Hello all,
I was diagnosed with type 2 in May this year with an HBA1c of 118. Bit of a shock because I went to doctors to discuss what I thought were menopause symptoms (I am 54). I was immediately put on 500mg slow release metformin, upped to 1000mg after a week, ending up at 2000mg after about four weeks. Stomach upsets for a few days each time my dose increased and interestingly every time thereafter that I was issued a different brand of metformin. I am tolerating the drug but still have occasional days with a bad stomach, unpleasant taste in mouth, indigestion etc.
When I was first diagnosed, I asked the doctor about remission and was told that I was not really a candidate. I explained that I would be willing to lose weight and try diet and exercise but was told that I didn’t have enough excess weight to lose and with levels that high I should expect to be on medication for life.
However, I read loads and found this website and decided to attempt it anyway. I have drastically cut back on my carb and sugar intake; no fruit juice, no breakfast cereals, no rice, potatoes, pasta, cakes etc etc. As a general rule my breakfast is a small about of berries with milled flax and 5% Greek yoghurt, lunch maybe a low carb soup or sandwich made with low carb bread and dinner; salads, stir fries, eggs, meat and veg trying to have what the rest of the family are having but without as much carbohydrate. Since May, I have lost 2 stone 5lbs and just had my first full blood test ready for my diabetic review; my new HBA1c is 47.
I was elated. My review is November 1st but coincidentally l had a doctors appointment to review my repeat prescription. A different doctor but much the same advice...she said I could drop 1 x 500mg metformin but only because I am sometimes having stomach issues. She wasn’t interested in my weight loss or my dietary changes. My cholesterol level showed as slightly high (although the ratio was fine) but because of this she wanted to put me on statins and pushed the standard low fat, healthy eating message.
Now I’m just confused. The “rewards” making low carb tolerable for me were cheese, butter, cream, peanuts etc and it seems obvious to me that it’s working in that my blood sugar is that much better and I’ve lost all that weight. I’ve resisted the statins and asked to be retested again in another three months because then if my blood sugar stays low, I feel I can make a case to reduce the metformin again. I know I might not get into remission, but I feel it’s worth pushing to try getting off metformin altogether - what have I got to lose?
I actually feel better for just writing this down! Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated, thanks.
I was diagnosed with type 2 in May this year with an HBA1c of 118. Bit of a shock because I went to doctors to discuss what I thought were menopause symptoms (I am 54). I was immediately put on 500mg slow release metformin, upped to 1000mg after a week, ending up at 2000mg after about four weeks. Stomach upsets for a few days each time my dose increased and interestingly every time thereafter that I was issued a different brand of metformin. I am tolerating the drug but still have occasional days with a bad stomach, unpleasant taste in mouth, indigestion etc.
When I was first diagnosed, I asked the doctor about remission and was told that I was not really a candidate. I explained that I would be willing to lose weight and try diet and exercise but was told that I didn’t have enough excess weight to lose and with levels that high I should expect to be on medication for life.
However, I read loads and found this website and decided to attempt it anyway. I have drastically cut back on my carb and sugar intake; no fruit juice, no breakfast cereals, no rice, potatoes, pasta, cakes etc etc. As a general rule my breakfast is a small about of berries with milled flax and 5% Greek yoghurt, lunch maybe a low carb soup or sandwich made with low carb bread and dinner; salads, stir fries, eggs, meat and veg trying to have what the rest of the family are having but without as much carbohydrate. Since May, I have lost 2 stone 5lbs and just had my first full blood test ready for my diabetic review; my new HBA1c is 47.
I was elated. My review is November 1st but coincidentally l had a doctors appointment to review my repeat prescription. A different doctor but much the same advice...she said I could drop 1 x 500mg metformin but only because I am sometimes having stomach issues. She wasn’t interested in my weight loss or my dietary changes. My cholesterol level showed as slightly high (although the ratio was fine) but because of this she wanted to put me on statins and pushed the standard low fat, healthy eating message.
Now I’m just confused. The “rewards” making low carb tolerable for me were cheese, butter, cream, peanuts etc and it seems obvious to me that it’s working in that my blood sugar is that much better and I’ve lost all that weight. I’ve resisted the statins and asked to be retested again in another three months because then if my blood sugar stays low, I feel I can make a case to reduce the metformin again. I know I might not get into remission, but I feel it’s worth pushing to try getting off metformin altogether - what have I got to lose?
I actually feel better for just writing this down! Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated, thanks.
