Due to a change of procedure at our doctors testing is now done at 6 months, none of which is fasting including cholesterol. My doctor does not believe in glucometers and will only accept hba1c results and led me to foolishly agree and stop bothering with the meter. To my horror after testing last week my result was 91and he declared my diabetes out of control, his treatment being to increase Actos to maximum dose from minimum dose, it did not work and I recorded a celebratory 13.9 on my dusted off meter. I am going back to another doctor this week, I will let you know. The purpose of this diatribe is.
TESTING should be done at 4 months as previously and fasting before, is recommended.
REGULAR use of a meter for us all no matter how we feel and especially deniers- free strips.
CHECK foods with the free app for sucrose and bin any being ridiculous ( some yoghurts,most cereals).
Fasting is not required for HbA1c test. It used to be recommended for the annual checkup where a full lipid panel test was being done at the same time, as this needs a fasting blood condition. Now that my GP practice no longer does the lipid panel, they have dropped the fasting requirement completely. It means that they can now do diabetic bloods all day instead of cramming them into early morning. such is progress.
Second point I would like to add is that there is a time limit minimum of 3 months between HbA1c tests for most of us since the HbA1c needs to average over 3 months to be meaningful. Thereafter it is up to the GP as to how often he/she will order test, and this depends on how much in control he/she thinks you are keeping, and also budget constraints of the practice. NICE recommends annual checkup as'mandatory' all other tests are 'on condition'.
I am on approx 3 monthly at the moment because my control regime has dramatically changed, and I also have a GP AND a DSN to convince on alternate trimesters. (actually HAD, since I am recently discharged from seeing the DSN any more)
The question of self monitoring is one we all ask for, but there isn't the money in the kitty for all 3 million or so diabetics currently registered in the UK to be supported in this. Also, although there is strong evidence on this forum that Self Mon (oops nearly shortened it to SM) is beneficial, the same cannot be said for the general population of diabetics, who probably would not benefit as much. The NICE guidelines are quite clear in regard to Self Mon, in that it has to be justified either by the type of medication, or by evidence of recurring hypo events before a GP should support it for any patient.
If you read the success stories on this foru you will probably realise quite soon that while cutting out sucrose is one step, there are more factors to consider in regard to diet in order to get our bgl under control
Sadly, your experience sounds a bit like my surgery, but so far I just let it all wash over me. I suppose there's no chance of changing to a different practice ??
