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Bit confused, please help

A

annie51

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I am newly diagnosed with Type 2. My initial Hb1 was 47 and my FBG was 7.8 in Feb with normal blood pressure and a BMI of 27. My cholesterol was 6.7
I've since lost just over a stone, and followed low carb (reducing to 50-100g) a day. Although I have a family history it was a mild surprise.

My latest readings were 42 for the Hb1, 7.2FBG and 6.1 cholesterol. I've also reduced to 0-50g of crab but that's only in the last week and I won't know the impact for another couple of months. I'm following the general advice on here, upped my exercise, watching my fat/ keeping that low too.

I met the DN yesterday and she wants me on tablets asap - for cholesterol and diabetes- as she doesn't believe that low carb will do it and is more concerned about my cholesterol.
(If you are still with me at this point, thanks for your patience).

So ,of my many questions, I think the immediate ones are :
- should I have been seeing a greater impact by now or is it just a case of holding on a bit longer ?
- do I stand a chance of avoiding meds and still saying sane ?
- without boring you with the ins and outs of my diet etc, is there something I'm missing ?

In the short time I've been reading these forums they have really helped and encouraged me and if you've read this far I thank you for your patience and understanding of what must be dull questions for those with experience. My good wishes and thanks
 
Hi Annie

Well you've reduced your HbA1c from 47 (which was just outside the diabetic range) to 42 (barely prediabetic) and lost a stone, so well done!

Why your DN wants you on medication for diabetes now seems nonsense - just tell her you will continue what you are doing.

As for cholesterol and statins, the total cholesterol figure is fairly meaningless in this context - what is the breakdown, especially the HDL and triglycerides?
 
Hello annie
Surely the whole point of the diets that we follow is to reduce or avoid the need for medication and their side effects.
I agree with sanguine I think your nurse has lost the plot. You have lowered your Hba1c and your cholesterol, well done just keep doing what you've been doing, it's obviously working.
 
I did a degree module on diabetes a few years ago, I am a HCP but not in general medicine. At the time I understood it, made sense and got a good grade. Now I am T2, and I am totally confused by the contradicting information and want to put my head in the sand. However, I do recall be taught that metformin can increase weight loss and, if given to someone with insulin resistance, can prevent further deterioration into full T2 diabetes. I have no idea if there's subsequent evidence to the contrary, but it worked for my nan and she was taken off all meds, but sadly she didn't really understand that she still needed to be careful about her diet, she thought she was cured and went back to eating high carb and sugar.
 
Thank her for her genuine concern, and tell her you'd like to continue with the diet for now. You...are...doing...GREAT!
 
it's nor recommended to do low carb and low fat, you need the fat for energy
“Dr Eric C. Westman, MD and president elect of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, has 15 years of experience helping patients lose weight and improve their health using low carb. He has also helped do several high-quality scientific studies on low carb.”

" Don't do low carb and low fat " @4.00 minutes in to video

 
Thank you all for your replies, they all give me encouragement and really useful information.
Sanguine , I asked my DN the breakdown of the cholesterol reading - I think she was a bit surprised that I asked - and told me that was irrelevant, which I know is not true.
Jack, thanks for the link, I am trying to keep a sensible approach to fat and getting some energy there, as you are right, it's got to come from somewhere
Having read all your posts I will continue to learn more and keep going ,certainly for the next few months, and see what happens on my next round of tests.
Thanks again for your help and encouragement - good health and happiness to you all.
 
Hi Annie

The cholesterol breakdown may be irrelevant for your DN if they only use total as a yardstick, but it is essential for you to understand the overall context. It is your body, your blood, your data, they are obliged to give it to you. Try asking reception for a complete printout of your results, that's what many of us do.
 
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