sorry to tell you, but meters do lie. I have tested my BLS on three different meters at one time and the numbers are all different and they are off by pluse or minus 10-15 points. the margin of error on meters is suspect. I use them as a guide, but I don't let the meter control me, which many people do. I now usually test once or twice a day. Sometimes I will go two weeks without testing. Why? because I want to live life and not be on a leash. I exercise and eat as clean as possible. No fast food, no white bread, no sugar, no candy bars, etc.
one more bit of info. When I was in Morocco I learned that doctors there immediately prescribe insulin upon diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Apparently, there is the possibility to prolong beta cell function. Insulin relieves the pancreas of the stress of being overworked. I was told many patients reversed their condition due to this. Something I think American doctors should really take note of. there is research on this in medical journals.
amen to that; so do european doctors'.
No offense to drug industry as I am caught in middle.
Present metform pills great help yet 30 years on the starlix/glyburide strategy absoutely disaster.
all good points and excellent summary. Work with one's medical/diabetic team
at all times to prevent diasters/emergencies etc.
It is absolutely terrible to wade thru new research data as it is stuffed in Indiana Jones warehouse like the holy grail et all as medical establishment carries on like the Catholic Church in time of Galileo whom they commisseoned to get data on the heavens and then appalled when they didn't like the results.
We would all be better served by getting the big money bag lobbyists out of picture and start reviewing all the data from research done using MRI spectography, bariatric surgery, extreme diets et all and drop the crack pot theories and clap trap attempting to explain the problem when in fact solving Insulin resistance directly and drop Insulin effiiciency excuses and others would be a first good step.
Type 2 diabetics need to stop rot now and extend body health thru practical measures till science has had chance to wade thru all the biochemistry and edge cases to get at the actual summary main behavior and get off the its your fault excuses and you are too fat.
We desparatly need to implement new testing regimenes of the 23rd century to shed lightness on the darkness so we all get to a point where we stop the huge cluster of contending theories( all having some element of good ideas yet presently in total sowing confusion among the sick as well as medicine itself.)
For some unexplained reason, notwithstanding all the gains, sucess and technological progress in other fields of medicine, Type 2 diabetes seems stalled in the dark ages as type 2 victims continue the rot out. Current numbers on explosion and jump in type 2 cases are most suggestive that we are not on target and need to move on with revised thinking, testing technology and resulting cures.
Meter's don't "lie," however they can DIFFER. It's more due to the strip than the meter. If I were to change strips, I would take blood at the same time with the different strips for awhile and compare the readings to see where they are in relation to one another before depending on the new strips. Problems with the accuracy of strips can also be due to the environment in which they are kept and the age of the strips. Folks too poor (or ignorant) to afford fresh strips often buy them from places like eBay or craigslist. This can have tragic results - particularly if one is insulin dependent.
Other people here, correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think that most T2 people would be severely damaged by a 10-15 point variance in readings. What would be FAR more damaging, is not knowing, consistently, what your readings are - even with the margin for error. Your meter does not "control" your life - it is a tool that gives you valuable insight into the state of your body's glucose level. I applaud your exercise regimen and your food choices and I hope that you continue both. But living without the information provided by consistent meter readings - despite the variability from one to another - removes a valuable tool from your disease management "toolbox."
P.S. I really do dislike sticking my fingers - shots hurt less.
The UPSIDE of the internet: it provides unprecedented access to information from everywhere - including voices that would otherwise never had been heard.
The DOWNSIDE of the internet: it provides unprecedented access to information from everywhere - including voices that SHOULD not be heeded.
At this point, we have to be discriminating consumers of information. This is very difficult to do when you have something as complex as diabetes and when even respected experts disagree. Speaking personally, I prefer hard data to opinions and a CLEAR explanation of study methodologies and limitations.
In almost all cases, on the internet, the cost to a WRITER of their material is wrong or deceptive is $0. The cost to us when we drink from the wrong pitcher of Kool-Aid could be our lives.
The only way to know whether you're having the Somogyi effect or Dawn Phenomenon is to test your BG in the middle of the night. Somogyi is caused by hypoglycemia followed by the liver's response--dumping glucose--which causes hyperglycemia. The Dawn Phenomenon is not related to hypos, but is the body's response after fasting, dumping glucose in preparation for the new day's activity. Neither phenomenon is normal for a person who doesn't have diabetes.
Liver damage caused by metformin is very rare unless the person taking it is also drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or has liver disease unrelated to diabetes. Metformin is generally considered to be a very helpful medication because it protects the heart, reduces the incidence of coronary vascular diseases and heart attacks and lowers cancer risk. It does have some unpleasant gastric side effects for many people, though. Even the extended release version of Metformin may cause some mild gastric distress. Some people adjust to the medication and are relieved of these symptoms, but others don't.
Insulin is a great thing, I agree. I use it and I'm very happy with how things are going for me.
Last week, I had my quarterly blood work done in preparation for seeing my endocrinologist tomorrow. My numbers are lovely. There's nothing in the blood tests to indicate that I have diabetes. So, in that sense, one might say that I've "reversed" it. But it's not true. As long as I eat low numbers of carbohydrates a day and use insulin to prevent my BG from spiking after meals, I'm fine. If I didn't pay attention to what I eat, I would very quickly start responding to my food as a diabetic does, with elevated blood sugar, increased insulin resistance and by putting on weight around my waist.
In time, I may be able to control diabetes through diet and exercise alone. It's a goal of mine, but I won't beat myself up if I can't achieve it. From my standpoint, the only thing that matters is being able to keep my BG at a level normal for a person who doesn't have diabetes. I will always be a diabetic.
I agree. Meters differ. They're allowed to differ from lab results by as much as 20%. One way to know how well your meter reflects the BG found in arterial blood is to take a finger stick test immediately before or after having arterial blood drawn. If the finger stick varies by more than 15-20%, up or down, get a new meter.
It's up to us to decide when to test, to be sure. Personally, testing frequently seems to me to be the best way of being sure that my BG is where I want it to be. Many things can influence BG other than what I eat, including high levels of stress and infections. As important, to me, is to be on top of things all the time. I wouldn't feel like I'm managing things well if my BG went up suddenly for unknown reasons but I only noticed it when I tested for the first time in days or a couple of weeks. Heading off the damage that high BG brings with it is a major priority for me.
"Metformin is generally considered to be a very helpful medication because it protects the heart, reduces the incidence of coronary vascular diseases and heart attacks and lowers cancer risk."
Without going into any risk factors with Metformin, all those side "benefits" came directly from clinical studies. That's all well & good.....until you do a bit of research & realize that the studies were funded by the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Metformin.
For interesting reading:
"The Truth About The Drug Companies; How They Deceive us & What to do About it." by Marcia Angell, MD.
"Overdo$ed America" by John Abramson, MD
"Selling Sickness" by Roy Monynihan & Alan Cassels.
10-15 points variation between meters??
You're far more fortunate than I am. I've had 50 point variations, testing with two different meters.
My veterinarian was diagnosed T2 last year and has been following Barnard's program. He lost 40 lbs, but his A1Cs are still in the 7s and he's not happy about that.
Thanks for a positive post about following a Vegan diet. I know I feel so much better following Dr Barnard's plan. Most people upon hearing the plan are so negative. Maybe I was ready for this type living. My body is changing shape, numbers dropping...I go to dr today so will have a starting point for the AC1. I've committed 3 months to give this plan a real try but I can tell you from the first 3 weeks I feel great. Thanks MisterMister for posting!
I hope this diet works for you gardengirl. Please keep us updated on your progress. Joanne
you're welcome. Let us know how following a vegan diet works for you. I recommend aiming for a 16-22 week plan. keep a log book and record everything. it's all about notes. Then you will have a record for yourself and your doctor.