AloeSvea
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,051
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Other
After 17 years I have a good idea of how foods affect me. I have oats often and my HbA1c is always below 6 and, more often, around 5. I also have no complications. That, however, is just me and I appreciate how we are all different. I appreciate that my pancreas releases insulin in response to the gradual conversion of the oats (proper oats and not "instant porridge"). My HbA1c readings along with my lack of complications after 17 years indicate that what I do works for me.
By the way, @4ratbags I have always had access to testing strips at all the surgeries I have been registered with. I am also sold on the fact that we are all different.
Regards
Doug
Hi Doug. We are all different indeed. And, I'm not sure about this - as this out of my realm of experience - but one thing I have noticed in the forum is that folks who are treating with food and activity alone are much more strident about the spiking affect of carbs and more intense about food generally than those on medication, me included. But indeed - this thread is about medication. And about whether or not to take medication considering the side effects, is my understanding. So maybe one of the reasons you can eat a carby food, albeit low GI, is because of the metformin? Higher in carbs than those on diet alone could safely eat? As I say, I am newly taking note of medication and levels in here in relation to what folks eat, so I really have no idea - but am wondering.
I for one was quite shocked at the level of medication being offered for someone who presented with, what to me is 'only' - an HBA1c of 54! In my own eyes that is an even 'gorgeously' low HBA1c level for which to apply tighter dietary control from, to get it lower. (Of course I think this, as I had to come down from 93.) (And I didn't really get the 'low' in low-carbing till relatively recently. Maths and counting has never been my thing, but I count the blooming things now.) Considering how many side effects @Robo42 is having - especially. You can say a lot of things about using food as your pharmacy - it doesn't give you side effects like muscle problems (which would really worry me - muscles are my friends!) And the stomach problems sound ghastly, to be honest.
But saying that I do realise medications have their place, and metformin can be wonderful - but at an HBA1c of 54? Really?
One way of looking at T2D is as an expression of carbohydrate intolerance - and Robo - you may just not have found your level of tolerance/intolerance yet (so yes, as you said in a post above - your low carbing was probably not low enough, for sure). Which brings us back to Doug's point about individual differences, with or without medication - and Robo's asking of himself - with or without medication? Hmmm.