Need help with Type 2

[loveyouloadsme]

HELP! I have been diagnosed 4 weeks ago with Type 2 and my Dr of no help at all. I went into his office, he told me I had type 2 diabetes and was I surprised being overweight! He told me without any reason that I was to take an asprin a day to thin blood to prevent me having stroke/heart attack, put me on metformin to apparently break down the sugars; Ramipril 1.25 for lowering my blood pressure, which was 148/80, and also Simvastatin 40mg to lower my cholesterol, which was 5.5 (which I have been told is not that high). Im at my wits end as why I am on these. I was 15.4 stone and have now got down to 14.3, so lost a stone and started exercising for an hour three days a week. Ive made appt to see another Dr, but its not for another 2 weeks, but I was given no option or explanation as to why Im now on these drugs for life when others can just loose weight and exercise and control through diet.
Look forward to hearing from anyone with some advice meantime. 🙂

Thanks

Sam

 

[Northerner]

Hi Sam, welcome to the forum! It sounds like you doctor has put you on all the 'standard' medications, but without giving you a chance to try without them. Blood pressure is a little high - they prefer 130/80, also for diabetics they prefer cholesterol to be 4 or below. Keep doing the good things like exercise, losing weight, healthy diet etc. and it may be that the new doctor you see will take new measirements and decide you don't need all the medication.

Others here will no doubt add to this advice!🙂

 

[loveyouloadsme]

thanks so much for your quick reply. Lets hope new Dr is better that one I saw previously. Once again thanks for advice. Sam

 

[Northerner]

thanks so much for your quick reply. Lets hope new Dr is better that one I saw previously. Once again thanks for advice. Sam

No problems. When I was diagnosed I was put on 11 different drugs, including most of the ones you are on. Now I am taking the aspirin and simvastatin, and also a low dose of a different blood pressure drug as I got side effects with ramipril (made me feel sick!). My last cholesterol test was 2.4 and my blood pressure is around 130/85. Still not sure if I need to take the aspirin, but I did have a small heart problem when diagnosed so can understand why they want me to take it.

Best of luck with the new doc, and do ask any questions here that might occur to you before the appointment!🙂

 

[C*5_Dodger]

HELP! I have been diagnosed 4 weeks ago with Type 2 and my Dr of no help at all. I went into his office, he told me I had type 2 diabetes and was I surprised being overweight! He told me without any reason that I was to take an asprin a day to thin blood to prevent me having stroke/heart attack, put me on metformin to apparently break down the sugars; Ramipril 1.25 for lowering my blood pressure, which was 148/80, and also Simvastatin 40mg to lower my cholesterol, which was 5.5 (which I have been told is not that high). Im at my wits end as why I am on these. I was 15.4 stone and have now got down to 14.3, so lost a stone and started exercising for an hour three days a week. Ive made appt to see another Dr, but its not for another 2 weeks, but I was given no option or explanation as to why Im now on these drugs for life when others can just loose weight and exercise and control through diet.
Look forward to hearing from anyone with some advice meantime. 🙂

Thanks

Sam

Dear loveyouloadsme,

As Northerner said you have been given the standard "treatment". We are not allowed to offer medical or dietary advice on this board, but is OK to tell you what I have done. I have rejected all statins - told my Doctor I would not take them! BTW there has never been a study showing that high cholesterol is detrimental to women (it is only beneficial for men who have prior heart problems) in fact in older women the higher the cholesterol the longer they lived! I have also rejected ALL diabetic drugs and decided to do the diet only route. It is NOT easy but I have maintained excellent control for over 15 years without complications (see my signature below). I don't have to tell you that the "establishment" do not approve of this approach (I use a controlled carbohydrate diet) in fact Diabetes UK will tell you to eat plenty of starchy carbohydrates carbohydrates, but type 2 diabetics cannot handle carbohydrates so their advice is nuts!

Regards Dodger

 

[Copepod]

Sam - you are not necessarily on drugs for life. If your blood pressure and cholesterol come down as you lose weight and get more active, then you can discuss with your GP about discontinuing them. So, hope you continue with your lifestyle and health improvements.

 

[Vanessa]

Hello Sam

Have a look at the NICE guidelines (www.nice.org.uk) on Type 2 diabetes as these are what the English medics will follow in starting you on treatment. I suspect that the combination of your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight is why the GP would have wanted to start you on treatment for your diabetes too.

Do you know what your blood glucose/HbA1c was on diagnosis? Mine was high enough for the GP to initiate treatment rather than simply diet and exercise, particularly given I had recurrent infections.

You have done brilliantly with your weight loss - give yourself a well deserved pat on the back. Do have a look at some of the recommended books too - many of us have found Becker's book particularly useful in understanding our Type 2. Whilst the wait to see another doctor may seem lengthy, it will give you time to learn a little more about how your body is reacting to the weight loss and for you to clarify the questions you need answered.

In the meantime don't be worried about asking us lot anything - diabetes is a most peculiar thing but often someone on here has experienced a similar problem or can shed a new perspective on a worry or bothersome niggle

 

[Caroline]

Hi and welcome to the forum. My doctor is not very givish with information either. It might be better when you see the new doctor. Failing that try talking to the diabetic specialist nurse or the practice nurse, they tend to have more time and are better at dealing with peoples concerns than the doctor.

 

[Proudspirit]

Hi, your story sounds just like mine! i was so upset and worried about the lack of advice i went over the GP's head and went to the DSN who was very nice and supportive. i wasn't given any medication just told to get on with it..
Hope that you get the help & support that you need.

Julie x

 

[Corrine]

Hi Sam

I was already on 2 tabs for high BP and was put on simvastatin which I understand is standard procedure. I also wasn't given that much info - what I did discover I did for myself (and with lots of help from these boards). Once I felt armed with the info I went back to the practice nurse just to make sure I was on the right track! My BP has started to come down and so my aim is that if i can get it back to near normal I'll discuss with my nurse if I can stop taking them. It may well be that you were prescribed metformin as your levels were too hig to try and control with diet and exercise alone - as my HbA1c was only just over 7 when diagnosed I'm assuming that's why I was only prescribed the statin. It may be worth having a conversation with the DSN to discuss stopping taking some of them. Let me know how you get on.