Anybody on forxiga

[Winifreds child]

Hi today I had my appointment with the doctor to talk about my trying remission through life style changes I have lost 2 stones and started at 49 now 43 the nurse agreed I could do this but the doctor has not agreed and says I must have medication and that remission does not work point blank he was not interested in what I am doing with diet and exercise and prescribed me forxiga he just wasn’t interested and said if I didn’t I will risk complications although apart from high blood pressure no problems anyway I came home totally deflated any thoughts ….I honestly don’t see why I need the medication and wonder if it’s possible to see someone private for advice or is it a waste of time the nurse says one thing the doctor another I know I have to decide but sure how…grateful for any thoughts

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi today I had my appointment with the doctor to talk about my trying remission through life style changes I have lost 2 stones and started at 49 now 43 the nurse agreed I could do this but the doctor has not agreed and says I must have medication and that remission does not work point blank he was not interested in what I am doing with diet and exercise and prescribed me forxiga he just wasn’t interested and said if I didn’t I will risk complications although apart from high blood pressure no problems anyway I came home totally deflated any thoughts ….I honestly don’t see why I need the medication and wonder if it’s possible to see someone private for advice or is it a waste of time the nurse says one thing the doctor another I know I have to decide but sure how…grateful for any thoughts

My personal opinion is that if you are committed to maintaining the changes you have made which has been successful in getting you down from just over the diagnostic threshold to below that, not quite normal yet but nearly there, then there is no justifiable reason for adding medication. If in another 3 - 6 months your level has not gone done further then it may be worth considering. It is always your decision whether to take a medication and it should be an agreement between you and your Dr or Nurse.

 

[saffron15]

Have you made the changes on no medication? Eg no metformin for example? Over what period of time have you reduced? I too have high blood pressure and am on metformin forxiga and statins. I don't always take the statins. I havent seen a Doctor. My hba1c in December was 44.
I was told forxiga was good for cardiovascular health as well as reducing blood glucose. At that stage I was down to 51.
I was still stressed by the diagnosis and nervous about cardiovascular health as my cousins wife who wasa few days younger than me had a heart attack due to her type 2. This was before I was diagnosed. Surprisingly I was seen by a DCN in February who said I could drop 1 metformin or the forxiga. My heart said drop forxiga but head said metformin as I was taking 2 metformin and was about to have a cataract op. What medication you take is your choice but the Doctor may be considering your cardiovascular health.

 

[Ieva DUK]

Hi there @Winifreds child ! First off, huge congratulations on your weight loss and the progress you’ve made — bringing your HbA1c from 49 to 43 through lifestyle changes is a big deal. It shows real commitment and is absolutely something to feel proud of. That’s not easy work.
It sounds like the appointment left you feeling quite dismissed and deflated, which is really understandable. I wanted to ask - do you find that this particular doctor tends to be dismissive of your concerns more generally, or was this the first time it felt that way? Sometimes there are reasons (like a focus on clinical guidelines or past patient experiences), but even so, it can be frustrating when you feel like your own efforts and goals aren't being taken seriously.
At the end of the day, it’s your body and your decision. If you're not comfortable starting a medication like Forxiga right now, it’s okay to take some time to weigh things up, ask more questions, or even seek a second opinion - whether that’s another GP in your practice, a diabetes specialist, or, if you have the means, a private consultation. That might not be a waste of time at all if it helps you feel heard and confident in your choices.
Some people do manage to maintain or reach remission through diet and lifestyle alone, while others benefit from a mix of strategies, including medication - it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and there’s no one-size-fits-all. But it should always be a conversation with you, not something done to you.
You’re clearly putting in the work and thinking carefully about your next steps - you deserve to have that recognised and supported. You're not alone in feeling conflicted, and it's absolutely okay to explore your options before deciding.
I also wanted do ask if you feel safe and comfortable talking openly with the nurse, since they could be a helpful ally in navigating the conflicting messages.

 

[Winifreds child]

My personal opinion is that if you are committed to maintaining the changes you have made which has been successful in getting you down from just over the diagnostic threshold to below that, not quite normal yet but nearly there, then there is no justifiable reason for adding medication. If in another 3 - 6 months your level has not gone done further then it may be worth considering. It is always your decision whether to take a medication and it should be an agreement between you and your Dr or Nurse.

Thanks for your reply I feel I can continue to improve but feel the doctor determined for me to have medication it didn’t feel any encouragement or positive way forwards just forced to accept the prescription now feel frightened to take it and again frightened not to take it what I have achieved so far is without medication….Thankyou for your thoughts it feels helpful just to discuss it

 

[Winifreds child]

Have you made the changes on no medication? Eg no metformin for example? Over what period of time have you reduced? I too have high blood pressure and am on metformin forxiga and statins. I don't always take the statins. I havent seen a Doctor. My hba1c in December was 44.
I was told forxiga was good for cardiovascular health as well as reducing blood glucose. At that stage I was down to 51.
I was still stressed by the diagnosis and nervous about cardiovascular health as my cousins wife who wasa few days younger than me had a heart attack due to her type 2. This was before I was diagnosed. Surprisingly I was seen by a DCN in February who said I could drop 1 metformin or the forxiga. My heart said drop forxiga but head said metformin as I was taking 2 metformin and was about to have a cataract op. What medication you take is your choice but the Doctor may be considering your cardiovascular health.

Thanks for your thoughts yes I wonder that as my parents both died of heart attacks in their early 40s….do you have any problems with the medication side effects or such …that is one thing I am worried about

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks for your reply I feel I can continue to improve but feel the doctor determined for me to have medication it didn’t feel any encouragement or positive way forwards just forced to accept the prescription now feel frightened to take it and again frightened not to take it what I have achieved so far is without medication….Thankyou for your thoughts it feels helpful just to discuss it

It is your decision to take it or not to take it, your GP is not there watching you swallow it so won't know unless you choose to tell them.
If you feel you want to continue the way you are then just politely tell them you will hold off until your next HbA1C.

 

[Winifreds child]

Hi there @Winifreds child ! First off, huge congratulations on your weight loss and the progress you’ve made — bringing your HbA1c from 49 to 43 through lifestyle changes is a big deal. It shows real commitment and is absolutely something to feel proud of. That’s not easy work.
It sounds like the appointment left you feeling quite dismissed and deflated, which is really understandable. I wanted to ask - do you find that this particular doctor tends to be dismissive of your concerns more generally, or was this the first time it felt that way? Sometimes there are reasons (like a focus on clinical guidelines or past patient experiences), but even so, it can be frustrating when you feel like your own efforts and goals aren't being taken seriously.
At the end of the day, it’s your body and your decision. If you're not comfortable starting a medication like Forxiga right now, it’s okay to take some time to weigh things up, ask more questions, or even seek a second opinion - whether that’s another GP in your practice, a diabetes specialist, or, if you have the means, a private consultation. That might not be a waste of time at all if it helps you feel heard and confident in your choices.
Some people do manage to maintain or reach remission through diet and lifestyle alone, while others benefit from a mix of strategies, including medication - it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and there’s no one-size-fits-all. But it should always be a conversation with you, not something done to you.
You’re clearly putting in the work and thinking carefully about your next steps - you deserve to have that recognised and supported. You're not alone in feeling conflicted, and it's absolutely okay to explore your options before deciding.
I also wanted do ask if you feel safe and comfortable talking openly with the nurse, since they could be a helpful ally in navigating the conflicting messages.

Thanks so much for your reply yes I think I won’t rush my decision it was my first ever appointment with that doctor but the first doctor I saw was a doctor I like but when he saw me with this problem he was awful and also didn’t give me any options but medication and warned me about blindness and amputation I came home totally depressed and really shocked by his attitude….I consider myself reasonably fit and very active a size 16 so overweight but not badly ..I hadn’t eaten any sugar for five years because of being prediabetic but hadn’t understood the carb damage because I’d had no advice or help but it’s a shame because I wouldn’t be here now …but it’s now and I’ve got to deal with it but I had set my heart on remission this doctor told me straight there is no such thing I was pretty shocked…he certainly wasn’t impressed or bothered at all at my changes and definitely just dismissed it all ….my nurse is very supportive but I can only see her when a blood test is due ….thank you for your thought though it actually makes me feel better and I will take a bit more time to think it through and then decide …it feels wrong to visit the doctor and come back feeling bruised that’s the second time now I think this is why they call diabetes a lifestyle choice the doctors obviously think that and have nothing but contempt for diabetics

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks so much for your reply yes I think I won’t rush my decision it was my first ever appointment with that doctor but the first doctor I saw was a doctor I like but when he saw me with this problem he was awful and also didn’t give me any options but medication and warned me about blindness and amputation I came home totally depressed and really shocked by his attitude….I consider myself reasonably fit and very active a size 16 so overweight but not badly ..I hadn’t eaten any sugar for five years because of being prediabetic but hadn’t understood the carb damage because I’d had no advice or help but it’s a shame because I wouldn’t be here now …but it’s now and I’ve got to deal with it but I had set my heart on remission this doctor told me straight there is no such thing I was pretty shocked…he certainly wasn’t impressed or bothered at all at my changes and definitely just dismissed it all ….my nurse is very supportive but I can only see her when a blood test is due ….thank you for your thought though it actually makes me feel better and I will take a bit more time to think it through and then decide …it feels wrong to visit the doctor and come back feeling bruised that’s the second time now I think this is why they call diabetes a lifestyle choice the doctors obviously think that and have nothing but contempt for diabetics

I think your GP needs a bit of education about the possibility of remission. The accepted definition is if somebody has 2 consecutive HbA1C tests with a result of below 48mmol/mol without medication then they have achieved remission.

 

[Lucyr]

he was not interested in what I am doing with diet and exercise and prescribed me forxiga

Forxiga should help speed up the weight loss as well as reducing blood sugars and supporting heart health

 

[Chelseagirl]

You may have been running with high glucose for a long time before diagnosis. This is what causes the damage. All you have done to lose weight etc has reduced the risks, not removed them altogether. Dapa will help reduce the risks even more. I had a heart attack at 40. Luckily a small one. I have been on Dapa for 18 months now. Lost 8k and last HB1aC was 40 so it’s obviously working for me as far as my diabetes is concerned, but it’s also giving me protection against further heart attacks. Yes, I’ve had a few UTIs in this time, but better than being dead from a heart attack, or severely disabled from a stroke

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks so much for your reply yes I think I won’t rush my decision it was my first ever appointment with that doctor but the first doctor I saw was a doctor I like but when he saw me with this problem he was awful and also didn’t give me any options but medication and warned me about blindness and amputation I came home totally depressed and really shocked by his attitude….I consider myself reasonably fit and very active a size 16 so overweight but not badly ..I hadn’t eaten any sugar for five years because of being prediabetic but hadn’t understood the carb damage because I’d had no advice or help but it’s a shame because I wouldn’t be here now …but it’s now and I’ve got to deal with it but I had set my heart on remission this doctor told me straight there is no such thing I was pretty shocked…he certainly wasn’t impressed or bothered at all at my changes and definitely just dismissed it all ….my nurse is very supportive but I can only see her when a blood test is due ….thank you for your thought though it actually makes me feel better and I will take a bit more time to think it through and then decide …it feels wrong to visit the doctor and come back feeling bruised that’s the second time now I think this is why they call diabetes a lifestyle choice the doctors obviously think that and have nothing but contempt for diabetics

I’m pretty shocked by your Drs attitude @Winifreds child

Even if he was cautioning continuing with medication for valid reasons, to outright reject the concept of remission, and the dismissal of the brilliant improvements you have been making (plus the upset he caused you) say far more about his shortcomings as an HCP than your achievements IMO.

It is now widely accepted that T2 diabetes can be put in remission in some cases (Prof Taylor’s work, published in peer-reviewed journals over a number of years demonstrates this, and extensions to the initial work have confirmed the concepts sufficiently for an entire NHS Path To Remission programme to be developed. T2 Diabetes was once thought to be an inevitably progressive condition, but Prof Taylor has shown that it can be put on hold for those that respond to weight loss / clearing of visceral fat around the organs.

Hope you can find a way to work more effectively with this Dr, or perhaps request that you only see other Drs at your practice? As a person living with diabetes you should be building a collaborative relationship with your Dr, to improve your diabetes management - not leaving an appointment feeling bruised and utterly demotivated.

Depending on how upsetting you found the appointment, you may want to write in confidence to the Practice Manager to share your concerns?

 

[Winifreds child]

I think your GP needs a bit of education about the possibility of remission. The accepted definition is if somebody has 2 consecutive HbA1C tests with a result of below 48mmol/mol without medication then they have achieved remission.

Thanks for the message so far I have only had that one blood test and I have no idea when the next one will be but I shall continue as I have been and see if I can get lower ….to be honest I don’t mind seeing the nurse but dread seeing either doctor…anyway thanks for the information and support it’s helps a lot

 

[Winifreds child]

I’m pretty shocked by your Drs attitude @Winifreds child

Even if he was cautioning continuing with medication for valid reasons, to outright reject the concept of remission, and the dismissal of the brilliant improvements you have been making (plus the upset he caused you) say far more about his shortcomings as an HCP than your achievements IMO.

It is now widely accepted that T2 diabetes can be put in remission in some cases (Prof Taylor’s work, published in peer-reviewed journals over a number of years demonstrates this, and extensions to the initial work have confirmed the concepts sufficiently for an entire NHS Path To Remission programme to be developed. T2 Diabetes was once thought to be an inevitably progressive condition, but Prof Taylor has shown that it can be put on hold for those that respond to weight loss / clearing of visceral fat around the organs.

Hope you can find a way to work more effectively with this Dr, or perhaps request that you only see other Drs at your practice? As a person living with diabetes you should be building a collaborative relationship with your Dr, to improve your diabetes management - not leaving an appointment feeling bruised and utterly demotivated.

Depending on how upsetting you found the appointment, you may want to write in confidence to the Practice Manager to share your concerns?

Thanks so much for your message I forgot to mention this doctor didn’t even look at me but stared at the computer screen it was actually as if I wasn’t there it felt very rude I was embarrassed to be honest he just had no intention of engaging with me a very strange experience I have read the book by Roy Taylor and found it informative and inspiring I think I need to go down another stone but the weight loss has slowed down but I shall continue and hopefully improve further I’d like to think I could have a more positive experience with the doctor it is the second doctor with very similar attitudes though and the very thought of going again mortifies me at the moment thanks very much for you support its much appreciated it really is

 

[Winifreds child]

You may have been running with high glucose for a long time before diagnosis. This is what causes the damage. All you have done to lose weight etc has reduced the risks, not removed them altogether. Dapa will help reduce the risks even more. I had a heart attack at 40. Luckily a small one. I have been on Dapa for 18 months now. Lost 8k and last HB1aC was 40 so it’s obviously working for me as far as my diabetes is concerned, but it’s also giving me protection against further heart attacks. Yes, I’ve had a few UTIs in this time, but better than being dead from a heart attack, or severely disabled from a stroke

Hi thanks for the message so sorry to hear about your heart attack it must have been very frightening especially at that age it’s good to see the medication is working for you and giving you protection and I do have genetic heart problems in my family as both of my parents had heart attacks it was years ago and I would imagine not much was known then or at least they could have had diabetic problems but they were not picked up then and the treatments now will be so much better my doctor may be trying to protect my heart …I was prediabetic for five years I cut out all sugar then it had no affect on my weight I realise now I was eating too much bread and too many carbs I only recently became better informed on carbs and how they effect the body I was diagnosed at 49 on the blood count so just over the line that must not be crossed it’s been a real wake up call …..I hope you continue to do well I found your information helpful

 

[Winifreds child]

Forxiga should help speed up the weight loss as well as reducing blood sugars and supporting heart health

Thank you for your message I found the information reassuring and helpful just what I need at the moment

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi thanks for the message so sorry to hear about your heart attack it must have been very frightening especially at that age it’s good to see the medication is working for you and giving you protection and I do have genetic heart problems in my family as both of my parents had heart attacks it was years ago and I would imagine not much was known then or at least they could have had diabetic problems but they were not picked up then and the treatments now will be so much better my doctor may be trying to protect my heart …I was prediabetic for five years I cut out all sugar then it had no affect on my weight I realise now I was eating too much bread and too many carbs I only recently became better informed on carbs and how they effect the body I was diagnosed at 49 on the blood count so just over the line that must not be crossed it’s been a real wake up call …..I hope you continue to do well I found your information helpful

To give you a glimmer of hope that you can do this with no medications, I was prediabetic for a number of years but when I retired it was easier to just have that piece of cake with the afternoon cuppa and I was not doing early as much exercise and slipped over that threshold to 50mmol/mol but by adopting a low carb approach having around 70g carbs per day I reduced my HbA1C to 42 in 3 months and to below 40 in another 6 where I have stayed as the low carb is just my new normal way of eating. There was never any suggestion of medication from my GP and several doctors I have seen for other things since have been very complimentary and quite surprised that I am dietary managed and have a normal HbA1C.

 

[Winifreds child]

To give you a glimmer of hope that you can do this with no medications, I was prediabetic for a number of years but when I retired it was easier to just have that piece of cake with the afternoon cuppa and I was not doing early as much exercise and slipped over that threshold to 50mmol/mol but by adopting a low carb approach having around 70g carbs per day I reduced my HbA1C to 42 in 3 months and to below 40 in another 6 where I have stayed as the low carb is just my new normal way of eating. There was never any suggestion of medication from my GP and several doctors I have seen for other things since have been very complimentary and quite surprised that I am dietary managed and have a normal HbA1C.

Hi I find that very encouraging you have done a dare ding so well I am eating very low carb it’s how I have lost the weight but I find it quite hard I just hope it becomes the new normal and stop’s feeling so forced if you know what I mean …story’s like yours actually keep me motivated