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

Tue Sep 3 23:24:21 UTC 2013

I typically test 8 times a day, but every now and then my fingers need a
break, and I only test four times a day on these days. We all need a
little room for breathing at times, smile.

The other day, we were preparing for our son's first birthday, and I was
busy cooking, cleaning and getting the kids ready. Ross is amazing and
does his share of the work, but we were still super busy. At the end of
the day, I realized I had tested only three times the entire day.

So yeah, we all have our days, grin.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Veronica Elsea
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 4:00 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to say that one of the things I like about this list is
that we can be honest here. Sometimes when my own testing routine starts
to flag out of frustration, I come here and get a friendly kick in the
butt, as it were and back up I go to try again. So to Julie, I hope you
don't just feel pounced upon, but that you get that we really do care
and this is the place to help each other through those dark, frustrating
or flagging moments. And boy am I grateful to have a place like this.
None of us can truly do this alone and I certainly thank all of you for
being here for me all this time. 
I've enjoyed reading this thread because even though I didn't write the
original post, today's been a bit of a downer for me and I'm glad to
have the company as I start increasing my finger sticks for awhile. So
to anyone who isn't testing right now, come join the party. We'll all
gladly fret and holler with you. Veronica

Watch the video as The Guide Dog Glee Club sings "Rehab!" Yes! Yes! Yes!
http://youtu.be/JvakJ5lk6Us Then find more music from Veronica Elsea and
The Guide Dog Glee Club at: http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
                Veronica Elsea, Owner
Laurel Creek Music Designs
Santa Cruz, California
Phone: 831-429-6407

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 12:55 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Also, from what I understand, pre-diabetic means you are starting to
exhibit symptoms that could lead to diabetes. Usually your A1-C is
elevated enough to cause concern. Most diagnosed as pre-diabetic can
diet and exercise, lower their A1-C back to a normal range and are no
longer in the *danger zone* for diabetes, though it's something checked
periodically.

My father-in-law was diagnosed as pre-diabetic after his A1-C went up.
For a type 1 or 2 it would have been a great range, but for a currently
non-diabetic, it was elevated. After diet and exercise, he lost about 30
pounds and his A1-C came back down. He currently has no problems or
symptoms.

I think it's kind of like how women can develop diabetes during
pregnancy, gestational diabetes, but usually once baby arrives, the
diabetes *goes away*. Not quite the same, but similar.

Basically, pre-diabetic means you have an elevated A1-C and may be
exhibiting other minor symptoms of diabetes, and if action isn't taken,
it will lead to a diagnosis of type 2.

I'm sure others are much more educated and knowledgeable on this topic.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of d m gina
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 11:03 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Something I don't understand,
how can one be a pre diabetic.
Either you are a diabetic or you are not.
I don't know how mine climbed in the seven range, where I do watch. It 
is near seven now, but was higher.
I used to be in the six range. I am hoping to get there again. I have to
say I am salad out, I just get plain tired of salads all of the time. I
also was told I need to get more weight off by Janurary. I shared that I
am getting a pound off a week, where I wasn't going to 
go any faster.
At no time I will refuse to take the shot I did to have my heart rate 
go so fast in the middle of the night, waking me from sleep. Shaking so
hard that I thought I was cold. Even with the blanket on. I see no
reason to go to the hospital when I don't have to. Now maybe that was to
strong for the doctor to hear, where I take pride 
to make sure I don't have to go into the hospital.
I am doing everything else the doctor has asked, except for the shot. I
am doing the half a cup of food, or a cup if I don't have to many 
carbs for that meal.
My diabetic coordinator says I am doing well.
We work closely together, that is something I am pleased about. My
doctor is a diabetic, just because this shot works for him, it 
didn't work well for me.
Just some thoughts.

Original message:
> A close friend was diagnosed as *prediabetic*, and she refuses to
> follow anything the doctor has recommended including taking a 
> medication. Her A1-C was 6.0, which is great for diabetics but not so 
> much for non-diabetics, but she won't believe me. Go figure.

> My brother-in-law was recently diagnosed with type 2, and after
> incorporating some exercise and better diet into his routine, his A1-C

> has significantly dropped, but he's now thinking he can not test, or
> test very infrequently, as a result of the lower A1-C.

> One of the reasons an A1-C gets better is because of frequent,
> consistent testing. It allows us and our doctors to track and catch 
> trends in sugars and make necessary changes based on those trends. The

> goal is to achieve a certain A1-C, but the testing is a part of
> continueing to have lower A1-C's, and without this tracking, it can be

> difficult to know why sugars, and when, they are causing problems. The

> A1-C gives an over-all idea of what sugars run in a three month time
> period, but it can't tell a doctor what trends are and where changes 
> may need to happen. Daily testing, among diet and exercise, are what 
> determine this.

> And I should mention that we are all commenting on this topic not
> because we think we have the answers, or all of them, or are trying to

> tell people how to live, but we are just concerned when we hear things

> like someone not testing and want to help.

> Bridgit

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Bernadette Jacobs
> Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 10:25 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

> Hey Gang:

> Bern here!!  Everyone here has a valid point and even as for Julie:  I

> can see where you're going.  However, listen to everyone else here 
> because you've got advice here from absolutely the BEST!  And I do 
> mean the VERY BEST!!!  When I first read over your message Julie, I 
> don't mind telling you, it sent chills up and down my spine for the 
> very reasons Bridgit, Mike, and Veronica all raise here.  My other 
> huge, huge gripe here is now people are coming up with this "pre" 
> diabetes garbage. And, of course, my mother-in-law was just diagnosed 
> with... of course... "pre" diabetes.  Has anyone heard of being "half"

> or "Pre"-pregnant??? Sure would like to find out who the first quack 
> was that ever came up with this hogwash!  I'd like to hang 'em!  I'm 
> with Mike here because, even at that point, diabetics need to be 
> taught and practice frequent testing.  We diabetics all know we can't 
> be too cautious.

> I'd be lying to all of you if I didn't admit that I've had my own 
> testing woes.  But that's why I do test very, very often; maybe even 
> moreso than I need to because I don't want to get out of practice. I 
> too, feel that testing is vital!!

> Have a great day everyone!!

> Bern
> On 9/2/13, Julie Kline <julie.kline at rochester.rr.com> wrote:
>> 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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