Told NOT to test BG and I must eat carbs.

[NoCrbs4Me]

EveryCloud, you are a wise person in choosing to follow this strategy

I have the same strategy - I have made a pact with my doctor (one-sided though, as he doesn't know about this pact - nor need to be told ...).

It is that "I will myself take full responsibility for my diet and control of my diabetes - he on the other hand will take care of the occasional blood tests and give his suggestions about how to interpret the results".

And even sometimes when I get a bit in doubt about his interpretations or conclusions, there may be old-time and very knowledgeable posters on forums such as this, who will give me some pointers.

annelise

I'm trying to do that as well. However, what do you do when your doctor prescribes meds that you don't want to take? My doctor prescribed to me an ace inhibitor and a cholesterol lowering drug and I am not going to take them. I'm dreading my next appointment.

 

[CollieBoy]

I'm trying to do that as well. However, what do you do when your doctor prescribes meds that you don't want to take? My doctor prescribed to me an ace inhibitor and a cholesterol lowering drug and I am not going to take them. I'm dreading my next appointment.

@NoCrbs4Me
I usually explain my reason for not taking the drug and allow him to try to persuade me to take them, then make up my own mind!
What were your cholesterol/ BP figures at for him to prescribe the drugs?
What are your specific dislikes on the drugs?

 

[Brunneria]

I'm trying to do that as well. However, what do you do when your doctor prescribes meds that you don't want to take? My doctor prescribed to me an ace inhibitor and a cholesterol lowering drug and I am not going to take them. I'm dreading my next appointment.

My mother (who has been manipulating every doctor, all her life, in order to get treatment for hypothyroidism, that doctors claim doesnt exist, because she is right on the edge of the test margin) when offered any treatment that she does not want, smiles sweetly, takes the prescription, never fills it in. Reads up on the contraindications, and next time she is in the surgery, politely explains that she had to stop taking it, because it gave her (insert side effect of choice).

I can't say that I approve... but it sure works.

 

[annelise]

I'm trying to do that as well. However, what do you do when your doctor prescribes meds that you don't want to take? My doctor prescribed to me an ace inhibitor and a cholesterol lowering drug and I am not going to take them. I'm dreading my next appointment.

I am with Brunneria and several of the above posters. - I.would say: smile, be frriendly and kid of gloss it over (which I have done wih statins over the years - they still wish to push them). I do not know about an ace inhitor though - for the heartt?

annelise

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

I am with Brunneria and several of the above posters. - I.would say: smile, be frriendly and kid of gloss it over (which I have done wih statins over the years - they still wish to push them). I do not know about an ace inhitor though - for the heartt?

annelise

An ace inhibitor is to lower blood pressure. For type 2s its supposed to also protect the kidneys. My blood pressure is fine and my blood glucose is under control (almost at nondiabetic levels). Apparently the ace inhibitor can cause a chronic cough that may not go away when you stop taking the drug. My doctor also said she'd give me a referral to an endocrinologist, which hasn't happened yet. My plan is that at my next appointment I'll tell her I want to wait until I consult with the endocrinologist before I start taking any more drugs.

 

[Brunneria]

One thing I would say, is that if you decide not to take a medication, then don't pretend to take it.
Always tell the doc that you have stopped taking it.

Otherwise, your medical record will be inaccurate.

It may also limit future treatment, if the doc thinks you are taking a drug that interacts with the one he wants to prescribe.

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

One thing I would say, is that if you decide not to take a medication, then don't pretend to take it.
Always tell the doc that you have stopped taking it.

Otherwise, your medical record will be inaccurate.

It may also limit future treatment, if the doc thinks you are taking a drug that interacts with the one he wants to prescribe.

That's a good point.

 

[sanguine]

One thing I would say, is that if you decide not to take a medication, then don't pretend to take it.
Always tell the doc that you have stopped taking it.

Yes, I was prescribed statins but refused to take them. I told my DN exactly why.

 

[Daphne917]

An ace inhibitor is to lower blood pressure. For type 2s its supposed to also protect the kidneys. My blood pressure is fine and my blood glucose is under control (almost at nondiabetic levels). Apparently the ace inhibitor can cause a chronic cough that may not go away when you stop taking the drug. My doctor also said she'd give me a referral to an endocrinologist, which hasn't happened yet. My plan is that at my next appointment I'll tell her I want to wait until I consult with the endocrinologist before I start taking any more drugs.

An ace inhibitor is to lower blood pressure. For type 2s its supposed to also protect the kidneys. My blood pressure is fine and my blood glucose is under control (almost at nondiabetic levels). Apparently the ace inhibitor can cause a chronic cough that may not go away when you stop taking the drug. My doctor also said she'd give me a referral to an endocrinologist, which hasn't happened yet. My plan is that at my next appointment I'll tell her I want to wait until I consult with the endocrinologist before I start taking any more drugs.

I was put onto an Ace Inhibitor (Rampril) which gave me a cough after 6 months - when I went back to my GP he said it does happen and prescribed a different one which I've had no issues with!

 

[Robbity]

My GP prescribed Simvastatin a few years back, and when my cholesterol level came right down this year I wanted to stop but he said no as it had other advantages; however when i saw the diabetes doctor I asked could the dose be reduced and he halved it for me which i think was a small victory since my level had gone up again. I'll see what my next results are before I have another go, but I'm wondering now if I'm having side effects in the form of hot flushes ( and I'm way beyond the point where this could be female hormone related!) - in which case I'll argue to stop them altogether.

Robbity

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

I was put onto an Ace Inhibitor (Rampril) which gave me a cough after 6 months - when I went back to my GP he said it does happen and prescribed a different one which I've had no issues with!

Yes, I've heard that switching to a different one can get rid of the cough, but I've also read it can be a permanent side effect. Since my BP is normal and my blood glucose is virtually normal, I don't think I need to take any, but I'll see what the endocrinologist says, if I ever get an appointment.

 

[pavlovsdog]

Dear Everycloud, I don't know if this is any help, but I'd like to share my story:

I was diagnosed with T2 5 years ago, and over the last two years it has become very unstable. I have seen dieticians, specialist weight loss teams, and am now with the diabetes specialist team. My medication has been increased and added to year upon year and I am now on insulin. At my last out patients appointment I asked about low carb diet and my consultant said he would not recommend it; a few years ago I was also told off by the dietician for cutting out carbs. My consultant recently took me off Metformin as I do not tolerate it very well, and I was taken off Gliclizide when I started insulin. Consequently my bm has shot up, being between 14 - 20. The recommendations by the professionals have so far not worked for me, so I'm trying low carb and have already seen a significant reduction in my bm.

In addition my GP refused to prescribe a bm monitor but I got one free, however, when I ran out of test strips and lancets they refused to reorder them for me. The practice nurse said they don't give them as people 'become obsessed with them'! I was annoyed as I found checking my bm regularly helped me monitor what I ate more closely. I feel I have followed the recommended guidelines enough now without much success and started low carbing as it seems to work for a lot of people, and I noted that my bm is affected dramatically by carbs.
So, I have decided to go with results rather than research, but I'm not sharing this with the diabetes team! They are following current research which is fine, but as we know, new info comes along all the time and opinions change. I know what you mean about feeling deflated and not being able to do right from wrong, but Ive come to the conclusion that the most experienced people are on this website so I'm listening to them instead.

 

[Ruth B]

I am starting to get a feeling that in a few years there are going to be a number of 'miracle' patients. All of us agreeing with the HCP that we eat carbs, don't monitor and take the meds prescribed, then we all go home do our own thing and keep our blood sugar under control by doing so. I can just see the headlines 'Doctors Baffled by Rise in Non Progressive Diabetes. Unfortunately it will also back up the advise that they are giving people if they don't know that we aren't following it.

Having said that I am not going to be shouting out to my nurse that I am reduced carbing and self testing, not after the disapproval last time.

 

[secundaw]

I just find it all very confusing especially when 2 doctors give you completely different advise which one do you take notice off.

 

[Bluetit1802]

There is an article in the paper today about the rising unacceptable cost to the NHS of uncontrolled diabetes, with some areas a lot worse than others for the numbers of uncontrolled diabetics. They are wringing their hands in anguish on how to put this right. Maybe if the powers that be read this forum, the answer would be simple - give newly diagnosed meters and tell them how to use them to check out what different foods do to their levels then learn from it, and give better advice on what all carbs do to levels.

GPs accused of failing to monitor patients or give them vital advice

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2813452/Poor-care-diabetic-leads-120-amputations-325-strokes-268-heart-attacks-week-GPs-accused-failing-monitor-patients-vital-advice.html#ixzz3Hd6Tb8mR

 

[alliebee]

Dear Everycloud, I don't know if this is any help, but I'd like to share my story:

I was diagnosed with T2 5 years ago, and over the last two years it has become very unstable. I have seen dieticians, specialist weight loss teams, and am now with the diabetes specialist team. My medication has been increased and added to year upon year and I am now on insulin. At my last out patients appointment I asked about low carb diet and my consultant said he would not recommend it; a few years ago I was also told off by the dietician for cutting out carbs. My consultant recently took me off Metformin as I do not tolerate it very well, and I was taken off Gliclizide when I started insulin. Consequently my bm has shot up, being between 14 - 20. The recommendations by the professionals have so far not worked for me, so I'm trying low carb and have already seen a significant reduction in my bm.

In addition my GP refused to prescribe a bm monitor but I got one free, however, when I ran out of test strips and lancets they refused to reorder them for me. The practice nurse said they don't give them as people 'become obsessed with them'! I was annoyed as I found checking my bm regularly helped me monitor what I ate more closely. I feel I have followed the recommended guidelines enough now without much success and started low carbing as it seems to work for a lot of people, and I noted that my bm is affected dramatically by carbs.
So, I have decided to go with results rather than research, but I'm not sharing this with the diabetes team! They are following current research which is fine, but as we know, new info comes along all the time and opinions change. I know what you mean about feeling deflated and not being able to do right from wrong, but Ive come to the conclusion that the most experienced people are on this website so I'm listening to them instead.

I'm so lucky. My gp is type 2 but told me he is lchf and doing well. I get 75 strips a month on script. He said however can type 2 people monitor what food spikes them and take control without?? He has got the whole practice on side too. With amazing results to his patients who want to be involved in their own management. Sadly he says many patients will always go on blindly and he has to check who would benefit by meters and testing and those who would not.

 

[Enclave]

I'm so lucky. My gp is type 2 but told me he is lchf and doing well. I get 75 strips a month on script. He said however can type 2 people monitor what food spikes them and take control without?? He has got the whole practice on side too. With amazing results to his patients who want to be involved in their own management. Sadly he says many patients will always go on blindly and he has to check who would benefit by meters and testing and those who would not.

Gosh ...gosh.....GOSH .... I am so pleased that somewhere in this world there is a Dr that understands ! Congratulations on finding one wish my medics were more understanding like yours.

 

[alliebee]

Maybe the tide is turning. If enough of us tell our docs why it is working ( lchf) then the message will get through.

 

[Enclave]

Maybe the tide is turning. If enough of us tell our docs why it is working ( lchf) then the message will get through.

When I did that I just got a black mark against me from the dr, for noncompliance of his orders to eat lots of carbs and not to test... Remember the Dr has his orders to follow

 

[alliebee]

I'm aware very aware that because I'm a nursing sister and was in charge of a big suite of theatre I'm listened to more than usual at my gp surgery. It should not be like this and I'm constantly trying to change attitudes. The main point is tell your gp what you are finding. Take notes notebooks of diarys and spreadsheets if you can. Then you become one of the patients listened to. And in your turn will change things for others