Question:
Should I check my blood sugars daily if I have diabetes but don’t take insulin to treat it?
Answer:
No
MedHead Confidence Score: 5
Amount Saved: $50 cost of glucometer, $23 per month in glucose test strip costs
MedHead Message:
If you are not taking insulin, don’t check blood sugars regularly. Save it for the hemoglobin A1c test checked by your doctor periodically. It might be ok to check it when you are feeling bad, or when blood sugars begin to get out of control, but forcing yourself to check it all the time doesn’t save lives and it makes you miserable by poking yourself all the time and buying new test strips all the time. Save the money and treat you and your loved one to an extra symphony ticket every few months. I’m a huge symphony fan myself.
References:
1. http://www.choosingwisely.org/clinician-lists/society-general-internal-medicine-daily-home-finger-glucose-testing-type-2-diabetes-mellitus/ 2. https://health.costhelper.com/glucose-meter.html 3. https://health.costhelper.com/glucose-meter.html
