[poodlebone]

At the end of each appointment with my CDE she gives me a lab form for my next appointment. My insurance requires me to use a certain lab in order for it to be covered. I usually go a week before my appointment so my CDE has the results when I see her.

My next appointment is Monday (July 13) and I forgot all about it. I was looking for the folder I keep my health related stuff in and have no idea where I put it. It's now already Tuesday (I'm at work, goofing off) and I still don't know where the folder is. Even if I find it tonight and go to the lab tomorrow they won't get the results to my CDE in time for my appointment.

She only ordered an A1c this time because I had everything else done at my last appointment. My A1c results are always in the same range and I don't really expect it to be any different this time but I'm sure my CDE will yell at me about it. I find the A1c to be mostly useless anyway. On the pump I can have an A1c of 5.4 which is much better than the same result on MDI. On MDI my 5.4 was achieved through a mix of extremely low lows and high highs. On the pump I still have lows & highs but not as many or as extreme as on injections. So, what does that 5.4 really mean anyway? I think my meter & CGMS reports are a better gauge of how I'm doing.

[Subby]

Are you saying that she thinks an A1c of 5.4 or thereabouts is something to be annoyed about or disapproving of towards the patient? Huh? That doesn't sound even remotely right to me.

[Funnygrl]

They should be able to call the labs they want into the lab.

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by Subby

Are you saying that she thinks an A1c of 5.4 or thereabouts is something to be annoyed about or disapproving of towards the patient? Huh? That doesn't sound even remotely right to me.

I tend to have a lot of lows which is why she doesn't like to see A1cs like that. Even with a pump, even with a CGMS, I have lows. Pre-CGMS I would still regularly drop into the 30s and 40s (while pumping) because I don't feel my lows. Now anything lower than the 50s is unusual, but I still hit that too often. Part of it is my fault because I have this total fear of high numbers. I will override my pump's suggestion and correct even if it shows IOB and I do often end up dropping too low.

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by Funnygrl

They should be able to call the labs they want into the lab.

I didn't think of that but it's already too late. If she wants an A1c right away I'll just get a form on Monday and go to the lab the next day. Otherwise I've got no issues with waiting until my next appointment.

Another thing I dislike about the A1c is that here in NYC all labs are required to report the results to the Department of Health. Not just the numbers, but personal information as well (name, address, doctor's name). There is no way to opt out. I'd just as soon never get another A1c done but I don't drive so I can't go to a lab outside the city.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by poodlebone

I tend to have a lot of lows which is why she doesn't like to see A1cs like that. Even with a pump, even with a CGMS, I have lows. Pre-CGMS I would still regularly drop into the 30s and 40s (while pumping) because I don't feel my lows. Now anything lower than the 50s is unusual, but I still hit that too often. Part of it is my fault because I have this total fear of high numbers. I will override my pump's suggestion and correct even if it shows IOB and I do often end up dropping too low.

Ah I see.. she's wanting something a bit higher. If you do have a bit of a tendency to court the lows, sounds like you're in a good awareness place about it.