newbie question

[davie536]

Hi after some advice, since i'm bit confused, a number of months ago went to Doc and results from test was High Fasting Glucose of 9.7 and Glucose tolerance test was back to 9 ish after two hours. Therefore recommendations was for diet and exercise changes and also lose the weight and come back in a few months since I was border line diabetes according to doc but had glucose intollerance.

Went back to check with doc where I am today since 3 stones lighter diet changes made prob not enough exercise though and still have a belly this time my Fasting level was 6.3 and something called hba1c was 7.1, however doc has now put me on 500mg of Metformin twice a day and stated it would lower the hba1c and aid my weight loss also.

Just wondering why Doc has now put me on metformin? since I believed I was starting to control my glucose levels over the last 3 months (been trying to behave as if I was confirmed diabetic i.e. GI diet etc).

The only thing additional I told doc before metformin was prescribed was that my feet were a bit sensitive to the cold and that I had purchase my own glucose testing kit and in the morning my glucose levels can rise to 8 early morning without eating. but by lunch time levels are back to 6.x level. I tried to ask a few questions but he told me to book an appointment with surgery nurse who specialised in pre and full diabetes she would be able to answer questions and also she could test my feet at the same time. I suppose the surgery was busy and he didn't have the time for my questions.

Can anyone provide some advice since a bit confused and concerned that I am not doing something correctly, I have improved my diet and my fasting levels are reasonable all be at lunch time, stil have the morning peak but it is getting lower and I am regularly back to around 8mmol after 2 hours after eating?

Thanks

 

[Northerner]

Hi davie, welcome to the forum 🙂 From the sounds of it the various tests being conducted are producing slightly difficult to interpret results. Normally, a fasting test of 9.7 would be enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, but if you weren't showing any symptoms then the glucose tolerance test should have confirmed what was going on. However, this would need to be over 11 at two hours and yours was less! The subsequent HbA1c at 7.1% is a meansure of your blood glucose over the previous 6-12 weeks and should normally (for a non diabetic) be 6% or under, so this again points to insulin resistance or insulin insufficiency. Your waking levels rising to 8 is also a sign that you need some extra help with controlling your blood sugar levels, as a non-diabetic would expect to get between 4 and 7.

So, all this, coupled with the fact that you are having the sensitivity in your feet (which can be a sign of elevated blood sugar levels) is the reason why he has decided that intervention with medication is needed. You've done a brilliant job losing all that weight, so don't feel it has been in vain! However, diabetes is a very complex disease and it can come in all shades. It may be that, by losing weight and modifying your diet over the past few months, you have postponed the need for medication, but sometimes no matter how hard we try, there can come a time when it is still not sufficient to avoid the need for medication.

You do say that your waking levels are still improving, so it may be that eventually you will be able to stop the metformin, but it is something very hard to predict. For now, the metformin should help you get your levels in the 4-7 range.

 

[Steff]

Hi and a warm welcome to the forum,i cant follow northerners advice but just wanted to say i was in same position put on metfromin about 6 weeks in didnt want to go on them but hay they have done me the power of good x

 

[carebear33]

Hi - and welcome.
I'm not sure if this helps - but my doctor advised that nowadays people are put onto metformin and statins much quicker (previously they allowed people to try and get blood sugar under control with diet and exercise) because of the risk of damage to the nerve endings and blood vessels (not sure if I spelt that right) in your internal organs.
My GP was also reluctant to discuss diabetes with me as they usually have a Diabetes nurse who specialises in Diabetes control etc (whereas GPs know a little about everything). It sounds like you've taken control though and congratulations on the weight loss!