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

Tue Sep 3 23:32:03 UTC 2013

Well, I suppose if you're type 2 or pre-diabetic. Not matter how great
your A1-C is when type 1, insulin is non-negotiable though.

The A1-C can also vary from person to person though. If over 8, you
probably need to watch it, and it also varies a bit between type 1 and
type 2. My doctors have never been comfortable with my A1-C's being
under 7 because when they are, I'm usually running super low all the
time. I sit around 7 most the time with my average glucose levels in the
120's and 130's. I asked my endo about this, knowing many are encouraged
to hit that golden level 6, but I was told there are exceptions, me
being one.

So the best thing is to always work closely with your doctor, and to see
an endo and not just a family doc or internal med doc.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of COLLEEN ROTH
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 6:17 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Hi Bridget,
I have heard some doctors say that if someone is below 7 they do not
have to take any medication or test. I do take Metformin and I try to
test. I also try to follow the Diabetic Diet but I definitely are not
perfect in that area. When I was told I was pre-diabetic I didn't have
an a1c done. They just did a Glucose Tolerance Test. If I was 6.0 I
would do what the doctor ordered. I do one some doctors want you to
follow the diet. If the doctor gave her medication you would think that
would tell her something. Colleen Roth

----- Original Message -----
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Bl'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 11:47 am
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

>
>
> A close friend was diagnosed as ininprediabetic*, 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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> >
> 
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