Test or not

DazedSheep · #1 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 01:37 PM

I was told not to test my blood anymore 5 months ago. I'm far from controlled and recenly tested anyway 3 hours after a meal and was 23 (360 in american?) My clinic hate me because I can't go there so a nurse takes my blood at home for now. Is testing your blood pointless or do you find it helps? I prefered being able to test

belyro · #2 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 02:32 PM

Hi There!

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding why you would be told not to test. I assume you're Type 2, am I right? I really really think testing your bloodsugar is a very important.....EXTREMELY important part of controlling your diabetes. I think you need to find a new doctor who will support you on this.

seacomp · #3 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 02:34 PM

I don't know what options are available to you in England, but you must change your situation immediately. 23/360 is far too high at any time. You are young, so I assume you are type 1 on insulin. How can you control your BG without testing?
Years ago people could not test, and some managed, the lucky ones, to get thru without testing to managing their BG. There is NO reason why anyone should have to do that today.
There are many members here from England who can give you more specific advice. The best to you.

Funnygrl · #4 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 02:41 PM

Nah, don't bother. Testing is just a scam by the meter companies to make more money. There's no value to it.

Cyborg · #5 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 03:06 PM

Testing your bg is the core of a successful treatment plan and the key to getting your bg under control.

Bratty1 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 03:11 PM

When I test my blood sugars I am better at controlling my diabetes because it keeps me "real". I can't pretend there is no problem when there obviously is.

DazedSheep · #7 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone.I started out on insulin as a type1 but they changed my diagnosis to type2.I know I have to tackle this problem and my last habc1 test was in August so i'm due any week now. The NHS saved my life last year so I wouldn't dream of pulling it apart in public but the standard of care i'm receiving is low. Metformin isn't enough and I upped my dosage in June (of my own accord). Maybe I should go back onto insulin

JasonJayhawk · #8 (**permalink**) 11-18-2006, 10:44 PM

Or maybe you're Type 1?

If you're not overweight, you would more likely be considering Type 1 again.

Geoff · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 02:05 AM

Hi DazedSheep, Who is giving you the advice as to not test? Is it your GP or the Specialist at your local hospital? If it is your GP then I would disregard this advice, as many GP’s have little understanding of the special needs and requirements of a type 1 diabetics. At my own surgery they have more than 300 people who are diabetic, but only a handful are type 1, and the diabetic nurse there told me that they have little experience giving advice to type 1, or the use of insulin.

To be running levels of 23mmol/lt is a dangerous thing to do. You can run the risk of developing ketoacidosis (DKA) where your blood becomes acidic, because of excess buildup of ketones due to lack of insulin which encourages glucose uptake into cells and hence suppress ketone production.

Lex4153 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonJayhawk

Or maybe you're Type 1?

If you're not overweight, you would more likely be considering Type 1 again.

No, it's very possible to be type 2, young, and not overweight. I'm example of that.

It's certainly NOT pointless to test your blood sugar. It's very important. I've heard of doctors telling type 2's to test LESS, but not to stop all together. That's really odd. I know my doc told me to just test a few times a week but I refused and asked for more test strips. She gave it to me with no problem, a little surprised that I wanted to test MORE.

Are you able to go see a different doctor? I don't really know how your healthcare system is set up in England. Hopefully someone from that neck of the woods will come by and talk about that aspect.

mg_2204 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 12:18 PM

My mother was T2 and on oral meds and BACK THEN she was told it was useless and pointless to test at home. This was back in 1987. Needless to say, that doc didn't give a rat's behind about my mother either. So with that said...

Test!

Even if your doc tells you not to, do it for your own sake!!! That way you can keep an eye on things, and see for yourself how you're doing. By testing you'll also learn how your body reacts to different foods, diff stresses, and how it does when you have the flu for example.

Your health is your wealth. Never forget that!

23 mmol/L three hours after a meal... there is something wrong here. If need be, seek another doctor. It is you who will suffer from complications, not your doc. You might want to remind this to your doc when you see him (her?) again too.

When I was living in England, I had the best of care. My healthcare team was great! This is very worrying to me. Maybe your healthcare team needs to have its cage shaken a bit as we say here...

The very best to you!

DazedSheep · #12 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 05:12 PM

My mum said I should test so I might put a prescription through when I run out.The nurse on my healthcare team said the consultants at the closest hospital now advise type2s not to test. My bf's parents who live in the same city are told to test. Might see a Dr this week cos i've discovered a lump near where I was operated on last year. It's our bodies but some doctors and nurses seem to go out of there way to make our condition worse. If they refuse to give me test strips on the NHS guess i'll have to accept it

ladytaz · #13 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 07:45 PM

I'm sorry but I just don't understand these people telling their patients not to test, for ANY type of diabetes!! Um HELLO McFly ... how in the **** else are we all supposed to learn...

Firstly: if the medicine they've prescribed us (oral or insulin) is doing it's job or not, and therefore may or may not need adjusting.

Secondly: how different foods affect our BG numbers, so we can learn what we can and cannot eat. Every one of us is different, and a diabetic "diet" or "way of eating" or whatever you want to call it, is NOT an across the board thing! Just as med dosages isn't! What works for one doesn't always work for another!

My other favorite is: Oh, you only need to check your morning numbers! Um, HELLO I'm not only a diabetic in the morning! I'm diabetic 24/7/365!!!

This isn't just for OUR knowledge it's for THEM as well, so they can do/prescribe what is necessary for us to get our numbers where they NEED to be, and so we can do OUR part (eating properly, exercise) to get our numbers where they NEED to be!

This pisses me off to no end, to keep hearing this over and over and over again out of these docs and nurses and such!

I am utterly disgusted with the medical community these days! The more I hear, the more I believe that they all got their medical education from a $9.95 Walmart course or something!

It's a VERY sad state of medical affairs when patients know WAY more than the doctors about this disease! THEY went to medical school, not us! They're supposed to know this stuff! ESPECIALLY the ones who SPECIALIZE in Diabetes!

DazedSheep · #14 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladytaz

I'm sorry but I just don't understand these people telling their patients not to test, for ANY type of diabetes!! Um HELLO McFly ... how in the **** else are we all supposed to learn...

Firstly: if the medicine they've prescribed us (oral or insulin) is doing it's job or not, and therefore may or may not need adjusting.

Secondly: how different foods affect our BG numbers, so we can learn what we can and cannot eat. Every one of us is different, and a diabetic "diet" or "way of eating" or whatever you want to call it, is NOT an across the board thing! Just as med dosages isn't! What works for one doesn't always work for another!

My other favorite is: Oh, you only need to check your morning numbers! Um, HELLO I'm not only a diabetic in the morning! I'm diabetic 24/7/365!!!

This isn't just for OUR knowledge it's for THEM as well, so they can do/prescribe what is necessary for us to get our numbers where they NEED to be, and so we can do OUR part (eating properly, exercise) to get our numbers where they NEED to be!

This pisses me off to no end, to keep hearing this over and over and over again out of these docs and nurses and such!

I am utterly disgusted with the medical community these days! The more I hear, the more I believe that they all got their medical education from a $9.95 Walmart course or something!

It's a VERY sad state of medical affairs when patients know WAY more than the doctors about this disease! THEY went to medical school, not us! They're supposed to know this stuff! ESPECIALLY the ones who SPECIALIZE in Diabetes!

Hear Hear! Makes me wish I had trained as a Dr

Lorna · #15 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006, 01:35 PM

Part of the reason whay type 2s are being encouraged not to test is the amount of money it cost the NHS envy of the world. From your point of view this is bad advice- you cannot control what you cannot measure! I am type 1 and about 5 years ago was advised by my GP only to test once a day, as the NICE guidance is only 50 strips a month. This does not work, I personally need about 6 tests a day.