6 monthly review

[Robbity]

I had my 6 monthy review this morning, both for other medications (migraines and blood pressure, etc, and we've now agreed I can come off one of these) as well as for my diabetes. My GP is now also my diabetes doctor, which I'm pleased about, as he's enlightened regarding low carb diets, has been happy for me to do my self funded testing. He admitted today that the medical profession's had their advice wrong regarding low carb diets - although he was the one who started me on my low carb journey having suggested that I try the Atkins diet (though for weight loss) when he originally diagnosed me. I surprised him though when I said that low carb diets weren't new and had originally been used on diabetics in the late 1700s, and that there's a low carb cookery book from the early 1900s available on the web, and that I actually found low carbing easy ! He knew about the Bulletproof Coffee man though. So we had an interesting chat.

I told him I wasn't taking my statins (athough my original diabetes doctor had agreed to halve the dose last summer) and that the bad pins & needles in my arms and hands has now disappeared. I didn't actually get my expected scolding, but he'll see what my next hbA1c/blood test says. Previously after my cholersterol came down, it's been a case of I should take them anyway for their other benefits. Apparently the way they are measuring cholesterol has changed now and they won't do the LDL and triglycerides checks anyway. I decided not to fuss since I felt I was on a possibly winning statins streak. If I do win on this front, that will mean I've come off three lots of long term non diabetic medication in the past 12 months. So worth a bit of a compromise I think.

My blood pressure's always read high when he's checked it, so last review he suggested I get my own monitor to do checks at home, and my readings are consistently lower when I've done these. I took in the monitor and a written list of some of my earliest readings to show him, so he suggested we do a double check with my wrist monitor and his arm band one. Mine read an OMG 197/104 and his two, just slightly lower, so he's satisified now that my high levels are caused by short term stress and not permanent. Back home I was back down lower to 132/72 and closer to last night's reading of 123/62. So although I'm not conciously stressed at the surgery, I very obviously am! I've sometimes done a pre and post surgery visit check on my glucose levels and they are always up too, but I've thought this was (at least) in part due to my walk down there. So today my fasting level was 5.8, and then after a little snack of a generous spoonful of almond butter and a coffee with almond milk and my walk to down to surgery for my checkup, up to 7.5 two hours later.

Robbity

 

[ickihun]

I had my 6 monthy review this morning, both for other medications (migraines and blood pressure, etc, and we've now agreed I can come off one of these) as well as for my diabetes. My GP is now also my diabetes doctor, which I'm pleased about, as he's enlightened regarding low carb diets, has been happy for me to do my self funded testing. He admitted today that the medical profession's had their advice wrong regarding low carb diets - although he was the one who started me on my low carb journey having suggested that I try the Atkins diet (though for weight loss) when he originally diagnosed me. I surprised him though when I said that low carb diets weren't new and had originally been used on diabetics in the late 1700s, and that there's a low carb cookery book from the early 1900s available on the web, and that I actually found low carbing easy ! He knew about the Bulletproof Coffee man though. So we had an interesting chat.

I told him I wasn't taking my statins (athough my original diabetes doctor had agreed to halve the dose last summer) and that the bad pins & needles in my arms and hands has now disappeared. I didn't actually get my expected scolding, but he'll see what my next hbA1c/blood test says. Previously after my cholersterol came down, it's been a case of I should take them anyway for their other benefits. Apparently the way they are measuring cholesterol has changed now and they won't do the LDL and triglycerides checks anyway. I decided not to fuss since I felt I was on a possibly winning statins streak. If I do win on this front, that will mean I've come off three lots of long term non diabetic medication in the past 12 months. So worth a bit of a compromise I think.

My blood pressure's always read high when he's checked it, so last review he suggested I get my own monitor to do checks at home, and my readings are consistently lower when I've done these. I took in the monitor and a written list of some of my earliest readings to show him, so he suggested we do a double check with my wrist monitor and his arm band one. Mine read an OMG 197/104 and his two, just slightly lower, so he's satisified now that my high levels are caused by short term stress and not permanent. Back home I was back down lower to 132/72 and closer to last night's reading of 123/62. So although I'm not conciously stressed at the surgery, I very obviously am! I've sometimes done a pre and post surgery visit check on my glucose levels and they are always up too, but I've thought this was (at least) in part due to my walk down there. So today my fasting level was 5.8, and then after a little snack of a generous spoonful of almond butter and a coffee with almond milk and my walk to down to surgery for my checkup, up to 7.5 two hours later.

Robbity

@Robbity I know exercise for me takes my bgs higher and I don't get the lower level hours later either. The stress of exercise raises my bg so I stick with leisurely walks and swimming. I do stretches in the water but any strenuous laps it's up all day.
I'd love to be an olympic swimmer or daily jogger but I'm totally put off by my readings.
Could you be stressed by exercise?

 

[Robbity]

I think my activity in general can sometimes trigger a bit of a liver dump or at least a rise in glucose levels- I see it after various types of activity - including relaxing for a slightly mad fun half with my little dogs. My Freestyle Libre's been quite enlightening in this respect, with it continuous monitoring. I've once or twice tested blood pressure too after different activity and seen nothing to indicate any stress.

Before retirement and well before diabetes, I had a pretty active job, and did a lot of walking and at one time also pottering round on my bike for pleasure. Keep fit style exercise I've never been keen on though... and that would definitely stress me out!

Robbity

 

[Alzebra]

Hi Robbity, glad to hear that you have a sensible GP who understands about low carb, that's a good start. Sounds like you have classic white coat hypertension, since it was much higher at the surgery. My GP this morning didn't even take mine, she just photocopied my records that I've made at home

 

[Robbity]

It's quite funny actually because I've known my GP for donkeys years - he used to a close neighbour (and I hardly dare say it - seen him rather merry when we used to have annual street parties ) so he'd hardly a fearsome authority figure.

Robbity