Hello everyone.
I have completed my first 3 months' medication free after just over a year of type 2.
A little background, I was diagnosed 17 months ago, I was fit and healthy, but following an A&E visit where I was assessed for a stroke because of my symptoms, it turned out I had a blood glucose of over 20 mmol/L and an Hba1c of 112 mmol/mol or 12.4 %.
I also lost 6 kg without any change of diet or exercise.
It was initially treated as type 1, oral medication and insulin injection whilst waiting for the genetic test results to confirm the type.
During this time, I was not allowed to drive.
6 weeks of insulin, and the results of the genetic test came back. Type 2 confirmed such a relief.
Stopped the insulin but continued with metformin 1000mg twice a day.
Repeated blood test at 6 weeks and some small dietary changes, I had lost 8Kg Hba1c was 76 mmol/mol 9.1%.
At this point, I started to try to monitor everything, from bloog glucose, from finger pricks, carb intake, and a food diary,
I created a database to store all of this information. Including the nutritional value of foods so all meals could be easily cross referenced with subsequent blood glucose levels.
I know that weighing everything you eat seems a bit of a hassle, but it highlighted how big a portion should be.
This also highlighted a few strange things, the morning after curry, my glucose would be lower than my normal average, also on days I had salad I would get similar lower glucose levels by 0.6 to 0.9 mmol/L.
This encouraged me to investigate closely the ingredients in my food.
For me, it appears Cinnamon and the salad leaf Rocket benefit my blood glucose. I only know this because I was testing 4 times a day due to the starting on insulin. I do, however, think this has given me a much better insight into my Diabetes.
I have now had 4 further Hba1c tests all below 40 mmol/mol 5.8%
Even after reducing medication by 50% to 1 x 500mg metformin twice a day.
Over Christmas, I obtained a free trial of a Libra 2 plus monitor, attached to an app on my phone. Being able to monitor in real time the effects of what I was eating played into my interest in data collection.
This started to indicate I had regular and constant blood glucose below 4.2, so following a consultation with my Diabetes team, I was advised to temporarily stop the medication and have another Hba1c. Results 38 mmol/mol 5.6%.
I know that I can never be cured, and even in Remission, I need to be cautious.
I have lost nearly 20 kg in the last 16 months, but I feel I have a much better understanding of the food I eat.
I know that weighing everything you eat seems a bit of a hassle, but it all helps.
I now allow myself the occasional treat and have added Majool Dates to my snack list.
Just had my first Hba1c after 3 months, no medication, 40 mmol/mol, 5.8%.
I still am still collecting data on my food but far fewer blood glucose tests. I have a trial on the Dexcom One, which I plan to use soon.
I have friends and family with Diabetes or pre-diabetes, and the different approaches of different medical practices are confusing at best.
Thank you for everyone's support on this forum.
I have completed my first 3 months' medication free after just over a year of type 2.
A little background, I was diagnosed 17 months ago, I was fit and healthy, but following an A&E visit where I was assessed for a stroke because of my symptoms, it turned out I had a blood glucose of over 20 mmol/L and an Hba1c of 112 mmol/mol or 12.4 %.
I also lost 6 kg without any change of diet or exercise.
It was initially treated as type 1, oral medication and insulin injection whilst waiting for the genetic test results to confirm the type.
During this time, I was not allowed to drive.
6 weeks of insulin, and the results of the genetic test came back. Type 2 confirmed such a relief.
Stopped the insulin but continued with metformin 1000mg twice a day.
Repeated blood test at 6 weeks and some small dietary changes, I had lost 8Kg Hba1c was 76 mmol/mol 9.1%.
At this point, I started to try to monitor everything, from bloog glucose, from finger pricks, carb intake, and a food diary,
I created a database to store all of this information. Including the nutritional value of foods so all meals could be easily cross referenced with subsequent blood glucose levels.
I know that weighing everything you eat seems a bit of a hassle, but it highlighted how big a portion should be.
This also highlighted a few strange things, the morning after curry, my glucose would be lower than my normal average, also on days I had salad I would get similar lower glucose levels by 0.6 to 0.9 mmol/L.
This encouraged me to investigate closely the ingredients in my food.
For me, it appears Cinnamon and the salad leaf Rocket benefit my blood glucose. I only know this because I was testing 4 times a day due to the starting on insulin. I do, however, think this has given me a much better insight into my Diabetes.
I have now had 4 further Hba1c tests all below 40 mmol/mol 5.8%
Even after reducing medication by 50% to 1 x 500mg metformin twice a day.
Over Christmas, I obtained a free trial of a Libra 2 plus monitor, attached to an app on my phone. Being able to monitor in real time the effects of what I was eating played into my interest in data collection.
This started to indicate I had regular and constant blood glucose below 4.2, so following a consultation with my Diabetes team, I was advised to temporarily stop the medication and have another Hba1c. Results 38 mmol/mol 5.6%.
I know that I can never be cured, and even in Remission, I need to be cautious.
I have lost nearly 20 kg in the last 16 months, but I feel I have a much better understanding of the food I eat.
I know that weighing everything you eat seems a bit of a hassle, but it all helps.
I now allow myself the occasional treat and have added Majool Dates to my snack list.
Just had my first Hba1c after 3 months, no medication, 40 mmol/mol, 5.8%.
I still am still collecting data on my food but far fewer blood glucose tests. I have a trial on the Dexcom One, which I plan to use soon.
I have friends and family with Diabetes or pre-diabetes, and the different approaches of different medical practices are confusing at best.
Thank you for everyone's support on this forum.
