Why is it GPs don't advise home- testing?

[Sally71]

In my case I was told because it can cause unecessary distress for people because people don't understand how and when to test properly

That's the worst excuse I've ever heard! So if people don't understand - teach them then!! If you are type 1 you have to learn very quickly how to test and what to do with the information, and then you have to just get on with it, and I don't think diabetes can discriminate between people with high and low IQs! If I was a newly diagnosed type 2 I think I'd be highly insulted if they told me that I don't have to test because I won't understand it! And how can a useful tool cause anxiety, if you are shown how to deal with numbers which are less than satisfactory. Surely it would be better if they were just honest and said that we can't afford to prescribe testing equipment but if you are prepared to buy your own then we can help you use it. Or is that considered unfair on people who can't afford to buy them?

 

[Rachel64]

When I recently went on ‘the course’ to tell to tell you all about diabetes (which I hasten to add wasted 3 hours of my life which I shall never get back!), I was told there was no need to test unless ‘somebody’ had asked you do it because ‘nobody’ ever looked at the results so was a waste of time and worry! 😱. I think there were about 20 type 2 diabetics there and only 2 of us had meters (or admitted to having one)

 

[nonethewiser]

Makes no sense at all, not being able to test your bg is like driving a car blindfolded.

Obviously its all about cost.

 

[JMyrtle]

Surely the person who looks at your test results is yourself, and you then use those results to determine which foods suit you best as we are all different.
Or am I missing something?

 

[trophywench]

hee hee hee - Good ol' Farmer et al. The conclusions must be right - because Oxford University say so, end of story.

If you take the trouble to actually read every word of the research findings, you will note that part of the methodology was to encourage people to regularly test but also to completely and utterly BAN them from doing anything about high or low results. Hence - if you saw you had shot up from 5 to 25 after eating a doughnut - even a person with only two brain cells might at least think 'I wonder if it was the jam in that doughnut, perhaps I ought to only have plain ones?' - but you can't because you aren't allowed to do that. Or you note that your BG doesn't go quite as high on the evenings you take the dog for a walk after lunch whereas the days it's your wife's turn, it still shoots up. Maybe it might be an idea to always do the post lunch walk? - but I forgot - you aren't allowed to act on that so you can't find out.

Leading question - would it make you depressed if you weren't allowed to try and help yourself? Funnily enough - the researchers found that a lot of people chose to drop out of the 'testing' echelon before the trial finished.

Anyone like to hazard a guess why they did that?

I never believed in conspiracy theories - despite already knowing about Ancel Keys - before I read this pile of pooh. I most certainly have since then.

 

[Flakie]

Of course we need to test! When I was first diagnosed I was told just to eat healthily so I thought ok I’ll have my usual bowl of cornflakes for breakfast. I tested before and after and my levels doubled! When I managed, over 13 months, to get my hba1c down from 73 to 36 and my nurse took me off my meds she was so pleased with me and said it was because I had lost three stone. I said yes, that was a factor, but also it was due to the fact that I had tested and funded it myself. She was quiet after that!

 

[Ljc]

Yes @Northerner that’s the one
https://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e486
I agree with Jenny about it being a pile of poo .
It’s because of this sort of so called research that we’re being told not to test, often a variety of daft reasons are given to people

 

[KARNAK]

Madness not to test, all Diabetics.

 

[becca19962014]

I was given that research by a nurse in hospital as proof testing didn't work.
Unlike them I read it and rejected it.

Years ago doing PhD training a professor told us to be very wary of "research" and that mostly it showed whatever people wanted it to show and to always look at "the small print".

I thought that was very cynical and unfair until I worked as a researcher for a university where my project was about what students did after graduation. By the time the exclusion criteria had been applied(!) 98% of graduates were in work in under two months. However, without the exclusion criteria that was less than 50%.

I had a consultant present me with research into how painkillers didn't work. It had been written by him for his research project. If I'd been his tutor he would not have passed. It was total rubbish. When i supervised projects i expected actual research to have been done not looking online at random so called studies (those that still worked I couldn't verify) and, making stuff up.

 

[becca19962014]

That's the worst excuse I've ever heard!

I assumed it was of the "type 2s cause it themselves by stuffing their faces so must be thick" school of diabetes training.

But then having found no one who actually did anything other than blame me and tell me if I didn't sort myself out my limbs would drop off and I'd die and it would never have happened if I'd just eaten properly in the first place I'm somewhat prejudiced!

 

[Sharron1]

Jackie,

I get around the croissant or doughnut problem, or in my case chocolate eclair is only on birthdays and then I have half and eat the rest the next day. Diabetes and I have to learn to live with each other. Mind you I am not that bold, I do test later on.🙄

 

[Sharron1]

When I recently went on ‘the course’ to tell to tell you all about diabetes (which I hasten to add wasted 3 hours of my life which I shall never get back!), I was told there was no need to test unless ‘somebody’ had asked you do it because ‘nobody’ ever looked at the results so was a waste of time and worry! 😱. I think there were about 20 type 2 diabetics there and only 2 of us had meters (or admitted to having one)

God how ridiculous , and these are the 'experts' that advise. Well I for one am glad I ignored the advice not to test. Even now, I do a random test just to see if all is ok. Why leave it to luck.🙄

 

[Deleted member 21371]

This is an interesting question.

It's an unfortunate fact, and a category I fitted into, that many diabetics are overweight at diagnosis.
I tested, I was prescribed strips by my GP to support that.
I actually was prescribed 100 strips a month for several years.
I used it with my dietitian initially to control my BG by a low GI, and low calorie diet, to lose weight.
On reflection, while eating to my meter was obviously the correct route for me, the weight loss reversed my diabetes.
I could actually have achieved this without any testing.

So,
Could I control my BG by testing?
Yes.
Did I actually need to test to reverse my diabetes?
No.

But then my goal was never to control BG.

And sadly, I've seen far too many swap diabetes for an extreme desire to control BG to a very artificial level, well outside (or actually within) normal limits. Like some sort of competition on a perfectly level BG, or an exclusive "four" club, or a rise less than two.
This isn't a healthy mind set, so HCP's need to consider this as well.

And then the others that simply won't consider any change.

So maybe HCP's see both ends of the spectrum.
Those they prescribe strips to, that simply sell them on Ebay, and those that let testing take over their lives.
And strike a balance in between.
Testing will certainly help some, but not everyone will be entirely good with it.

 

[mikeyB]

Agree, Travellor. Testing only helps those who are motivated to change lifestyle or diet. Without that, it’s neither use nor ornament. And I suspect that applies to a lot more folk than we on this forum imagine.

 

[Martin Canty]

The information on how to interpret results is out there.... https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317224.php

IMHO testing is an invaluable tool in self management of D... How on earth can we see the day to day impact of the self management of our disease without testing. Admittedly we are a motivated group and we discuss the issues a lot, but with better education the message can get out to a wider audience.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Admittedly we are a motivated group and we discuss the issues a lot, but with better education the message can get out to a wider audience.

I can completely understand why people wouldn't want to. It would be good to have evidence on which groups of people are likely to benefit (and which may as well not bother). I'm inclined to think there's a reasonably large group of Type 2 who just don't need to worry beyond manageable diet and lifestyle changes and HbA1c (and other tests) once or twice a year. I'm also inclined to agree that the existing evidence doesn't convincingly show that someone wanting to do regular blood tests won't benefit from doing so.

 

[Sharron1]

Hi,

I think the value in testing in the early stages is to find out what foods work well. I test less often now and was determined that testing wasn't going to be a hobby. Without testing I wouldn't have a clue what was going on. It is a nuisance but a valuable one .

 

[rustee2011]

My GP told me this week, that if I started doing that. I would be doing that 7 times a day. As I have it well controlled in the prediabetic range it is unnecessary.
If I do get a meter. I would start slow and keep a journal. I have a mini one on WhatsApp with foods I avoid

 

[Madeline]

I’m newly diagnosed, not even actually been told what type, but I’m assuming type 2 brought on by enforced inactivity, ie I’m fat* because I can’t move much - on home oxygen and the 15’ walk from the sitting room to the front door is an effort, and high dose steroids. The information I’ve been given is woeful, and I can’t attend the courses because I’m immunocompromised.

But even I can see that testing is so obviously the way to go. Mine was picked up by a chance blood glucose test because I kept fainting. I was in hospital for August-September and my blood sugars weren’t even pre-diabetic then. And I’ve lost 15kg since. I’ve genuinely no idea what type I am, hence the need to rest for self reassurance. And this forum is an absolute godsend, I really don’t know how I’d have coped without finding you all.

Anyway, I’m wittering, as usual (you’ll get used to it lol). Surely an Hba1c test is an average for the 3 months, and doesn’t show swings between highs and lows? If so, how on earth can it be used to confirm good overall control when the highs/lows could be cancelling each other out? The only way to find out is to test!

*Edit. I’m not actually fat anymore, not since the 15kg drop. I’m still getting my head round that. And my pyjama bottoms slide down a lot. I’ve learnt to clutch the waistband as I toddle around.

 

[Martin Canty]

Surely an Hba1c test is an average for the 3 months, and doesn’t show swings between highs and lows? If so, how on earth can it be used to confirm good overall control when the highs/lows could be cancelling each other out? The only way to find out is to test!

That really is the point..... BTW, congratulations on the weight loss....