advice...?

[ems]

hi all.

i had my womb removed 3 years ago (i had a fibroid the size of a grapefruit growing at the top of my womb which was stopping my from eating!). it seems this operation had a knock-on effect on my endocrine system and i was diagnosed with diabetes about 18 months ago. i have been trying to control my diabetes with changes to my diet (cutting out sugar, alcahol and "bad" carbs). it's working a bit, but my HbA1c level has gone back up to 72. i have not been on any medication so far as i was convinced that, with the changes in my diet, i would be able to cure myself. my question is this...am i decieving myself? can i ever get to a place where i feel normal again? should i try taking metformin? will that make me feel "normal" again? i admit, i'm feeling quite unwell and the doctor is warning me i could be doing long term damage to myself ( i admit i am feeling quite strange, tired and extremely fuzzy headed a lot of the time...any advice would be greatly appreciated! thank you! 🙂

 

[Grogg1]

From advice on this forum there are not good carbs, just carbs. I reduced all carbs and have seen my blood sugar fall

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
All you can do is try them and see.

 

[Amigo]

I'm presently managing my diabetes on diet and exercise alone but I have to be honest and say if it went to 72 and I was feeling generally unwell, I'd certainly try metformin. At the moment you need the boost it could give you but that doesn't mean that the main responsibility is with you to reduce your carb intake but I appreciate you know that. Ask if you can be tried maybe on the slow release to see if it impacts and improves your health. Good luck.

 

[ems]

Welcome.
All you can do is try them and see.

thanks for your reply 🙂 i thought that once i was on medication, i'm on it for life, that my body would stop producing it's own insulin...is that ture?

 

[ems]

I'm presently managing my diabetes on diet and exercise alone but I have to be honest and say if it went to 72 and I was feeling generally unwell, I'd certainly try metformin. At the moment you need the boost it could give you but that doesn't mean that the main responsibility is with you to reduce your carb intake but I appreciate you know that. Ask if you can be tried maybe on the slow release to see if it impacts and improves your health. Good luck.

okedokey...food for thought! 😉

 

[James 048]

hi all.

i had my womb removed 3 years ago (i had a fibroid the size of a grapefruit growing at the top of my womb which was stopping my from eating!). it seems this operation had a knock-on effect on my endocrine system and i was diagnosed with diabetes about 18 months ago. i have been trying to control my diabetes with changes to my diet (cutting out sugar, alcahol and "bad" carbs). it's working a bit, but my HbA1c level has gone back up to 72. i have not been on any medication so far as i was convinced that, with the changes in my diet, i would be able to cure myself. my question is this...am i decieving myself? can i ever get to a place where i feel normal again? should i try taking metformin? will that make me feel "normal" again? i admit, i'm feeling quite unwell and the doctor is warning me i could be doing long term damage to myself ( i admit i am feeling quite strange, tired and extremely fuzzy headed a lot of the time...any advice would be greatly appreciated! thank you! 🙂

Hi ems
Warm welcome to the forum

 

[Amigo]

thanks for your reply 🙂 i thought that once i was on medication, i'm on it for life, that my body would stop producing it's own insulin...is that ture?

In that there's people on here who have brought their levels down so far that they've been able to come off metformin, it must be possible but it needs supreme effort and many seem to be on the LCHF diet. Using metformin doesn't deplete your own ability to make insulin as far as I know so it's not a medication that you can never come off but it is difficult. In your situation, I'd be more worried about some of the possible diabetic complications you could create if these levels continue long term.
There are people who swear by the general properties of metformin however and there's scientific evidence linking it to longevity and protection against cancer. It's main problem seems to be gastric effects which is why slow release is more easily tolerated.

 

[trophywench]

No - medication won't stop your pancreas working!

However- at the moment it's working far FAR harder than it was designed to - so if you want a reasonable future - PLEASE give it a bit of a rest, by accepting medication to help you.

Nobody wants to take drugs unless they have to - and it seems to me - you NEED to at the moment. Get your blood glucose down asap with the help of meds, diet and exercise - and who knows? It's not unknown for folk to be able to come OFF the medication again sometimes. You'll always be diabetic of course - but all under control by your own efforts.

 

[john pardo]

Hi and welcome

 

[Bubbsie]

hi all.

i had my womb removed 3 years ago (i had a fibroid the size of a grapefruit growing at the top of my womb which was stopping my from eating!). it seems this operation had a knock-on effect on my endocrine system and i was diagnosed with diabetes about 18 months ago. i havtwoe been trying to control my diabetes with changes to my diet (cutting out sugar, alcahol and "bad" carbs). it's working a bit, but my HbA1c level has gone back up to 72. i have not been on any medication so far as i was convinced that, with the changes in my diet, i would be able to cure myself. my question is this...am i decieving myself? can i ever get to a place where i feel normal again? should i try taking metformin? will that make me feel "normal" again? i admit, i'm feeling quite unwell and the doctor is warning me i could be doing long term damage to myself ( i admit i am feeling quite strange, tired and extremely fuzzy headed a lot of the time...any advice would be greatly appreciated! thank you! 🙂

Hi ems...diagnosed in July 2016...been taking Metformin since then...also following the LCHF diet...at diagnosis blood glucose 17.4...now on average 6.5...at next review if BG levels coming down will discuss reducing or stopping the Metformin...I am on a relatively low dose...just 2 per day...did initially have the usual problems when started...tummy trouble...that didn't last long...might be worth considering the meds...give you an added boost to get that BG down again...as for feeling normal again...not sure about that...but so far the Metformin has helped...feel better than have for years...up to you to decide of course...and many here have managed to 'come off' meds...or manage their diabetes with low doses...good luck.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Ems. Please dont be afraid of taking Metformin , unlike some other meds it does not push your pancreas to make more insulin, in fact it'll help it by giving a a bit if a rest as right now your pancreas is working like it's never had to work before. The main problem with metfartin as we often call it on here is upset tum in the backdoor trots department , Which often clears up in a week or two and not everyone has this, I didn't. They should start you on a low dose and gradually build it up.

Yes you can get back to a place where you feel normal again, sometimes diet and exercise is just not enough and meds are needed.

How did you come to be diagnosed , was it feeling ill , peeing a lot Weight loss etc.
It would also help us to help you if we knew what you eat on a typical day as we may be able to suggest some changes that could help.

 

[ems]

hi all.

i had my womb removed 3 years ago (i had a fibroid the size of a grapefruit growing at the top of my womb which was stopping my from eating!). it seems this operation had a knock-on effect on my endocrine system and i was diagnosed with diabetes about 18 months ago. i have been trying to control my diabetes with changes to my diet (cutting out sugar, alcahol and "bad" carbs). it's working a bit, but my HbA1c level has gone back up to 72. i have not been on any medication so far as i was convinced that, with the changes in my diet, i would be able to cure myself. my question is this...am i decieving myself? can i ever get to a place where i feel normal again? should i try taking metformin? will that make me feel "normal" again? i admit, i'm feeling quite unwell and the doctor is warning me i could be doing long term damage to myself ( i admit i am feeling quite strange, tired and extremely fuzzy headed a lot of the time...any advice would be greatly appreciated! thank you! 🙂

Hi Ems. Please dont be afraid of taking Metformin , unlike some other meds it does not push your pancreas to make more insulin, in fact it'll help it by giving a a bit if a rest as right now your pancreas is working like it's never had to work before. The main problem with metfartin as we often call it on here is upset tum in the backdoor trots department , Which often clears up in a week or two and not everyone has this, I didn't. They should start you on a low dose and gradually build it up.

Yes you can get back to a place where you feel normal again, sometimes diet and exercise is just not enough and meds are needed.

How did you come to be diagnosed , was it feeling ill , peeing a lot Weight loss etc.
It would also help us to help you if we knew what you eat on a typical day as we may be able to suggest some changes that could help.

 

[ems]

hi lin,
thanks for your very informative reply, it's helped me to make a decision to try it...i've had the metformin in a draw since aug 2015, but this last week has been really hard. i saw a different doctor on tuesday and she gave me a dose of "tough love" (ie a bollocking) for not being on medication. fair play, i probably needed it! she forced me to take a step outside myself and admit that i wasn't going to ever cure myself and how totally awful i've been feeling for the last year or so. my brain has turned to mush and im so forgetful!
i had complications with an underactive thyroid following my op and this led to my diagnosis. i have been taking thyroid support suppliments and that has sorted out my underactive thyroid. the diabetes, though, i think i've been decieving myself in that i thought i could cure it without going on meds. i was in shock for a while, as before having my womb out i've always been healthy. i possibly drank a little too much, but i had a healthy diet (i've been a veggie for 26 years) and haven't lead a sedentary life - always on the go!
i've cut out drinking (for the most part), i've never had a sweet tooth, so that was easy. i've switched to high protein seedy bread, replaced potatoes with sweet potatoes and increased the protein in my diet with lots more seeds,nuts and quorn. i've even started to eat fish (which i HATE doing but i figured, needs must! i'd really rather not, though!). i switched to wholewheat or spelt pasta and consistantly use brown rice instead of white basmati, lots of veggies. cheese and cucumber sarnies for lunch. if i feel like i need a blood sugar boost, my emergency food box contains an apple, a pk of multigrain crisps, paleo brazil nut and cherry bars and cashew nuts. any dietary advice would be really helpful. thanks for any info you can give me 🙂

 

[ems]

Hi ems...diagnosed in July 2016...been taking Metformin since then...also following the LCHF diet...at diagnosis blood glucose 17.4...now on average 6.5...at next review if BG levels coming down will discuss reducing or stopping the Metformin...I am on a relatively low dose...just 2 per day...did initially have the usual problems when started...tummy trouble...that didn't last long...might be worth considering the meds...give you an added boost to get that BG down again...as for feeling normal again...not sure about that...but so far the Metformin has helped...feel better than have for years...up to you to decide of course...and many here have managed to 'come off' meds...or manage their diabetes with low doses...good luck.

hi bubbsie, thanks for your reply 🙂 i've decided to give the metformin a go and see if i feel better 🙂

 

[Grogg1]

i've cut out drinking (for the most part), i've never had a sweet tooth, so that was easy. i've switched to high protein seedy bread, replaced potatoes with sweet potatoes and increased the protein in my diet with lots more seeds,nuts and quorn. i've even started to eat fish (which i HATE doing but i figured, needs must! i'd really rather not, though!). i switched to wholewheat or spelt pasta and consistantly use brown rice instead of white basmati, lots of veggies. cheese and cucumber sarnies for lunch. if i feel like i need a blood sugar boost, my emergency food box contains an apple, a pk of multigrain crisps, paleo brazil nut and cherry bars and cashew nuts. any dietary advice would be really helpful. thanks for any info you can give me 🙂

Just to say I drink wine- not to excess and my blood sugar still falling. I'm not one for shorts but if you are no sugar mixers! My daughter wants me to try vegan - I don't eat seafood and only eat chicken but I like cheese!! I've found zero carb noodles in Holland & Barratt which are fine, not yet opened the pasta and rice versions. I mainly give potatoes, sweet or normal a miss. I have one slice of lower carb bread or bread roll a day. My snack is peanuts, salted or dry roasted, neither impact my blood sugar but I limit my portion to a small handful.

I take metformin twice a day and have had no stomach issues from day 1. I have plenty of greens to avoid constipation as my system was a bit slower for the first few weeks of low carbing.

 

[ems]

Just to say I drink wine- not to excess and my blood sugar still falling. I'm not one for shorts but if you are no sugar mixers! My daughter wants me to try vegan - I don't eat seafood and only eat chicken but I like cheese!! I've found zero carb noodles in Holland & Barratt which are fine, not yet opened the pasta and rice versions. I mainly give potatoes, sweet or normal a miss. I have one slice of lower carb bread or bread roll a day. My snack is peanuts, salted or dry roasted, neither impact my blood sugar but I limit my portion to a small handful.

I take metformin twice a day and have had no stomach issues from day 1. I have plenty of greens to avoid constipation as my system was a bit slower for the first few weeks of low carbing.

wine is my favoured tipple, grogg, but i've cut it out since christmas ( before then it was only a bottle a week, if that!) it's bread i struggle with, i love it! today i bought a smoothie blender bullet thing (only £30 in aldi!), gonna try easing off my daily bread fix in the morning and have high protein shake instead. my metabolism is all over the place, sometimes i'm ravenous just an hour after a meal, other times i have to force myself to eat. there seems to be no pattern to it! i wish i could go vegan, but like you i love cheese and the thought of tea without milk...i feel it wouldn't be worth drinking because i wouldn't enjoy it. i oftan have it with rice milk at my friend's house and it's just not the same! 🙂

 

[Grogg1]

wine is my favoured tipple, grogg, but i've cut it out since christmas ( before then it was only a bottle a week, if that!) it's bread i struggle with, i love it! today i bought a smoothie blender bullet thing (only £30 in aldi!), gonna try easing off my daily bread fix in the morning and have high protein shake instead. my metabolism is all over the place, sometimes i'm ravenous just an hour after a meal, other times i have to force myself to eat. there seems to be no pattern to it! i wish i could go vegan, but like you i love cheese and the thought of tea without milk...i feel it wouldn't be worth drinking because i wouldn't enjoy it. i oftan have it with rice milk at my friend's house and it's just not the same! 🙂

Lidls do a high protein roll, only 10g carbs per roll (average slice of bread 15g+ and rolls 30g+). I've had tea with soya milk (unsweetened and like Aldi brand the best) and it's okay. I tried Nimble wholemeal bread last week as only 8g carbs per slice. Had two toasted for breakfast and was hungry an hour later. When I have protein only like 2 boiled eggs I'm okay till lunch time. So I know that a protein only breakfast is better for me. I've tried also Burgen bread from Tesco and that was nice - just the one slice.