Are you Type II and controlling BG with Metformin and diet?

[DavidGrahamJones]

I've recently seen a diabetic specialist, first time in 20 years. Although more than happy that I follow a low carb diet, the fact that my BG is not what it should be now after 3 to 4 years successfully having good HbA1c at annual review, it's now not enough.

It was her comment that diabetes is a progressive disease that troubled me slightly and I was wondering how successful other type IIs have been with Metformin and low carb. I'm not so worried about low or high fat although this could become relevant as the only dietary change made in the last years was increasing fat. My GP just said my insulin resistance has got worse but she doesn't actually have any data to prove that, she could be right but who knows. My BG has stablised since I started taking several different supplements, but it's still too high.

So, I'm just curious as to how long type IIs on Metformin have been preventing their diabetes from being progressive?

 

[AM1874]

Not long enough for me to be relevant, I guess .. just since Feb

 

[douglas99]

Well, I can't say I've done it with low carb, but it's six years this year since diagnosis, and no complications, and BG in the normal range still, and I don't low carb now either.
(Maybe if you only want low carbers to answer, tag admin to transfer the post to the low carb section?)

 

[Freema]

well I think that exercise is the best way to lower insuline resistance.. I know many are not in shape to do that really and sadly.. but anything would be better than no exercise.. up till 30% bettering is seen if one get really in shape

another issue is the chemicals in food... like PCB in salmons seems to create more insuline resistance (farmed salmons) it is said to make diabetes 14 times more likely if eaten regularly, just found out today , and the Scotish farmed salmon was among the worst polluted in the world according to Walter Crinnion :

If I had problems with balance for instance I think I would buy a sitting condi-bike and place it right in front of the telly... and then bike ahead no matter what the rest of the familly would think
https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-fit-G-RC...1_16?s=fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1489606427&sr=1-16

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

and I don't low carb now either.

Does that mean you did low carb? If so for how long? What has changed since diagnosis? Weight? Regular exercise? Combination of exercise and weight?

I know for a fact that my problem is insulin resistance, will this change if I was to lose weight. Can I blame recent change in HbA1c on GP's advice to eat more and me gaining 11 kgs? I think your input is useful and you might not have seen it in the low carb section.

 

[JimH]

I was diagnosed T2 mid Apr '15 (HbA1c 60). I started changing diet immediately and within a couple of weeks fully adopted a LCHF diet (thanks to all the contributors providing excellent information on this site). I was put on Metformin in May '15 and at next review in Aug '15, HbA1c was in normal range. I requested to stop the Metformin in May 16 and have continued just diet controlled since then. Stopping Metformin made no difference to my HbA1c (39).
I haven't voted in your survey, however, as I'm no longer controlling BG with both Metformin and diet.

 

[Mbaker]

well I think that exercise is the best way to lower insuline resistance.. I know many are not in shape to do that really and sadly.. but anything would be better than no exercise.. up till 30% bettering is seen if one get really in shape

another issue is the chemicals in food... like PCB in salmons seems to create more insuline resistance (farmed salmons) it is said to make diabetes 14 times more likely if eaten regularly, just found out today , and the Scotish farmed salmon was among the worst polluted in the world according to Walter Crinnion :

If I had problems with balance for instance I think I would buy a sitting condi-bike and place it right in front of the telly... and then bike ahead no matter what the rest of the familly would think
https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-fit-G-RC...1_16?s=fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1489606427&sr=1-16

I agree with @Freema that if you can train with weights, bands, body weight or machines, improvements can be significant for insulin resistance; the end results are that GLUT4 receptors in muscles take up more glucose. The link explains some test results http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/29/8/1933.

 

[Brunneria]

Since i am not on metformin, i can't contribute to your poll.

But i have had improving blood glucose control (a1cs and prick tests) without diabetes medication, for the last 4 years - since i went very low carb. And i have been controlling my insulin resistance by diet alone (with a bit of exercise too) for about 15 years now. That is how long i have been losing, or not gaining.

Prior to that, my weight was slowly and steadily increasing, which i consider to be a clear indication that insulin resistance was far less 'controlled' than it is now.

During that time, my tolerance for carbs has decreased (sign of progression?)
Yet my blood glucose, weight and general health have improved (signs of non-progression?)

 

[daisyduck]

Just over 3 years on diet alone now.
Did try Metformin for 11 weeks of hell and gave it up !

 

[britishpub]

For me my Insulin resistance seemed to improve when my weight dropped to what I would think was healthy for a 56 year old of my height. My BMI was slightly over what the NHS might consider healthy, but they don't appear to take into account the age of the subject. In my personal experience stopping Metformin did not appear to make any difference to my symptoms, but I may be unusual as I had no side effects from the drug and took it at random intervals usually long before or after meals, so my Metformin experience may not be relevant to normal people.

To sum up, weight loss and maintenance are the keys that seem to have the biggest influence on my BG levels.

 

[walnut_face]

Been going 15 months now, dropped the dose of metformin from 1g to ½g, and thinking of axing that.It just doesn't seem to make much difference. Weight and diet seem to be the biggest changers

 

[douglas99]

Does that mean you did low carb? If so for how long? What has changed since diagnosis? Weight? Regular exercise? Combination of exercise and weight?

I know for a fact that my problem is insulin resistance, will this change if I was to lose weight. Can I blame recent change in HbA1c on GP's advice to eat more and me gaining 11 kgs? I think your input is useful and you might not have seen it in the low carb section.

I was morbidly obese, which I believe, along with my poor eating, (junk, too much, and later in the day) triggered me being diabetic.
I worked with my doctor, and dietician to lose weight, on a classic low fat diet, and was referred to an NHS gym, to exercise. (Mainly a cardiac rehab and physio clinic, but perfect for someone who had been out of exercise for years).
After I lost a substantial amount of weight, and built up exercise enough to actually join a gym, (which I still work out at), I eventually polished off the last bits of fat on the Newcastle diet.
I am still on 500mg of Metformin, out of choice, my DN has tried to wean me off it, but I prefer to stay on it for the other benefits it's supposed to have. I doubt it actually makes a lot of difference to BG.
I would also resist being taken off the diabetic register.
Although they have just stopped the prescription for test strips.

I would say the biggest thing that reduced my insulin resistance was losing fat.
Exercise comes a close second, especially if you can build muscle doing it.
That shows a good effect for a day or two, the muscles seem a bit more receptive after a workout.

I never particularly ate low carb, I did try it for a short while, but found my choices eating out, and grabbing quick snacks were nearly impossible, and noticed physiological insulin resistance occurring.
A bit like swapping one problem for another.

I've also found I seem to be fairly simple, for me calories in do seem to equal calories out, if I overeat I put on weight, if I under eat I lose.
I'm not overly fussy what I eat, I seem to be able to live on anything for a while, or nothing, I don't panic if I feel hungry, I don't eat until I'm full, I don't go into starvation mode if I aggressively diet, I just eat the right number of calories, for what I want to achieve, and then I do that by eye. That means I don't high fat, as that's twice the calorie density of other foods, and I do prefer a fuller plate by choice.
That's me though.

 

[Indy51]

Five years for me - low carb, no grains and no medication. Apart from my initial A1c all have been in the normal range.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I have been diagnosed over 3 years and never had any meds.

I don't exercise other than dog walks and housework.

I lost all my excess weight (33% of my body weight) in the first 9 months or so and have been stable since then. I don't think I have any insulin resistance now, or if I have it isn't a lot. My waist is quite tiny. (It wasn't!!!)

My levels are continuing to improve, both HbA1cs and finger pricks.. Apart from one, my HbA1cs have all been drops. The one that wasn't went up by 2 points.

My post meal levels are vastly improved, even when I try out extra carbs. I had fish, chips and mushy peas last night (scraped most of the batter off the fish) and didn't go higher than 6.9, with a 6.2 at 2 hours. Most of my pre-meals are now in the 4s. Fastings are in the low 5s.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

Thanks for input, it all helps.

 

[Conor987]

Hi Douglas99.

What did you use instead of optifast on Newcastle diet?

Kind regards

Conor

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

That's me though.

Thanks for the reply, it's good to hear.

I have been of reduced calories for longer than I can remember and I'm no stranger to my local gym/pool, although even at my most intense exercise regime (5 X 1km swim, 3 X 1hr gym, 1 hour personal trainer, ! hour swimming lesson and a round of golf every week), it made absolutely no difference at all except for my whole body just aching continuously).

Your last sentence sums it up, we're all so very different. I will find the answer to my particular conundrum . . . . . eventually.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

I am just over 3 years with T2 on 1g of met a day.

For the first 2 years my hba1c was 38-40. Went vegan last year and my hba1c dropped to 35. Eating more carbs these days than at the start, but still avoiding the major carbs as much as possible.

 

[Conor987]

I was morbidly obese, which I believe, along with my poor eating, (junk, too much, and later in the day) triggered me being diabetic.
I worked with my doctor, and dietician to lose weight, on a classic low fat diet, and was referred to an NHS gym, to exercise. (Mainly a cardiac rehab and physio clinic, but perfect for someone who had been out of exercise for years).
After I lost a substantial amount of weight, and built up exercise enough to actually join a gym, (which I still work out at), I eventually polished off the last bits of fat on the Newcastle diet.
I am still on 500mg of Metformin, out of choice, my DN has tried to wean me off it, but I prefer to stay on it for the other benefits it's supposed to have. I doubt it actually makes a lot of difference to BG.
I would also resist being taken off the diabetic register.
Although they have just stopped the prescription for test strips.

I would say the biggest thing that reduced my insulin resistance was losing fat.
Exercise comes a close second, especially if you can build muscle doing it.
That shows a good effect for a day or two, the muscles seem a bit more receptive after a workout.

I never particularly ate low carb, I did try it for a short while, but found my choices eating out, and grabbing quick snacks were nearly impossible, and noticed physiological insulin resistance occurring.
A bit like swapping one problem for another.

I've also found I seem to be fairly simple, for me calories in do seem to equal calories out, if I overeat I put on weight, if I under eat I lose.
I'm not overly fussy what I eat, I seem to be able to live on anything for a while, or nothing, I don't panic if I feel hungry, I don't eat until I'm full, I don't go into starvation mode if I aggressively diet, I just eat the right number of calories, for what I want to achieve, and then I do that by eye. That means I don't high fat, as that's twice the calorie density of other foods, and I do prefer a fuller plate by choice.
That's me though.

Hi Douglas99.

What did you use instead of optifast on Newcastle diet?

Kind regards

Conor

 

[JohnEGreen]

I low carb and count calories when fter losing weight I reduced HbA1c to 38 doctor took me off metformin when after not taking metformin for a while I suggested that it may help control my weight he put me back on it at the lowest dose.

So though I am taking metformin it is no longer for directly controlling diabetes.