Hi Lea,
My experience with the diabetic nurse at our surgery was fairly negative also. The differing approaches between the nurse and GP you mentioned could be due to some people always having a "glass half empty" approach, conflict between professionals etc.... but that is their problem not yours! Read up/research all you can about diabetes, I have found some of the books by Patrick Holford a qualified nutritional therapist with a lot of experience in helping those with diabetes to be very encouraging and helpful,( read up what he says about Metformin) especially in relation to how you can manage your diet and taking supplements to help.
Congratulations on getting your levels down so well.... remember that HBA1C levels have been adjusted down over the years ( thereby ensuring more people go on the drug therefore better profits for the drug company!)and there will be very many people whose levels are far higher who have no idea they have diabetes, and yes if you read the literature there are those who have had type 2 diabetes reversed without drug intervention but through diet, supplements and exercise. My GP wanted me to go on Metformin with an HBA1C level which had come down from 10.4 to 6.6... within three months, accompanied by weight loss,a lowering of cholesterol and blood pressure to normal. Metformin is suggested for those with an HBA1C level of 6.5% or over ( look up NICE guidelines) but what you have to remember is that Doctors and nurses are practising in a tick box culture, and are less likely to use individual clinical judgement as a result
Fact regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, chromium and cinnamon are said to help regulate blood sugar levels, read up about eating protein with carbohydrate for a slower release of sugars. Stress, a poor sleep pattern, and infection can all temporarily raise sugar levels. Diabetes is a medical condition, the complications of it are serious if experienced, but if you can regulate your blood sugars and keep them low there is far less likelihood of complications, not everyone gets them. It is misguided of the practice nurse to be so unrelentingly negative... how is that supposed to encourage anyone, it's more likely to de motivate than motivate someone! Don't allow yourself to be bullied into treatment options you are not happy with... and if you can change to a more empathetic nurse!