New here. Diabetic T2 going into remission now.

[roddavid]

Hi all, I have been a diabetic (T2) for 16 years or more and in the last three months I have managed to reduce and now come off all meds. I am doing this through the keto diet as best as I can. My diabetic nurse called me today to discuss the previous bloods and said the reading was 45? not quite sure what that means but she did also say that it was "fantastic". She continued saying that she was now going to stop supplying me with the meds as they are not needed.
I was a little unsure though when she said that there was no need for me to test myself anymore and she left it there with no mention of any further meetings or bloods to be taken. I will stick to testing myself for the time being.

 

[Martin.A]

Hi all, I have been a diabetic (T2) for 16 years or more and in the last three months I have managed to reduce and now come off all meds. I am doing this through the keto diet as best as I can. My diabetic nurse called me today to discuss the previous bloods and said the reading was 45? not quite sure what that means but she did also say that it was "fantastic". She continued saying that she was now going to stop supplying me with the meds as they are not needed.
I was a little unsure though when she said that there was no need for me to test myself anymore and she left it there with no mention of any further meetings or bloods to be taken. I will stick to testing myself for the time being.

Well done on managing to free yourself from meds and to get your HbA1c down to 45. The current definition of remission is 3 months below 48 with no meds, so you're well on your way. I'd stick with testing despite what your DN says. At least then you'd be able to see whether your BG is stable.

 

[snowball12]

Well done

 

[Felinia]

45 is your HbA1c result and it's measured in mmol/mol. But 45 means that you are now in the pre-diabetic range, not out of the diabetic range completely. It's a great result after 16 years but you will need to know the effect of abruptly stopping the medications completely. I agree with Martin.A about continuing to test, and if your BG rises I think you would be advised to go back to your DN.

 

[JITR]

45 is your HbA1c result and it's measured in mmol/mol. But 45 means that you are now in the pre-diabetic range, not out of the diabetic range completely. It's a great result after 16 years but you will need to know the effect of abruptly stopping the medications completely. I agree with Martin.A about continuing to test, and if your BG rises I think you would be advised to go back to your DN.

Hi all, I have been a diabetic (T2) for 16 years or more and in the last three months I have managed to reduce and now come off all meds. I am doing this through the keto diet as best as I can. My diabetic nurse called me today to discuss the previous bloods and said the reading was 45? not quite sure what that means but she did also say that it was "fantastic". She continued saying that she was now going to stop supplying me with the meds as they are not needed.
I was a little unsure though when she said that there was no need for me to test myself anymore and she left it there with no mention of any further meetings or bloods to be taken. I will stick to testing myself for the time being.

Have you been losing weight on your keto diet? Do you have a target weight or waist measurement in mind? One rule of thumb is you have reached a healthy weight when your waist is less than half your height.

 

[roddavid]

Have you been losing weight on your keto diet? Do you have a target weight or waist measurement in mind? One rule of thumb is you have reached a healthy weight when your waist is less than half your height.

Hi, I am not over weight, haven't been for about 7 years. But I was told that I had a fatty liver a few years ago, which is still with me. This is why I am doing the keto, plus of course reducing my sugar levels and now no meds.

Have you been losing weight on your keto diet? Do you have a target weight or waist measurement in mind? One rule of thumb is you have reached a healthy weight when your waist is less than half your height.

 

[roddavid]

45 is your HbA1c result and it's measured in mmol/mol. But 45 means that you are now in the pre-diabetic range, not out of the diabetic range completely. It's a great result after 16 years but you will need to know the effect of abruptly stopping the medications completely. I agree with Martin.A about continuing to test, and if your BG rises I think you would be advised to go back to your DN.

Thanks for the reply. Just wanted to mention for anyone reading my post. It took me probably around 6 months to compleately come off the meds. I was on 3 different meds and slowly reduced. By the end I was on just the metformin which I was then taken off.

 

[Nayshiftin]

Congratulations , Well done !

 

[rebrascora]

Many congratulations on a fantastic achievement, especially after being diagnosed and on meds for so long. Very best of luck maintaining your reduced HbA1c result without the meds. Well done!
Just out of curiosity was there anything particular which triggered you to change your diet after so long with diabetes? Just wondering if whatever that trigger was could be helpful to others?

 

[JITR]

Just out of curiosity was there anything particular which triggered you to change your diet after so long with diabetes? Just wondering if whatever that trigger was could be helpful to others?

Yes, roddavid wrote, I was told that I had a fatty liver a few years ago, which is still with me. This is why I am doing the keto, plus of course reducing my sugar levels and now no meds.

Eliminating fat from your liver is important. Getting down to a 48 mmol/l remission target is great, but fatty liver typically remains. When down to below 42 mmol/l your liver will be getting back to normal. This is a general guideline as, to my limited knowledge, few figures are available.

T2D upsets more than insulin. My ferritin level at diagnosis rang alarm bells. My GP correctly suspected hemochromatosis, too much iron in the body. Venesection, taking blood out, is the main method of treatment. But my ferritin level was down from 1,200 to 600 when I was at 39 mmol/l before my first venesection. When it was 32 mmol/l I had a fibroscan which confirmed my liver was back to normal.

Dealing with fatty liver with all its potential complications, including T2D, is a compelling reason for advising pre-diabetics and most newly diagnosed T2 diabetics to go on an effective weight loss diet before any resorting to any medication. And following roddavid's example many other T2 diabetics as well,

There is no need to follow an 800 cal per day diet, a low carb diet of nutritious food will do for most people.

Thank you, rebrascora and roddavid.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for the reply. Just wanted to mention for anyone reading my post. It took me probably around 6 months to compleately come off the meds. I was on 3 different meds and slowly reduced. By the end I was on just the metformin which I was then taken off.

Congratulations on your terrific progress @roddavid

Really pleased you have found a strategy that has worked so effectively for you 🙂

 

[roddavid]

Many congratulations on a fantastic achievement, especially after being diagnosed and on meds for so long. Very best of luck maintaining your reduced HbA1c result without the meds. Well done!
Just out of curiosity was there anything particular which triggered you to change your diet after so long with diabetes? Just wondering if whatever that trigger was could be helpful to others?

Hi, the answer to that is that I could feel my health going down hill for some time. I knew I had a fatty liver and my digestive system was not great. I was so tired of consuming all the meds that I was on. It just clicked one day, as though I was given a message, that it has to stop. So I started to reduce meds slowly and did a lot of research, especially on diabetes and diet. My diet was all wrong, contributing to high sugar levels and high insulin. Thanks to the research I knew what had to be done diet wise to get control of the diabetes without the meds. Its not an easy path to take to start with but absolutely worth the effort. Just think, all these drugs do is eventually make things worse and don't really tackle the problem at all, they just make it seem as though you are better controlled while they make a ton of money. Hope this helps.

 

[Maz2]

Welcome to the Forum and well done with your remission. 45, I believe, is classed as prediabetic.

 

[Maz2]

Personally I would still test. They normally check you every year if prediabetic. My GPs do. If you go under 42 they check every two years. My GPs won't let it go.

I was prediabetic, got back to normal and now waiting for results of the test from 2 1/2 weeks ago. Have heard nothing yet. Our GPs used to do call backs whatever the result before Covid but now they will only text or call if something is wrong. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I still test especially if I have new foods just to see what effect they are having. My GPs told me there was no need to test but they said it mainly I think because they told me they could not fund the machine or the strips for me. I don't mind having to pay myself though. They have enough people to worry about who are diabetic without funding mind as well.

 

[childofthesea43]

Just think, all these drugs do is eventually make things worse and don't really tackle the problem at all, they just make it seem as though you are better controlled while they make a ton of money. Hope this helps.

As Dr Fung remarked, none of these T2D drugs does any fundamental good, otherwise why would there be over 500 different kinds of them on the market?

 

[Nayshiftin]

As Dr Fung remarked, none of these T2D drugs does any fundamental good, otherwise why would there be over 500 different kinds of them on the market?

You can say the same for any medication. Pain control etc . Those on insulin need it or Type 1 “s would not survive. I am not saying Dr Fung is wrong but low carb has messed me up both mentally and physically its not a magic cure for all either.
So time to stop saying Low carb works for all. medication has helped many or the NHS would stop it.

 

[Maz2]

You can say the same for any medication. Pain control etc . Those on insulin need it or Type 1 “s would not survive. I am not saying Dr Fung is wrong but low carb has messed me up both mentally and physically its not a magic cure for all either.
So time to stop saying Low carb works for all. medication has helped many or the NHS would stop it.

Totally agree with you. I don't believe in medication for the sake of it i.e. take statins because you are over 50 etc but, in some cases, medication is necessary. Without it some people's health could be much worse.

 

[Nayshiftin]

I also used the link to request more infomation on going on the NHS diet.
You need to be in the criterea with weight . Diabetes duagnosis etc but it had to go through your GP, This was in the letter. “All participants must be referred onto the programme by their primary care team (GP practice) to ensure eligibility and current medications have been carefully considered prior to starting the programme. Therefore, if feel you may be eligible, you should discuss this with your GP practice at your next planned review. Different service providers have been put in place by NHS England to deliver the service.