New Medication going forward....

[indio02]

Had my yearly diabetes check-up yesterday and my HbA1c has gone up a bit again since the last test. So 2 results and 2 small increases. The Dr. suggested taking "Dipeptidyl peptidase". He said it was my decision but does anyone have any advice? Normally I just do whatever the dr. recommends but I'd like to make an informed decision.
Am feeling quite stressed at work and my weight has also been creeping up. I feel I no longer have that Shock Diabetes diagnosis for motivation. It being hot I've only really been eating homemade sandwiches for lunch and supper, so fully taking ownership.... Confession- I've eaten 3×800g loaves in the last 7 days
Obviously there's much more going on than just the above but how do people stay motivated in the face of everything life throws at you?
Thanks

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about the stressful time you’ve been having @indio02

It looks like you are being offered one of the DPP-4 Inhibitors

Discovery and development of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Most people on the forum who are taking them refer to them as one of the ‘gliptins

DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins)

DDP-4 inhibitors are a type of medication you might need to take if you have type 2 diabetes. They are also known as gliptins.

www.diabetes.org.uk

I think Sitagliptin (Januvia) is probably the one I’ve heard being discussed most on the forum.

 

[Lucyr]

Very common medication for diabetes, never hear any major complaints. If it’s what your doctor recommends then give it a go.

 

[indio02]

Sorry to hear about the stressful time you’ve been having @indio02

Thanks..... I took a day off work to reflect and try and center myself. A friend suggested it. It's a bit like focusing on the horizon when feeling seasick. Definitely feeling a bit more focused. Have set myself a target of cutting out as many carbs as I can. Will be having another hba1c in October and will decide then about the new meds in consultation with the doctor.
I think the lesson I've learnt is that this is a life long change rather than a year of concentrated change then back to old habits.
Thanks again everyone!

 

[rebrascora]

I found that I needed to find new treat foods to maintain low carb. It isn't sustainable if you feel like you are permanently deprived, so finding low carb treats that I could really enjoy and feel I had been indulged helps a lot. I have gone through phases of different things and some I have now discarded or keep as a very rare treat but real double cream in my morning coffee is one thing that I indulge nearly every morning and really savour. I went through a phase of pork scratchings and Nature Valley Protein bars and even sugar free boiled sweets like "Sula" that come in a little box for when I was driving long distances but I don't need those things any more. I do buy nice dark chocolate and have a square most days broken into 4 with a spoon of crunchy peanut butter to bulk it out and make it more satisfying. To be honest though a salad with balsamic vinegar and a big dollop of coleslaw is something that I now really love and appreciate and seems to be a big treat. Had that last night with bolognaise sauce and had no hankering for any pasta with it at all.

 

[JITR]

I think the lesson I've learnt is that this is a life long change rather than a year of concentrated change then back to old habits.

Well said. A healthy diet is a great choice.

I needed to find new treat foods ... It isn't sustainable to feel permanently deprived,

Well said too.

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm not sure 'cutting as many carbs as you can' is always the answer as that can make it unsustainable.
I found that making the carbs I have worth it for enjoyment and flavour and ditching those that were just fillers or carriers for other foods.
I have the principal of only 1 carby food on the plate at a time. So if I want a couple of new potatoes then I don't have peas or broad beans but have salad or cabbage or broccoli. If I want the peas or beans then no potatoes. I don't have rice but have a low carb edamame bean or black bean pasta with lots of the sauce.
If I have to have a bought sandwich I ditch the crusts. I was away for 4 days over the weekend and I managed to find some good options for evening meals and not 1 chip passed my lips, however a crème Brule did.
Many aim for no more than 130g per day but that may depend on any medication you are on. If you haven't looked at the link that is often posted as a good start then you may get some inspiration there for a sustainable enjoyable approach. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/