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Iain1953

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Type 2
Hi, been a type 2 for many years now, had a few physical medical issues with my back and my knees, and my weight went up to 118kgs (257lbs in old money) and my BMI was 38 back in 2019. But when i was doing my sports degree, i looked into Diabetes as a student, as i had access to lots of medical papers written by many worldwide Universities. I have always been active, started playing badminton at 14, running since i was 18, and i'm 70 next birthday. I had left knee TKR surgery back in Oct 2019, my weight was down to 97kgs by then, and today i'm 86.8kgs BMI is 28, so thats a weight loss of 30.2kgs (66.4kgs)!! This is all due to me, nothing to do with seeing a GP, who over many years have only just prescribed tablets and not bothered to get a grip of my diabetic problem!! Only after getting a refferal to see a diabetic dietetician at a local NHS centre, who advised me of how i can get to grip of of own health, giving me a blood test kit to use with an app called 'My Sugr', to help me monitor my life style. I now have over a years supply of data, that have reduced my daily Hba1c levels from over 12-13 to around 5.4 on average.
I'm now trying to get another referral to see the dietetician again, to help lose another 6-8 kgs, and get down to 78kgs, which is the weight i am meant to be, according to the NHS. Also I need to see about getting the tablets i take reduced or stopped. Sorry about the long post, but i have had no help from GP's over many years, who are not interested in my health, but only to prolong the problem.
 
Welcome to the forum @Iain1953

And huge congratulations on your terrific weight loss so far!

Are the 12-13 and 5.4 the readings you are getting from your fingerstick meter? If so (a small point) those are your glucose readings in mmol/L which represent your blood glucose concentration at that moment in time.

An HbA1c is a measure of how many of your red blood cells have been altered by glucose in your blood stream. It is usually measured in mmol/mol these days, with 48mmol/mol being the dividing line for a diagnosis with diabetes.

Which meds are you currently on? And when was the last time your doses and mix of meds were adjusted?
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

Gold star to you for the amazing weight loss and also to the dietician who supplied you with a test kit. Here on the forum we know only too well the huge benefit of being able to test and use that information to adjust your diet and incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Sadly most Gps have no idea of the power of dietary changes with diabetes and how testing enables us to make good choices and motivates us to keep making those changes, when we see results on a meal by meal and day by day basis. Testing means that we can actually "see" our diabetes, rather than bury our head in the sand until it is too late. I accept that there are sadly some people who want to do that and are resistant to changing their diet and taking exercise, but for people who are motivated, it really is enormously helpful. Clearly you have the knowledge and motivation to improve your own health but having the tools to help you is an important factor.

Well done and good luck reducing your medication!
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @Iain1953

And huge congratulations on your terrific weight loss so far!

Are the 12-13 and 5.4 the readings you are getting from your fingerstick meter? If so (a small point) those are your glucose readings in mmol/L which represent your blood glucose concentration at that moment in time.

An HbA1c is a measure of how many of your red blood cells have been altered by glucose in your blood stream. It is usually measured in mmol/mol these days, with 48mmol/mol being the dividing line for a diagnosis with diabetes.

Which meds are you currently on? And when was the last time your doses and mix of meds were adjusted?
Click to expand...
Hi, yes those readings are from a fingerstick meter, the meter gives me a average reading over 7 day period, just as pointer. My last blood test was 48.4mmol/mol, the other year it was 93mmol/mol. My BMI was 38.4 when i started al this, its now 28.
As to my meds, thay have never been adjusted by any GP for over 25 years, just added to!! This my next problem, as i now have a years information about my health, my diet and my lifestyle, and i want the tablets reduced or stopped.
After asking at my local surgery 4 weeks ago!! for a referral to see a diabetic dietetician, i had to walk in 2 days ago and ask again!! Only to be told i need another blood test, before it can be done. I'm booked in on the 15th this month.
The GP's i have encountered over many years are not interested in dealing with the problem, just adding to it! And the last young GP i spoke was very condescending to me.
I'm at a point now, were i can't seem to lose anymore weight. I don't know if its the tablets i'm still taking? My diet? Or is my body is at the correct weight? This is why i need to see the diabetic dietetician again.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome from me too.

Gold star to you for the amazing weight loss and also to the dietician who supplied you with a test kit. Here on the forum we know only too well the huge benefit of being able to test and use that information to adjust your diet and incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Sadly most Gps have no idea of the power of dietary changes with diabetes and how testing enables us to make good choices and motivates us to keep making those changes, when we see results on a meal by meal and day by day basis. Testing means that we can actually "see" our diabetes, rather than bury our head in the sand until it is too late. I accept that there are sadly some people who want to do that and are resistant to changing their diet and taking exercise, but for people who are motivated, it really is enormously helpful. Clearly you have the knowledge and motivation to improve your own health but having the tools to help you is an important factor.

Well done and good luck reducing your medication!
Click to expand...
Thanks Barbara 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum @Iain1953 and big congratulations on all that you have done so far.

I am glad that you have a dietiticiqn appointment sorted. It is not unusual for them to want blood tests done beforehand as you then have the results with you to discuss (and celebrate your success). It might be useful to go with notes of the successful strategies that you have used already, which might give them some pointers to what to suggest next.

You may find some ideas on here, as there are many on here who have shared their successful ways of reducing their levels. We are all different so it does take a bit of work to find what suits us as individuals. Your testing with finger pricks can help you identify any specific foods that do/don’t suit you.

let us know how you get on.
 
I think it’s quite common for weight loss to slow down as people approach their target weight.

Often losing significant amounts of weight can improve insulin sensitivity, so it may be that a reduction in your meds may be appropriate. Which medications are you taking to help with glucose management?

Sorry to hear you’ve had some frustrating and disappointing appointments in the past. Hope the appointment with the dietician gives you some helpful pointers to assist you in your goals.
 
Perhaps you would like to give some examples of the meals you have as people may spot some foods which could be causing problems though your main issue seems more one of not losing the weight you want to rather than blood glucose levels which you have successfully brought down.
I hope an NHS dietician is not going to emphasise the Eat well plate as being suitable as many find that would be far too high in carbohydrates for them to tolerate.
The approach in this link may have some new ideas which could kick start your weight loss again whilst improving your blood glucose level further. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
Leadinglights said:
Perhaps you would like to give some examples of the meals you have as people may spot some foods which could be causing problems though your main issue seems more one of not losing the weight you want to rather than blood glucose levels which you have successfully brought down.
I hope an NHS dietician is not going to emphasise the Eat well plate as being suitable as many find that would be far too high in carbohydrates for them to tolerate.
The approach in this link may have some new ideas which could kick start your weight loss again whilst improving your blood glucose level further. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Click to expand...
Hiya
I've been trying all sorts of foods since i found out about eating carbs, then taking my blood meter readings. I then found out about omega 3 in fish, which helps reduce my blood sugars, and have been eating salmon or sardines every few days. So when i see the dietician i hope to be pointed in a new direction.
Will have a look at that link and let you know how it goes 🙂
Thx
 
Iain1953 said:
Hi, yes those readings are from a fingerstick meter, the meter gives me a average reading over 7 day period, just as pointer. My last blood test was 48.4mmol/mol, the other year it was 93mmol/mol. My BMI was 38.4 when i started al this, its now 28.
As to my meds, thay have never been adjusted by any GP for over 25 years, just added to!! This my next problem, as i now have a years information about my health, my diet and my lifestyle, and i want the tablets reduced or stopped.
After asking at my local surgery 4 weeks ago!! for a referral to see a diabetic dietetician, i had to walk in 2 days ago and ask again!! Only to be told i need another blood test, before it can be done. I'm booked in on the 15th this month.
The GP's i have encountered over many years are not interested in dealing with the problem, just adding to it! And the last young GP i spoke was very condescending to me.
I'm at a point now, were i can't seem to lose anymore weight. I don't know if its the tablets i'm still taking? My diet? Or is my body is at the correct weight? This is why i need to see the diabetic dietetician again.
Click to expand...
Ideal weight depends on age & gender not just BMI. The NHS hasn't caught on to that yet. There are multiple errors on the NHS website including stating that you are eligable for vaccines that the green book says your not and many factual errors.
 
@Iain1953 - firstly congratulations on your immense progress so far.

If you can say which tablets you are on I am sure there'll be someone on here who also has experience of them. I was was on Metformin after being diagnosed, but further to weight reduction and lowering of HBA1c to non-diabetic levels I came off of them.
 
DiabloT2 said:
@Iain1953 - firstly congratulations on your immense progress so far.

If you can say which tablets you are on I am sure there'll be someone on here who also has experience of them. I was was on Metformin after being diagnosed, but further to weight reduction and lowering of HBA1c to non-diabetic levels I came off of them.
Click to expand...
I have taken the following tablets for many years now, never had a review with any GP :(

Jardiance 25mg
Januvia 100mg
Metaformin 1000mg twice a day
Pioglitazone 30mg

🙂
 
Iain1953 said:
I have taken the following tablets for many years now, never had a review with any GP :(

Jardiance 25mg
Januvia 100mg
Metaformin 1000mg twice a day
Pioglitazone 30mg

🙂
Click to expand...
That is a whole lot of medications to be taking and I assume more have been added over the years which suggests that the dietary advice you were given was 'old school' and did you no favours.
I know some people do need help from medication but the powerful effect of diet is often overlooked.
Just go cautiously if you are reducing carbs and use your monitor to make sure you are not going too low.
 
Hopefully, after seeing the diabetic dietetician things will change? Reduced doses of tablets? or maybe some tablets stopped? I won't do anything until then 🙂
 
Iain1953 said:
Hopefully, after seeing the diabetic dietetician things will change? Reduced doses of tablets? or maybe some tablets stopped? I won't do anything until then 🙂
Click to expand...
You could be looking at some dietary changes which you could run past the dietician. Low carb approach which may find successful is suggested as being no more than 130g per day. You could keep a food diary of everything you currently eat and drink and estimate the carbs that you are having to see where some savings could be made and also to discuss at your appointment.
 
Iain1953 said:
Hi, been a type 2 for many years now, had a few physical medical issues with my back and my knees, and my weight went up to 118kgs (257lbs in old money) and my BMI was 38 back in 2019. But when i was doing my sports degree, i looked into Diabetes as a student, as i had access to lots of medical papers written by many worldwide Universities. I have always been active, started playing badminton at 14, running since i was 18, and i'm 70 next birthday. I had left knee TKR surgery back in Oct 2019, my weight was down to 97kgs by then, and today i'm 86.8kgs BMI is 28, so thats a weight loss of 30.2kgs (66.4kgs)!! This is all due to me, nothing to do with seeing a GP, who over many years have only just prescribed tablets and not bothered to get a grip of my diabetic problem!! Only after getting a refferal to see a diabetic dietetician at a local NHS centre, who advised me of how i can get to grip of of own health, giving me a blood test kit to use with an app called 'My Sugr', to help me monitor my life style. I now have over a years supply of data, that have reduced my daily Hba1c levels from over 12-13 to around 5.4 on average.
I'm now trying to get another referral to see the dietetician again, to help lose another 6-8 kgs, and get down to 78kgs, which is the weight i am meant to be, according to the NHS. Also I need to see about getting the tablets i take reduced or stopped. Sorry about the long post, but i have had no help from GP's over many years, who are not interested in my health, but only to prolong the problem.
Click to expand...
I too had a young GP who was very condescending/ rude to me when my HBA1C had gone up. Its very dispiriting but it made me more determined in the end to try and show him I could do it! You have done really well. so far.
 
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