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New type 2 diagnosed - Straight on drugs?

Robo42

Robo42

Well-Known Member
Messages
67
Location
Surrey
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
When first diagnosed over 10 years ago, I said I would work on controlling with diet before being given drugs, I managed this till recently. I could not have done this without carefully checking my blood sugar pre meals and 2 hours after meals so I could get a good idea of what my body could handle & what not. For many weeks this would mean testing 6-8 times a day. This was possible or should I say practical(cost wise) as the test strips were on prescription it seems now the NHS only prescribe test strips if on insulin. Are people now just being given metformin straight away, told not to test with no easy way to try and control with diet?
 
I was given a meter and prescribed test strips 3 weeks ago shortly after diagnosis with T2 because my levels were so high and I said I wanted to learn to control them and understand what my symptoms were (high or low). I was put on Gliclazide first then Metformin and I believe my DN is going to slowly increase my dosage of Metformin. Could it maybe be something to do with the areas we live in, like a postcode lottery as to whether you get them prescribed or not?
 
Robo42 said:
When first diagnosed over 10 years ago, I said I would work on controlling with diet before being given drugs, I managed this till recently. I could not have done this without carefully checking my blood sugar pre meals and 2 hours after meals so I could get a good idea of what my body could handle & what not. For many weeks this would mean testing 6-8 times a day. This was possible or should I say practical(cost wise) as the test strips were on prescription it seems now the NHS only prescribe test strips if on insulin. Are people now just being given metformin straight away, told not to test with no easy way to try and control with diet?
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It's not necessarily a bad thing to start metformin straight away, particularly if your HbA1c is above, say, 58. If you get your levels down you can always discuss going off it later. As far as I know, the guidelines allow for people to hold off for 3 months if they want to, and I've read many stories on here from people whose doctor went for this approach without being asked. Metformin is a very useful drug, especially for overweight people.
 
Hi. Metformin is a good starter for those withe excess weight at diagnosis as long as it's the SR version if you have bowel issues with it. Yes, diet is the key and a meter as we all know is essential but the NHS is strapped for money so tries to avoid meters for T2s. I bought my own many years ago.
 
I was put on metfomin when first diagnosed..but my pharmacist was worried about this due to my heart problems.(after my angina had returned) I asked the dsn about this and her reply was ... She did not know anything about my heart failure..but I must take the metfomin... I was on them for a few months and felt horrid .. Angina was playing up and as soon as I stopped them I was back to normal ... So in short ..I don't think metfomin should be rolled out to every one who's over weight and T2 .. The correct diet advice would work far better .. I gained 2st when ordered by my dsn to eat more carbs by my diet .. And lost 5st cutting out the carbs ... All I needed was the right advice ..not medication that made me unwell !
 
I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago and have been given a meter and strips and lances on repeat x
 
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