Re: Reaction to careless 20s and Relationships with Drs.

March 21, 2002

for example and my bg were 108 1 hr post and 91 2 hr post?

Huh? (chicken corn 2 huge slices bread and butter)

>>>>>>>>>>>

I am nervouse to go and tell the Dr that I have been testing because

she said I didnt need to.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yang Tai Tai,

Sounds to me like the Doctor is correct. What do you perceive is wrong with

those readings?

Ziajian,

Art

Art Mc

moseart@...

March 21, 2002

for example and my bg were 108 1 hr post and 91 2 hr post?

Huh? (chicken corn 2 huge slices bread and butter)

>>>>>>>>>>>

I am nervouse to go and tell the Dr that I have been testing because

she said I didnt need to.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yang Tai Tai,

Sounds to me like the Doctor is correct. What do you perceive is wrong with

those readings?

Ziajian,

Art

Art Mc

moseart@...

March 21, 2002

Patti writes:

> despite the fact that I am not asian. So now as a diabetic I must

> change not only my eating habits. My sedentary nature. Give

....

> it does to my bg. Its so confusing. Make no sense to me yet. I had a

> huge meal last night, (after trying so hard to be good all day, I was

> starving!) for example and my bg were 108 1 hr post and 91 2 hr post?

> Huh? (chicken corn 2 huge slices bread and butter)

>

> I am nervouse to go and tell the Dr that I have been testing because

> she said I didnt need to. I am afraid she will be angry with me.

> Be insulted because I did not follow her advice. She said " I did not

> need to test or take any meds " But I had a need to know how bad it

Art responds:

> Sounds to me like the Doctor is correct. What do you

> perceive is wrong with

> those readings?

Art, I hope you don't mind if I jump in here. First, I view self testing

much like weighing oneself, and I don't think doctors should discourage

it -- it doesn't even " hurt " for non-diabetics to test if they are

interested. I am diabetic, but, by limiting my carb intake, I am able to

keep my blood sugars within non-diabetic ranges without meds. My doctor

told me I really didn't need to test more than a couple of times a week. I

didn't argue, just said that I look at it as an interesting science

experiment and a way to gain knowledge. He didn't mind, but some doctors

would. In fact, the concern that a doctor might be angry or insulted by

someone testing more often than instructed is not necessarily far fetched.

Some doctors are arrogant in this way; they are used to giving " orders " and

having them followed; some are more concerned with a patient's compliance

than with what works for that person. I consider this to be an inexcusable

attitude -- they are professional consultants, and we (not the doctors) are

the ones who suffer or benefit. Of course, testing, like almost any other

otherwise beneficial activity, can be compulsive, but that doesn't

invalidate it's usefulness when is used for our education in managing this

self controlled disease. Doctors don't tell us to stop washing our hands

more often than once or twice a week just because some people do it

compulsively.

Now, as to the specific readings quoted, they do look OK. I haven't gone

back over Patti's posts, and I don't remember what her blood sugar levels

generally are, but I would encourage repeated testing because our bodies can

be very variable. It really takes a number of tests, with the conditions as

controlled as possible, to get an idea of how a particular food, etc.,

generally affects us. In the case of the described meal, the amount of fats

and protein included might have slowed absorption of the carbs enough to

allow her body to handle them. A more informative way of testing foods is

to introduce a single food at a time and try to keep everything else the

same.

Patti may be fortunate to have been caught in an early stage and may be able

to stay there with continuing good control. Patti, what was the basis of

your diagnosis (that is, what tests were given and what were the results)?

Tom the Actuary

March 21, 2002

> I am nervouse to go and tell the Dr that I have been testing because

> she said I didnt need to. I am afraid she will be angry with me.

> Be insulted because I did not follow her advice. She said " I did not

> need to test or take any meds " But I had a need to know how bad it

> was. I had a need to know what I was up against. Cant fight blind.

> Cant change habits correctly if I cant see what I am doing. I have had

> so many bad relationships with Drs that I am a bit gun shy.

***Wait a minute. This is YOUR body, your treatment, your life. Frequent

testing is how you know what foods you can eat and what foods really spike

your blood sugar. And your doctor is working for you. If you're

intimidated by her in any way, or she's insisteten on her current stance,

fire her and find a new doc. One that you like and will treat your diabetes

the way you want him/her to. In other words a doc who will be a member of

your team.

Barb

March 21, 2002