lack of diabetic DEs that are diabetic

[jimmys devoted]

I am finding that there is so much variance is the CDES locally. So much so that teh information aries from no testing to testing once a wee or not more than two or three time a day if your type 1. But the swing locally is:
If your type 2 its not so bad. Its an easier or " better diabetes" you take apill and your done. Yet we see so many with so much complicatiosn and surgical intervention.
I bring this up because aside form it being here in TN, I also saw it in Alaska and Maine.
Is the new trend to be so lacking in consistant information after you get the CDE cert.
My clinic is usy with correcting those who are out of control and we have success and explaining fallicies that are so prevalent in the local diabetes education programs at the hospitals.
I am a typ 1 and I am living active proof that you ca live a great life even with frequent testing and th infomation and training that I got was consistant.

So what trends have you seen from a professional to a professional that changes in the education of the public or patient that goes so wrong?

[Marci Sloane]

Interesting that you see that some CDEs don't find testing necessary. The CDEs who I work with (or know locally) all feel very strongly about the necessity to test. It's one of the most important components to manage your disease whether it's Type 1 or Type 2. Type 2 is very serious. Type 1 may lead to greater complications because the disease can progress over more years, however, with children getting Type 2, the impact and complications are devastating over time. This is why the CDEs I know feel it would be nearly impossible to control blood glucose without the knowledge of glucose readings throughout the day. This at least will help people understand the impact of their actions on their disease.

[Marci Sloane]

I think that since diabetes is a disease that needs very individualized recommendations. For example: some people have different targets for the glucose levels if they run low too frequently. Of course, you receive more information if you test more frequently, however, some people become so stressed out when they test themselves that it is more important for them to test less frequently or not at all (if they are not taking insulin). I used to wonder why some physicians would tell their patients not to test themselves. I soon found out that the patients became stressed or obsessive with testing and it was healthier for them to have a test in the doctors office, frucostamine every 2 weeks and/or an A1c every quarter of a year.