@JenniferW - There has been some robust arguments going on here, which can be either a distraction or thought provoking. I hope they are the latter for you.
I thought I would just relate my own story, around my diagnosis, and the approach I encountered and adopted, which worked well for me.
I was diagnosed in October 2013 with an HbA1c of 73, and an unacceptable fasting score (I forget for now) so there was no question from anyone that I had crossed the diabetic starting line. I was totally asymptomatic, so I was flabbergasted, but I immediately adopted a programmes of self testing, which confirmed the diagnosis even to me. My numbers were plain old too high. My lipids and blood pressure were also elevated, as is often the situation for newly diagnose diabetics.
Oooops. Oh dear. Where things got a bit more complex was that this was just 3 weeks before I was leaving for a 9-12 month trip overseas to a third world country. I had never, ever in my life taken medication for any longer than a few weeks at a time. I qualified, and still do, for the title of a rabidly anti-meds old girl. Just to counter that, I am a former clinician, so I do understand some medications are unavoidable, and are acceptable where the balance of benefits outweighs the risks or side-effects. But, from that stance, you will appreciate I felt myself staring down the barrel at a diabetes drug, statins and a drug to moderate my BP. The practise nurse, in particular, was keen to moderate my lipids.
I negotiated a period of time to attempt to moderate my readings, by my own efforts, and set to it. Aside from the convenience of starting my trip without the concern of new meds, it also meant I could see exactly what my body could achieve on it’s own. I would have a better understanding of whether whatever improvements I managed were by me, and my body’s own resources, or whether the chemical intervention made the difference. Do you understand what I mean?
So, I began my journey modifying my diet and testing my bloods. I broke my big trip to come back to UK mid-way for a touch base with the medics. I appreciated at this point, I could be faced again with some decisions on medication.
By the time I came back, I was seeing significantly improved finger prick tests, giving me hope I had effected some improvements. My clothes were also hanging on me, although I had not weighed myself for the first three months, so I had no idea how much I might have lost. My sole, initial goal was to moderate my blood scores. By this time, I also noticed my BP had moderated too, back to “normal” range.
Cutting to the chase, my first HbA1c, post diagnosis had reduced from 73 to 37. My BP became non-problematic. My BMI was well into the healthy range. My lipids were still raising eyebrows, but the components had improved enough for no action to be taken. I resumed my trip.
I have never taken any diabetes, BP or lipids drugs, and I hope to remain that way. I also appreciate that not everyone is fortunate enough to have the lucky breaks I clearly have, in terms of retained pancreatic functionality, but I might never have known that, had I just gone straight to pharmaceutical support.
It’s clearly your choice to see where you go, but at a borderline, for me, I would definitely want to know if I could drive my scores back down into the non-diabetic ranges before considering drugs.
To repeat; my default position is I would absolutely rather not take drugs where possible and credible. It is my belief our bodies are a wonderful thing that will do it’s best to look after us, and keep us in good shape, when we help it out from time to time. I have taken medications in the past, and it’s probably I will have to in the future, should I be fortunate enough to reach a ripe old age, but for now, I prefer not to be tethered to my pharmacy.
Good luck with it all. You certainly have a load of reading and thinking ahead of you!
If I can help further, feel free to ask.
