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when to check?

stevie said:
DiabeticGeek said:
It's not so much the cost, it is the principle of the thing - it is a sorry state when healthcare is dependent upon e-bay.
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thats outrageous
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True :cry: His argument is that his considered advice is don't test. He said that many (well he says most) people who test, don't act upon the results and thus testing is counterproductive. To be fair to him there have been some studies (in particular recent papers in the BMJ) which, although flawed, can be read as providing evidence to support this view (if you are interested I have provided links to these in another thread). Sadly, from what I have been hearing this is far from an isolated case - PHTs seem to be discouraging the prescription of strips and I think it is getting increasingly difficult for newly diagnosed T2s to get them on the NHS.

stevie said:
consider changing your GP, ive had what i want off mine, upon asking, if it was me id also take it further, write to the practice manager for the complaint procedure
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I was only diagnosed less than a month ago, and so far I have only seen my GP for a few minutes when I got the diagnosis - he spent most of that time telling me not to test. It is a large practice, and since then I have seen specialist nurses. After a lot of effort I got one of them to concede that, for me, testing was possibly a good idea. This was partly because I will understand the results (I have a PhD in nutritional pathology, so she really can't argue that I won't), partly because I have already read a lot about diabetes and am reading more by the day, and partly because I feel strongly about it - and so am likely to act upon them. It is a large practice, and I haven't yet seen the attached diabetes specialist (that will be in a few weeks time, when it is time for another A1c test). When I eventually see this person I shall try hard to get him to support testing - hopefully by showing him that I am doing something positive with the results. If I have no joy with that, then I might consider stirring up trouble.
 
SilverAndEbony said:
Hi DiabeticGeek,

From what you've just said, can I take it that you're controlled by diet and exercise? No pills of insulin?
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Yes, for the time being. I have been told to try diet and exercise alone for the next few weeks - if my 3-month A1c is then well down, all to the good. If not then I will be put on tablets (I think I am a fair way off needing insulin). The GP in question did say that he is in favour of people at risk of hypos testing, but for me that isn't an issue.
 
Hi,

I test approx. 5-7 times a day. (I'm type 1, btw).

1. First thing.
2. Mid morning. (and sometimes before lunch)
3. Mid afternoon (or 2 hrs. after lunch)
4. Before supper.
5. Before and after sports (I swim twice a week + run once or twice a week)
6. Before bed (and sometimes during the night :( because I recently had a hypo/blackout during the night.)

I think you have to test whenever you're in doubt. Better to test one time too many...

Marlene
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Type 1 since 1997
t
 
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