[Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Tue Sep 3 01:47:19 UTC 2013

I think there's pros and cons to both types. In some ways, each have
freedoms and limitations. In my opinion, based on personal experience,
diet in particular seems more restrictive for type 2's. Theoretically,
as long as type 1's take the proper amount of insulin, it technically
doesn't matter what they eat.

I also recognize that being a type one, I can't speak with personal
experience about this, and also that diabetes becomes an individual
disease for both type ones and twos, meaning what works, and doesn't
work, for me may not for another.

I've been type one for 28 years, and I'm 32 now, so most of my life. In
this time, many changes have happened when it comes to treatment,
attitudes and medication. I also know many types twos though, most
family members and close friends, so I'm not completely ignorant on the
topic either, smile.

At the end of the day, we all have a disease that requires constant
diligence and the following of specific treatments/medications/ways of
life. What works for one, may not for another, though glucose testing is
not one of these individual-based treatments, nonetheless, many other
things are individual based.

For instance, I've always had the tendency to run low, and being
underweight most my life for my age and height, I've been encouraged to
consume more calories in a day. Even pregnant this was the case, and I
still only gained 25 pounds, then lost most of it quickly, though
chasing babies is a great work-out, grin. I'm incredibly sensitive to
insulin, so changes are usually done in small increments. I'm on a pump,
and my carb/bolus ratio is half a unit per 1 carb choice. A type one
friend I have is the polar opposite of me.

I say all this attempting to make the point that I can only share my
experience, but know it may not be info and advice everyone can try.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sandi Ryan
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 6:20 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Diet and exercise are never ever an answer for Type 1 diabetics.  And
once 
we Type 2's are diagnosed, we always have the disease, even if our A1C's
are 
great.  We just sometimes get a break!  And of course one never knows
how 
long that break will be.  I actually had to beg my doctor to prescribe a

meter for me.  With an A1C of 5.0, my doctor, a long-term Type 1, said I

didn't need to check my blood sugar.  We'd just check the A1C every
three to 
six months.  But I won--I have the meter, and the strips, and I check my

blood.  But I do feel fortunate that I don't need to check it several
times 
a day.  I've never gotten over the chill that goes down my spine when I
use 
the lancet, and then when there's either not enough blood or I get a
freaky 
response, it's really frustrating!

And I'd certainly never say that people whose diabetes is not under good

control aren't as good as me.  No, it's pure luck--that's all it is!  My

point was just that Type 2's sometimes get a little break.

Sandi

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

> Sandi:
> I applaud your encouragement of Julie and all others who can control 
> their
> diabetes with diet and exercise. However, I hope you do not mean to
imply 
> that you sanction not testing blood sugar. Even ballpark figures are
far 
> better than nothing.
> I also believe we should be very careful to not let our ability not to

> need medicines to cloud our understanding into thinking that diabetics
who 
> use or need medicines are somehow less diligent in their diabetes 
> treatment and control. Some of us don't have a choice in the matter.
You 
> and I differ on this but I believe almost all diabetics would be far 
> better off to begin use of insulin upon discovery of their disease.
> YMMV applies in spades to diabetes.
> Mike freeman
>
> On Sep 2, 2013, at 13:35, "Sandi Ryan" <sjryan2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm with you, Julie.  I'm another lucky one--and glad to be!  Good 
>> job on
>> getting your A1C's down.  It's not easy, but definitely worth it.
>>
>> Sandi
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie Kline"
>> <julie.kline at rochester.rr.com>
>> To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 1:40 PM
>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself
>>
>>
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> I don't mean to sound like I am gloating here, but I'd like to share

>>> my thoughts of the messages I have seen over the past few days.  
>>> Reading over these messages, this is exactly the reason why I don't 
>>> do testing for my own
>>> blood glucose anymore.  I have had nothing but trouble with both
talking
>>> meters and I'm sorry I spent the money on either one.  Even having 
>>> people
>>> from the diabetes centers we have here watching me, I haven't been
able 
>>> to
>>> get enough blood to get enough of a sample, while the meters at the 
>>> diabetes
>>> center work just fine.  I feel that with a 20 point plus or minus 
>>> accuracy
>>> that seems to come with the talking meters, I'm not willing to 
>>> continually
>>> sit there and poke my fingers for the 20 minutes it takes to finally
get
>>> enough blood.  And yes, I have done the hot water thing, massaged
the
>>> finger, held it to the lancet on maximum setting, stayed hydrated,
the
>>> rubber band thing . but testing with a talking meter just hasn't
worked 
>>> out
>>> for me, so I don't bother with it, and these messages just confirm
to me
>>> why.  I still do whatever lab work or tests my doctor or diabetes
center 
>>> ask
>>> me to do, and I stay on top of these tests every 3 months.  However,
I 
>>> found
>>> that I've lost enough weight now and that weight loss that came from

>>> eating
>>> better, combined with exercising an hour 5 days a week walking 4
miles a
>>> session, and my medications, have given me 2 a1c readings of between
6 
>>> and
>>> 6.2.  When I first learned I had diabetes, I was 83 pounds heavier
and 
>>> had
>>> an a1c reading of 8.6.  I know that the approach I take won't work
for
>>> everybody, especially for people who have to take insulin.  But for 
>>> myself,
>>> I have type 2 diabetes and am not at that point yet.  At least for 
>>> myself,
>>> it has been possible to turn things around and I'd be willing to 
>>> recommend
>>> exercise DVDs that I use and found helpful if anyone is interested.
I
>>> recognize, or at least people tell me, that diabetes is a
progressive
>>> illness.  I hope that when it does come my time where things get
worse, 
>>> that
>>> they will have perfected these meters more and maybe they can work 
>>> better
>>> with people who can't generate enough blood, but for now I have much

>>> better
>>> use of my fingers for other things, like reading Braille.
>>>
>>> Just my thoughts on the whole thing.
>>>
>>> Julie
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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