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Hello, I’m a newly diagnosed newbie here!

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Sprogpaws

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi,

I’ve just joined this site and am looking forward to exploring it and learning lots, I know from other interests how much a goldmine of support, information and camaraderie forums can be, and I’m really hoping it’ll help with my journey forward, especially given that many of the support previously offered locally has either become hard to access with long wait lists or has been put on hiatus indefinitely.

I was told on Tuesday that I’m type 2 diabetic and told to start Metformin, 1x500mg daily for a week then 2x500g thereafter. I have other health issues too, including fibromyalgia, IBS, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and I’m waiting to find out about lactose intolerance and coeliacs too, plus I’m being struggling with perimenopause too, having recently started HRT which I know from research can affect blood sugar amongst many other things. I’m really reluctant to start Metformin given that my stomach explodes more regularly than the Old Faithful geyser without adding it into the mix. I suffer from bad stomach pain and bowel issues, plus a lot of pain and fatigue, and I just don’t think I could cope with that getting worse.

It’s a new GP I saw, I think she’s a trainee. She was absolutely lovely but really pushed the Metformin, even though I’d like to try controlling it by diet and chromium, with cinnamon too possibly. She couldn’t comment on those and was very much “you must start the Metformin”. We discussed all the other health issues I’ve got going on and trying to find the best way forward, and by the time I came out my brain was addled and I was an emotional wreck and hadn’t realised she didn’t give e my blood results. When I went in for the gluten blood test today I asked for them and it seems I am only just over the line for diabetes and no more, as my fasting glucose is 7.2 and HbA1C is 48. I’m wondering if, given her age and newness to the profession she’s adhering strictly to the guidelines without looking at the bigger picture the way a more experienced GP might. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, but she wasn’t open for discussion at all. Having spoken to a friend who was diagnosed 3 years ago I discovered she only started on the meds recently, because she wasn’t managing to control her type 2 via diet, so I can’t understand why there’s no negotiation on this, especially since my bloods are just in the diabetic bracket and no more. My pal has been testing regularly since first being diagnosed but that wasn’t mentioned to me at all.

I’ve got an appointment booked with the diabetes nurse specialist, who I believe will be able to give me much more information with a balanced approach given it’s her area of expertise, but it’s not for another month so I’m kinda stumbling blindfold in the meantime. I was wondering about delaying starting the Metformin until then to see if I could shift some of my very excess weight myself, in the hope of naturally reversing my figures down into prediabetic and then eventually, hopefully, normal numbers. Is that feasible or a bad idea? I’m swithering about trying glucomannan with the chromium, as I’ve been reading that they’re a good weight loss/appetite suppressant combo. I’m scared of starting the Metformin if I’m honest, I’ve got enough challenges on my plate without adding it into the mix, I’m at the point of buying shares in Andrex as it is!

I’ll happily accept all words of wisdom thrown my way!
 
48 is the very lowest hba1c that you have a diabetes diagnosis. We can't give you medical advice but if you read around the forum there are many members, including myself, who reduced the hba1c by lifestyle factors including better diet. You need to find out what works for you. Good luck and welcome🙂
 
Although I am a doctor, I am not a diabetologist... however, I think it would be completely acceptable for you to try diet and weight loss as a way to control your diabetes. I don't think you need to start metformin with those readings at diagnosis.
 
Usually with an HbA1C at the lower end of the diabetic zone which you are, literally on the first rung then people are given the opportunity to make lifestyle changes, the main thing being modifying your diet. It is only if that is not successful that medication would be considered. there are many people on here who have started off with an HbA1C much higher than you who have managed with diet alone.
It is not the best idea to introduce something which potentially can cause stomach issues if you already have problems in that area.
It is always you choice whether you take the medication so you could hang fire until you speak to the diabetic nurse if you are unhappy about taking it.
I would also be wary of these magic potions which make claims about reducing blood glucose and opt for a good dietary regime designed to reduce blood glucose and help weight loss. This link may help you find a way of modifying your diet, but reduction in portion size of high carb foods may be all that is needed. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
 
Thank you all so much for your replies, I really appreciate the . I’ve had a good talk with my partner this evening and he also agrees that delaying starting the Metformin seems the appropriate way forward. At worst it’s delaying it by a month until I talk to the specialist nurse, at best it’s saving me a whole world of hurt and hours in the bathroom! I’ve completely ditched the idea of glucomannon as well. Carb and sugar control is they way forward for my health in general, and my OH is coming along for the ride too. Thank you again.
 
Sprogpaws said:
Thank you all so much for your replies, I really appreciate the . I’ve had a good talk with my partner this evening and he also agrees that delaying starting the Metformin seems the appropriate way forward. At worst it’s delaying it by a month until I talk to the specialist nurse, at best it’s saving me a whole world of hurt and hours in the bathroom! I’ve completely ditched the idea of glucomannon as well. Carb and sugar control is they way forward for my health in general, and my OH is coming along for the ride too. Thank you again.
Click to expand...
My OH got on board as well with the low carb regime I adopted and he lost some weight which he wanted to do. He does have some extras but it makes it so much easier as we essentially have the same meals, he even had to do all the cooking whilst I was laid up after having knee surgery.
You may find this link helpful as there may be meals you find suitable for you. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
 
20ish years ago - moved house, change of hospital D clinic etc - new DSN asked me, Who treats your diabetes Jen' - so I reeled off the names of GP, Drs etc and finished off with - and now, you! She responded with 'Aaah - so you don't do anything at all, then?' to which I did a double take and said 'Well of course I do - blood testing, calculating insulin doses, doing my jabs etc !' - and with a laugh she said, 'The only answer i was actually looking for, Jen - "I do!" - because OK you do it in consultation with whoever, but at the end of the day - YOU have to treat your own diabetes - because the rest of us are not you!'

It is exactly the same whether it's a headache or a sprained ankle. 'They' can advise us to take a paracetamol or rest the ankle - but we have to do whatever it is, not them. They cannot do it !

It is better of course to have a free discussion with whoever is advising - but as you did try and were ignored - then you are taking your decision based on your own understanding of your own body - NOT what it says in a medical textbook. At the same time, because you are intelligent you also understand that the decision is 'on your own head' should it turn out to be misguided.

For what it's worth - I don't think it is misguided anyway! Oh to be a fly on the wall at the nurse appt in a month. Invest in a blood glucose monitor too, I should!
 
Welcome to the forum @Sprogpaws

We have several members who have asked, or been recommended by their GP to delay the start of medication to see if improvements can be made through changes to diet and levels of activity first.

NICE recommends healthcare practitioners use the techniques of joint decision making in all settings where routine care is provided.

I can understand your caution about ‘metfartin’ given your other stomach issues, but it may be that the GP was also interested in other secondary benefits (eg heart or kidney disease), and while gastric upheaval is not uncommon, we do have members who have taken Met with no ill effects at all.

So it’s certainly worth discussing your decisions with the nurse / GP when you see them again, so that they know what you are doing 🙂
 
Thank you so much. My plan is to talk everything through with the diabetic specialist nurse at the end of May, especially now that I know my blood sugar levels are just into the diabetic range.
 
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