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General query

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Sharron1

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi,
I wonder if someone can give me some advice. As a sort of newbie T2, I have been low carb for approx 5 months and have been self testing for quite a while until I found a number of foods that were ok. I also take 2 tabs of metformin twice daily (am and pm). I test a few times now just to see what is going on or if I try new stuff. For the past three months my levels have been 5-6ish, which when I look at the chart falls in the green area. I am due my first meds review in Jan and rather than have any major surprises does anyone have any idea what might happen. I don't really want to remove the meds because I don't really know how much these numbers are due to it as well as the diet. Basically my experience of my surgery has been so woeful I am preparing my questions now - they have a habit of going way too fast for for me and not giving me anytime for questions.🙄
 
Hi Sharron, I think we are in the same situation, my last appointment with the diabetic nurse she wanted to take me off the metformin but I said I was reluctant as things were going so well, she agreed to leave it another three months and we would talk again. Her point was that I had the diet and exercise that should keep me stable but if at some point in the future my insulin resistance spikes again, there would br limited options to fall back on as my body would be used to the metformin. I get what she means and my head agrees with the point, but my heart is scared that if I come off it, I will wobble and my weight will go back up 😳
I don’t have an answer for you but I do understand the concern x
 
My guess is that they won't rip the Metformin away from you straightaway but maybe they'll want to lower the dose and check again in 3 or 6 months or whatever. But that's just from reading people's UK stories here & elsewhere. (In Oz, the economics for the GP work a bit differently & I doubt my GP will be very aggressive about trying to cut me off.)

Other than that, I'd expect them just to give you a gold star, pop a breath-mint & yell, "Next!"
 
Eddy Edson said:
My guess is that they won't rip the Metformin away from you straightaway but maybe they'll want to lower the dose and check again in 3 or 6 months or whatever. But that's just from reading people's UK stories here & elsewhere. (In Oz, the economics for the GP work a bit differently & I doubt my GP will be very aggressive about trying to cut me off.)

Other than that, I'd expect them just to give you a gold star, pop a breath-mint & yell, "Next!"[/QUOTE
hmm maybe. ..🙄
Click to expand...
 
CathyB said:
Hi Sharron, I think we are in the same situation, my last appointment with the diabetic nurse she wanted to take me off the metformin but I said I was reluctant as things were going so well, she agreed to leave it another three months and we would talk again. Her point was that I had the diet and exercise that should keep me stable but if at some point in the future my insulin resistance spikes again, there would br limited options to fall back on as my body would be used to the metformin. I get what she means and my head agrees with the point, but my heart is scared that if I come off it, I will wobble and my weight will go back up 😳
I don’t have an answer for you but I do understand the concern x
Click to expand...
I think I will go for the negotiation . Reduction sounds the better option, there is little time for any meaningful discussion, which is why I come back to the forum for help. Why do you think your will wobble?
 
You are fortunate where you live I don' t know much about Oz health care but here the NHS is in permanent chaos and bean counters rule.
 
Hi Sharron, first and froemost Well Done on improving your levels. As you have found the self testing gives you a lot of useful information on which you can act.

It is good that you are preparing yourself for the first review. I think it can be helpful to go with an idea of what you want the outcome of the appointment to be. It sounds as if you are keen to continue the meds, even if this is at a lower dose. Be clear with your reasons and explain what you have done so far and what you want to do next.

Another thing that can be very helpful is to take some one along to the appointment other you, having agreed what you want to say and what you want to ask, and written these down. They can then prompt you if they notice that you have forgotten anything and can also clarify any information that you are uncertain about afterwards. Where we do this we usually follow an appointment with a cuppa and review what we think we heard and what the pan is.

Hope that helps.
 
Sharron1 said:
You are fortunate where you live I don' t know much about Oz health care but here the NHS is in permanent chaos and bean counters rule.
Click to expand...

On the other hand you get things for free, while we have to pay something for most things, and you seem to get more services than we do. Where I am, there doesn't seem to be anything like DAPHNE courses or whatever you call them - it's just the doc, the nurse & pamphlets. And there's a constant stream of medical horror stories so I doubt the chaos is much less.
 
Hi , I have two of my good friends OFF there T2 meds & one was on insulin. A good diet helps so much & well done to you. Being active helps so much too. I really do feel sorry for one of my mates dog (walks the legs off it) 🙂
 
Eddy Edson said:
On the other hand you get things for free, while we have to pay something for most things, and you seem to get more services than we do. Where I am, there doesn't seem to be anything like DAPHNE courses or whatever you call them - it's just the doc, the nurse & pamphlets. And there's a constant stream of medical horror stories so I doubt the chaos is much

Eddy Edson said:
On the other hand you get things for free, while we have to pay something for most things, and you seem to get more services than we do. Where I am, there doesn't seem to be anything like DAPHNE courses or whatever you call them - it's just the doc, the nurse & pamphlets. And there's a constant stream of medical horror stories so I doubt the chaos is much less.
Click to expand...
HI

Can'take disacred with you. Just frustrating and thank good for all the help that ishe available on the forum. If I hadn'the found the forum I would be almost 5 months into T2 and not testing, eating all sorts of food...
Click to expand...
 
I know that you are correct. Thank goodness I found the forum, or I would be nearly 5 months as T2 without testing and learning what to eat ...🙄 Worder how Metformin would work with a regular carb diet Now there's a thought... Plate of chips, white rice and pasta... Wonder if it does the job?🙄
 
I was so ill on Metformin and a statin that I stopped taking them.
I didn't need them, at the first check I was no longer diabetic, and back to normal at 6 months, still about the same at 2 years.
I find that if I am tempted to over indulge I only have to think 'Metformin' and have no more problem.
 
Drummer said:
I was so ill on Metformin and a statin that I stopped taking them.
I didn't need them, at the first check I was no longer diabetic, and back to normal at 6 months, still about the same at 2 years.
I find that if I am tempted to over indulge I only have to think 'Metformin' and have no more problem.
Click to expand...
So keeping to the diet meant that you are able to keep your sugar levels at a non diabetic level 2 years later?
 
Yes.
Last year I had two Christmas dinners with family - I took along some lower carb options, did not eat anything really high carb and saw 5.6 after dinner both days.
The diet has meant that I can eat more carbs - but they are instantly stashed away as fat, so I keep to low carb.
 
Wow, thanks for that 😎 Hope you have an equally low carb dinner this year!
 
Sharron1 said:
I know that you are correct. Thank goodness I found the forum, or I would be nearly 5 months as T2 without testing and learning what to eat ...🙄 Worder how Metformin would work with a regular carb diet Now there's a thought... Plate of chips, white rice and pasta... Wonder if it does the job?🙄
Click to expand...

Well, I'm on a regular carb diet.

I got a lot of anti posts because I said I had reversed my diabetes, and was eating a normal diet, but wanted to stay on Metformin.
Not on this site I must add.
(Ironic, as the same posters claimed Metformon had little effect, only low carb works in other posts! Very Trumpish fact bending)

However, despite my protests, my surgery decided I wasn't diabetic, and took the metformin off.
It made no difference.
I remained in the normal range.
 
Keep it up Sharron, Santa is about he`ll definitely be calling on you 🙂.
 
Sharron1 said:
I think I will go for the negotiation . Reduction sounds the better option, there is little time for any meaningful discussion, which is why I come back to the forum for help. Why do you think your will wobble?
Click to expand...
I know that my fear is irrational and isn’t based on any evidence, I’m just scared I guess...
 
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