What are the plusses of diagnosis?

[spinningwoman]

I was wondering what (if any) are the plusses of a formal diagnosis of type 2 or pre-diabetes which is amenable to control by diet, given the impression I get of unhelpfullness from NHS towards the low-carb approach. My husband has been warned that his BS was a little high (6.7 on what I guess must be the haemoglobin test that measures average levels?). We have both lost weight on low-carb before; he had just started again as he had put a lot back on when we stopped being strict with it, and I was now eating 'healthy' carbs and trying to ignore the fact my weight was creeping up again.

I got a blood glucose meter because I wanted to have some ammo if they told him not to do low carb - because he is a bit of a baby about pricking fingers, I did it on myself for a few days and realised I was going up to 8 or 9 an hour after a meal with brown rice though fine when I ate low carb. So I'm thinking I have the beginnings of a problem too, and it has made me determined to return to low-carb eating.

So the question is, a) is there any point in me getting my levels looked at, given that I don't seem to have a problem on low-carb and b) if the diet were to bring my husband's levels down sufficiently before the next blood test they have scheduled him for, so that they decided it wasn't a 'diagnosis' after all, would he be missing out just to let them drop it? I think I've been told that you can't claim for strips unless you are on medication anyway, is that true?

In one way, I'd like to have that regular check on average levels to make sure I wasn't missing something, but on the other hand he's not the kind of person who enjoys arguing with doctors so if they start on at him to change his diet, he's going to feel very conflicted.

Thanks

Karen

 

[cugila]

The main plus is that he is able to do something about it early on and try to stay on Diet control if he has full blown Diabetes ?

Most of us never had that option. You know that reducing/cutting Carbs can work for weight loss. It is also a good idea for reducing Bg numbers as well. Carbs put the numbers up.

If you are concerned at your own Bg levels it makes sense to discuss it with your GP and perhaps take a record of your readings with you. He/she can then sort out any tests if needed. As a rough guide, take one when you wake up, then before meals, then 1 and 2 hrs after meals. If you keep a food diary that can help to show any increases which may be related to food intake. You only need to do it for a week.

As for your husband. I think he needs to be guided by the GP's advice in the first instance.

In answer to your question about test strips - you have to be on Diabetic Medication before you get free prescriptions.

As for arguing with Dr's - I find gentle persuasion usually does the trick. :twisted:

Hope that helps ?
Ken.

 

[Trinkwasser]

This is a US site but the UK criteria are somewhat similar, just divided by 18

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046782.php

IMO once you have started to move away from "normal" you are on the diabetic progression, *unless* you do something about it, which is easier the lower you are and the sooner you start.

Theoretically a formal diagnosis entitles you to further medical investigations, regular visits to podiatrists, opthamologists. dieticians etc. but in practice this often doesn't occur. If you are on meds you get free prescriptions. OTOH a formal diagnosis may affect principally life, medical and car insurance etc.

I went over this with my GP as I scraped under the GTT by a whisker, and my actual truly diabetic numbers have been on my own meter so technically don't count. On balance we decided to put off the actual diagnosis but I'd treat myself as already diabetic anyway, probably the best of both worlds as my numbers have improved so much since.

 

[hanadr]

there's probably no advantage to getting a dianosis if you manage things well yourself. You wouldn't get free prescriptions, certainlynot test strips and if you get your weight down and reduce your insulin resistance, you might hold it at bay indefinitely and you avoid problems with travel insurance etc.