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Think I am doing ok.

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KenzieQuin

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I was diagnosed 21st May this year, just over with a test result of 50. I was devastated, but decided to get proactive. I take 2 metformin 500 a day (started 31st May) I also got a test kit at the same time, which I use a lot. I have cut out a lot of carbs, no bread as that was pushing my results into high. Not eating any potatoes, I have had a very small portion of pasta and rice a couple of times. Mainly eating lots of fish and indulging in my love of salads. If I need a snack I choose proteins, or zero fat yoghurt with a few berries. I am about 2.5 stone overweight but have lost 9lb so far this month. I miss bread (oh I love crusty bread) But apart from that I am not finding this too difficult. Only once has my bg been high and for over a week every result, of many, has been middle of the normal range. I worry about taking the metformin, do you think if I can get the weight off I will be able to stop taking it? or are my lovely results because of the metformin?
 
I must admit I was surprised you were put on Metformin 1000gm pd straight away, as you are only just in the diabetic range (48+). My GP surgery gave me the option of a 3 month period of diet, exercise and weight loss, to see if I could reduce my levels without medication. At your low level of 50 it should be possible to reduce with just a few tweaks. But I've heard of other GP surgeries who jump straight in with medication. It's worth asking if you can try. But it will be a lifetime healthy eating pattern. Best wishes
 
I am quite shocked that they even started you on Metformin with an HbA1c of 50, because it is only just over the diabetes threshold and many people would be given the opportunity to tackle their diabetes through lifestyle changes alone at that level.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things in that respect with your diet and using your BG meter to guide you in your choices. If you can increase your activity level a bit, perhaps with a daily walk if you are able, that will also help, but I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to come off the Metformin if you wish to, once your HbA1c comes back into the normal range and I would be very surprised if that doesn't happen at your next test if you are getting good mid range readings all the time now.
Health care professionals put a lot more store on their medication than dietary changes because they have no idea just how powerful low carb eating can be. In reality the Metformin will be doing very little but your HCPs will probably credit it with being responsible for your improvement when you get your next result. You may therefore need to do some negotiating regarding reducing or stopping it, because they may well be reluctant. No reason why you can't try 3 or 6 months without and then start it again if you are unable to maintain a normal HbA1c through lifestyle changes alone, so use that as your suggestion when you come to discuss the matter, but I would very much doubt you see any significant rise in results if you do stop.
There are supposedly other benefits to taking Metformin but there can also be negatives like vitamin B deficiency. Personally I can't see any point in taking medication if I am healthy without it, but each person should make an informed decision based on their own circumstances and in conjunction with the medical professionals advice.... but not necessarily follow it blindly. You should have a say in your treatment. No-one can force you to take the tablets even if they insist on prescribing them, so you always have a choice.
 
Sounds like you are doing really well @KenzieQuin

Hopefully you will be able to discuss stopping the metformin at your next review.

Metformin works by increasing your sensitivity to your own insulin, and by inhibiting glucose output from the liver, so it can help to generally improve BG levels, but doesn’t really act on a ‘per-meal‘ basis.

Hope your next HbA1c reflects your great results and all theeffort you have been putting in 🙂
 
Thank you everyone. That is helpful. I am really excited about losing weight as well. I was a total stick insect for the first 40 years of my life, I will be 60 in august. The last 20 years my weight has just creep up, especially with the lockdown. I do a reasonable amount of walking. I have COPD was well so exercise where you work up a sweat would have me gasping on the floor. Losing weight makes it easier to keep it up as it is a visual benefit.
 
You don't have to cut bread out if you make low carb bread as I do, I eat loads of it.
 
I love bread so much I can't contemplate having a poor substitute at the moment. Will wait until I am desperate:D
 
I find Warburtons small 400gm wholemeal loaf is 55 cals and 8.9gm carbs and tastes like real bread. I'm lucky as it does not give me a spike.
 
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