So far so good, but worrying it might not last.

[thejolley1]

Sorry I know this one has been covered many times but I know people have had varying degrees of success with this.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 in October, was briefly "definitely" type 1 due to my weight 13 stone'ish and age 33, but that turned out to be a nurse who didn't know enough about diabetes beyond the normal profiles. Had the antibody and c-peptide tests and was told I was type 2.

I'd been on Gliclazide due to being assumed type 1 and my HbA1C came from 96 to 43. A lot of diet (low carb) and exercise helped this along i believe. Went from 36 waist to 32 and feel loads better for it i might add.

Anyway i'm currently on no medication and the numbers have kept up a little. So where low - mid 5's were common, i tend to see more 6's and low 7's now. Apart from the one time (you guessed it), the morning. Where its gradually crept up and in in the 7's and 8's. 8.9 this morning was a particularly frustrating one.

I'm meeting with my diabetes nurse next week and I think the decision will need to be whether I start a course of Metformin or whether i can keep on with diet and exercise.

Just wondered if anyone had been in this situation when they first took it on diet/exercise alone and whether to persevere or whether Metformin might just cut the mustard and get me back on track.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated or if theres any particular threads people suggest would be a good read.

 

[Beck S]

Man, this is exactly what I'm going through right now - diagnosed in September, put on Gliclazide and Metformin, got down to the 5s and 6s, HbA1c down to 46. Stopped the Gliclazide and I've crept up to 6s and 7s with the odd 8 and like you've described it feels frustrating not to be where I was.

People have said to me not to be afraid to take the tablets if I feel I need to (I'm still on the Metformin), but you don't have to. I think with the BG levels you're getting, you can afford to give more time to trying with diet and exercise and then revisit the tablet idea if it doesn't work.

Bear in mind too that Metformin can be a flipping awful drug if you get the side effects. Not everyone gets them - I'm on the slow release version which is better for me,

 

[Drummer]

I can't see me ever going back on Metformin - it made my life so miserable - combined with a statin I was in a heck of a state. It alarmed my husband so much that he has stopped taking statins.
If your numbers are higher than you like, perhaps consider reducing your carbs a little - I put on a couple of pounds and cut just 5 gm per day and saw it depart again - but my BG levels dropped quite noticeably.

 

[thejolley1]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like metformin can be not too pleasurable for some. In other places i hear it has some really protective qualities too.

This morning my fasting was 6.8 which is much better for me. Interestingly i ended up having a really late takeaway indian dinner (around 9.45pm). It was pretty protein based but not entirely, but no rice or breads. Was expecting to be punished this morning!

Starting to wonder if dinner a bit later helped my levels not go down too much in the night and cause a rebound.

Though like many things with diabetes it could be a complete fluke, maybe the Friday feeling . The trial and error continues.

 

[Cookieones]

I’m afraid metformin is a definite no no for me, I ended up in hospital twice after bleeding internally.
Normally most people are fine 99.9% of the time and I am told it is one of the best drugs to take for diabetes , but there always has to be the one, yep you’ve guessed right it’s me. I’m now taking sitagliptin @ 100mg a day and I seem to be doing fine.
I wish you luck on your journey, I’m sure you will be able to master it with all the great advice that is available on this forum.
Allan.

 

[Drummer]

I find that eating my two meals a day with a 12 hour spacing is a very good way to keep my levels really steady. It is convenient for me to eat early and late and not have to worry about food when I am out of the house.