Annual Visit to the Doctor

[srobertson06]

I had my annual visit to the doctor yesterday.
HBA1C 63mmol
Low vitamin B12 reading
Blood pressure reading - doctor not happy with - awaiting a home testing machine to monitor.

First I saw the diabetic nurse who said three times during my visit did I want to go to slimming world or weight watchers - I refused each and every time and gave my reasons why. She said my blood pressure was good, my urine has slight sugar level but nothing to worry about, I had lost just a small amount of weight. We went over how much exercise I do and what I eat and did I test and if so how often - this is where she was insistent I do not need to test and reading food labels is all I need to do. She said I can stop eating bread altogether and I have to get my energy from somewhere so I have to eat foods that contain carbs......

Then I go in to see the doctor - he says my blood pressure is only good for someone without diabetes and has asked the practice to issue me with a meter to do home testing and says it is likely I will need medication to lower my blood pressure as well but he will see what the results of home testing are. For my blood sugar levels he says he is not happy that they have not come down lower and has said I am on the highest amount of Metformin so has added Sitagliptin to my list of medication to lower my blood sugar readings further. My doctor then went over the slimming world and weight watchers options again - so a total of 4 times to go to a diet class to lose weight. Finally the discussion about the low B12 reading which only came up because I asked - he has decided to wait and see in case it is just a blip.

I was diagnosed 14 months ago, I feel I have learnt a great deal over the year and I consider myself to be a work in progress, I am losing weight albeit very slowly - but I am told if you lose weight slowly you are more likely to keep it off - I have been doing my best to lower my intake of carbs - something I do struggle with but I am getting there.

The only real positives are I passed my sight test and I passed the foot test with flying colours.

I find the visits to the doctors to be very negative experience.

Thankfully you are all here and some of you I know have similar experiences, I was at the doctors surgery for over 2 hours - I saw the diabetic nurse 20 mins past my appointment time and then had a further 20 min wait to see the doctor. I walked out of the surgery feeling like I was falling apart, now trying to be positive and hoping the new medication will achieve the lower sugar readings the doctor wants to see.

 

[Lamont D]

Sitagliptin will help you lower your blood glucose levels.
It is a dpp4 inhibitor.
It helps stimulate your pancreas to give you more insulin.
The reason weight loss is important is because of insulin resistance.
The more weight you lose, the better your insulin resistance is.
If you are able to get down by low carbing, and I think you are struggling,
If you are serious about getting control you need to get your diet sorted.
It won't get better eating carbs and meds.
You have a lot of decisions to make!
I have lost over five stone on the low carb and I've never felt better and healthier.
It works.
And you never know, you can have your treats, when you see good results.

 

[Brunneria]

I had my annual visit to the doctor yesterday.
HBA1C 63mmol
Low vitamin B12 reading
Blood pressure reading - doctor not happy with - awaiting a home testing machine to monitor.

First I saw the diabetic nurse who said three times during my visit did I want to go to slimming world or weight watchers - I refused each and every time and gave my reasons why. She said my blood pressure was good, my urine has slight sugar level but nothing to worry about, I had lost just a small amount of weight. We went over how much exercise I do and what I eat and did I test and if so how often - this is where she was insistent I do not need to test and reading food labels is all I need to do. She said I can stop eating bread altogether and I have to get my energy from somewhere so I have to eat foods that contain carbs......

Then I go in to see the doctor - he says my blood pressure is only good for someone without diabetes and has asked the practice to issue me with a meter to do home testing and says it is likely I will need medication to lower my blood pressure as well but he will see what the results of home testing are. For my blood sugar levels he says he is not happy that they have not come down lower and has said I am on the highest amount of Metformin so has added Sitagliptin to my list of medication to lower my blood sugar readings further. My doctor then went over the slimming world and weight watchers options again - so a total of 4 times to go to a diet class to lose weight. Finally the discussion about the low B12 reading which only came up because I asked - he has decided to wait and see in case it is just a blip.

I was diagnosed 14 months ago, I feel I have learnt a great deal over the year and I consider myself to be a work in progress, I am losing weight albeit very slowly - but I am told if you lose weight slowly you are more likely to keep it off - I have been doing my best to lower my intake of carbs - something I do struggle with but I am getting there.

The only real positives are I passed my sight test and I passed the foot test with flying colours.

I find the visits to the doctors to be very negative experience.

Thankfully you are all here and some of you I know have similar experiences, I was at the doctors surgery for over 2 hours - I saw the diabetic nurse 20 mins past my appointment time and then had a further 20 min wait to see the doctor. I walked out of the surgery feeling like I was falling apart, now trying to be positive and hoping the new medication will achieve the lower sugar readings the doctor wants to see.

It is demoralising, isn't it?
And losing weight is not the simple, easy thing they seem to present it as. Let's face it, if it was that easy, then the Slimming World's and the Weight Watchers wouldn't exist.

I totally agree with you about the slow weight loss too. I would rather lose half a stone a year and keep it off, than lose 3 stone quickly and then yoyo, as so many do (and as I have done in the past).

Please don't let them get to you. I am sure that neither the doc nor the nurse (with their contradictory messages) have got diabetes, and have any real understanding of the day to day grind.

 

[librarising]

Low vitamin B12 reading
Finally the discussion about the low B12 reading which only came up because I asked - he has decided to wait and see in case it is just a blip.

B12 deficiency is a well-known effect of Metformin use over time. I remember reading that, after my GP reacted to my HbA1c of 102 by putting me on Metformin while I waited to hear from the Diabetes Clinic.
There must be many links you could find, but here's a respectable one highlighting the danger. Annual injections may be the answer for you.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/719043

Please read up about this,and pester your GP if necessary. It's not to be ignored.

Geoff

 

[srobertson06]

Thank you for your words of advice and support, I really must tackle my diet in a more thorough way, I have been trying to cut back on the carbs but need to really take a serious look at my whole diet. I have just learned to eat natural yogurt with a few blueberries as a breakfast - this instead of the porridge made with water and readings are proving that this is a much better choice. So will now look at lunch and evening meals and see if I can have the same success.

 

[SunnyExpat]

What did you have against the slimming world or weight watchers?
I happily took the referral to an NHS weight loss dietician, made a rapid weight loss, and put my diabetes into remission.
I also have very good blood pressure.
You can only yo yo weight loss if you decide to eat as you used to, and after all the work to cure the diabetes, that's not going to happen.

Slow weight loss can work, but you have to be careful you don't fall into the trap of accepting slow weight loss tomorrow, and never pushing for it to happen today. It always takes effect, no matter what route you choose.
But two hours sounds like the surgery certainly are keen to work with you.

 

[Jamrox]

Thank you for your words of advice and support, I really must tackle my diet in a more thorough way, I have been trying to cut back on the carbs but need to really take a serious look at my whole diet. I have just learned to eat natural yogurt with a few blueberries as a breakfast - this instead of the porridge made with water and readings are proving that this is a much better choice. So will now look at lunch and evening meals and see if I can have the same success.

Honest I know it's hard but buy a monitor test when you get up , 2 hours after breakfast (Splenda helps to make the Greek yoghurt taste better by the way lol).
Test before and 2 hours after meals .
Try and lower your carbs , testing will help you to know what food you can and can't eat .
Try and be active for 30 minutes a day , every day , I'm not talking running around of cardio , I'm talking going for a walk etc . If you can't do 30 minutes at once then break them up during the day until you can .
Get my fitness pal app and record what you eat , you 'll see how many carbs you are eating and will be amazed how even cutting down on portion sizes reduces the amount of carbs you eat .

That has worked for me for over 3 years , not saying it ll work for you though .