Question for those off medication

[AnnInDenmark]

Recently I went to have an Hb1C test for an upcoming retinopathy check.
I then learned that I am "the one who does not take meds."
The practice has 5 GPs and most of their patients are elderly. Of course I don't know how many of them are diabetics, but there must be quite a few.
It surprised me that I am the only one who managed to get off the medication.
But then again, I was checked by 3 of those 5 doctors during the last 4 years, and none of them ever told me what to eat or not to eat, and once I took control of my condition, none of them ever asked me how I did that. Other diabetic patients are likely treated the same way.
Are those of you, who manage without medication, also the exception?

Ann

 

[bulkbiker]

Hi Ann
I went to see my Diabetes Nurse in December (in fact there were 2 of them who run a Diabetes management session at my practise). They were amazed by my HbA1c change from 70 on 30th October to 45 on 11 December. I asked them what they would credit for the change as I had stopped taking medication 3 weeks after diagnosis. I explained that I had followed a low carb high fat diet and had lost a fair amount of weight ignoring the advice that my DN had given. They both said that I was the only person they had seen in 2015 who had taken such a control of their condition. I was quite disappointed that they were not more interested in how I had achieved this but they at least said to carry on as whatever I was doing was obviously working.
I think that for a lot of people just taking the meds is an easy solution and so that's what they do. For me it was a challenge to understand what had caused my Type 2 and how I could avoid any medication (which is my default position for any illness).
A few weeks later I saw the doctor who oversees the Diabetes treatments in the surgery, he was very ill informed about LCHF and had never heard of Prof Roy Taylor or the Newcastle University Diet. I despair for any who has not found this forum and who simply follows what their doctor/nurse says without question. As one of the nurses said "Diabetes is a progressive illness and you will end up on insulin" I am afraid I got a bit ratty with her and added "only if I were to follow your advice". She went a bit quiet after that..

 

[ally1]

I,m on metformin and victoza and my gp never advised me what to or not to eat nor my diabetic nurse. The good members helped me

 

[Prem51]

I don't know what sort of medication other patients at my GP surgery might be on. I think I wasn't put on meds because I was at the lower end of the diabetic range, and I wasn't too overweight. I suspect most diabetic patients do get put on medication.
I think my GP expected my BG and weight to increase by my 3 month retest and I would probably have been put on Metaformin then. Luckily I found this forum, and following the good advice on here I reduced my HbA1c and weight by my 3 month retest.

 

[13lizanne]

I was diagnosed type 2 in 2006 and put straight onto Metformin, Ramipril and Simvastin. In August of last year I found this website and changed to lchf diet and upped my exercise massively. I was declared "diabetes reversed" by my GP in November 3 months later and am now completely meds free. However, I am well aware that I have to be vigilant with my low carbing and daily exercise for the rest of my life if I want to remain meds free, I believe a have a "tipping point" weight which I also have to keep below. My GP said that I was his only diabetic patient who controlled their type 2 this way and the only one in the entire practice (6 GPs) who has, so far, come off of meds after a number of years as a medicated type 2 So- to answer the original question the only type 2s I know of who are meds free I,'ve read about on this forum.

 

[Lamont D]

I have posted this before.
During my misdiagnosis of being T2, all my doctors towed the NHS guidelines.
Since being properly diagnosed and the information that I and my specialist endocrinologist have given them about low carb lifestyle, the penny has dropped and I have witnessed the change with my wife (who is type 2) and the daughter (thyroid).
They give information that has helped quite a few now.
The tide is turning.

 

[13lizanne]

@nosher8355 forgive my not understanding, did you mean that your GPs give good advice regarding diet etc for diabetes now? or do your wife and daughter help others with their conditions? Thanks

 

[Lamont D]

@nosher8355 forgive my not understanding, did you mean that your GPs give good advice regarding diet etc for diabetes now? or do your wife and daughter help others with their conditions? Thanks

My GP and dsn now give really good advice on diet and try to refrain from using meds as much as possible, sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[AnnInDenmark]

I feel for my fellow diabetic patients at my surgery.
In Denmark the Slow Release Metformin is not approved, and some of them are likely suffering from the side effects, as I did.
I am so happy that I found this site, so I was able to get off the meds and still be in control.

At the meeting with the nurse, when I was told I was "the one", she actually said: "Are you sure, you are diabetic?"
My eyebrows hit the ceiling, and she turned to check my diagnosis on the computer.
Yes, I am, but it should not be such a surprise to her. That's what makes me sad.

Ann

 

[Heathfield47]

I've just returned from my annual diabetic review. The nurse was very pleased to see that my HbA1c had dropped from 70 to 44 and she asked what I had done to achieve this. I told her the first thing was to stop taking statins (40mg Atorvastatin daily) and this resulted in my losing 9kg of weight with no more muscle ache so I was feeling more energetic. I had also started testing by blood very regularly to see exactly what types of food caused the most spikes in my BG levels and at the same time I halved the dose of metformin (850mg twice daily).
I also made some changes to my diet, I did not cut out all carbs but continued to eat potatoes, pasta and rice (brown basmati) but half of my usual portion. Cooking for 2 I used to use 250g of rice & pasta now only 125g or less and supplement with extra veg. I never buy packaged meals and always cook from fresh. I also found that cooking pasta and potato then letting it go cold and reheating before eating also had a good effect of my BG levels.

 

[AnnInDenmark]

I,m on metformin and victoza and my gp never advised me what to or not to eat nor my diabetic nurse. The good members helped me

@ally1
I have followed your long journey, with all its ups and downs, and I am truly happy that you are doing so well now.
I don't know if it is possible to be proud of someone you don't know in person, but that is the closest I can describe my feelings for you.
And you are right. This is such a great community.

Ann

 

[13lizanne]

My GP and dsn now give really good advice on diet and try to refrain from using meds as much as possible, sorry for the misunderstanding.

Thanks @nosher and that's really great to hear re your GP and nurse. I'm still trying to convince my dsn despite the evidence

 

[carol43]

The DN at my surgery told me that LCHF was dangerous and I should be eating carbs, shows how much she knows. I just told her that it is very difficult to avoid all carbs and left it at that. No praise for going from 97 to 49 and losing 2 stone. Next appointment is end of July.

 

[Larissima]

My GP told me that she'd never seen what my latest blood test was showing - that after years of being pre-diabetic and then finally diagnosed with T2D, my HbA1C was back to non-diabetic levels without medication. She was impressed when I told her it was due to strict low-carbing.

 

[13lizanne]

@carol43 The thing is - the NHS party line is that type 2 is a progressive disease which should be treated with medication and a low GI diet. What we are doing goes against everything that they have been taught, especially if they qualified some years ago. Not everyone is willing to consider something new - especially if it's coming from a patient

 

[ally1]

@ally1
I have followed your long journey, with all its ups and downs, and I am truly happy that you are doing so well now.
I don't know if it is possible to be proud of someone you don't know in person, but that is the closest I can describe my feelings for you.
And you are right. This is such a great community.

Ann

thank you. I,ve had my struggles along the way. When I felt like giving up, I came here and always got excellent help.

 

[BooJewels]

It saddens me that so many practices are not giving advice that would really help their patients. I can remember the conversation I had with the GP that diagnosed me over 20 years ago about eating a Mediterranean diet and that a good rule of thumb to use was if the food I was considering was made from the part of the plant that went on to generate the next generation - i.e. its fruits, seeds and tubers - it probably wasn't suitable. He said those were the parts of a plant that stored the energy, therefore likely to increase blood sugar, so best avoided. He added that if I cut out anything made with sugar, flour, potatoes or rice, I'd make big inroads into control.

I managed med-free for 19 years, then after a medical emergency - ironically when I was fitter and in better control than ever - I totally lost control and have struggled with it ever since - what was successful in the past, just wasn't any more. So I doubt I was alone in the practice at being med-free long-term, as it was actively encouraged. But I can remember conversations with the DN when entering her room after another patient when she would be exasperated that all they wanted was a pill to fix it and just weren't prepared to make any effort.

So I suspect that diabetics probably fall into a lot of categories right across the spectrum, even within the same practice. But they're not even getting a fighting chance when the HCPs themselves don't seem overly interested in promoting the best possible outcome.

 

[Stallen]

I stopped all my diabetic meds in late Nov 2015 against my doctors wishes, I was on x4 Metformin 500mg, x2 lingliptin x2 glimepiride switched to LCHF and the results have been good. I'm due for a Hba1c in April that should be an improvement on my Dec15 Hba1c of 52. I saw my doctor around 3 or 4 weeks ago for a catchup, she could only say wow, when I told her and showed my meter readings and the vast improvements in both BG down from 22-35 to 5-7 and the amount of exercise averaging 2-4hrs walking of fair weather days, which works out around 80+miles a week despite arthritis in both hips and spine. BMI is down to 23.6 from 26.1.

I've been constantly told my carb intake should be +200g a day by various medical staff in the past decade, my GP won't change my prescription yet, she seems to want to wait and see if I relapse, but they're impressed with my results and my new diabetic nurse was supportive of LCHF when I went to see her in Dec about my Hba1c result of 52 I was told the target set for me as 50-60 so anything under 60 is OK bearing that in mind I'm looking forward to my April test.

 

[AnnInDenmark]

@carol43 The thing is - the NHS party line is that type 2 is a progressive disease which should be treated with medication and a low GI diet. What we are doing goes against everything that they have been taught, especially if they qualified some years ago. Not everyone is willing to consider something new - especially if it's coming from a patient

It may have something to do with the doctor's age. I haven't thought of that.
The three I have talked to are around 60. But a fourth one retired this year and was replaced with a mere boy, he is 40.
Maybe I should try him next time to see if he is more responsive. Just a "well done" would be nice to hear. None of the "old" ones ever said that. They just look baffled, and then try to get me back on statins, which I refuse.

Ann

 

[LittleGreyCat]

I am medication free from time to time, but am on 500mg Metformin morning and night at the moment.

I had (have) a theory that BG control is harder in the winter so I would use Metformin in the winter but come off in the summer.

However I have read recently that T2 diabetics on Metformin not only live as long as non-diabetics but are also estimated to live slightly longer. For more information see:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2015...-old-age---human-trials-planned-94343757.html
So for the moment I am staying on Metformin.

In fact, I am considering the moral position of asking the surgery to up my medication, then sharing it 50/50 with my wife. It would be ironic if I am extending my life by having T2. I know it may be quite a time before Metformin can be approved for prescription for general use and I would feel really bad if I was on a drug that could have prolonged my partner's active life and I lived longer but she didn't.

Isn't life strange?