Anyone type 2 diet only?

[chili]

May i ask why you are diet only and not having any medication, was this your own choice or your doctors?

reason i ask this is i was taking metformin it upset my stomach quite badly so i was put on glimepiride, i drive for a living and unbeknown to me i was supposed to tell dvla, so i stopped taking this and have been trying metformin modified release still get the upset stomach so now i am thinking of going diet only.

when 1st diagnosed i was not given any medication after maybe 6mths i was struggling to make any real changes and asked for a tablet to help me along so thats how i ended up popping a pill, but like i say it upsets my stomach, and i do not want to jump through hoops for dvla.

i intend to stop taking the tablet for a month and i am going to monitor my bloods to see if anything significant changes ie a rise or fall in blood readings.

In general my readings are usually between 4.8 and 8.2 depending on what i eat.

 

[GregP]

I'm diet (AND EXERCISE!) only despite significant pressure from doctors to start on medication, seem to be doing ok on my own so far

 

[Mark Parrott]

Im D&E. My nurse didn't mention meds & just told me to cut down carbs & sugar. But my doctor phoned me a few days later & suggested Metformin. By then, I was getting my BG under control & we came to an agreement to try diet first.

 

[Pine Marten]

I'm diet & exercise now after a couple of years taking Metformin. A few months ago my GP reduced it from two pills to one a day, then in January suggested that I stop taking it altogether, as my control was good. I'm seeing her again in May for a check up.

I've certainly not noticed that my readings have got worse on only diet & exercise (they haven't really changed), and I don't want to go back to medication, so I am quite strict about my control. I'm not a driver so I don't have that extra worry to think about.

Your readings sound pretty good, so I think you're doing well.

 

[Amigo]

I'm D&E too (though more of the former than latter due to other medical issues) but I do a lot more walking now. I've lost 2.5 stone since diagnosis.

I was diagnosed last Feb with a Hba1c of 52 and initially the GP suggested Metformin. He prescribed it at such a massive rate initially (3 times a day) that it made me quite ill with stomach upset and headaches. I only managed a week then told him I was going to do it without. He was quite happy with this and I subsequently had Hb's of 44 and 41. The huge bag of Metformin is still in the cupboard. I test several times a day and the GP is supportive. I've only seen a practice nurse once and she said 'you do whatever you think is right for you'.

I'm hoping I can do without meds long term but if I did need it in the future, I'd want slow release. I've no problem with Metformin per se because I think it has demonstrable health benefits in other ways but it didn't suit me. It's a struggle to keep levels down during other illnesses and severe stress...that's the main challenge for me.

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi Chili,

Not quite strictly D&E as I still take the metformin for the other benefits, I control my numbers through LCHF (typical FBG between 3.9 & 5.0).... I did notice that while on vacation to NZ my numbers did rise to 6.1-6.7 FBG owing to the less than stellar dietary choices (suggesting that my control is very much related to diet). My Dr. is totally supportive of how I am controlling my diet & had no problem with me taking myself off Glyburide.

 

[Superheavy]

Hi Chili,

I'm currently on 2 x 500 mg of Metformin per day, and my levels have been pretty stable since diagnosis. I've had to really push the working out and eating well, but ultimately my target is to go down to diet and exercise only. I don't really want any medication that I don't absolutely need, but the driving factor was something, along with the hypo threat that made it clear to me that if i can control it med-free, then I have to try and do that.

Best of luck with your trial, levels don't sound too bad.

 

[chili]

thanks for all the replies, it sounds like you guys are pretty much in control and have made good progress. As a 55yr old i have never really been into diet and exercise, my wife cooked it i ate it as for exercise i do walk alot when i am off work other than that i do not exercise, am thinking maybe getting a kettle bell for home use and swing that bugger round the room 🙂 what is LCHF is that low carb high fat at 1st i thought fibre. diet at the moment is just very low carb and more protein during day ie tuna and lidl roll, what kind of grub can you eat on LCHF?

any meal ideas or web links would be awesome help

cheers

 

[Martin Canty]

thanks for all the replies, it sounds like you guys are pretty much in control and have made good progress. As a 55yr old i have never really been into diet and exercise, my wife cooked it i ate it as for exercise i do walk alot when i am off work other than that i do not exercise, am thinking maybe getting a kettle bell for home use and swing that bugger round the room 🙂 what is LCHF is that low carb high fat at 1st i thought fibre. diet at the moment is just very low carb and more protein during day ie tuna and lidl roll, what kind of grub can you eat on LCHF?

any meal ideas or web links would be awesome help

cheers

Hi Chili, there is a good discussion going on right now on the Newbies forum that should lay out a lot of LCHF.... My diet is quite varied, a lot of meats & fish along with green leafy vegetables.... Make curry's quite frequently but leave out the rice (in fact all grain & starchy food), portions tend to be smaller as the fats sate the appetite quite quickly (ah, the old saying "Carbs crave Carbs"). In fact, from a nutritional point of view I'm probably eating better now than in the last 20 years.
Tonight's dinner is probably going to be coconut chicken (thigh) curry with baby Bok-Choy...
As for a link for recipes, try http://www.ruled.me/

 

[Mark Parrott]

I use Diet Doctor website for food ideas. There are some fantastic recipes on there.

 

[Stitch147]

I use Diet Doctor website for food ideas. There are some fantastic recipes on there.

Just had a look at the website, I like the look of the low-carb tex-mex casserole.

 

[Amigo]

I think the important thing to stress is its no failure if you need meds to keep the levels good. Sometimes the beta cells just stop doing their work and it's a physiological process that needs pharmacological assistance!

Great when it can be controlled with diet and exercise but even the most zealous and committed D&E devotee can't battle a knackered pancreas

 

[Northerner]

I think the important thing to stress is its no failure if you need meds to keep the levels good. Sometimes the beta cells just stop doing their work and it's a physiological process that needs pharmacological assistance!

Great when it can be controlled with diet and exercise but even the most zealous and committed D&E devotee can't battle a knackered pancreas

Indeed. Which is why I hate all the uninformed articles that suggest anyone can achieve medication-free control if only they'd try - for some people it's just not possible! What will always be true, however, is that a good diet and regular exercise regime will reduce the quantity of medication required and lead to much greater all-around health and well-being, so it's never wasted 🙂

 

[AndBreathe]

At diagnosis my Doc and I agreed I give D&E a go for a few months prior to deciding on medication (I really didn't want any!).

I got my act together and was fortunate enough my body could recover well enough to achieve good numbers. Medication has never been mentioned again. If I found for some reason I could not longer maintain it, I would consider medication as my health is more important than my desire not to take any tablets.

 

[deleted profile 999]

I'm diet and exercise, diagnosed last august, and technically now in the non-diabetic zone (plus cholesterol, bp and bmi are all now good). Doctor gave me a couple of months at the beginning to see if I could sort myself out with lifestyle, and after she saw the progress I'd made in october, let me carry on. If I need to take pills later in life, so be it, but I wouldn't change where I am now lifestyle wise, as I feel great (didn't think I felt bad before, but with hindsight, the change is night and day)

 

[Northerner]

I'm diet and exercise, diagnosed last august, and technically now in the non-diabetic zone (plus cholesterol, bp and bmi are all now good). Doctor gave me a couple of months at the beginning to see if I could sort myself out with lifestyle, and after she saw the progress I'd made in october, let me carry on. If I need to take pills later in life, so be it, but I wouldn't change where I am now lifestyle wise, as I feel great (didn't think I felt bad before, but with hindsight, the change is night and day)

I think most people don't realise the very positive gains that occur when you get your levels under control - you may spend a long time before diagnosis putting up with all sorts of things and explaining them away to other things, when it was your blood sugar control all along. 🙂

 

[Snowdog63]

I'm diet & exercise, diagnosed just over a month ago.

My doctor suggested d&e & said we'd see how it goes.

My first main change was twofold:

Firstly I've cut out all crisps, sweets & chocolate, cakes etc. which was simple enough (at least in terms of where the line is).

Secondly, I've tried to redress the balance on my plate from tons of carbs & meat to 3/5 veg or salad & be more aware of my portion sizes.

I won't know until I have my next blood test how much difference this has made &, at that point, I will have a better idea of how much extra work I need to do going forwards but for now, I'm not going to worry about it. Just eat healthy & eat less.