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At what point will I need medication?

LAR

LAR

Well-Known Member
Messages
216
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello everyone with sweet blood,

I was diagnosed type 2 a year ago, and my HbA1c was 60, over the past year I've tried serious diet control, LCHF, intermittent fasting and now diet doctor. My fasting glucose levels are better than they were, but not in the 5's or 6's.
My last HbA1c was in January, when my levels had gone down 4 points !!! I was disappointed , given the amazing results on this site.
Yesterday I was discussing this with a friend who lives in another area and has a different GP, her HbA1c was 41 and her doctor immediately put her on metformin! It could not be more different to my GP, who says I don't need medication. I'm concerned, as I've lost weight, tried everything Bar a body transplant and still I'm not into 'normal levels'.
When do I insist I should have some blood glucose lowering medication, or should I keep going until July, when I have my next test? The friend I mentioned is alarmed at my numbers, and says the GP could cause me long term damage by not prescribing medication.
I'm just a little worried that she is right, any views???
Thanks guys
 
LAR said:
Hello everyone with sweet blood,

I was diagnosed type 2 a year ago, and my HbA1c was 60, over the past year I've tried serious diet control, LCHF, intermittent fasting and now diet doctor. My fasting glucose levels are better than they were, but not in the 5's or 6's.
My last HbA1c was in January, when my levels had gone down 4 points !!! I was disappointed , given the amazing results on this site.
Yesterday I was discussing this with a friend who lives in another area and has a different GP, her HbA1c was 41 and her doctor immediately put her on metformin! It could not be more different to my GP, who says I don't need medication. I'm concerned, as I've lost weight, tried everything Bar a body transplant and still I'm not into 'normal levels'.
When do I insist I should have some blood glucose lowering medication, or should I keep going until July, when I have my next test? The friend I mentioned is alarmed at my numbers, and says the GP could cause me long term damage by not prescribing medication.
I'm just a little worried that she is right, any views???
Thanks guys
Click to expand...

I am on metformin even when having reduced my HbA1c to 34 ... because my morning numbers are never lower than the lowest 4.7.. and never getting too low even when excercising more than 4 hours... :cool: ,I think you should just ask for the metformin if you want it... .... I think metformin is a good drug I have not any sideeffects till now, but the risk of getting too low in vitamin B12 because of metformin worries me ...

I think building up more musclemass is the way to go combined with low carb high fat diet...

but if one gets metformin it is important not to use it as an excuse to eat much more carbs....

I am not sure she is right about the getting much more long term damage just by not getting metformin...
it is the lowered HbA1c that is important and to avoid high spiking foods/meals that prevents damage the most...
 
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Taking metformin was hell for me.
I would do anything rather than take it again, and that was just one tablet a day.
I was taking it with a statin and the combined effects were not worth living with.
I stopped taking both drugs just before Christmas, and am putting my hopes for the future on low carb, at least I can function better, but my memory is dreadful, I have scars from scratching the dreadful itching, a muscle in my lower left leg keeps twitching and my guts are still not as they were. At least the aching in my kidneys is gone - that was worrying.
 
Freema said:
I am on metformin even when having reduced my HbA1c to 34 ... because my morning numbers are never lower than the lowest 4.7.. and never getting too low even when excercising more than 4 hours... :cool: ,I think you should just ask for the metformin if you wan´t it... .... I think metformin is a good drug I have not any sideeffects till now, but the risk of getting too low in vitamin B12 because of metformin worries me ...

I think building up more musclemass is the way to go combined with low carb high fat diet...

but if one gets metformin it is important not to use it as an excuse to eat much more carbs....

I am not sure she is right about the getting much more long term damage just by not getting metformin...
it is the lowered HbA1c that is important and to avoid high spiking foods/meals that prevents damage the most...
Click to expand...
Thank you Freema, helpful advice :)
 
Resurgam said:
Taking metformin was hell for me.
I would do anything rather than take it again, and that was just one tablet a day.
I was taking it with a statin and the combined effects were not worth living with.
I stopped taking both drugs just before Christmas, and am putting my hopes for the future on low carb, at least I can function better, but my memory is dreadful, I have scars from scratching the dreadful itching, a muscle in my lower left leg keeps twitching and my guts are still not as they were. At least the aching in my kidneys is gone - that was worrying.
Click to expand...
I do hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks for your input!
 
Metformin gave me no problems to speak of but that makes me one of the lucky ones. If you can tolerate it and are cognisant of it's draw backs then it can be very helpful in controlling our condition. I would personally ask your GP for it and see how it goes.

That is my opinion for what it's worth any way.
 
JohnEGreen said:
Metformin gave me no problems to speak of but that makes me one of the lucky ones. If you can tolerate it and are cognisant of it's draw backs then it can be very helpful in controlling our condition. I would personally ask your GP for it and see how it goes.

That is my opinion for what it's worth any way.
Click to expand...
Thank you John I appreciate your input as you seem to be 'in control' with this !
 
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