Do you use your glucometer as much as you should at home? Now, I am talking to type 2 diabetics for the most part, not insulin dependent type 1. I often think while at work, “why are we checking patient’s blood sugars 4 times a day if we aren’t covering them with insulin”? Being on a cardiac floor, most of our patients get tight insulin control, but there is the 30% that we seem to be sticking just to stick.

I also know that I check my own sugar 3 times a day, but if I am flying high in the 300’s, I can’t correct the issue due to not being on injectable insulin at the present. So why even do it? I am compliant though and continue to keep a journal, but I know that there are many type 2’s out there that say, “why check if I am not treating the problem, so why waste money and time”?

And that would be just what a new study examined… The effectiveness of at home glucometer monitoring by type 2 diabetics.

The study, published in the online edition of the British Medical Journal, found no conclusive evidence that home monitoring improved glucose control, Health Day said Wednesday.

They also found that most patients in the study did not even continue their monitoring to the end of the research. And then there is that whole insurance dilemma. Some insurance companies cover diabetic supplies and some do not, and take it from someone that has a private health insurance company that does not, it is expensive. I can see how that would be a deterrent for a lot of diabetics.

So what do you think? Do you think patients are compliant at home with their glucometers or do you think we should concentrated on more effective options? Hmm… tough one, I have mixed emotions on this one personally. Tell me what you think though? Come on, I know that someone is out there with an opinion.

Science Daily

On a very personal note, I had a very scary day Wednesday. As you all know I am a type 1 diabetic and control my blood sugar through diet and exercise. My sugars run in the 80’s on normal days. I have had very little fluctuation’s over the last year or so.

After feeding the kids lunch yesterday, I started to feel a little bit off. I hadn’t eaten lunch yet. I was sipping on a diet coke and all of a sudden my fingers felt funny, like I couldn’t hold the phone. I put it down and sat down at the table. Well, it just got worse from there. I started seeing floaters across my eyes, was sweating and my head felt very fuzzy.

I asked my middle daughter to get my glucometer, after I calmed my self down. I checked my first finger, 540. Are you kidding me??? No, I thought, “it can’t be”! I had my daughter check 5 more fingers. Yup, it was true. Well, “I guess that would explain the fuzziness”.

So, I called my hubby and hysterically explained the situation. He calmed me down and said he would be leaving work very soon. I put the cordless phone next to my daughter and wrote the number 911 on a piece of paper and told her if mommy went to sleep and couldn’t wake up to call that number for some help. Thank goodness she is a very smart 4 1/2 year old!!

My hubby was home within a half an hour and my daughter didn’t need to use the ol’ 911. But it did take at least 5 hours for my blood sugar to come below 300. Scary stuff! I made an appointment with the doctor for Friday AM and hope that I don’t need to visit the ER before that.

I have no idea what happened or why my body has decided to rebel against me. We will see what the future holds. It is very scary though, especially when you know too much.