two meters (one at home in bathroom and one in my purse for on-the-go)...so, downloading one meter doesn't work for me.

The A1C doesn't show if you are having lows frequently. My endo isn't all that impressed/upset with an A1C...she is concerned about severe lows almost more than the occasional high.

[Cyborg]

If your a1c is completely out of control, I can understand the request, but as you state your a1c is good. The only time my endo threatened to drop me as a patient was when I wasn't taking control of my diabetes several years ago...

BTW, I think I have an excellent endo and neither he nor his nurse practitioner have ever asked for daily numbers. Isn't that what the a1c is for? :hmmmm:

[grace girl]

The only time I've been asked for numbers is when my a1c wasn't too great, or when I made a major insulin change. I keep my own records, my own way...and it's not in the neat little log books that they all seem to treasure so highly. Occasionally she'll ask to see the last week or two, but that's about it.
It sounds like over-kill to me. It's not like we don't have enough to keep up with in dealing with this disease, and you've got it double dealing with your child. I would consider finding another endo.

[notme]

My endo never asks for logs of any kind. My A1c has always been within a decent range. My doctor does go over what my average numbers are fasting and before meals and two hours after, but I don't have to show a log.

I would be floored if I was "required" to do any of that. I would do it if I found that I was consistantly out of range and couldn't figure out why by myself. So far that has not happened.

I really hate being treated like a bad child. :mad:

[xMenace]

No :stupido:

[smikkee]

I refuse to see an endo. In my experience with the two that I used, they tried to play me for a fool. I told my GP that I wanted him to help me manage my diabetes. He reluctantly agreed and I am satisfied. A1C October 30 was 5.7.

[xMenace]

I refuse to see an endo. In my experience with the two that I used, they tried to play me for a fool. I told my GP that I wanted him to help me manage my diabetes. He reluctantly agreed and I am satisfied. A1C October 30 was 5.7.

My GP & staff (they run a clinic) still think an A1C of 7 is great and say I test too much.; I only need to test 3-4 times a day! But they defer to my endo's note that says what I'm doing is great. So he has a bit of use ;)

[EasyType2]

My endo requests - but does not demand - about three weeks of BG readings. His only comments on them have been consistent....

"You have some major highs and lows."

Yes, yes I do. I've asked you about that dozens of times.

His reply is always the same. "That happens a lot."

[Funnygrl]

Mine wants mine when I come in. But sometimes they want me to come in every 6 weeks.

[Alaska]

My new endo wants me to download my numbers weekly, he is even going as far as getting me the cord for my pump. Then, he wants them emailed once a month so he can look at them before I go in every 3 months

[rocky]

Mine gets me to fax them into him every week until they are stable after a change in insulin. I have no problem doing it. It helps out a lot.

[alisa]

My endo looks at about a weeks worth of numbers when I have my appointment. He will download them himself if I don't bring them in. As long as the A1c is ok he isn't too concerned about my logs. As others mentioned he is more concerned with lows than occasional highs and he looks for patterns. (but never finds any).

Alice, I always use 2 meters. They can both be downloaded and the information is combined so the dates and times are all in order. Isn't software cool.

[kgm0612]

I fax my log sheet at the beginning of each month for the month prior. I know first hand that my endo looks it over because he has called me on many occasions to inquire about certain readings on the sheet.

Karen

[Jill-O]

Why wouldn't you want her to be aware of your numbers? I bring a report into my doctor every month and actually, if he didn't want to see it and spend time reviewing it each time, I think I'd be wanting another doctor.

I'm not a doctor but am a professional. Your doctor may feel (or actually have) a liability if he/she doesn't require reports on your readings. Like if someone came into me and asked "how should I invest my money?". I couldn't begin to give worthwile advice if I didn't know the details of their current situation and their future goals. Just like the endo needs to see your day to day numbers.

BUT, if you don't, I assume you can fire your doctor and get a new one. If for whatever reason, the relationship with your doctor feels like your on different teams, then something needs to change.

[gettingby]

My endo has me to bring in the previous 2 weeks readings or bring my meter. He uses these to determine where changes need to be made. He actually takes the time to go over my readings with me and listen to any concerns that I have. I see mine every 3 months. Like yesterday, he used my 2 week readings to change my I:C ratio for 2 of my meal times and to add another basal profile into my pump.
I love my endo !!!!!!!! (never thought I would say that, I hated him the first time I saw him).:D

[Mich]

I have a great Endo who specializes in Diabetes. He looks at my A1c each quarterly visit and raises his eyebrows if it's over 6.5. We then puzzle out together why it has happened. Basically I manage my own basals & corrections because I have more time and interest in doing so. He is there for the complex biochemistry behind the numbers and answers any questions I have.

I love having him as a backup.

[kel4han]

To me, Diabetes is "managed" by me. If I need help I would ask. If they wanted to really see the problem areas, I would have to detail my entire life.

Lets see, all the details of day to day life and blood sugar's that relate......

I ate an unusual dinner, I had no idea what the carb count was. I took a wild guess. I had to give a correction before bed, this is what I took. I checked at midnight, 3am and still had to correct both times. I woke up low, gee, wonder why. My kids were bickering all morning before causing my BS to freak out. I was almost run off the road on the way to work. I skipped breakfast. I ate a late lunch. I have a headache. PMS is setting in early this week. School nurse called, Maddison was 42 before lunch. Heart attack. Today I was in emotional despair and obsessed about that 42 the remainder of my work day. This day I didn't work. ****, every week my hours are different at work. I missed my workout, but had a long walk. Hmm, *ucked up my carb count here, and here and here. Adjusted my correction factor here. Today I am excited. Today I am happiest in a long time, 5 mile bike ride out of the blue. This weekend I sat around and did nothing. The next I did yard work for two days.

I mean really? I don't see how these Endo's could have a clue. Sorry, I am a bit irritated today. The demands of managing blood sugars for a 7yr old are getting to me today. :(

[Alice]

Yes Alisa! Software is pretty cool (regarding combining the readings of two meters)...too bad I'm not "cool" enough to understand how to handle all that software...the cables are enough to send me into a low!

Regarding relying solely on A1C's...that doesn't make sense because two people with very different numbers can obtain the same, even low, A1C. I've had low A1c's with terrible highs & lows...and slightly higher ones with more even numbers.

I used to be gullible enough to think that lows were good for me...that they helped pull down my A1C. Now, I look for steady numbers within range...without patterns (notice I said patterns!) of lows. This was reinforced to me by my last two endo's...who both said the A1C is only part of the review. But, it's a relatively new improvement in diabetic care (I've been going for check-ups for 42 years...) so, they are a good thing.

But, so are looking at daily numbers. It's not that much of an inconvenience for a few days...and I really hate logging.

[Dewey]

Like Cin & some of the others, I go to the endo every 3 months, and like Cin, I'm only required to give the previous 2 weeks of readings. The only time I've had to provide more detailed readings/logs was when I went to the endo in Seattle, and it was for very good reason: I was changing from Humalog to Novolog & he wanted to see how my BGs were reacting to the new insulin.

Like you Kelly, I feel that No endo can possibly have a clue what Diabetes is like unless they have it themselves. Textbooks & studies cannot possibly (& do Not) touch on all factors involved (such as many of the ones you described) & how each individual reacts to each situation. I like my endo, but have no qualms in doing whatever I have to do to achieve the results I want. I also get a little irritated when he says Nothing about my higher levels, yet tells me to have less than x amount of lows per week or month, etc. If I didn't experience highs/lows on occasion, I wouldn't be bloody Diabetic, LOL!

In a nutshell, what I'm basically saying is perhaps you need a new endo. It sounds like this one is extremely controlling & that extra stress is the Last thing you need when caring for your daughter's & your own health.

Also, I actually cried when I read your post about you stressing over your daughter's low. :( I'm sure my mom has felt & does get the same way about me when I'm low, and I hate making her feel that way (even though I don't mean to). It's tougher on the caregiver than it is for the person dealing with the disease themselves (even if the caregiver has the same disease). It's even harder when the one with the disease is a little one. Don't worry though, with your help & the help of others who watch over her, she'll be alright. Those may not seem comforting words today, but believe me, it's true.

[Alice]

One thing I used to do with my logs:

I'd write down what I was doing if a weird number came up...not on all days, just when I hit a high or low note, so to speak.

Notes such as: "Thai Food tonight" or "Walked 4 miles and dropped)...otherwise I never could explain a number two weeks later. My endo would always say...Oh, I see...and we'd move on. This helped a lot.

[Cyborg]

If my endo ever wants to see a log, once in the last 5 years, I simply hand him my UltraSmart...

[Erin]

My endo asks to see a log when I see her, and as I stink at keeping records she does mention that she can't help me get better control without more information... but she doesn't ask that I send in my numbers every week or anything like that. She'd just appreciate a detailed log of 2 weeks worth of numbers. Which is valid.

The only time I had to send in numbers between appointments was when I was changing from nph / regular to lantus / humalog.

I think it's only a reasonable request if it's for a short period of time with a clear goal ie getting stabilized on a new regime.

[sbuff28@charter]

See I dont understand why doctors would do this. By wanting your numbers how is he/she gonna do to help you? A doctor can't get any more information out of number readings that you can't figure out by yourself? The only thing a doctor can deduce from a high/low number is that you needed more/less insulin at that time. Then suggest adjustments you can just figure out on your own...That is it.

In my opinion i think your doctor is just trying to cut the BS out of the picture. probally trying to cut out liabilities and keep pateints from altering the truth too much.

I don't agree with it. I would tell my doctor he is just trying to be a diabetic babysitter.


Being a knowledgable diabetic erin, mabye a newb should submit numbers, but you have enough knowledge to come to the same conclusions that any doctor would given just BS numbers to go by.