Diabetics "must test blood more"

[BeadieJay]

Diabetics should be checking their blood sugar levels more regularly to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes, US research shows.

People with diabetes type I and II tend to check their levels twice a day by testing blood by pricking their finger.

But the John Hopkins University study said diabetics should test more often to make sure the levels do not exceed a set limit for a sustained period.

Researchers pooled data from 13 earlier studies, involving 10,000 people.

Diabetics are advised to make sure their blood sugar levels stay between 4mmol/l (millimoles per litre) and 7mmol/l (80 to 120 milligrams per decilitre in US measurements) but the levels can vary between readings.

The study said diabetics that test more regularly should make sure their levels do not exceed 8mmol/l (150 mg/dl) for a long period.

If the blood sugar levels exceeded the limit, diabetics were increasing their chances of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stokes, it warned.

Disease

The report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, also urged diabetics to have their long-term blood sugar levels monitored.

Diabetics can have an HbA1c test from their GP which can give an average blood sugar level for the previous few months by reading the glycated haemoglobin rate.

Researchers found that for every 1% rise in glycated hemoglobin in people with diabetes type II there was an 18% increase in getting cardiovascular disease.

For diabetes type I, there was a 15% rise in risk - although the study said the estimate was not as accurate as for type II as researchers looked at fewer studies.

The recommended glycated hemoglobin rate was 7%.

Report author Sherita Golden, assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the university's school of medicine in Baltimore, said diabetics needed to pay attention to blood sugar levels as well as cholesterol and blood pressure.

"The relationship between blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and whether this increases their risk of developing heart disease has remained unclear until now.

"People living with diabetes are twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to those without diabetes.

Tough targets

"As a result, many people living with diabetes monitor their health for well-known risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, cholesterol levels and blood pressure - but the big unknown has been the role of blood sugar levels in managing their risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

"Our research suggests that management of blood sugar levels is still a key part of cardiovascular disease prevention in diabetes."

He admitted keeping within the report's limits would be tough.

Among the 13 studies analysed by the team was the UK Prospective Disease Study, which was published in 1998 and was the first time blood sugar level and cardiovascular disease was linked.

About 1.4 million people have diabetes in the UK although another 1m are thought to be diabetic but not aware of it.

A spokesman for the charity Diabetes UK agreed some diabetics should be testing themselves more.

"For some diabetics more regular more testing would be helpful but not everyone knows what to do if they do have high blood sugar levels and it is not necessarily needed for everyone.

"There is also some suggestion people have struggled to get hold of the necessary equipment to test blood sugar levels.

"We have heard some PCTs are reluctant to provide the glucose testing strips for measuring blood sugar levels on prescription - that is worrying."

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3674336.stm)

[rzrbks]

Was re-reading this post because a new pharmacist/chemist where I get prescriptions filled asked me how often I tested.

me: "6 to 10 times a day, ma'am."

chemist: "Why, you must be a brittle diabetic having to check that often. My husband only checks once or twice a day."

I smiled, bit my tongue, and shook my head(mentally). I wanted to tell her that her husband was playing Russian Roulette.

me: "well, it seems to work just fine for me. My last A1c was 5.7."

chemist: "You keep doing what's good for you."



I really wanted to punch her lights out and then point out that Hubby better start checking his B/G more often.

Silly old cow.

[Belinda]

I am with you RZR... I test anywhere from 6 times and up a day. I even test more when I change my pump site and when I am doing things that are not in my everyday routine (going to a party and snacking the whole time). Those ppl that only check 1 or 2 a day I can't for the life of me figure out how they know what kind of control they are having but then again...I rebelled for a while and wouldn't test!!!!

[rzrbks]

1 0r 2 times a day =

amputation
heart attack
death

but then I got a bad attitude, I guess :mad:

[duck]

I am almost 32 now, and check my blood sugar levels at least six times a day, sometimes more (I can afford the strips, so...). But every now and then I think about when I was in college, back in the early 90's, and I laugh that during my first semester in school, I think I checked my blood sugar levels ONCE. ONCE! And I seriously do not think I checked my sugars more than 100 times during my college tenure...It's a wonder that I am alive!

[rzrbks]

duck ...It's a wonder that I am alive!

Thus the Extraordinarily famous movie

Lord, Love a Duck


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060636/

[archimeech]

Duck, I did the same thing. I think there is an air of invincibility that most young adults have. Personally, I now call this feeling I used to have in my 20s, plain naive stupidity. Why is youth and strength waisted on the young? I test about 6-10 times a day now and still haven't gotten my A1C below 6.7, but I'm working on it.

RZR, I find more people in the medical profession, just like your pharmacist, that don't practice what they preach. Heart Doctors requiring by-pass, dieticians that are more screwed up about eating than the normal adult, and nurses that are so obese and out of shape just because of being lazy. We all have the same health issues, wether we are diabetic or not, just wish more people would realize it.

[mg_2204]

... so why is it my doc told me it was ok to test 2-3 times a WEEK when I was diet controlled only??!? EEeeKKk!

Marie
:)

[BeadieJay]

that's what my doc told me too Marie :rolleyes:

[duck]

Until I went on the pump (2001) I was living with the regimen that I had been given by my initial diabetes team (which included a CDE, a nutritionist and of course, an MD): Two shots a day/mixed NPH and Regular. Test 3x a day, eat three-four meals a day. Never take more than two shots a day, then you have to eat more if you make a mistake...

C'mon. There is so much more to it. No one ever explained to me basal rates, and how to calculate a basal rate. No one ever told me that newer blood glucose meters were coming available (most of the hesitation I had about checking my BSLs was that my fingers would hurt bad after a prick). And no one ever explained to me that NPH could be killing me with its unpredictable peaks and valleys.

I am so glad I got hooked up with the Inova Diabetes team in Fairfax, VA when I decided to go on the pump. Even if I had NOT gone on the pump, I learned more about diabetes in one week there than I had learned in ten years of being a diabetic.

In any case, as much as I respect doctors and medical professionals, they are as prone to miconception and "urban legends" as any of us. I truly feel bad for doctors who need to know the breadth and depth of medical disorders. But even some endocrinologists and CDEs can hold opinions that aren't exactly right as far as proper diabetes care. Best advice--If you feel you are not getting the correct advice, get a second opinion.

archimeech, I don't feel invincible either. But actually, as long as they keep that kryptonite away from me, I do okay. :D

[rzrbks]

mg_2204

... so why is it my doc told me it was ok to test 2-3 times a WEEK when I was diet controlled only??!? EEeeKKk!

BeadieJay

that's what my doc told me too Marie :rolleyes:


Because if you're controlled Type 2, you are Pre-insulin so, just as with a benign tumor or growth, for example, you and the Dr. watch it but don't obsess over it every day knowing that monitoring the situation will allow you to live the best life possible realizing that one day, you MIGHT have to do something more that monitor it.

The old adage of "Being forewarned is being forearmed."

Hypocratic Oath: First, do no harm.

[gettingby]

I check mine at least 4X a day. Sometimes more!!!!

[Dewey]

I check mine approximately 8 times (or so) a day. (I used to do it more when I had insurance coverage for strips...10-15 times per day). I like to keep on top of it, cause if it does start to go high, I want to catch it right away.