Now I need to start

[onefooteight]

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago because I had just been diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. My finger test in the surgery was 26 and my bloods were 130.

I've been to Germany for the last 12 days, competing in an ice skating competition. This involved a lot of walking as well as skating as the ice rink was a good 15 minutes from the apartment. I was also skating for around 2 hours every day plus warm ups.

I've only been checking my bloods first thing on a morning as I wanted to keep as many test strips as possible for when I got back home. This is so that I can now test 1 and 2 hours after my evening meal to find out what foods create a spike.

Anyway, before I went to Germany my morning readings were usually between 18 and 21 - never below this. For the last week, they have been gradually coming down. I had never had any below 15 but most of them for the last 7 days have been. In fact, yesterday I had my lowest ever at 12.6. I know this is still very high, but it feels like there is a downward trend.

I'm worried that when I can't exercise as much my levels will start to go back up.

The nurse wants me to start on Metformin but I'm not keen.

 

[Ljc]

Hi , There is a definite downward trend.
What is it that worries you about Metformin.

 

[onefooteight]

I don't like to take any drugs. And when I read the leaflet it mentioned lethargy and stomach problems as side effects. Really don't want to feel tired when I love to skate so much. Also, I'm not having any symptoms and feel really well in myself. Can't get my head around taking a drug when I feel well that is likely to make me feel unwell.

 

[Stitch147]

Not everyone will experience side effects. Ive been on Metformin since august 2015, I had some stomach bloating to start with, but I just took wind-eze which helped, but I dont have any side effects from it at all now. If it will help you blood sugar levels come down more it may be a plus. High levels for a long period of time can lead to more complications in the future.

 

[onefooteight]

I can understand your point of view. I'd just prefer to have a go at changing my diet first and then if that doesn't work to try Metformin then. So the drug would be the last resort rather than doing it first.

 

[HOBIE]

Welcome Onefooteight. Like the mad name ! 😎. Being active is good for anyone. 🙂

 

[Copepod]

If you can maintain your exercise levels and diet, then you might be able to delay starting medication. However, as others have said not everyone gets side effects of lethargy and bowel issues with metformin, especially if tablets are taken with meals. If problems persist, there's a slow release version of metformin, or other tablets, to try.

 

[onefooteight]

The problem is, I don't know if I'll be one of the ones who gets side effects or not. Knowing my luck, I would get them.

 

[Copepod]

The problem is, I don't know if I'll be one of the ones who gets side effects or not. Knowing my luck, I would get them.

So, if your GP of practice nurse suggests, try taking metformin, with the precautions mentioned. If, after a couple of weeks, you can't tolerate, then ask for slow release.

 

[onefooteight]

I have the Metformin here as it was on the same prescription as the sticks for the glucose monitor. But my sugar levels seem to be coming down without it. What reason would there be to take it as a first choice instead of as a last resort? I won't be skating next week, but I need to drive to the other end of the country on Monday and then back again on Wednesday. Can't risk something which would make me tired when driving so far (will take around 5 hours each way).

 

[grovesy]

Sorry but the levels maybe coming down but they are still high! Numbers ideally should be in single figures!

 

[onefooteight]

The nurse said to aim for 10 at this time. They were 26 when I was diagnosed around 5 weeks ago. So yes they are high, but there does seem to be a downward trend with my lowest being 12.6. Obviously, I want them to come down. I guess I don't understand why I need to take a drug when they are coming down with the changes I've made to my diet so far. I can't get my head around taking something which may make me feel ill when I currently feel fine. I don't have any of the usual symptoms. The nurse had agreed that I should not take the Metformin until after the competition.

 

[stephknits]

The benefits of lower BG include (aside from lowering of long term risks) is the the fact that you will feel a lot less tired! One of the most common symptoms of having high blood sugars is feeling very tired. I guess you have to balance this with the possibility that Metformin might make you feel tired. Many people on here have managed without drugs, however you have started with high readings. I guess there are positives and negatives both ways! Good luck with your decision, but do let your nurse/GP know which way you go.
Welcome to the forum🙂. The ice skating sounds amazing

 

[Ljc]

I was on metformin for many years without any side effects. Tbh we mainly hear about people on Metformin who experience side effects rather than those like me who don't.
When my BG goes high I feel tired and lack energy, fortunately this doesn't happen very often now.

 

[onefooteight]

I don't feel tired and I'm very busy. I don't feel thirsty or go to the toilet a lot either. In some ways it makes it hard for me to believe I have high blood sugars. If I had symptoms then I'd want to get rid of them so would feel more comfortable about taking a drug.

 

[trophywench]

Look - you obviously do NOT realise that the damage that too high BG levels cause - do NOT cause any symptoms - until it's TOO flippin late to prevent or correct some of the damage in 90% of cases. I don't want that to happen to YOU. And it need not.

Remember - when you were diagnosed you would already have had too high BG for at least months, if not absolutely years! - it certainly didn't 'suddenly' happen!

I'd rather you hit it with everything you can - right NOW - and if you have massive improvements - great! - so wean yourself back off the drugs again! (People are able to do that, all the time) Just stop any damage getting WORSE is what I'm suggesting - like you cut yourself - you staunch the bleeding PDQ - and not be concerned if you have to have a plaster across your nose for the next day - cos it's infinitely preferable to bleeding to death today!

 

[Ljc]

I don't feel tired and I'm very busy. I don't feel thirsty or go to the toilet a lot either. In some ways it makes it hard for me to believe I have high blood sugars. If I had symptoms then I'd want to get rid of them so would feel more comfortable about taking a drug.

I do understand.
When I was first made aware all was not as it should be it was via a test for a uti , I had no symptoms of D at all.
In due course I went to a diabetic clinic, after some tests , I was told that I'd been diabetic they believed for around 15 years. During that time D had silently been doing me and some organs harm, which is partly if not mostly to do with the diabetic complications I have now. I don't want this to happen to you or anyone else.

Please don't be worried if you have to go onto meds for Diabetes , in due course with a good deal of hard work and determination some T2s are able to come off meds for D , I hope this is the case for you.

 

[KookyCat]

Hi onefooteight
I think the main reason people are concerned is this. Diet and exercise usually has most impact for those whose diet is pretty high in carb and who exercise little. If your blood sugars are still that high after intensive exercise for a week, then it would seem you might have a challenge on your hands. Taking Metformin now doesn't mean you can't come off it again later. I'm not pro medication for the sake of it, but if those are your waking figures they could well be much much higher after food. Since you don't have any symptoms at those levels it could be your body has been running quite a lot higher for some considerable time. High blood sugar has some devastating complications, some of which would mean ice skating would be a thing of the past, so we're concerned you don't realise the danger of prolonged high blood sugar. I would not tolerate mine at those levels at any period of time because of the potential dangers. I'm not trying to scare you, it just seems that you might be having difficulty getting your head to believe what the meter is telling you. Nobody can tell you what to do of course that's your decision but please think carefully about allowing your blood sugar to remain at high levels. If you take Metformin now and you get side effects you can go to the doctor and request alternatives, plus once your blood sugar is lower and you've got a grip of it you can try to reduce it. Some of the damage that can be done by high blood sugar can't be undone, and we're concerned that you're aware of that when making decisions.

 

[AndBreathe]

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago because I had just been diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. My finger test in the surgery was 26 and my bloods were 130.

I've been to Germany for the last 12 days, competing in an ice skating competition. This involved a lot of walking as well as skating as the ice rink was a good 15 minutes from the apartment. I was also skating for around 2 hours every day plus warm ups.

I've only been checking my bloods first thing on a morning as I wanted to keep as many test strips as possible for when I got back home. This is so that I can now test 1 and 2 hours after my evening meal to find out what foods create a spike.

Anyway, before I went to Germany my morning readings were usually between 18 and 21 - never below this. For the last week, they have been gradually coming down. I had never had any below 15 but most of them for the last 7 days have been. In fact, yesterday I had my lowest ever at 12.6. I know this is still very high, but it feels like there is a downward trend.

I'm worried that when I can't exercise as much my levels will start to go back up.

The nurse wants me to start on Metformin but I'm not keen.

Onefooteight - I'm somewhat similar to you (to an extent), in that when diagnosed my levels were running high (although not as high as yours! I was passionately keen not to go onto medication, although for very different reasons to you. I was about to embark on a long trip overseas, with no access to the NHS, and the prospect of being on medication I needed to adjust, renew or change just threw me into a flap.

I managed to agree a period of time to try to make adjustments, then review. It meant I had to pause my trip in the middle and pop back to the UK, but it did give me a massive incentive to "get a grip". I learned a lot in that 3.5 months! I read and read, and read.

I'm pleased to say by the review I had done enough to stave off medication, and have never taken any medication for diabetes, or any of the other related metabolic symptoms.

I'm not trying to persuade you to do anything, or not to do anything. I'm just saying I can identify with your desire.

If you are to avoid medication it is usual to accept that some things have to change. It might help better inform your decision if you could give us a bit of an insight into a little more about you. I know you are active with your skating, but do you carry any weight? And could you give us a bit of an insight into what you usually eat and drink on a day to day basis?

I know those are personal questions, but it probably helps indicate what might help you out, in your efforts to stay off meds.

 

[onefooteight]

Hi AndBreathe,

Thanks for this.

I'm very overweight even though I ice skate. I'm currently around 13 stone 3, though at my heaviest I was 16 stone 6lbs. I'm 5'2" and 47 years old. I eat a lot of sweets, usually when driving or on an evening when watching television. Well I did. Amazingly I've cut them all out from the moment I was diagnosed and I'm not missing them at all.

My job involves a lot of driving - I do around 30,000 to 35,000 miles a year. I usually ice skate 2 or 3 times a week. I go more when I can but work and life often get in the way.

I'm going to get weighed today because I feel like I've lost weight while in Germany. My clothes feel looser and my coach commented this morning on how much thinner I look.

I've been reading as much as I can. I've bought the GL diet for Dummies. I'm determined to change my diet and that of my family.

I'm seeing the nurse again two weeks today.