New to Type 2 Diabetes…

[Leadinglights]

It is always your decision whether to take any particular medication, your doctor cannot insist you take them.
Obviously if your HbA1C is high i.e. in the high sixties or above then or you are not prepared to engage with dietary changes then I can see a GP following the NICE guidelines and being more forceful, but even then it would be your choice.

 

[harbottle]

Thank you all for the advice - my HbA1c reading was 55 - I asked if I could try diet and exercise for 3 months first (as I can be disciplined and do this) to see if this helped, if not I would start the Metformin but my Dr said categorically no, I have to start the drugs. So I am still undecided what to do, I'd rather try the no drugs route first before taking anything 😳

You don't have to do what the GP says.
I took Metformin for a bit, but then stopped it when diet and exercise got levels normal.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @AnniePE

I think a degree of nervousness and anxiety are almost inevitable when newly diagnosed with diabetes. You’ll be in a heightened emotional state already, and facing a steep learning curve with plenty of unknowns.

Metformin is an effective first line medication. The majority can take it with no ill effects, though some have a small amount of stomach upset to begin with (or when the dose increases). However, this often settles down fairly quickly.

We do have some members who are particularly sensitive to Metformin, or whose nausea/wind didn’t settle, but there are plenty of other oral meds that can be tried if this is the case for you. And it’s important to remember that starting on a medication doesn’t necessarily mean being on it forever. Many on the forum stayed on their meds for as long as they were helpful, and then have gradually come off some or all of them as time has gone on. Diabetes is no longer considered to be an inevitably progressive condition requiring ever-increasing medication. Some people’s metabolisms are able to recover through loss of weight and clearing of visceral fat around the organs.

Unfortunately the internet is full of healthcare horror stories, and you’ll need to learn to filter these whenever you are looking something up. The only way to tell if you as an individual will have any adverse reaction to a medication is to try it for yourself. Similarly it’s the only way to know for sure whether it will help.

Good luck with your lifestyle, menu, and activity changes too. Even if you do decide to give the Metformin (or another med) a try - getting the balance right between meds and menu is crucial in managing blood glucose. Meds alone are never going to do it, but menu alone might.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[Alan44]

Hi @AnniePE and welcome to the forum.

You have had many replies, which have given you some food for thought, so I will just tell you my approach when diagnosed T2
My first HBA1c was 51 so not to dissimilar to yours and all my doctor did was direct me to this site and said he would test me again in 3 months.

Having read a lot in the learning zone (top of the page in red) and other peoples comments, I decided just to control the controlables

1) Weight
2) Diet
3) exercise

I also bought a finger prick tester, just to monitor my fasting BG in the mornings and to get an idea of the trend.

My first finger prick test was 7.5 and over a 3 month period I got it down to an average of 5.8
I also lost just over 2st in weight, bringing my BMI down to 23 ish
I also increased my exercise as much as I could

My next HBA1c 3 months later was 46 (ie pre diabetic) not great, but not in the diabetic range ( so still work in progress)

My medical records now read, "safe and satisfactory for this patient".

I hope my comments help.

Alan 😉

PS with a HBA1c of 55 you certainly have no need to panic

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @AnniePE like Drummer I too was diagnosed with a level of 92 (first test) then 86 a couple of weeks later. My diabetes nurse wanted me to go on Metformin and I persuaded her that I could do things using diet and exercise. However, her boss was adamant that I should use Metformin. It was prescribed and I collected it, but didn't take it for the first month. Unfortunately I lost a lot of weight as I wasn't properly measuring my carb and calorie intake and had to have another appointment at which a lot of pressure was put on me to take the Metformin. In the end I capitulated and took 1 a day until mid-February this year. At my initial annual review in Jan this year my HbA1c was done again and I was down to 47 after three months. At my review of the results in March, they again pushed me to start taking the Metformin again but I have refused and will continue to try and improve things via my diet and exercise plan both of which are sustainable going forward. I have another appointment in June to align my annual review with my birthday so will find out where I am then.

 

[BL11]

Thank you all for the advice - my HbA1c reading was 55 - I asked if I could try diet and exercise for 3 months first (as I can be disciplined and do this) to see if this helped, if not I would start the Metformin but my Dr said categorically no, I have to start the drugs. So I am still undecided what to do, I'd rather try the no drugs route first before taking anything 😳

Hi @AnniePE , I have been on Metformin now for just over a week, initially 1x 500mg tablet in the morning with breakfast, rising to 2 per day (1 with breakfast and another with evening meal). I've been fortunate to be ok (no side effects) so far since taking them and have to say it has helped. My HbA1c was 74, I am back on Monday for a second test, but they have diagnosed me as T2 on one blood test as I was symptomatic.

The only thing I can say, as other have already, is when you take them, take with food as this apparently reduces any potential side effects.

Doctors did say I needed to start them straight away, as there are risks of leaving the situation untreated. I understand there is the possibility once under control, activity and diet can be a way of increasing the opportunity to reduce the dosage advised, but obviously this needs to be on the doctors advice when appropriate.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi @AnniePE , I have been on Metformin now for just over a week, initially 1x 500mg tablet in the morning with breakfast, rising to 2 per day (1 with breakfast and another with evening meal). I've been fortunate to be ok (no side effects) so far since taking them and have to say it has helped. My HbA1c was 74, I am back on Monday for a second test, but they have diagnosed me as T2 on one blood test as I was symptomatic.

The only thing I can say, as other have already, is when you take them, take with food as this apparently reduces any potential side effects.

Doctors did say I needed to start them straight away, as there are risks of leaving the situation untreated. I understand there is the possibility once under control, activity and diet can be a way of increasing the opportunity to reduce the dosage advised, but obviously this needs to be on the doctors advice when appropriate.

It is good you have experienced no side effects but there is quite a difference between an HbA1C of 74 and only 55 where dietary changes will likely be sufficient so delaying starting metformin is something that many GPs will suggest that is those who are a bit more enlightened about how powerful diet can be. I hope that was also mentioned to you as well as prescribing the metformin. This link may give you some ideas for doing just that. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[BL11]

Hi @Leadinglights absolutely, I was mainly looking to reassure that the stories online do not apply to all, but undoubtably diet can also have an impact.

In my specific case, owing to significant recent weight loss, I have been advised that diet/activity is not alone enough to get me to wear I need to be, though I am hopeful that at some point this will be the case. I will definitely take a look at the link and just picked up a mention on this thread of the Cars & Cals app which I have just downloaded too.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi @Leadinglights absolutely, I was mainly looking to reassure that the stories online do not apply to all, but undoubtably diet can also have an impact.

In my specific case, owing to significant recent weight loss, I have been advised that diet/activity is not alone enough to get me to wear I need to be, though I am hopeful that at some point this will be the case. I will definitely take a look at the link and just picked up a mention on this thread of the Cars & Cals app which I have just downloaded too.

You mention weight loss, was that without trying and with highish HbA1C that puts up a red flag that you may be Type 1 or LADA.
You can still have a lower carb approach which will help reduce blood glucose but if you don't need to lose weight then having protein and healthy fats will help maintain your weight.

 

[BL11]

You mention weight loss, was that without trying and with highish HbA1C that puts up a red flag that you may be Type 1 or LADA.
You can still have a lower carb approach which will help reduce blood glucose but if you don't need to lose weight then having protein and healthy fats will help maintain your weight.

No the weight loss is not through trying, I am being treated as T2, whilst I wait for a hospital referral for further investigation to clarify.

 

[Leadinglights]

No the weight loss is not through trying, I am being treated as T2, whilst I wait for a hospital referral for further investigation to clarify.

That is good that you have been referred and hopefully you will get the appropriate tests. Usually it will be c-peptide and antibodies which can take a little while to come back so the sooner you get your appointment the better.
Meanwhile it would be useful to have some ketone urine dip sticks to check for Ketones and also a home testing blood glucose monitor so you can keep a check on blood glucose on a regular basis.

 

[Drummer]

No the weight loss is not through trying, I am being treated as T2, whilst I wait for a hospital referral for further investigation to clarify.

Definite red flag there.
I found weightloss almost impossible living with type 2 - the high glucose levels were flagged up 10 years before diagnosis but I was not told about it.
Once I went low carb I lost weight and my HbA1c went right down, but that was after some weeks of normal numbers for glucose levels after eating, effective for a very ordinary type 2.

 

[Jodee]

Welcome Annie, I find Metformin fine, I am ok with it up to 1000mg but do get a little funny tummy whenever I have taken 3 or 4 daily for any length of time. at the moment I am doing 1 twice daily with empagliflozin which my body is ok with. Have you had your HbA1C blood checked? You need that doing.

I think you will be fine on just 1 metformin daily and possibly more should you need it.

Best wishes