Is testing really necessary for non insulin dependable type II
I came across an interesting study by The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) which published the report on 14 December 2009.
The study suggests that the blood glucose self-monitoring is not in any way beneficial to non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes patients.
here is a link to the full report
Diabetes self monitoring for type 2
My question to you guys is who here does not test and if you do, would you go without testing if you absolutely knew by that I mean if study after study came out against, now remember that testing is by far one of the most expensive Items for diabetes management.
thanks Ronald Gregory
The study suggests that the blood glucose self-monitoring is not in any way beneficial to non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes patients.
here is a link to the full report
Diabetes self monitoring for type 2
My question to you guys is who here does not test and if you do, would you go without testing if you absolutely knew by that I mean if study after study came out against, now remember that testing is by far one of the most expensive Items for diabetes management.
thanks Ronald Gregory
Tags: 2, diabetes, management, testing, type
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on -
Testing can be beneficial if you do it with purpose. I think anyone who claims testing is not necessary, ever, probably does not live with Diabetes, and is making some assumptions from the safety of their plush recliner office chair. As long as you test with a purpose, you can control how many times a day you need to test, and learn from those results. If you have meals that are tried and true, and do not affect your blood glucose, than by all means, reserve your testing for those new meals you may not have such a clue how badly they will go, or not. Also, when we are sick, we NEED to test. Illness, and infection can raise blood glucose levels, and ketone levels, and sometimes very dangerously. There is no other way around it.
Folks who are using meds (but no insulin) should also test as well, to learn what their meds are doing and if they are still working. There may come a time when meds do not work anymore -- like for my dad. He reached a point when he had to be insulin dependent. Testing glucose levels should happen, both as a learning and prevention tool, as well as a monitor for times of illness.
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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Gregory M on -
While the study which was a blind test followed two groups of testers and non testers over a 6 month period. You do have valid points Liz most of the studies are always on fixed parameters and when you are at the point in your life where you have the diet and fitness down packed then you can manage how often you test based on circumstances. It kinda reminds me of those ads you see on the web about someone who through diet and fitness, lost weight and stopped taking their meds and this is hailed as a cure for diabetes and can be applied as a cookie cutter version for the rest of us in form of said cure.
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Permalink Reply by Leslie on
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When I was first diagnosed a year ago, I tested about 12 times a day. I kept detailed records of what I ate, what medications I was taking, and how each food affected my blood sugar at various times of the day. I learned that I can eat an apple before noon without a spike but anytime after that I'll spike really high. I learned that I can eat sourdough bread any time of the day or night without any affect at all. I learned that cinnamon does nothing to help my numbers. I learned that lemon juice keeps my sugar numbers down. And so much more.
I rarely test now on a daily basis. I test only when I'm sick, eat a new food, take a new med, or just want to see that everything's still good and no negative changes.
For example this past week I've been taking OTC decongestants for a bad cold. I tested about twice a day to just keep an eye on things.
I'm changing anti-inflammatory meds tomorrow. I'll test 2-3 times a day for a week or so and then taper off to 2-3 times a week.
I think that whether or not someone tests frequently, sometimes, or not at all depends on how tight the control is. In my case, I have kept tight control for about 8 months and not much has changed. So I test 2-3 times a week and sometimes I've gone 8-10 days without testing. My A1C has been steady for the past 8 months.
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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Gregory M on
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Hey Leslie
All I can say is that you are one of the lucky few. I have been a diabetic going on 12 years now and am on oral meds but I still test 3 times a day twice if I am lucky and most people here will tell you the same. The fluctuations in numbers happen often, for example if I switch my workouts from 6 pm to 8am for example, I have to know how my sugars will act going forward that day. Or when I do cardio one day and strength training the next. so kudos to you for achieving that level of management such a short time if I am reading this correctly it only took you 2 months?
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Hey back :-) It took a short time to get the numbers down because I went totally NO carb immediately upon diagnosis. It took a few more months to really know how food affected me at different times of the day.
I should also add that I don't exercise much because of several autoimmune diseases and three joints that need replacements (but I won't do it and that's a whole 'nother story that I won't go into now). So even walking is difficult. But I'm working on being more active on a daily basis but not "real" exercise, just increased daily activity. So I don't have the swings that come from hard work outs.
Also I take salsalate as my anti-inflammatory of choice for pain and inflammation from my diseases. There are several clinical trials going on now and recent research that shows that salsalate lowers blood sugar. It was the magic bullet for me.
So I really can't take full credit for keeping such tight control. My daily activity is pretty much level at all times. I walk but not fast. I do housework and chores but not strenuously. I work at home on the computer 8-10 hours a day.
But I have to give all the credit to the salsalate. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was a magic bullet for me. I still take metformin but with the salsalate I can easily maintain near normal blood sugar levels (on a very low carb diet).
With the salsalate, I don't have extreme highs or lows. Anxiety, illness, chronic pain, nothing causes highs anymore. I am very low in the mornings -- too low sometimes. So I have to eat breakfast within 15 minutes of getting out of bed in the mornings. But that's the only fluctuation I've had in the past 6 months since starting the salsalate.
There are still clinical trials with salsalate if anyone is interested. The closest one to me is two hours away so I didn't even consider signing up (can't drive much because of my shoulder). But they're all over the country and I think still taking participants.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Dennis on -
I totally agree with Lizmari. May I add a word, FEEDBACK! Without monitoring there is no way to really judge your progress. Is your diet effective ? Is your exercise program effective ? The only way to judge it is through monitoring.
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Permalink Reply by Joe_h on
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always thought of T2 and as an experiment I find out what foods/exercise/supplements are doing to my sugars. without my meter I'd be lost.
also I may not be on insulin but I do take meds and think it useful to know where my sugars are at before taking oral meds and/or exercising. I have had terrible low and terrible highs that were confirmed w/ my glucose meter and have been sure I was low when my sugars were normal or even high - my meter confirms where I am so I can act accordingly instead of guessing blindly (which can be a recipe for disaster)
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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Gregory M on
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In a controlled environment maybe testing becomes invalidated. On the top of my head, I am thinking if you eat the same meals everyday and do the same exercises but as liz said sometimes you might grow a resistance to your meds and you have to be aware of that.
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who lives in a controlled environment? I eat yogurt every day for breakfast but my mid morning #s can be anywhere - maybe it's stress of the commute/work; too much coffee, maybe I'm getting sick, maybe my pancreas is being a lazy b1tch today who knows but testing can help me figure out generally what works and what doesnt (i.e. 1 slice of pepperoni pizza and 4mg prandin and my sugars will be ok)
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also I did a duathlon (run/bike/run) a couple years back and was shy about using my meter in front of other folks that day so i went by how I felt (I've been a diabetic athlete for over ten years at that point) well I was totally off and ended up bonking horribly. worst low of my life and I ended up dropping out of the race. I still kick myself for not using my meter and knowing what was going on with me
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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Gregory M on
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I was thinking when it comes to studies that what they do and like Paul said the study followed a1c levels for about 6 months, my playing the devils advocate is simply my trying to understand how they would come up to that conclusion and what the parameters were
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