I'm a member of a message board that has nothing to do with diabetes. The topic has come up and I'm trying to educate those who think they're educated. One person is saying her type 2 mother and type 1 brother both test only once or twice a day and are well controlled (though she doesn't specify what that means, we all know that's awful vague). I'm trying to explain how more frequent testing can help with control. But all the standard guidelines, such as are suggested by the ADA, still go with 3-4 times a day.
Does anybody have any good articles from inarguable sources (because I've tried linking them to threads on various diabetes forums where diabetics talk about how much they test...apparently we're all OCD or horribly out of control if we're testing that much) that explain why frequent testing can help and maybe even recommend more frequent testing?
Hate to burst your bubble, but my guess is that the people do not want or are not capable of being educated. As a diabetic we all encounter these types of people. It's frustrating to watch them be stubbornly set in their own misconceptions. I would take a different approach with them.
Instead of arguing for testing more often, you might make the point that any doctor recommends and A1c below 7.0, with infrequent lows, for an adult diabetic. Many people aim for a non-diabetic range of 4.5 - 5.5. If someone is testing just once a day, I would be surprised if they are in the good range.
Encourage the posters to have their diabetes overseen by an endocrinologist and meet with a diabetes educator. It would also help them to read a book like Riva Greenberg's "50 Diabetes Myths That Will Ruin Your Life; And the 50 Diabetes Truths That Can Save It."
Greenberg says diabetics need "medical knowledge, emotional resilience and meaningfulness" in order to be successful with their diabetes management. Testing is the key to getting knowledge and meaningfulness. When the diabetic takes the time to understand how their medicines, food, exercise, and basal rates affect blood sugar they usually can make improvements.
The people may also be reacting to recent research studies that show that frequent testing provides no better control for type 2s. While I think that's often the case, the real reason is that the type 2s aren't educated about interpreting and improving their numbers. But if people choose to learn, they can make a real difference in their D management.
T1 since 1977 Minimed pump since 2002
ouch, well okay then. there's a very old saying on all message boards that pre-dates the internet: "don't feed the trolls". there are people with so little meaning in their lives and so much time that they simply are looking to get a rise out of someone (anyone) for the purpose of a fight. if you really want to, you can argue, reason, and research... but only if you really want to =). I couldn't . In fact, i've been exhasuted lately having fun and enjoying my family and testing 7.4 times a day.. well that's what my pump says anyway. good luck..
Joe
joelicorcie at netscape dot net
Think your happiness counts as "emotional resilience". =)
Articles on self-monitored blood glucose testing (SMBG) usually recommend 3-4 tests a day. If you want to argue for more frequent testing, you might look at items related to continuous glucose monitoring. For example, this article mentions how frequent use of a CGM leads to better long term control (as measured by HbA1C values and other benefits).
Title: Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Children and Adolescents
Author(s): Slover, Robert Henry, II
Source: CURRENT DIABETES REPORTS Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Pages: 510-516 DOI: 10.1007/s11892-012-0303-6 Published: OCT 2012
Times Cited: 0 (from Web of Science)
One of the issues with existing SMBG research are that type 2 diabetics not on insulin may not require constant testing to get good control. That doesn't necessarily hold for type 1.
I have to agree with Jenna. Post a link if you can find one and then move on. Facts rarely change an opinion.