Hello

[Witchy1]

Hi everyone, I’m pleased to be in this group. I’ve been type 2 for about 18 years. I’m a bit of a rebel and don’t get on with the NHS and mostly I manage myself. I was in remission but due to not feeling good with life in general I gave up on myself and of course the inevitable happened my BG shot up. My wife gave me a kick up the bottom and now I’m well in track again. Hopefully I can read other peoples issues and see how others deal with their diabetes.

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @Witchy1 welcome to the forum, its a great place for support and advice on managing diabetes.

I can understand your frustration with the NHS as my Diabetes Nurse and I had a little discussion about our differing views and ideas on my treatment back in March this year, in the end I proved that medication was not an essential component of my blood glucose management That said, she was trying to be helpful and of course her recommendations are designed to address things before they turn into major issues but sometimes I think they need to pause before they turn to the medication although, considering how many people are eager for that to be the first step,maybe I and others on here are the exceptions.

Sorry to hear that you got a bit fed up with life, I think that happens to lots of people not just diabetics. Sometimes the world doesn't look a pleasant place and the incentive to continue dries up. However, good for your wife, feeling sorry for yourself can reinforce negative feelings so getting up and sticking your boots on and getting out and about and interacting with the world can often be a good step forward.

 

[Witchy1]

Hi Jimmy, I didn’t want to give up on life just myself. My younger brother kept being given antibiotics for a chest infection and then we lost him in December 24 as he had lung cancer. I had a DVT 2 days after he passed and my treatment was stunningly dreadful. I’ve had so many issues with them. They’ve been trying to get me on statins for years and I keep refusing. Not once have they spoken to me about exercise, lifestyle, diet, etc and in my book that makes them dealers not healers. After my recent blood test I booked an appointment to see a nurse the following week. She said my bg was high and wanted me on 4 Metformin. Was never going to happen so I know we’ll clash when we next speak. I took one for a week like she told me to and then two for a week like she told me to and that’s it. This is my second week on two but next week I’m going down to one. Funnily enough I was working hard on my allotment today for about 3 hours. I took my bg when I got it home to make sure it wasn’t low and from 5.5 first thing it had risen to 6.5 ‍♂️. Dr Google explained that hard exercise/work can raise your bg levels. I had no idea

 

[Alan44]

Hi @Witchy1 and welcome to the forum.

Nothing better than a loved one giving you a kick up the bum to get you back on track.
You will find lots of help and advice here from members that are doing well and from others who need a guiding hand from time to time.

This comment should have been posted an hour ago, but we had a power cut mid comment

Alan😉

 

[Witchy1]

Hi @Witchy1 and welcome to the forum.

Nothing better than a loved one giving you a kick up the bum to get you back on track.
You will find lots of help and advice here from members that are doing well and from others who need a guiding hand from time to time.

This comment should have been posted an hour ago, but we had a power cut mid comment

Alan😉

Thank you Alan. I’ve had a look round and everyone seems to have different attitudes etc which in my opinion is healthy. I’m fed up going on some groups and being told I’m wrong

 

[Alan44]

Thank you Alan. I’ve had a look round and everyone seems to have different attitudes etc which in my opinion is healthy. I’m fed up going on some groups and being told I’m wrong

Diabetes is an individual thing, what works for one may not work for another

 

[Witchy1]

Diabetes is an individual thing, what works for one may not work for another

Absolutely how I feel. My body my diabetes

 

[Leadinglights]

Fantastic that you have now started to take some action, metformin will help but diet is also if not more important.
Exercise affects people differently in hard exercise can increase blood glucose but brisk walking can reduce it so you have to find what is most suitable for you.
Many do find a low carb approach successful so if that is a way you feel would suit you then have a look at this link which is well respected on the forum https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Alan44]

Absolutely how I feel. My body my diabetes

My father once said to me (not diabetes related) "listen to all the advice and then do what you think is best for you".

Some of the best advice he gave me

 

[Witchy1]

Fantastic that you have now started to take some action, metformin will help but diet is also if not more important.
Exercise affects people differently in hard exercise can increase blood glucose but brisk walking can reduce it so you have to find what is most suitable for you.
Many do find a low carb approach successful so if that is a way you feel would suit you then have a look at this link which is well respected on the forum https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Thank you, unfortunately walking far with arthritic knees isn’t a choice at the moment. I love my gardening which is great exercise and I do walk my GSD 2-3 times a day. I am familiar with Freshwell but tbh I do my own thing which certainly works for me but thank you for the signpost. I truly believe that a good place in your head and attitude is extremely important. I am using Metformin as a very temporary crutch

 

[JimmyBlue]

@Witchy1 the statins issue has been a discussion between me and the nurse. A couple of people in my family had heart attacks (maternal grandmother and father plus an uncle) apparently this was assumed to be history of heart disease and not as I understood it a consequence of smoking like chimneys, drinking like fish and not always eating healthily. Anyway I said no and told them I would do it using lifestyle and dietary changes, and hey presto BP is now below 120/80 and my cholesterol is below 5 (4.9) with a ratio that is well within the NHS guidelines.
Always pushback if you are not happy with the proposed approach is my view. Helped in part by the fact that I have two GPs in the family and both my wife's parents were doctors who believed in minimum intervention.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you, unfortunately walking far with arthritic knees isn’t a choice at the moment. I love my gardening which is great exercise and I do walk my GSD 2-3 times a day. I am familiar with Freshwell but tbh I do my own thing which certainly works for me but thank you for the signpost. I truly believe that a good place in your head and attitude is extremely important. I am using Metformin as a very temporary crutch

I used the Freshwell principals but essentially do my own thing, not a follower of a rigid plan.
I know what you mean about the walking, a knee injury has scuppered much walking but allotmenting is good exercise.

 

[Witchy1]

That is fantastic for you and music to my ears. I think the whole statins & cholesterol must be one of the most talked about medical issues on social media. On 17th July my average bp was 144/84. Saturday just gone it was 120/73. I have put myself on a very strict way of eating which I really enjoy but I’ve cut down a heck of a lot. I will still eat fried food, I just do it differently

 

[Witchy1]

I used the Freshwell principals but essentially do my own thing, not a follower of a rigid plan.
I know what you mean about the walking, a knee injury has scuppered much walking but allotmenting is good exercise.

I’ve just turned 69. All my life I’ve been very active with martial arts, body building, and if I was going anywhere I ran. Blimey, I sound like Forest Gump now . If I was able to turn the clock back I wouldn’t have done the stupid things I did with MAs & BB and my joints wouldn’t be so shot. Absolutely agree about allotmenteering I have 3 very big plots to look after. Today was mowing & strimming so a lot of walking & the plots are on a slope. Knees hurt quite a bit but I still let my GSD take me for a walk and I’ll still be back there tomorrow

 

[Lucyr]

Funnily enough I was working hard on my allotment today for about 3 hours. I took my bg when I got it home to make sure it wasn’t low and from 5.5 first thing it had risen to 6.5

If you’re just on metformin then there’s absolutely no need to test for hypos or to do anything about bgs under 4, your body will manage that itself

 

[Witchy1]

If you’re just on metformin then there’s absolutely no need to test for hypos or to do anything about bgs under 4, your body will manage that itself

Thank you Lucy. I’m on 2 x Metformin a day but going to one this week