• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Am I the only one who has given up?

Hi, sorry for not replying yesterday. It was a bad day.
I had a phone call from the diabetic nurse on Thursday afternoon.
She was horrified to hear some of my thoughts and plans.

On a more positve(?) note I have a meeting with the GP planned for the 27th with instructions to "bring the wife". You never know I might get some of the other stuff that rules my life sorted out. Though I doubt it.

@ally1: You've hit the problem squarely on the head. When I'm high I too think "sod it" and when I'm low "why bother". Maybe I should change my name to Yossarian.
 
I have a meeting with the diabetes nurse next Tuesday and I will suggest going down to 1x500 Metformin a day once my blood sugars stabilise around 5 to 6. Last time she was suggesting that I could increase from 2 to 4 a day, but since I was getting gastric side effects I preferred not to. Metformin does seem to dehydrate me and causes me to have to get up in the middle of the night to visit the loo, which never happened before I took the drug. Consequently, I do feel a bit tired due to a disturbed sleeping pattern.

I think a LCHF diet is much more effective in lowering blood sugars than Metformin and my blood sugars have reduced from 9.8 to 5.5 since that last time I saw the diabetes nurse in December.
 
Low carb is more effective than med for type 2 diabetics if not needing insuline and insuline affecting drugs

You really should learn that and you'll be much better feeling. Some even say that a truely ketonic diet also is better for ones brain

I would also suggest you to get a treadmill either for the legs or for your arms it can be excellent cardio and the you could get in shape maybe without having too much weight on you hurting ancle
 

I'm very pleased you have a meeting with your Doc in the coming days. All I would say is,please do tell your Doc exactly how you are feeling and why. However, if you expect him to listen, and really listen to you and act positively on it, then please do go prepared to give him the same respectful hearing.

He could suggest making some positive changes to your regimes, so please, please keep an open mind.

I'm really crossing my fingers for you.
 
I would suggest writing down a list of things that YOU want to talk about with your wife...
and put it on GP table when you go in... my doctor laughed at my once as I had put a note on the side of it that "I know I'm a pain.". My doc laughed and said I was the one with pain, but never a pain to him!! It broke up my list..

I would ask for a double slot... so you get full 20 minutes chat...

In instances like this, I got to ask whether your wife has been listed as a carer for you, with your GP. It may make a difference in the help and way forward that you can get... it doesnt mean that she has to get you out of bed, or help with toiletting etc.. it means that she can be included on listening and attending GP apprs etc without it being suggested by GP... but also that she helps with your food or moods or blood testing etc....

Follow this through, makesure you get an appt and try for a double one.
 
I also have a DSN appointment coming up, and hoping that when I mention my anxiety & depression not affected by blood sugar, that they will pass on the information to my GP who seems to not care about my wellbeing, and upon research online will hope to reason with them about taking potentially beneficial medication like Sertraline which is marketed as an anti-depressant but through numerous studies has proven to increase insulin production, even though all odds seem stacked against the pancreas still producing insulin. Other than that i've never taken any medication other than insulin, people have had good experiences with it, some not but i'd take the risk because it's my career thats suffering from it.
 
Not the only one. Diagnosed with type 2 three months ago and I've done nothing but rebel. Don't tell me what to eat etc. Just had another check up and I know I've put weight on and it's probably got worse.

The thing that changed my mind just recently is reading as much as I can, these forums have helped too, its good to get other people's opinions and start from there. I have started low carb again with a bit more educated guidance (last time it gave me gout but I'm sure that's because I was too low on carbs). The thing I hate most is there is no way I can just do what that person does because it works for them, it's trial and error. There is a shortcut but it's different for everyone and you have to work out what yours is. The best advice I've had so far is take it at your pace, start slow if you need and work your way to a goal ( whether it be exercise or diet or both).

You're in control, not it. Kick its ass.
 
they probably gave up on me because my sugars have been over 15% for 3 years running, maybe they think i'm not worth the extra money for strips, and they will keep tossing me between surgery and hospital over just a meter that party are willing to fund but the other are not, plus i have the inconvenience of having the prescription of the strips being very similar to another box of strips that are incompatible with my glucose meter
 
mist said:
It's aIl sad but common theme these days, GP's seemingly not to give a fu#k.
Click to expand...
They have their own problems. They are human too. I'm sure my older gp is also diabetic. Its just the way he says things!
I'd hate a job where I see the distruction of diabetes, every day.
They are limited.
Ultimately, it has to come from YOU @pasiphae1953 .

This is a turning point in your life.
Do you make a difference or just say "what ever"?

If you decide to fight.
We diabetic soldiers will carry you along. We won't abandon you!

Take what you can from gp practice but I agree eating low carb can steady your high bgs. It may not full solve them but will definitely help.
I feel in more control of my diabetes because of low carb and insulin.
I understand why they are important in my diabetes management.
You need to understand why some meds are needed to SUPPORT you til your able to fight, with all your might!
I've learnt not to drastically change my diet as my arteries don't like the fast change in pressure of the change in diet.
Yes diet holds a big key to unlocking good happy bg management!
 
mist said:
It's a sad but common theme these days, GP's seemingly not to give a fu#k.
Click to expand...
I don't think they have the training or the time to give a ****, when it comes to diabetes or other complicated issues. It's just too complex of a problem to be primarily (or even exclusively) handled in primary care. GPs are forced to rely on guides which overly-simplified, yet still too expansive for them to become fully familiarized with.

GPs probably can handle routine monitoring of patients with stable and uncomplicated conditions, but I have to put most of the blame on a medical system which places the burden of specialist care on non-specialists.
 

I disagree, GP's are overpaid and bloody useless. Nurses, surgeons and specialists, now they are the true miracle workers.
 
mist said:
I disagree, GP's are overpaid and bloody useless. Nurses, surgeons and specialists, now they are the true miracle workers.
Click to expand...
Are you aware of how GP receive an income?
 
Hi pasiphae1953, good luck for your gp appointment on the 27th, there are many diabetic drugs that can be prescribed instead of metformin which many have problems with and some like yourself just cant take due to diarrhoea and sickness problems.

Metformin is also not very effective at lowering blood glucose (bg) levels in fact the highest recommended level will only drop bg levels by between 1 or 2 points, far more effective is changing your eating habits and all you may need to do is reduce the amounts of carbohydrates you eat like cutting back on potato, rice, pasta and bread especially white and wholemeal breads as it is the carbohydrates in our diets that causes the high bg levels.

There is a moderator who normally posts to new members a brief introduction to diabetic control that you will hopefully find informative and enlightening, you can find it by following this link, just click on it http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088/

I find that just by reducing the carbs in my diet I can control my diabetes with no meds at all and I stated off with blood glucose levels of 29 mmol/L and was put straight onto metformin Insulin injections! Im now 8 years down the road and med free with non diabetic bg levels, not everyone can or will achieve this but a reduction in the carbs in your diet will make a lot more difference than metformin.

Good luck
 
mist said:
I disagree, GP's are overpaid and bloody useless. Nurses, surgeons and specialists, now they are the true miracle workers.
Click to expand...
I've obviously been lucky.
My last gp save me from a stroke and possible heart attack. This one is keeping me going.
I could easily give up. Bashing the lose weight drum without knowing someones restrictions or other medical conditions.
I wish people other than my gp realises that we aren't all the same.
If people could lose weight so easily why don't they? Don't give me the flannel of lazy etc.....
At least my gp knows MY restrictions and treats me not the diabetes!
Sorry but gps have huge responsibility
in this sueing culture. Neither wonder they're leaving in droves!
 
I hope you can see you're not alone here. I very much respect your decision, I tended to have a similar attitude until cancer kicked my ass - I was left with no choice but to "connect" with the medical world I loathed.
The only trouble being that if you don't look after yourself, when complications set in, they will force your hand - and you'll probably end up with twice the issues, more pain and meds etc.
This is the lesser of two evils, even with the mental health issue - adjusting your diet can bring so much difference to your diabetes and it doesn't need to be a rabbit food diet. Have a look around the forum, in your own time, no pressure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…