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At what point is medication preferable to Diet

Bobsummit

Member
Messages
19
I have had type 2 diabetes for 9 years and, having started with readings around 300, I have managed to get it down to monthly averages of 120-130, but over the last year it increased to 140-160.

It has surged to an average 250+ over the last two weeks and at 70 years of age increasing exercise is difficult. At the same time I am having problems with sore eyes, which even daily drops have made no difference - should I be worried about this.

Can someone tell me if I should be paricularly worried about the surge and at what point should I go back to my Doctor for some kind of medication.

Thanks

Bob
 
Yes,Bob I think you should think about medication now! Keeping it down to below 126 is the main aim and yours is way above that.At the levels you are at you risk complications so see your doctor and talk about the alternatives.
 
hya bob and welcome,
as sue says you need to be seeing the doctor and telling them :)
 
Hi Bob
Once you cannot keep the blood suar down in the safe zone ( under 126) on dieet alone, you might consider medicstion. What do you eat? you might also try reducing your total carbs.
 
The advice given to me 18 months ago was that an early start on meds had benefits in the longer term for those over 60 on issues related to diabetes.

The benefits of 2*500 Metformin per day for me has been a reduction in Bg and Hba1c to 4.6 and 5.2 respectively (from 14.4).

Some of the meds have an 'allegedly' beneficial impact on the likelihood of stroke etc.

Start taking the tablets.
 
Hello All - particularly those who responded to my question

You asked me to let you know what happened.

My Doctors appointment, yesterday,resulted in a visit to the laboratory, today, with the results promised by tomorrow morning. I have another appointment with my Doctor tomorrow afternoon to review the results. i suppose I should tell you all that I live in France, which is probably why the process is so quick.

The list on the instruction to the laboratory seemed to cover everything, including my inside leg measurement. One of the key questions was - is my glucotrend measure fully functional, as they did a simultaneous test to verify the accuracy.

The next likely step is that I go straight on the prescription that my doctor has already given me - Metformine 850mg 3 times a day (Is that a bit heavy???). I have already got the but am holding off, pending the test on my Glucotrend.

I guess I'm kind of accepting that I will be 'on the tablets' from tomerrow and that will beg other questions which I will ask in a new post - which I shall call 'Where can I get reliable and honest information - from one source'

Thanks again for your feedback - I took your advice seriously and hopefully it will move me forward.

Cheers

Bob
 
Bobsummit said:
The next likely step is that I go straight on the prescription that my doctor has already given me - Metformine 850mg 3 times a day (Is that a bit heavy???). I have already got the but am holding off, pending the test on my Glucotrend.

If that dose gives you the squits, back off and start at one per day, then ramp back up slowly and try taking them with meals and avoiding carbs at the same time. I suspect from the dose that is SR which is less drastic than the normal type. (Not everyone gets this but it's worth remarking on)

That is around maximum dose, no bad thing to start with aggressive medication to bring your BG and insulin resistance down rapidly, you may be able to reduce this later. IMNSHO it's a better technique than witholding medication until after you have tried going it alone for three months then using minimal and even inactive quantities.
 
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