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I'm a type2, recently
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10/26/09 04:58 PM

"I'm a type2, recently changed to the VA, I was testing twice daily, now I test once every other day? Any advantage/disadvantage?"
Asked By: robert1234567  
Category: Type 2

Background Info Hide
Diagnosed 4/1/06, first bs check was 439',alc 11, since then my eating/exercise habits have changed. Now I am 110 or less morn/nite, alc6.0. Because I am set in my way of twice daily checks, will the change to once every other day matter. I have not changed my eating/exercise habits at all. I guess my crutch was the dependence on the twice daily checks. Any feedback?

Expert Answers (1)

10/29/09 09:41 PM

Dear robert1234567, Congratulations to you for bringing down your blood sugars and achieving an A1c of 6.0 . That is really good control. What we get concerned about when the A1c is at your range is that you could be having some low blood sugars. Low blood sugars are as important as high blood sugars. Passing out when you are driving or having diminished reflexes and thought processes is dangerous. The VA system is recommending the testing every other day for people who are stable regarding their diabetes control. The more medications and/or insulin you are on, the more frequent you will be asked to test your blood sugars. When someone is not on anything but metformin, it is not expected that lows will occur, or at least not very often. When one is on sulfonyureas, the testing is more to identify possible low blood sugars that for using testing to see the effects of various foods on your blood sugars. While frequent testing is the ideal, the health care system doesn't fund the ideal treatments. If you want to test more often, you will have to find another source of funding for more strips than the VA can provide or purchase them yourself. I know this is not the answer you would like to hear, but it is a reality of the cost of testing supplies. Are you at risk??? Probably not. But, if you think you are having too frequent low blood sugars, then you need to work with your physician to adjust your medication. In the VA system, most patients are striving for an A1c around 7 or less. You are considerably under that number. I encourage you to discuss the pros and cons of maintaining a six A1c with your physician and jointly decide what is the best target for you.
Answered By: Janice Fisher
Accreditations: RD, LD, PHD, CDE, BC-ADM
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Community Answers (1)

10/30/09 02:51 PM

Thanks for your answer, I failed to mention that I also take 40mg of simvastatin. Greatly appreciate your timely response.
Answered By: robert1234567
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