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4.4 Hungry??? Good/ Bad doctor advice

Lizzypier

Lizzypier

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi
Well not been on for a while. Good news is that I had HBA1C couple of weeks back, down to 35 with no meds. (from 67 in June last year) Went to see my doc for a general chat and catch up.
So I've lost weight (3 stone) and have anormal BMI at last. Happy all round, except for some saggy skin!
BUT doctor gave the advice I dreaded...
"Gold star! You are no longer diabetic!"
I asked if she would be around to pick me up when I rush off and ate a large slice of cake.
I also slipped in that test strips are pretty pricey - She was horrified - asked why on earth I used them? Explained that they are absolutely unnecessary..(They have been my saving grace)
Lastly I added that I am most comfortable between 4.8 and 5.6, and whether this was in her book acceptable. Well yes she replied.
4.4 would mean you are hungry.
Hope this makes some of you smile and feel not alone
Also that so far so good it is possible to get the numbers down.
 
Excellent, congratulations on the weight loss and getting out of the diabetic range.

Don't stop now, keep up the good work.
 
Lizzypier said:
Hi
Well not been on for a while. Good news is that I had HBA1C couple of weeks back, down to 35 with no meds. (from 67 in June last year) Went to see my doc for a general chat and catch up.
So I've lost weight (3 stone) and have anormal BMI at last. Happy all round, except for some saggy skin!
BUT doctor gave the advice I dreaded...
"Gold star! You are no longer diabetic!"
I asked if she would be around to pick me up when I rush off and ate a large slice of cake.
I also slipped in that test strips are pretty pricey - She was horrified - asked why on earth I used them? Explained that they are absolutely unnecessary..(They have been my saving grace)
Lastly I added that I am most comfortable between 4.8 and 5.6, and whether this was in her book acceptable. Well yes she replied.
4.4 would mean you are hungry.
Hope this makes some of you smile and feel not alone
Also that so far so good it is possible to get the numbers down.
Click to expand...
Sometimes I have to wonder whether these people are qualified to do anything. As an aside incredibly well done on your numbers most impressive.
 
@Brunneria @Avocado Sevenfold @bulkbiker @urbanracer Actually its thanks to you and many others on the forum that I stay positive. Without the info here I would full of doubt and worry endlessly at each review. And some days I really want that slice of cake..... but strawberries and cream and dark choc and almond butter are almost believable!:rolleyes:
 
Encouragement is all we can give, the effort and determination is all yours. Bask in the glory!
 
Lizzypier said:
Hi
Well not been on for a while. Good news is that I had HBA1C couple of weeks back, down to 35 with no meds. (from 67 in June last year) Went to see my doc for a general chat and catch up.
So I've lost weight (3 stone) and have anormal BMI at last. Happy all round, except for some saggy skin!
BUT doctor gave the advice I dreaded...
"Gold star! You are no longer diabetic!"
I asked if she would be around to pick me up when I rush off and ate a large slice of cake.
I also slipped in that test strips are pretty pricey - She was horrified - asked why on earth I used them? Explained that they are absolutely unnecessary..(They have been my saving grace)
Lastly I added that I am most comfortable between 4.8 and 5.6, and whether this was in her book acceptable. Well yes she replied.
4.4 would mean you are hungry.
Hope this makes some of you smile and feel not alone
Also that so far so good it is possible to get the numbers down.
Click to expand...
And are you hungry at 4.4? Not challenging, just asking.
 
@AndBreathe ask away...
Never thought about it til doc dropped it into conversation. So I guess the answer is No. The annoying thing is that I a now ask myself if I should eat if I am 4.4....and for me this is a fairly average reading about 4 hours after a huge dinner at around 10 pm. Not a good time to consider another plateful.
 
Lizzypier said:
Hi
Well not been on for a while. Good news is that I had HBA1C couple of weeks back, down to 35 with no meds. (from 67 in June last year) Went to see my doc for a general chat and catch up.
So I've lost weight (3 stone) and have a normal BMI at last. Happy all round, except for some saggy skin!
BUT doctor gave the advice I dreaded...
"Gold star! You are no longer diabetic!"
I asked if she would be around to pick me up when I rush off and ate a large slice of cake.
I also slipped in that test strips are pretty pricey - She was horrified - asked why on earth I used them? Explained that they are absolutely unnecessary..(They have been my saving grace)
Lastly I added that I am most comfortable between 4.8 and 5.6, and whether this was in her book acceptable. Well yes she replied.
4.4 would mean you are hungry.
Hope this makes some of you smile and feel not alone
Also that so far so good it is possible to get the numbers down.
Click to expand...

Well done, excellent!

She should read the words of her employer "diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high." (Source - NHS) I wonder what she calls the condition where if you eat 250 - 300 gms of carb you will have high BG?
 
Lizzypier said:
@AndBreathe ask away...
Never thought about it til doc dropped it into conversation. So I guess the answer is No. The annoying thing is that I a now ask myself if I should eat if I am 4.4....and for me this is a fairly average reading about 4 hours after a huge dinner at around 10 pm. Not a good time to consider another plateful.
Click to expand...
Why would you want to do that? Its in the "normal" range. I would kill for a reading at that level .. my best ever is 4.6 and 4.8 achieved only once and that was after a 1 km swim.. hmm need to do that more often.
 
Lizzypier said:
@AndBreathe ask away...
Never thought about it til doc dropped it into conversation. So I guess the answer is No. The annoying thing is that I a now ask myself if I should eat if I am 4.4....and for me this is a fairly average reading about 4 hours after a huge dinner at around 10 pm. Not a good time to consider another plateful.
Click to expand...
Lizzy - I am one of the fortunate folks on this site who have been able to achieve a very good outcome, thus far, since diagnosis. My stats are in my signature.

These days I run, feeling well, able and fully functioning in the 3-5 range. I spend some time in the twos each day, but that's usually either just before I eat, and could readily devour several scabby horses, or during the night when my body ticks along quite happily at that rate. My after meals rarely reach 5, although in the two hour period between eating and the two hour mark it can go to their, and above, if I have something with more carbs than I usually might eat. This just seems to be how my body functions, in its natural state.

If I ate every time I went to 4.4 or lower, I would have to wear a nose bag to keep it coming, and frankly, in my life that's not going to be happening. I'm not hungry (aside from when I should be, if I haven't eaten for a protracted period), and my weight is stable, with very trim proportions.

Provided you feel week in yourself, and are not taking any medication that could induce hypoglycaemia, like Gliclazide or insulin, then I would listen to my body, and not hungry = not need to eat.

Keep doing what you're doing. Keep testing and keep an eye on the scales. For us, it seems to important not only to get trim, but to stay that way. I got very trim, but not everyone needs to go as slight as that. Your body will settle into its own routine; indeed it may already have done so. With an HbA1c like yours, there is no need to try to drive it any lower, unless you have a medical reason to do so.

Over time the loose skin tend to improve a but, but not always, sadly, to look like a 25yr old. We wish, eh?

Well done to you. As you learned yesterday, we are ahead of the medics on this site. They'll catch up at some stage, but information takes a long time to get to them, and many feel they must adhere strictly to the NICE Guidelines, irrespective of their personal beliefs or feelings. One day we'll be seen as the leading lights, rather than the oddities. I'm just hoping it isn't tooooo far into the future.
 
AndBreathe said:
Lizzy - I am one of the fortunate folks on this site who have been able to achieve a very good outcome, thus far, since diagnosis. My stats are in my signature.

These days I run, feeling well, able and fully functioning in the 3-5 range. I spend some time in the twos each day, but that's usually either just before I eat, and could readily devour several scabby horses, or during the night when my body ticks along quite happily at that rate. My after meals rarely reach 5, although in the two hour period between eating and the two hour mark it can go to their, and above, if I have something with more carbs than I usually might eat. This just seems to be how my body functions, in its natural state.

If I ate every time I went to 4.4 or lower, I would have to wear a nose bag to keep it coming, and frankly, in my life that's not going to be happening. I'm not hungry (aside from when I should be, if I haven't eaten for a protracted period), and my weight is stable, with very trim proportions.

Provided you feel week in yourself, and are not taking any medication that could induce hypoglycaemia, like Gliclazide or insulin, then I would listen to my body, and not hungry = not need to eat.

Keep doing what you're doing. Keep testing and keep an eye on the scales. For us, it seems to important not only to get trim, but to stay that way. I got very trim, but not everyone needs to go as slight as that. Your body will settle into its own routine; indeed it may already have done so. With an HbA1c like yours, there is no need to try to drive it any lower, unless you have a medical reason to do so.

Over time the loose skin tend to improve a but, but not always, sadly, to look like a 25yr old. We wish, eh?

Well done to you. As you learned yesterday, we are ahead of the medics on this site. They'll catch up at some stage, but information takes a long time to get to them, and many feel they must adhere strictly to the NICE Guidelines, irrespective of their personal beliefs or feelings. One day we'll be seen as the leading lights, rather than the oddities. I'm just hoping it isn't tooooo far into the future.
Click to expand...
Interestingly the NICE Diabetes Guidelines 2015 are actually quite sensible with a few exceptions but it appears the GPs don't read them.
 
Daibell said:
Interestingly the NICE Diabetes Guidelines 2015 are actually quite sensible with a few exceptions but it appears the GPs don't read them.
Click to expand...
In my view the most recent NICE Guidelines are merely finessed, and I doubt the majority of GPs will read and apply the subtle shifts. Perhaps I am uncharitable to them.
 
AndBreathe said:
In my view the most recent NICE Guidelines are merely finessed, and I doubt the majority of GPs will read and apply the subtle shifts. Perhaps I am uncharitable to them.
Click to expand...
I think it is too easy to diss the doctors. Mine had certainly read and understood them when i saw him in Jan. He was fully aware of the changes to my heart medicine. ~He also noted the new bgl target limits. He is also aware of certain research papers that I have been following wrt my diet, and although he is probably not able to quote chapter and verse, he ia at least aware of their existence. Like any institution, the NHS has a mixture of skills and attitudes, and it seems to be the British Disease to tar them all with the same brush. i blame the media, since this bias is certainly present in their reporting.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Oldvatr said:
I think it is too easy to diss the doctors. Mine had certainly read and understood them when i saw him in Jan. He was fully aware of the changes to my heart medicine. ~He also noted the new bgl target limits. He is also aware of certain research papers that I have been following wrt my diet, and although he is probably not able to quote chapter and verse, he ia at least aware of their existence. Like any insitution, the NHS has a mixture of skills and attitudes, and it seems to be the British Disease to tar them all with the same brush. i blame the media, since this bias is certainly present in their reporting.
Click to expand...
I'm a. Massive fan of the NHS as it has saved my life more than once, but today GPs are over burdened by paperwork and external reporting. I could do on, but it would be unhelpful. Just clarifying my stance. :)
 
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