A couple of years ago already, people in this group recommended that I start testing my own blood sugar. The NHS doctor told me not to do so, as they didn't want me to become obsessed with my numbers, etc. unnecessarily. I didn't do it, and in fact, I was pretty careless all around about my glucose control.
I realize it has been 5 years now since my diagnosis of pre-diabetes/diabetes (Type 2) and at 90 lbs overweight I haven't made progress. I had an allergy attack that scared me quite badly recently, a new low as I couldn't breathe, and that just pushed to run a full battery of tests.
This follows me getting 'resolved' to reverse Type 2 Diabetes in the summer, but also to 'see where my numbers were' if I went completely off Metformin, which I did for about 4 months. My numbers went from 5-ish to 7.
Two months ago, I saw another endocrine specialist, and he told me I needed to increase my metformin from 2x/500 mg/day to 2x/750 mg/day - as it was not enough to be on the minimum amount. I read about this, and it seems about right. Secondly, I refused to do a statin, as I felt I was getting leg cramps from it. Since coming off, the leg cramps have gone away. He said women who are not menopausal can come off the statin because it's proven still not to be effective for them. For men at that age point, yes, very effective. For women who are perimenopausal, no. So, he agreed to this. I refuse to be overmedicated!!!
I also suffer from rosacea and have been doing an antibiotic (Doxycycline) for at least 2 years now, on and off, or Lymecycline, or something. Alternating. I'm now coming off that, as a Scottish nurse friend said it's vile, while yet another foreign doctor has said, no, it's not. (I'm so confused, but coming off it to try and see if my body can stabilize).
Last summer, I started getting severe abdominal pain over the liver and basically had ultrasounds which revealed a fatty liver, and after being tested fully the Spire doctor in the UK ruled out anything serious but Irritable Bowel Syndrome - or the precursor to it. A little DulcoEase prescribed, and mostly I've not done much but watch that I don't eat raw veggies too much on their own. This problem comes and goes.
All this to say, I'm trying to sort this out. It's been a reality check to realize that my numbers on the Fasting Glucose testing have been averaging 120-125 for the past three or four days. Now, this is while cutting calories. Eggs in the morning. Konjac (these are the noodles that are high fibre, low calories) noodles and a tin of tomatoes boiled down into a sauce for lunch. A yoghurt fruit salad combo - pure yoghurt and, yes, fruit in the afternoon at break, and I had quinoa pasta again yesterday with a ratatouille. The last night before this last result of 123, at about 10 PM, I had some chicken, steak and pasta salad and corn at a BBQ. My daytime meals were smallish.
I know I have read that people who go full on paleo seem to be turning around their numbers and losing weight. My question is, as I continue to battle with this bulge, and NEED to get it off (it's making me so uncomfortable and fed up): can you reverse Type II Diabetes after 5 years in?
If you can't do that, can you stabilize for life to the point of coming off Metformin?
And what of the heart risks? I have high cholesterol, too, right now...
Cholesterol Total: 239* (140-200)
HBA1C: 6.7* (4.5-6.4)
HDL: 47 (40-59)
LDL: 140* (0-100)
SGPT (ALT): 150* (9-52)
Triglycerides: 256* (35-150)
Glucose (RBS/Random
Blood Sugar): 229* (75-140)
White Blood Count: 11 (3.5-11)
Hemoglobin (HB, HGB): 15.8 (12-16)
Platelet Count: 368 (150-450)
Current Weight: 225 lbs
Height: 5'5"
Female
Age: 49
So, the other question is this: am I being stupid by coming off the statins, etc.?
Any thoughts before I continue to review this with doctors and continue to pursue dietary/exercise approaches to fixing this?
I have lost 8 lbs in a week, and now things will slow down but I got a good start. My colleagues and I are starting a fitness challenge for the new year. Slow and steady. I bought a fitness band. Here we go.
I wish I had followed this group's advice, because I feel I have been set back 2-3 years in my progress by my own stupidity and this may be completely detrimental to reversing T2D.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
MM