My new journey

[harbottle]

Two other good sources are Spicetice (a few shops stock them or on line) and Grapetree also good for nuts and seeds and all sorts of goodies.
GrapeTree has a few branches (Solihull and Rugby closest to me) or on line.

Last time I went to Solihull the Grape Tree was closing just as I got there! (Early in the afternoon, not sure why.)

I went to Rugby once.

 

[Leadinglights]

Last time I went to Solihull the Grape Tree was closing just as I got there! (Early in the afternoon, not sure why.)

I went to Rugby once.

We got caught out on Saturday as we often visit the one at Bicester Avenue near Oxford when visiting relatives but it had GONE

 

[rebrascora]

@Nidge76 Many congratulations on your fantastic HbA1c reduction and good to hear that you are feeling better now that you have stopped the Metformin. One of the problems with Metformin is that it can inhibit the absorption of Vitamin B and that can mean that you lack energy too as well as the issue of not eating enough calories due to the appetite suppression.

I am concerned that you were admitted to A&E with ketones in Feb. Have you had the results of the blood tests they took to check if you are Type 1. If you haven't had those results then do chase them up. Your HbA1c reducing does not guarantee that you are not Type 1 as the insulin production can rally as a result of the pressure being taken off by a low carb diet. It is good that the nurse is going to check up with you in a week after coming off the meds and I really hope that goes well. I hope she will continue to have weekly check-ins for a while because if you are Type 1 things could change quite suddenly again. Hopefully you are continuing to home test and check ketone levels if you start to get BG readings in the mid teens or above.
Fingers crossed you are just one of the unusual Type 2s that develop ketones with high BG and you will be able to manage your levels well and keep them low so that it is not an issue, although you will need to be aware that during any bouts of illness or injury you will need to monitor your levels closely as BG levels will often rise due to pain or illness.

Good luck with your continued success and do let us know how you get on without the medication.

 

[Nidge76]

Thanks for your reply. I've upped my monitoring again to keep a close eye on things and I've ordered some more ketone strips to check that too. I did have blood tests done when I was in A&E as there were questions about what type of diabetes I've got. It was concluded that I'm type 2, although they were concerned by the ketone levels I haven't had any issues since.

If I do need to start medication again which I suspect I will I just need to find something better for me than Metformin, as they really made me feel rough. I've only been off them 3 or 4 days and actually feel alive again. And I'm so happy with my hba1c results.

 

[harbottle]

Metformin causes issues with Vitamin B12, not all B vitamins,

 

[Nidge76]

So to update this, I had a review with my Diabetes nurse. We have decided that going forward I am now taking 1 Metformin per day instead of 4 and I've stopped the Gliclazide completely.

I've lost 2 and a half stone, I now weigh 11 stone 2 lbs (I'm 6ft tall). I'm eating more healthily, I've virtually given up alcohol and I've started running 3 times a week.

I feel like I've turned a corner now and physically and mentally things are looking really positive.

 

[Windy]

Congratulations on your weight loss, exercise, healthy eating and massive reduction in medication, you sound like you're doing really well, and it sounds like your head's in a much better place too. Well done @Nidge76 🙂.

 

[rebrascora]

So pleased for you and thanks for updating us. Huge well done.
Long may your journey continue in this positive direction.