D
debrasue
Guest
The two threads on fasting blood glucose levels are amongst the most popular and longest running on this forum but, to be honest, I have misgivings about them particularly the "very low chat" version.
My first concern is that they place an undue emphasis on fasting blood glucose counts, which in many ways are the most atypical and hardest to control because of the well known dawn phenomenon: our livers actually release glucose into our bloodstream to prepare us for the energy demands of the coming day.
This emphasis on fasting levels diverts attention away from pre and two-hour-post prandial testing, that in my opinion are much more useful as feedback, particularly for the newly diagnosed that are still learning about how their levels are affected by different food.
Secondly, it encourages comparison between individuals when such comparisons are not really valid.
We are not all the same. We are individuals with different circumstances affecting our glucose control: we have different types of diabetes, our diabetes is at a different stage, we are on different or no medication, we are different sexes and we lead different lifestyles placing different demands on our diet and level of exercise or involving different levels of stress.
A particular concern is the effect on the newly diagnosed, who will typically be running at elevated levels compared to well-controlled 'vetetans'. If they use the comparison as inspiration, all is good but they should not be disheartened if their levels are higher or slower to reduce.
The only person we are really competing with is ourselves of yesterday and the only opponent is diabetes itself.
This is not a race or a contest and the only prize is managing to stay healthy.
In reality of course, these threads are a tool and like all tools, as long as care is taken to make proper use of them, they serve a purpose, helping us to maintain focus.
This is the reason that despite the misgivings I post regularly on this version of the thread. If I am honest I am here for the chat, comradeship and support rather than just to share my level or satisfy my curiosity about how others compare/are doing.
Each to his/her own, Pavlos...
I do occasionally have time to post on this thread but, as you say, we are not all the same. I prefer to dive in and out of the "very low chat" FBS thread on a daily basis each morning. I take the opportunity to enjoy chat, comradeship and support on the forum in the evenings, when things have slowed down a little for me.
The brief nature of low chat thread suits me as I have little time to spare early in the morning, but it gives me a great focus to start each day, as well as a quick catch-up with other like-minded friends on the forum. I'm not aware that any of us look upon it as a contest...
I applaud anyone who is trying to take a positive approach to diabetes, whatever their method, so any thread that helps them with that process gets my vote. Variety is the spice of life!