Have you been told not to test your blood sugars?

[Mike d]

First I've heard about anyone in the field suggesting testing is harmful.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

First I've heard about anyone in the field suggesting testing is harmful.

I mean it in the context of them saying the person might become obsessive about it, and be anxious, stressed out etc. Some doctors actually believe that the more information a person has about their body and their health, the more likely they are to be anxious, so they think ignorance is bliss, and it's their job to know all the stuff, and patients should just be passive recipients of their wisdom. They are paternalistic, think doctor knows best, and they are not up to speed with the contemporary culture of personal empowerment.

 

[Mike d]

That is one giant leap and a generalization I think is going way too far. The overwhelming number of people here WANT to test, WANT discounted strips and WANT to keep track of where they're going. You might get the occasional needle phobia person but education here re lancets / settings / fingers reassures them it's quick and painless.

There is NOTHING wrong with being obsessive about testing and in reality any stress and anxiety is related to the figure they might see rather than the simple action that provides them the result. The ignorance is potentially a far greater cost

 

[ButtterflyLady]

That is one giant leap and a generalization I think is going way too far. The overwhelming number of people here WANT to test, WANT discounted strips and WANT to keep track of where they're going. You might get the occasional needle phobia person but education here re lancets / settings / fingers reassures them it's quick and painless.

There is NOTHING wrong with being obsessive about testing and in reality any stress and anxiety is related to the figure they might see rather than the simple action that provides them the result. The ignorance is potentially a far greater cost

Oh I agree with you. I'm saying that is what these doctors think. And clearly, they are wrong.

 

[Lamont D]

The surgery practices in the UK are becoming triage practices, concerning metabolic conditions. The biggest problem is the lack of support and funding and real specialist healthcare.
Our GPs assess and either let the dsns monitor or if it's more serious refer to either a clinic or a consultant in about 3 months time!

So many of our healthcare practitioners do not understand and can only go by guidelines or by the money required to help their practice!

Patient care usually in some areas comes last!

This is one of the reasons that test strips are restricted.
We use to have the best health care system in the world.
Sadly political dogma and political interference, but most importantly, the money spent on the NHS, gets spent in the wrong places and and not enough on prevention!

 

[Daphne917]

When I had my latest hba1c result a couple of weeks ago the DN said that at 36 it was v good. When I told her that it was slightly better than my meter readings indicated she asked me why I was making my fingers sore as I didn't need to test! However she didn't disagree when I replied that it was probably because I tested that I knew what foods make my BS increase hence my good result! At each diabetic review I'm told that I don't need to test but choose to ignore this advice however how many other diabetics heed it and, as a result, eat the wrong foods and are then left wondering why, despite sticking to the advised diet, their BS has increased?

 

[soldersplash]

This is not about whether the NHS should, or can afford to, provide test strips on a permanent or temporary basis to non-T1 diabetics. Having read #EveryCloud ’s post, and so many more like it over the years on this forum, I wonder whether we could gather together examples of Healthcare Professionals who have told people that it is either unnecessary or just plain wrong to test their blood sugars. It is a scandal that needs highlighting.

Yep, just diagnosed with Type 2 last week. Met 'diabetes nurse specialist' to hear all about how to proceed.

I'll summarise:-
Step 0: Diabetes 101 talk.
Step 1: Go away for 4 weeks, read these leaflets on what diabetes is and how diet and exercise may help (essentially repeats and expands ever so slightly on what was told in Step 0).
(FYI - My diet is fairly good anyway, I avoid processed food, don't have a lot of salt, avoid ready meals, rarely have take away's, don't have much of added sugar etc. etc.. and I struggle to be more active than I am most of the time because I have a form of arthritis i.e. I already do what I can whilst keeping in mind 'pacing' myself so I don't aggravate joints and various connective tissues and end up suffering serious fatigue which is utterly the last thing you want 'cos then you can't do anything for days on end!!!)
Step 2: at 4 wks Come back for, err, actually I forget the point of the next appointment - lol
Step 3: 6 wks after initial diagnosis submit blood sample for HbA1c test to find out if your getting better yet.

So, essentially some guess work, crossing fingers and hoping it'll go away - ***.

What _I_ want to be doing is testing blood glucose before meals, 2hrs after, 4hrs after, etc. to see which foods are pushing my BG up and which aren't. You know, actual facts and stuff that I can then make informed decisions on the basis of, to make the changes that'll really bring down my BG.

I have cut down on sugar by not having the one spoon of it in tea/coffee that I used to have. I have switched relatively fast carb cereals (i.e. cornflakes) for porridge or a cooked breakfast (low fat of course). The main effect thus far is I am more often weak and wobbly feeling which gets better after I next eat. Seems like a good indication of lowered BG, but I'd rather have a measure!

I thought, sod it, I'll get myself a BG meter and get on with it. Chemists attached to my GP's didn't want to sell me one because I answered honestly when asked why I wanted one. I said I've just been diagnosed T2, they said, you'll be given one if and when your Dr/Nurse wants you to have one!

I'll buy one online shortly I think ...


/edit/
I didn't mention the bit that directly relates to the question!
DNS said testing would be unnecessary unless on insulin and counterproductive because I'd get all confused with the numbers and stuff. Condescending much...
/edit/

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Yep, just diagnosed with Type 2 last week. Met 'diabetes nurse specialist' to hear all about how to proceed.

I'll summarise:-
Step 0: Diabetes 101 talk.
Step 1: Go away for 4 weeks, read these leaflets on what diabetes is and how diet and exercise may help (essentially repeats and expands ever so slightly on what was told in Step 0).
(FYI - My diet is fairly good anyway, I avoid processed food, don't have a lot of salt, avoid ready meals, rarely have take away's, don't have much of added sugar etc. etc.. and I struggle to be more active than I am most of the time because I have a form of arthritis i.e. I already do what I can whilst keeping in mind 'pacing' myself so I don't aggravate joints and various connective tissues and end up suffering serious fatigue which is utterly the last thing you want 'cos then you can't do anything for days on end!!!)
Step 2: at 4 wks Come back for, err, actually I forget the point of the next appointment - lol
Step 3: 6 wks after initial diagnosis submit blood sample for HbA1c test to find out if your getting better yet.

So, essentially some guess work, crossing fingers and hoping it'll go away - ***.

What _I_ want to be doing is testing blood glucose before meals, 2hrs after, 4hrs after, etc. to see which foods are pushing my BG up and which aren't. You know, actual facts and stuff that I can then make informed decisions on the basis of, to make the changes that'll really bring down my BG.

I have cut down on sugar by not having the one spoon of it in tea/coffee that I used to have. I have switched relatively fast carb cereals (i.e. cornflakes) for porridge or a cooked breakfast (low fat of course). The main effect thus far is I am more often weak and wobbly feeling which gets better after I next eat. Seems like a good indication of lowered BG, but I'd rather have a measure!

I thought, sod it, I'll get myself a BG meter and get on with it. Chemists attached to my GP's didn't want to sell me one because I answered honestly when asked why I wanted one. I said I've just been diagnosed T2, they said, you'll be given one if and when your Dr/Nurse wants you to have one!

I'll buy one online shortly I think ...


/edit/
I didn't mention the bit that directly relates to the question!
DNS said testing would be unnecessary unless on insulin and counterproductive because I'd get all confused with the numbers and stuff. Condescending much...
/edit/

That's exactly what I meant when I said they tell us testing is unnecessary and would do us "harm", because we would get all confused and such. They treat us like children when they do this. Also, when the pharmacists interrogate us about why we want a meter and then remind us that our parents, sorry, doctors and nurses, will decide if we should have one.

I think the best approach is to lie to the pharmacist and say something like, I've got T1 and I want a spare meter for convenience. (While going to a pharmacy we don't normally go to). Or order one online. Luckily for me, T2s are freely offered a meter in NZ, so I didn't have that problem.

 

[Pipp]

That's exactly what I meant when I said they tell us testing is unnecessary and would do us "harm", because we would get all confused and such. They treat us like children when they do this. Also, when the pharmacists interrogate us about why we want a meter and then remind us that our parents, sorry, doctors and nurses, will decide if we should have one.

I think the best approach is to lie to the pharmacist and say something like, I've got T1 and I want a spare meter for convenience. (While going to a pharmacy we don't normally go to). Or order one online. Luckily for me, T2s are freely offered a meter in NZ, so I didn't have that problem.

We in UK get plenty of offers of free meters. I have had several recently and accepted 2. Unfortunately the test strips and lancets are not provided free , beyond the initial 10 that come with the meter. The strips can cost up to £30 for 50. No wonder the different companies are giving away meters. Once they have us they make a lot of money from us.
Many on here choose to buy the SD Codefree meter which has much cheaper strips.

 

[Robbity]

First I've heard about anyone in the field suggesting testing is harmful.

Oh apparently it is, as you can turn into a compulsive obsessive tester, or you can get upset and depressed by high test results. So physically harmful - no, but mentally - maybe.

Robbity

PS To clarify - this is a fairly standard excuse in the UK for not dishing test equipment.

 

[Pipp]

Oh apparently it is, as you can turn into a compulsive obsessive tester, or you can get upset and depressed by high test results. So physically harmful - no, but mentally - maybe.

Robbity

PS To clarify - this is a fairly standard excuse in the UK for not dishing test equipment.

Add to that the comment 'all you will achieve is sore fingers'! Nurse speak!

 

[Robbity]

Add to that the comment 'all you will achieve is sore fingers'! Nurse speak!

Yes - I forgot that one!


I actually got a bit depressed after the diabetes doctor at our practice had told me I shouldn't be testing - it didn't happen immediately after my appointment and I absolutely knew I was doing what needs to be donefor me to keep things under control and I certainly wasn't going to stop on his say-so, but his comment hit below the belt and ended up making a quite a serious and long term dent in my confidence, which had a knock-on effect on my glucose levels for a while.

Robbity

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Add to that the comment 'all you will achieve is sore fingers'! Nurse speak!

I think we'd all rather have sore fingers than diabetic complications.

 

[Pipp]

I think we'd all rather have sore fingers than diabetic complications.

Try telling that to nurse using the NHS protocol script..

 

[Pipp]

Yes - I forgot that one!


I actually got a bit depressed after the diabetes doctor at our practice had told me I shouldn't be testing - it didn't happen immediately after my appointment and I absolutely knew I was doing what needs to be donefor me to keep things under control and I certainly wasn't going to stop on his say-so, but his comment hit below the belt and ended up making a quite a serious and long term dent in my confidence, which had a knock-on effect on my glucose levels for a while.

Robbity

Aw, Robbity. Just shows how different we all take these things. I was conceited enough to believe I no longer needed to test because I had been an A star patient who because of her virtuous ways had cured herself, thus saving the NHS lots of money on test strips eye screening, blood tests, and treatment for future complications that I now had no chance of getting.

 

[Robbity]

I'm not sure that I'll ever actually cure myself, though my GP when giving me my diagnosis told me that if I lost enough weight, my pancreas might be able to manage properly again. The best I feel that I can do is control my glucose levels, and since I've no intention returning to a carb heavy diet, I'll never find out if I could go back to my previous way of eating. I find testing though actually gives me a certain power over my condition, and believe that's probably an additional reason to continue testing.

It's a bit like my migraines - I've suffered from them for most of my life, and have been able (for the most part) to manage them with medication and by avoiding certain foods, but I've come to the conclusion that I'll never be rid of them completely - my doctor has said they can be genetic, and they do actualy run in our family.

Robbity

 

[Robbity]

I think we'd all rather have sore fingers than diabetic complications.

And I wonder then what do they tell type 1 diabetics who probably do need to test - do these nurses perhaps believe that their fingers are somehow immune to pain? If it wasn't so sad it might actually be funny...

Robbity

 

[Pipp]

I'm not sure that I'll ever actually cure myself, though my GP when giving me my diagnosis told me that if I lost enough weight, my pancreas might be able to manage properly again. The best I feel that I can do is control my glucose levels, and since I've no intention returning to a carb heavy diet, I'll never find out if I could go back to my previous way of eating. I find testing though actually gives me a certain power over my condition, and believe that's probably an additional reason to continue testing.

It's a bit like my migraines - I've suffered from them for most of my life, and have been able (for the most part) to manage them with medication and by avoiding certain foods, but I've come to the conclusion that I'll never be rid of them completely - my doctor has said they can be genetic, and they do actualy run in our family.

Robbity

I know, @Robbity , but the nurse was so convincing in her fullsome praise at my turnaround in BG management that it really seemed she was telling me I no longer needed to test because I was cured. Gullible and naive I was back then. I should have realised that it was a way of cutting costs. Pride comes before a fall. I have since learned that reversed /controlled/ remission etc does not mean cured. Also that monitoring BG, even though less frequently than I had when I was getting high readings, is the best way to keep me focussed on retaining BG control.

 

[Simon Anderson]

Yes, I was told testing is unnecessary for type 2's not on insulin by my nurse until I had a hypo

 

[soldersplash]

Grrrrr.... Further to my previous comments...
I saw my (NHS) GP earlier, for something else which took 30 seconds, and was then daft enough to try and share my concerns about the approach that was being taken with T2, especially seeing as how these last 2 weeks since changing my diet (like a good little boy) I spend half my waking hours feeling week and a bit dizzy and foggy brained etc. etc. He talked over me too much for me to get to the 'these symptoms are dangerous - I've come off my bike twice and haven't felt safe driving far' (i.e. for more than say 20mins ). Condescension to the max - "Diabetes is a problem of too high blood sugar not too low, go away and eat less fat, it'll all come right in the long term"

Thank f@ck my blood glucose meter came today and I can start doing this right!