Reversing Diabetes

[PatJohn]

Hello Everyone

I trust you are all well. This is such an encouraging and helpful forum. I am only plucking the courage to post after reading and trying to understand this condition for the last 6 months. I think I have made an error in managing type 2. My last Hba1c was reading 53. The previous reading was 57. My Dr said this was normal for the meds I was on Metformin (2000mg a day) Sitagliptin and Gliclzide. I informed him that I stopped taking them and had been exercising and changed my diet to low carbs, veg and fish. He took me off the other two and advised that I stay on Metformin. Due to low mood I can be very erratic with meds (high blood pressure medamlodipine). The last two weeks I have been experiencing a soreness around the eyes and tingling sensation in my lower legs and arms. A fuzziness around my skull which can feel like a tension headache. My BS has been consistently between 5.6 and 8.4. for the last 3 months. And I am still on the same diet. I have booked an appointment to see the Diabetic Nurse but any insights would be greatly appreciated. At 61 I am concerned. Thank you very much

 

[IrvineHimself]

high blood pressure medamlodipine

I take it that is "med amlodipine". Your Hba1c is a bit on the high side, It is important you take note that BG monitors only give a snapshot of your current blood glucose levels. which vary throughout the day. As a general guide to how what you eat affects your BG levels, they are great. But, at a consumer level, they have limited accuracy and are not a good diagnostic tool.

While the symptoms you describe could be related to diabetic complications like neuropathy, they could just as likely be related to your high blood pressure. This is specially true if you are not taking the Amlodipine as prescribed. To confuse the issue even further, the symptoms you describe sound similar to the possible adverse effects of Amlodipine.

Noting I am not a Doctor and have no medical training whatsoever, and, even if this was not the case, no one can give an accurate diagnosis over the internet. So, specially since you already have an appointment with the nurse, my advice is to keep taking the Meformin and Amlodipine as prescribed until you can get some expert advice. If the symptoms get worse, go to an A&E,

On more general level, I understand why you are scared, I am sure we all get like that.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @PatJohn

Congratulations on your delurking! Hope you have found it helpful so far - but there’s nothing like being able to ask your own questions, and share your own experiences.

Sorry to hear that you find it difficult to keep on top of your meds when your mood is low. Is that something you are getting support for? Glad you were able to be open with your GP, that is so important 🙂

Hopefully you can make some tweaks to your menu to help support your changed meds and stabilise your BGs a little - though overall your HbA1c seems to be heading in the right direction, and the BG levels you mention seem in a pretty good place.

Let us know how the appointment goes with your nurse 🙂

 

[PatJohn]

Thank you very much Mike and Irvine. Just communicating is making me feel more hopeful and constructive. Denial and Low mood are twin killers of a positive mindset.

Am on it and will report back.

Much appreciated.

 

[IrvineHimself]

Not a problem. If you want a general chat about things: How you are coping, how diabetes is affecting you or just life in general, feel free to continue. I have to take care of life issues in an hour or so, but I will get back to you later. In the meantime, there are currently 18 members and 38 guest online who will no doubt be along shortly.

 

[trophywench]

Indeed - we're here and happy to assist when we can! Personal question first if I may, cos I'm interested about your reference to low mood - are you a lady or a man? (Pat can be either, John's male but there again can be a second name as well as a first one, so anyone's guess! 😉 ) and have you previously tried any other drugs for your high blood pressure, cos Amlodipine isn't usually the first choice for high BP, unless the person has other issues too.