Just over a month on medication.

[Daniel_0101]

Hi guys,

It has been just over a month since I was diagnosed with diabetes (most likely type 2), and I was eager from day one to get off medication mainly insulin due to fear of weight gain. (Blood sugar ranged between 20-27 upon admission)

Around 2 weeks or so after being discharged (I was in hospital for a week), I had changed my diet and started to exercise more, and become curious as to what would happen if I stopped taking my medication as my blood sugar levels were appearing to be within the normal ranges.
During that week of no medication my levels were between 5-6 fasting and 8-10 post meal (2hours). After I had told my GP what I was doing I was told not to do that again due to the risks.( received a stern warning)

Fast forward to present (3-4 weeks later), my medication has been changed to 2 Metformin Tablets in the morning, and 2 in the evening, as well as 8 units of Semglee (slow acting insulin) in the morning. I was previously on NovaRapid 3 times a day (10units) and Semglee once a day (20units) and 1 Metformin Tablet in the morning and 1 in the evening.

My blood sugar has been on the low side averaging between 4-5 fasting and 5-6 post meal. I have been told to have a snack before bed as my blood sugar should be between 8-10.

When I was admitted to hospital I was told my hba1c level was very high (I think around 111) which was insane.
My questions are and I'm sure it varies from person to person, exercise, diet etc, but

1) Does my hba1c level have to return to normal before the conversation of coming off medication is even had with my GP?

2) Is it possible to even come off medication this early as I have been reading not just on this forum but others that it takes a while for people to come off medication (this was answered in a previous post, however I am not able to load it for some reason)

3) (Sort of unrelated to this post) I have been experiencing leg pains (does not have a huge impact on my mobility), but it's in both legs around my shin area and thigh, I have spoken to my GP, but they have recommended I take pain killers but the pain has been persisting.
I have also been getting round dark spots/circles on my thighs and I am quite concerned about it, I have spoken to my GP about that as well, however I am still waiting for a response.

Sorry this post is quite long!

 

[Vonny]

H @Daniel_0101 and sorry I can't answer Q3. Re Q1 & 2, your hba1c was high to start with so it's highly unlikely your GP will take you off any meds soon. Mine came down from 76 to 36 and I'm still on 1 metformin per day as the DN told me that metformin protects the heart and kidneys as well as reducing BG. However, given that you are also on insulin, things may be different for you.

Are you eating a low carb diet? If so, that will help you reduce your hba1c and will put you in good stead to have the conversation with your GP when you are at "normal" levels, ie below 42. Best of luck 🙂

 

[Drummer]

Have you had your insulin levels checked?
It seems that you are being told to eat carbs to counteract the medication - which is not logical - if you are seeing low numbers then maybe pestering your GP would be a good idea, so sort out how to treat your particular diabetes.

 

[Daniel_0101]

H @Daniel_0101 and sorry I can't answer Q3. Re Q1 & 2, your hba1c was high to start with so it's highly unlikely your GP will take you off any meds soon. Mine came down from 76 to 36 and I'm still on 1 metformin per day as the DN told me that metformin protects the heart and kidneys as well as reducing BG. However, given that you are also on insulin, things may be different for you.

Are you eating a low carb diet? If so, that will help you reduce your hba1c and will put you in good stead to have the conversation with your GP when you are at "normal" levels, ie below 42. Best of luck 🙂

Ah, I figured.

Looking at your past HbA1c levels leads me to believe it is unrealistic of me to think that mine could of dropped enough as it was very high. (Also congratulations on those amazing levels)

I actually did not know of those positive effects metformin has, I only know the more negative effects.

I think I just want to come off insulin at least, but that would require a long review with a DN.

I have been limiting my carb intake, however I do not think it classifies as a low carb diet, I am trying to find a meal plan which suits me, however it is taking a bit of time.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Daniel_0101]

Have you had your insulin levels checked?
It seems that you are being told to eat carbs to counteract the medication - which is not logical - if you are seeing low numbers then maybe pestering your GP would be a good idea, so sort out how to treat your particular diabetes.

They were checked quite briefly over a phone call, I am waiting to see the consultant and the DN to have a more in depth review, but I do not know when that will be.

I have been told quite a bit of conflicting information about what to eat, I am waiting to see a dietician regarding that, however at the moment I am just trying to limit my carb intake.

I think giving my GP a call would be a good idea.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Drummer]

They were checked quite briefly over a phone call, I am waiting to see the consultant and the DN to have a more in depth review, but I do not know when that will be.

I have been told quite a bit of conflicting information about what to eat, I am waiting to see a dietician regarding that, however at the moment I am just trying to limit my carb intake.

I think giving my GP a call would be a good idea.

Thanks for the response!

Then your insulin level were not checked - it takes a blood test to do that - but your blood glucose levels were really low at under 6 after eating - I'd be asking some serious questions about the medication which would mean I could not drive for most of the time.
You aren't driving with such low blood glucose levels, I hope.

 

[Robin]

To be clear, as long as you’re not under 4.0 (and between 4 and 5 you should take a carby snack) before driving, you are legal to drive.
I agree that taking insulin to lower your glucose levels and then taking a snack to raise them is strange advice! They obv don’t want you to hypo overnight, but if that’s a possibility, I'd have thought reducing the insulin not increasing the carbs was the way forward.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Daniel_0101

It sounds like you are wanting to get to grips with your diabetes, and I am sure that this positive approach will help you in managing this. It certainly seems strange to take insulin and then eat to manage the levels. A conversation with your GP again may help, if only to bring forward your appointment with the consultant, who will have the experience to juggle that different meds that you are on.

With regard carbs many find it useful to keep a brutally honest food diary, along with the amount of carbs. This can help you and your health care team identify changes that you can make as you work towards reducing your medication.

Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Well from your BG levels it sounds like you have made amazing progress in a very short space of time @Daniel_0101

And I completely agree, if your current meds are pushing your BGs a little on the low side then a medication review seems much more sensible than snacking to ‘feed‘ the insulin.

Do you know how long it was that your levels had been creeping upwards prior to your diagnosis? I wonder if the menu changes you have made, along with the meds, have abruptly dropped your average BG concentration quickly enough to trigger a temporary form of nerve damage, sometimes called transient treatment-induced neuropathy?

This can be painful, but is usually relatively short lived as the body gradually adjusts to the more in-range BG levels.

 

[Molly M]

They were checked quite briefly over a phone call, I am waiting to see the consultant and the DN to have a more in depth review, but I do not know when that will be.

I have been told quite a bit of conflicting information about what to eat, I am waiting to see a dietician regarding that, however at the moment I am just trying to limit my carb intake.

I think giving my GP a call would be a good idea.

Thanks for the response!

@Daniel_0101 - I found this link earlier today and thought it was quite good at explaining what the basics of our diet should be

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