(Yet) another new diagnosis

[Jo_the_boat]

Hello
HbA1c 51 a month ago. 50 ten days ago when I was called in to see the doc. Cholesterol 5.2.
The doc ASKED if I would like to start medication - Metformin and statin. Asked!?
I said I would wait to consult the specialist nurse.
As a result of that consultation - 4 days ago and which was in depth I have to say - I decided to wait till the next test in 2 months before I started taking Metformin. Am I right doing that? I started a (near) zero carb diet a few days ago. I've been losing weight steadily for 6 months (currently a pretty physical job) but that loss has increased with the diet. (I was perhaps about 2 stone over originally - now lost one)
Nurse said as a T2 cholesterol should be below 4 and I agreed at the consultation to start taking statins. I'm picking up the prescription on Friday but am having second thoughts about them too for the time being - am I being doubly dim not taking them too?
I don't like taking, and subsequently having to rely on, drugs. I realize T2 is chronic / progressive but would rather try and manage things with diet and activity for as long as possible.
I used to be a baker and enjoyed spuds, pasta and rice so the new diet is a bit a change (!) but really not a problem at all.
Welcome to the club eh?
Jo (male, 57 yrs)

 

[Art Of Flowers]

I avoid taking statins as they have some nasty side effects. 5.2 is quite low and statins raise blood sugar, so not great for diabetics. With a low carb diet you should be able to get down to non-diabetic HbA1C (below 42) in a few months without metformin.

Get yourself a blood glucose meter to check which foods spike your blood sugar.

 

[pavlosn]

Hi Jo
Welcome to the forum.

Your numbers on diagnosis are not very high and you have since drastically changed your diet, which should have a lowering effect on both your glucose and cholesterol levels.

In your shoes I would give myself a chance to manage both on diet and exercise alone before agreeing to any medication.

 

[bulkbiker]

Did your nurse tell you that Type 2 is

chronic / progressive

because she is completely wrong... Your dietary changes will have a huge impact on your HbA1c and probably your cholesterol so personally I would take nothing.

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome. First statins have nothing to do with diabetes and the NICE level of 4 is really just plucked from thin air. The important thing is what your cholesterol lipids levels are and the ratios; the total is not as useful as knowing the ratios. At your next blood test for HBa1C etc ask for lipids tests to be included and make the test a fasting one as that gives more usable results for lipids. The HBA1C is not a fasting test and your DN may tell you that but I do fasting anyway for the lipids. Your decision to take statins or to continue them should ideally follow a review of your lipids levels. I do take statins following a cardio issue but I know my ratios needed at least a low dose.

 

[Jo_the_boat]

Thank you all
I will hang fire with both medications and see what happens after a couple of months.
One thing I have gleaned by reading this site (partially) is that the condition, although under the umbrella name of diabetes, is a pretty personal thing. I have to say that my consultation was generic and standardized with few options outside the 'accepted' treatments.
I will get a meter, thanks again.
Jo

 

[Anthony1738]

Hi @Jo_the_boat,

Im just gonna take issue with your DN, not her fault shes wrong its the misguided training shes had, first of all Type 2 is not Chronic nor is it progressive and its quite reversible and as @bullbiker said your dietry changes will lower your levels dramatically, the statins are your choice, but for me personally i would take the intermittant fasting route, its safe and its free and the only side effects are of the beneficial type, you can google it, or look at fasting videos on Youtube, one guy who inspired me was Dr Jason Fung.

Good luck Jo

 

[Jo_the_boat]

Daibell, thanks I will take careful note of your comments on statins and cholesterol at the next test.
Anthony, that's a remarkable turn around - really well done.
The nurse was hot (at least to me who knew nothing) on spouting the technical side but cool on management of the condition and treatment, apart from drugs. Although she did concur that I try the dietary method till my next test. Having said that it was my suggestion in the first place.

 

[Jo_the_boat]

A couple of you here (and many others elsewhere) have suggested a blood glucose meter.
There is a blizzard of choice. Can anyone recommend one please?
Jo

 

[Resurgam]

There are meters available mail order, which seem to be far cheaper to use than many - I am sure that there will be someone able to give you the website to use, and there are even codes to use for discounts of bulk purchase of strips - the lancets are available cheaply from pharmacies so it is hardly worth paying postage on them once you have the basic kit.
If you can do without the tablets, I can only advise that you do so - I got all the side effects with Atorvastatin and Metformin and had the most miserable few weeks until I just gave up on them. Life was not worth living.
My memory has improved a bit recently, but I am sure that any test done a few months ago would have put me in danger of a diagnosis of dementia. As a singer and musician that has been a bit of a disaster for me, but thanks to the internet I have been able to look for the words and listen to the tunes, and as a bonus I have been able to read some really good books.
Although I have been encouraged to take statins now that they have been removed from the repeat prescriptions (I need Thyroxine for life) my getting normal readings when tested for Hba1c and blood glucose seems to have made me very uninteresting to my doctors.

 

[Jo_the_boat]

Thanks resurgam and well done to you. I am going to avoid any medication for now. If I can do half as well as you on suggested diet I'll be chuffed.
Sounds like you are an accomplished musician. Here's my take on my abilities:
http://abargeatlarge.co.uk/articles/if music be the food of love.......html