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Feeling a bit fed up

L

Lizajane10

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
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She/Her
Hi all
Diagnosed Type 2 April 2024 initial HbA1c 65
Started on a low carb diet (130g) and metformin slow release, lost 2 1/2 stone over about 4 months and next test result 44 - all seemed to be going very well.

Unfortunately despite now staying at my improved lower weight (BMI under 24) my two latest HbA1c tests have been 52 and 61. I’ve not been saintly on the diet but have been pretty good - certainly eating an awful lot less carb than I did a year ago. I’m upset that having lost all this weight, changed my diet drastically and taken a lot of medicine that my levels are nearly as high as last April.

Saw the nurse today and asked about switching to sitagliptin - as I have a sister also type 2 and it works brilliantly for her with no side effects. Nurse just seemed to dismiss this completely and wants me to take an SGLT2 inhibitor (she did name one I can’t remember which). I didn’t feel listened to at all. I don’t feel these meds are suitable because they say not compatible with a very low carb diet (now I’m not aiming for very low carb but I am aiming for low carb and some days will be less than 130g) but also I’m a teaching assistant with breaks at fixed times, and I can’t just pop to the loo mid-lesson if I get the common side effect of a need to urinate more often. Also my hobbies of running in the park and paddleboarding will be disrupted as I can be out 2-3 hours in the middle of nowhere with no toilet.

I have a GP appointment in 3 weeks time so think I will ask him about the sitagliptin and hope for a better response.

Not quite sure what I am after but wanted a little moan. I don’t get side effects from the metformin except it sent my B12 levels very low so I’m now on a supplement for that. Is it reasonable to ask for a particular medication that has worked so well for a close relative?
 
Lizajane10 said:
Hi all
Diagnosed Type 2 April 2024 initial HbA1c 65
Started on a low carb diet (130g) and metformin slow release, lost 2 1/2 stone over about 4 months and next test result 44 - all seemed to be going very well.

Unfortunately despite now staying at my improved lower weight (BMI under 24) my two latest HbA1c tests have been 52 and 61. I’ve not been saintly on the diet but have been pretty good - certainly eating an awful lot less carb than I did a year ago. I’m upset that having lost all this weight, changed my diet drastically and taken a lot of medicine that my levels are nearly as high as last April.

Saw the nurse today and asked about switching to sitagliptin - as I have a sister also type 2 and it works brilliantly for her with no side effects. Nurse just seemed to dismiss this completely and wants me to take an SGLT2 inhibitor (she did name one I can’t remember which). I didn’t feel listened to at all. I don’t feel these meds are suitable because they say not compatible with a very low carb diet (now I’m not aiming for very low carb but I am aiming for low carb and some days will be less than 130g) but also I’m a teaching assistant with breaks at fixed times, and I can’t just pop to the loo mid-lesson if I get the common side effect of a need to urinate more often. Also my hobbies of running in the park and paddleboarding will be disrupted as I can be out 2-3 hours in the middle of nowhere with no toilet.

I have a GP appointment in 3 weeks time so think I will ask him about the sitagliptin and hope for a better response.

Not quite sure what I am after but wanted a little moan. I don’t get side effects from the metformin except it sent my B12 levels very low so I’m now on a supplement for that. Is it reasonable to ask for a particular medication that has worked so well for a close relative?
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That must be very disappointing but I may be you are now less tolerant of the amount of carbs you are having, over time it is easy for portions to slightly increase or a few extras creep in. Many find they do need to go lower than the 130g carbs so you could try dropping your intake down a bit more and increase protein and healthy fats to maintain your weight if you don't want to lose any more.
It does sound as if you are pretty active and I can see why you would be reluctant to take meds which would make that more difficult.
 
@Lizajane10 I do feel it is a bit cruel to suggest 130gm of carbs a day when many people find that 50 is their limit - mine is 40.
HCPs ought to know that - when they see type 2s succeeding do they just switch off and not take notes? I think that does seem rather likely.
 
Drummer said:
@Lizajane10 I do feel it is a bit cruel to suggest 130gm of carbs a day when many people find that 50 is their limit - mine is 40.
HCPs ought to know that - when they see type 2s succeeding do they just switch off and not take notes? I think that does seem rather likely.
Click to expand...
This particular nurse seems quite old-fashioned and only really suggests low sugar.
130g is what I have picked up from this forum but does seem sustainable to me, whereas 50 or 40 - you have my admiration for sticking to that long term!
 
I sympathise. I lost weight consistently when first diagnosed. I ate 80 to 120 gms carb. After 8 weeks I was put on an SGLT2 and felt blown off course plus I was peeing a lot. There have been times when I have eaten too many carbs worrying about not eating enough. I started testing a few days ago and in one day had readings of 3.8 and 16.
My hba1c in December was 44 and last month I was given option of dropping 1 metformin or the SGLT2. I was due to take steroids for an eye op so dropped 1 metformin as the least worse option.
Look forward to what happens for you.
 
Lizajane10 said:
This particular nurse seems quite old-fashioned and only really suggests low sugar.
130g is what I have picked up from this forum but does seem sustainable to me, whereas 50 or 40 - you have my admiration for sticking to that long term!
Click to expand...
Honestly it isn't hard - steak and mushrooms for breakfast for instance - difficult to start the day any better. I add coffee with a pinch of salt, a little cinnamon and then cream. When cooking on campsites I could open a café, no problem.
 
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