Too Many Finger‑Pricks? A Study Says Some Type 2 Diabetics Are Testing Herself
Imagine that every morning you’re like, “I’ll just poke my finger for a quick check.”
Turns out, about one in seven people with type 2 diabetes are doing that and a few more times each day—sometimes without a good reason.
What the Study Really Means
- Researchers sifted through over 370,000 records and found about 23% of them had at least three insurance claims for home blood‑sugar test strips.
- More than half of those who were testing needlessly—14% of the total sample—were not on insulin or any drugs that could cause a dangerous drop in glucose.
- It turns out half of those patients were sampling at least twice daily, costing them a grand‑average of $325 per year! That’s pricey for a few pops.
Why Do They Keep Testing?
Dr. Kevin Platt from the University of Michigan explains: “It’s like bringing a fire extinguisher to a dry‑cleaning job.”
While some drugs—especially insulin—shake things up rapidly and need frequent checks, most oral medications are steady actors. They simply don’t require the same vigilance.
In the study, almost 33,000 people were on medications that don’t reduce blood sugar dangerously, and about 19,000 were on no diabetes meds at all.
What the Experts Say
- Professor Sheri Colberg (Old Dominion University) notes that while frequent checks may not change overall glucose control, having strips on hand gives peace of mind during illness or when routines go sideways.
- Dr. Vanessa Arguello (UCLA) advises a tailored approach:
- Insulin users or those on medications that can dip sugar sharply should check multiple times a day.
- Those on stable oral meds or none at all can drop it to twice a day or even every other day—depending on their individual goals.
Bottom Line
More pokes aren’t always better. If you’re not on insulin or on drugs that cause rapid swings, you might be over‑testing your way to unnecessary pain, worry, and a full‑price tag. Ask your doc at the next visit about just what’s needed for your situation.
