T2's don't need to test bg's daily (ah...yeah...right...)

spike · #1 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 02:51 PM

TheStar.com - Is daily test needed for all types of diabetes?

Does anyone here agree with the conclusions of a study described in the article???

ARRRRRRRRRRRGH!

My neighbor died an early death from T2 the year he retired because of poor care, little testing, and denial of his disease. He left behind a widow, many friends, and all his kids and grandkids. It's a tragedy that did NOT need to happen.

JediSkipdogg · #2 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 02:59 PM

I hate articles like that. At least they pointed out that type 1s MUST test, many articles forget that part.

While a type 2 on diet/exercise/pills can't make a huge difference in one day from a test, they can see patterns. I think it's important for a type 2 to test every morning when waking up and then possibly 2-3 times a week 2-3 hours after a meal to see what food does to them. If they see their morning levels going up 2 mg/dl every day, then they can call their doctor and make a change if needed.

Also, like the article said, most type 2s test and have no idea why they are testing. Personally, those are the waste of healthcare dollars. I think all diabetics need to be heavily educated in diabetes. Not so much that they know when you eat that the food digests and breaks up into little molecules and does such and such, etc. But they need to understand how their BG raises, why, and what they should be alarmed of.

Then again, there are still doctors prescribing NPH and R (not mixed) as their first resource for type 1.

lilituc · #3 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 03:36 PM

Geez! My own endo told me to stop testing and that my testing frequently and identifying patterns was "worrying too much about nothing." When I was a new diabetic, I didn't know any better so I believed him. I went down to testing once or twice a day at most and missed part of my progression. I was pretty upset about that. Needless to say, I figured out that that endo was hurting me, not helping me, and fired him.

Does anyone think this perception about Type 2s testing is related to the view that Type 2 isn't as "serious?" It seems to me that people think of Type 1 as serious because the blood sugar swings a lot, yet a Type 2 can be walking around with high blood sugar all the time and because it doesn't change, it's not considered serious. The Type 2 could definitely have the higher A1c, though.

spike · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilituc

Does anyone think this perception about Type 2s testing is related to the view that Type 2 isn't as "serious?" It seems to me that people think of Type 1 as serious because the blood sugar swings a lot, yet a Type 2 can be walking around with high blood sugar all the time and because it doesn't change, it's not considered serious. The Type 2 could definitely have the higher A1c, though.

When T2's have so many complications and deaths from their disease, it boggles the mind that anyone would consider T2 a benign disease, unworthy of attention to bg's.

MJB · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 04:53 PM

Having had my first CDE training session last week I am very new to all of this (diagnosed on 10/09/06).

The CDE, an RN with type 2, told us to test first thing in the morning and again 2 hours after our largest meal.

So, is this normal for a T2?

seacomp · #6 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 06:41 PM

Without even getting into the real issue there are two simple but telling errors of fact in the article. The first is "each little paper strip used in a glucose meter costs"; meter strips are not paper and haven't been for about 15 years, More importantly, because it is the doctor who says is "So 80 per cent of all people with diabetes are using pills or just diet". 80 percent of diabtes may be type 2s (I've always heard 90%), but at least one third of T2s take insulin. A doctor who does not know that is incompetent to speak on diabetes.
This is of course leaving aside why T2s DO need to test.

grace girl · #7 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 07:21 PM

When my Mom's dr told her she was having some high numbers due to insulin resistance a couple of weeks ago (they told her it's not diabetes....yet) he actually told her to test for fasting daily and to check two hours after meals several times a week. I was pretty impressed, for how else will you know what's going on?
When my dad was dx'ed with type 2 twenty years ago they told him to check once a week! I believe this contributed hugely to his poorly managed diabetes for so many years, and for the fact that he ended up on insulin about 5 years ago.
Even if a type 2 isn't on insulin, what they can learn from testing is vital IMO!

JasonJayhawk · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 09:46 PM

During a meeting of Medicare advisors in deciding whether CGMS technology would be good, we took a step backwards -- instead of approving CGMS, they questioned whether SMBG was even worth it. Total step in the wrong direction.

mg_2204 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 05:07 AM

The article says : " ... When you do surveys of people who are testing, in fact (they) have increased levels of depression, worry and anxiety compared to those who don't test."

You can't be depressed and worried when you're dead.

Of course as a T2 and on oral meds I don't have to test 8-10 times a day. But I do test! And not once a week either. The less I test it seems the less control I have. You can't play the ostrich game with diabetes.

jeggeman31 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 06:28 AM

When I was first Dx as type 2 my DR told me not to waist money on a meter. And when I did buy a meter I did not very often. I think a bottle of 50 strips lasted me a lifetime. It was not until I was in the ER with a BS of over 900 I found out I was Dx'd wrong due to my age and now I can't test enough.

lilituc · #11 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg_2204

The article says : " ... When you do surveys of people who are testing, in fact (they) have increased levels of depression, worry and anxiety compared to those who don't test."

You can't be depressed and worried when you're dead.

Well, of course people would have more worry and depression when trying to deal with diabetes than with ignoring it! Why don't they give me some of that grant money?

JasonJayhawk · #12 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilituc

Well, of course people would have more worry and depression when trying to deal with diabetes than with ignoring it! Why don't they give me some of that grant money?

I'm still disgruntled by the article in the latest Diabetes Care which basically states, "Lowering insulin before exercise lowers the chance for hypoglycemia."

The study was funded by the NIH.

Harold · #13 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 12:56 PM

This article, the study done down under, and the recent post about Actos all seem to be pointing in one direction. Health care providers, insurance and governments, are going to attempt to get out of providing the higher priced meds and monitoring supplies for type 2's.

spike · #14 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonJayhawk

I'm still disgruntled by the article in the latest Diabetes Care which basically states, "Lowering insulin before exercise lowers the chance for hypoglycemia."

The study was funded by the NIH.

Nothing like them stating the obvious!

seacomp · #15 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold

This article, the study done down under, and the recent post about Actos all seem to be pointing in one direction. Health care providers, insurance and governments, are going to attempt to get out of providing the higher priced meds and monitoring supplies for type 2's.

And, if they stop treating the complications - after all Type 2s are old, or almost old, when they get complications - lots of money will be saved!