Medicare only pays for one AC1 test every 3 months?

[Warpy]

5. Frequent A1C testing doesn't tell you much

since this is a lab value that takes a long time to budge. It reflects a long term trend rather than short term changes. His glucose levels will tell you if the short term changes are having a good effect.

That's why the standard of care is to check the A1C every three months.

An internist is perfectly capable of caring for a type II diabetic who is keeping his sugar under decent control and can be one stop shopping for a variety of other issues. An endocrinologist needs to be brought in when sugar is resistant to control or is being controlled but with periods of bottoming out. Complications such as foot ulcers or kidney disease also mean it's endocrinologist time. An endocrinologist might be brought in if he's hospitalized with an infection, something that increases blood sugar levels and makes them more difficult to control temporarily.

Most uncomplicated cases of Type II diabetes never require an endocrinologist. If one is indicated, his internist will be the first to know.