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Hi I've just joined the forum and hope to find people to chat too 🙂 I've just learnt that my surgery is recommending I start Metformin as my hlbc1 is 46. I'm feeling pretty upset about it and quite scared
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you
Lyndi
Welcome to the forum
I'm still pretty new to this, but 46 seems low to be starting on meds, did they discuss lifestyle changes at all?
Someone else will be along soon who knows more than me 🙂
Welcome to the forum
I'm still pretty new to this, but 46 seems low to be starting on meds, did they discuss lifestyle changes at all?
Someone else will be along soon who knows more than me 🙂
That seems overkill as you are not actually in the diabetes zone which is over 47mmol/mol and even in the low 50ies people are usually given the opportunity to make some lifestyle changes mainly diet. People find low carb, low calorie approaches successful, a link here for a low carb approach https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
This worked for me reducing my Hba1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months with no medication.
I don't really think that in following NICE guidelines and is a bit premature.
That seems overkill as you are not actually in the diabetes zone which is over 47mmol/mol and even in the low 50ies people are usually given the opportunity to make some lifestyle changes mainly diet. People find low carb, low calorie approaches successful, a link here for a low carb approach https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
This worked for me reducing my Hba1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months with no medication.
I don't really think that in following NICE guidelines and is a bit premature.
Research shows that metformin can reduce the odds on prediabetes progressing to diabetes, so that's probably where your surgery is coming from. However, I agree that they should at least give you the opportunity to try lifestyle changes first. That's worked for many of us.
Research shows that metformin can reduce the odds on prediabetes progressing to diabetes, so that's probably where your surgery is coming from. However, I agree that they should at least give you the opportunity to try lifestyle changes first. That's worked for many of us.
Thank you so much for the information regarding research, I would like to give lifestyle changes a go first. I think I need to cut down my sugar as a start.
I'm sorry about your diagnosis. It can be very overwhelming with all the sudden changes and the amount of information that comes flooding your way, however please know that the forum is here to support whichever way we can - any questions, worries or rants - just fire them away. There's loads of people here with a huge amount of accumulated knowledge so someone is always bound to have an answer. And feel free to share if you feel comfortable - folk here enjoy the updates and seeing how people are going along in their journeys too!
Thank you so much for the information regarding research, I would like to give lifestyle changes a go first. I think I need to cut down my sugar as a start.
You need to think of it as reducing all carbohydrates not just sugar as they all convert to glucose. If you are just reducing 'sugar' then you may still be having too many or too much of the high carb foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, some fruits.
The link I posted should give you some ideas of what foods you should be cutting down on or avoiding and which are fine, like meat. fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, veg and salads and some fruit like berries.
Agree with all. It's a wake up call and a good time to assess your waistline and weight. Advised by a panel of leading diabetes experts, the World Health Organisation's protocol is to do just that. They advise all doctors to emphasise the importance of diet and exercise and agree a target with each patient. In asymptomatic cases they say medication should be prescribed only when diet and exercise fails. It's commonsense advice. A good target is to return to a 'healthy weight'. Suggest you write down where you'd like to be. Then choose a nutritious diet to get you there and maintain it.
Thank you. I scored 42 on my Hba1C and they aren't planning to test again til next January. Since my diagnosis I've lost 25 lb and about 8cm off my waist. This should help with any insulin resistance I may have.
I cut out sugar laden foods and I consume approx 100g carbs a day (counting avg milk consumption as part of the carbs). I also avoid saturated fats, but of course that is due to cholesterol.
I would certainly agree with the suggestions to try carb reduction first. You can get an app which measures calories, carbs and other measures, to help you monitor your daily intake. As you are only pre-diabetic a few changes may be all you need. Metformin can have nasty side effects for some (I am one of them!).
Hi Felinia thank you so much for letting me know about Metformin and I'm really sorry to hear that you are having nasty side effects. I will make some lifestyle changes diet and exercise, might just take me a while to get my head around it
Hi Felinia thank you so much for letting me know about Metformin and I'm really sorry to hear that you are having nasty side effects. I will make some lifestyle changes diet and exercise, might just take me a while to get my head around it
I switched to the slow release version and have just one tablet a day now. I get tummy upsets a couple of times a month, which I can live with, rather than daily!!
I'm glad to hear that your tummy upsets are less !!! The nurse from the surgery called me earlier to say she'd like ton start me on Metformin, I said I'd like to try with diet and exercise before I start medication. She said to redo the blood test in 3 months, now I have to hope I'll be able to lower it. !!!
I'm glad to hear that your tummy upsets are less !!! The nurse from the surgery called me earlier to say she'd like ton start me on Metformin, I said I'd like to try with diet and exercise before I start medication. She said to redo the blood test in 3 months, now I have to hope I'll be able to lower it. !!!
I'm sure you will by taking on board some of the measures suggested in the various links people have posted. I found those in the Freshwell program just made so much sense.
Look at it this way - the greater your preference to solving this with diet and exercise, the greater your determination will be to make good lifestyle choices
You can do this 😎
