Of course you dare say this, lovely to hear for a change some refreshing "dare I say" comments straight talking, as I totally agree with your viewing, majority as it seems reading through the lines are obsessed and/or becoming obsessed regards numbers, aims, and what should be or not be, what is the correct level, so many variations, so many recommendations, this has to stop really, and its up to us who have insulin issues to demand a more transparent, non variation of cut offs that exist worldwide, as it will become more of a health problem, a person with normally good health concern, obsessiveness may have negative effect on health overall. New Zealand for example, cut offs which differ from rest of world on A1C which often receive criticism, for their cut off levels, but as they say, they prefer to take a pragmatic view rather than mis diagnose, or over prescribe, and more so label a person especially if margins one number over under not flexible, can cause a decline in what is normally good health on other areas due to being given a label of Diabetes for example.
We need more of these open comments instead of the sheep following the sheep, being from Australia, where they call a spade a spade, no one gets offended, but it seems in UK, sorry! but it seems when one becomes out of the norm in speaking, its taken the wrong way on many occasions, quite unnecessarily sadly.
The system is all about checking blood glucose control, important as you say, and I totally agree, but where is the reasonable line, for ones overall health generally. Everyones blood sugars rise, whether they are normal, pre or diabetic, thats life, sometimes a worry because one is one or two numbers above the expected aimed number, can cause stress, anxiety, and worry, for this, in my personal opinion the Diabetes world, sorry, many wont want to hear this, but I am the one now saying "Dare I say so" and get smacked on the bottom for doing so? wake up, get your act together as currently the system and threshold levels are totally out of control and not in the best interests of all those thousands motivated, making harsh efforts, compromises aiming for a set number! which is unflexible one point either side. this is the crux of the problem as I see it.
Has one every noticed it says if your over xxxxxx, that leaves doubt, why, you think, ahh, does that mean if I am sitting on the cut off I am still viewed as Pre or because I am sitting on the number or over I become diabetic?? This should not be in place.
Again, New Zealand and other countries clearly take that concern doubt away for example. New Zealand state
A1C below 40mmol/mol 5.8% or EQUAL to regarded as normal. This leave clear understanding to those checking, if they are sitting ON THE CUT OFF 40mmol/mol or under they are normal, and if they are over i.e. sitting on 41mmol/mol or above i.e. 41/49mmol/mol indicates pre diabetes caution range, no medications, lifestyle change for 6 months with a review.
Their system having such clarity, is good medical sense in my opinion.
So perhaps, welcoming to all, why dont take a leaf of this cut off level diagnosing unfortunately.
If not, it leads to one becoming obsess unnecessarily.
so come on Diabetes world...why dont the so called experts and committees who decide and lower ranges of cut offs come to a solution in the best interests of patients, doctors, and all, choose a cut off number for A1C and finger real blood, based on medical and clinical support i.e. not Arbitarary, at whim random chosen, those final chosen cut offs should be strictly followed as the criteria number worldwide. Also, making it clear as to the situation of the cut off i.e. does it mean EQUAL TO, which I am sure would be welcomed by thousands of people who have the doubt question, of what category they fall under.
Recently, I noticed that Diabetes co.uk fasting cut off level figure changed from what it previously showed i.e. 108mg/dl, I noticed it suddenly was showing different lower fasting cut off i.e. 100mg/dl which is what America has. I queried this as felt typographical error? and received confirmation I quote below
Thank you for your question. The fasting figure is from the following Public health guideline.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph38
Although grateful for time taken to reply to my concern query as to sudden lowering of cut off fasting, as those aiming for 108mg/dl and happy with results, including myself, as I base my aims on this, if ones results now for example are 101, up to 107mg/dl for example, they become under pre diabetic not normal?
As I have always understood the Nice org.uk always had different cut offs to what was shown on diabetes co.UK? although i was guided to view the contents of information, unfortunately, I still did not get an answer as to why the figure lessened from 108mg/dl to 100mg/dl at the end of the day, on Diabetes co.uk website i.e. why did the 108mg/dl not always show 100mg/dl as Nice have shown in their guidelines fasting figure public health guideline, is it to be viewed the 108mg/dl was not the correct level, and now decided to follow the nice guideline and have changed that to 100mg/dl to be the same? I presume so, So I am still a little confused, although respectful and pleased Diabetes Co.Uk professionally, took the time to acknowledge my enquiry and reply.
To stay any obsession regards cut offs and how many times to check overall, I truly feel, we are in the hands of the Diabetes Industry to take responsibility to change this variation and clear doubt areas of numbers for checking and aiming for, with more transparency and clarification and especially some flexi if one is either side of a cut off.
Exactly right another well raised area, re test strips and pens, how did people do without these, then there is the question surrunding this, if I dare say again, Big Business exists, numbers of cut offs lower, one becomes suddenly in a different category, where one did not perhaps have to use or test at all or so frequently, to suddenly due to change of cut off aims, may may not find themselves, having to test more frequently, thus resulting in more expense and anxiety and obsessiveness is the continued question yes or no?
One number although it does not fit all everyones individual circumstances are different, ages, motivation, lifestyle, should be taken into consideration, but at least have one strict criteria cut off world follows with advices, cut off "or equal to". How wonderful that will be, will that happen, I doubt it, but we can live in hope