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Confused2

P

Pablo52

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi. This is,I believe my second posting. I wonder if anyone has had the same experience or any advice.
I have type 2 diabetes, I am on my way to reverse it,having lost weight. However I was told by a nurse on my visit to the doctors,that even after reversal I will need to remain on medications. Is this the case? Can anyone help?
I find that diabetes is a very complicated issue, with conflicting advice.
Thank you
 
Hi and welcome,

If you successfully reversed your diabetes there is no point in being on diabetes medication ..... however, if you are still on medication when you think it is reversed ... it isn't reversed!!! You have to show non-diabetic levels and non-diabetic reactions to food without medication for it to be reversed.

You are so right. Diabetes is very complicated and mysterious. You will always receive conflicting advice. The trick is to analyse that advice and weigh it all up, then decide whether to take or reject that advice.
 
Thanks for reply, but my HBa1c is 46 now, on medication, how do I calculate when I can come off medications?
How low does it have to be? What am I aiming for? Do you see my dilemma?
 
Pablo52 said:
Thanks for reply, but my HBa1c is 46 now, on medication, how do I calculate when I can come off medications?
How low does it have to be? What am I aiming for? Do you see my dilemma?
Click to expand...
46 is pre diabetic and the assumption is probably being made that if you come off medication then you will rise to the diabetic range again. This may or may not be true and since you are on medication we cannot find out.

The complex bit comes now. Your diet can have a more significant effect on your numbers than can some medication so adjust your diet to suit with the aid of your meter and think it out again.
 
Pablo52 said:
Thanks for reply, but my HBa1c is 46 now, on medication, how do I calculate when I can come off medications?
How low does it have to be? What am I aiming for? Do you see my dilemma?
Click to expand...

I don't see a dilemma. You have an HbA1c of 46, which is still in the "at risk" range. You need to be under 42 to be in the non-diabetic range, preferably less than that. I would wait until you do reach the non-diabetic range and then discuss medication again with your doctor.
 
Thank you for the reply. I am losi g more weight and will check again...
 
Weghtloss isn't really a factor in controlling blood glucose, the doctors and nurses seem to use it as a sort of bribe - lose weight and you'll be OK, but for most it seems that the blood glucose is put right by diet changes and then weight reduces without much effort.
I went from Hba1c 47 to 41 in about 3 months, without medication, but the nurses were not happy that I had stopped the tablets.
 
Pablo52 said:
I find that diabetes is a very complicated issue, with conflicting advice.
Click to expand...

You are so right!

It might help if you could tell us what medications you are on. Some of the diabetes drugs are quite strong and have a marked effect in reducing blood glucose levels. Others, such as Metformin, are beneficial but have a milder effect.

I don't think you will be able to "calculate" when you can come off medication. The goal is to control your blood glucose levels with diet alone, at below-diabetic levels. The only way to find out whether that will work is to push the HbA1c as low as possible using diet control, and then (with the support of your health-care providers) reduce, or eliminate, the medication. Only then do you find out if you can maintain non-diabetic BG levels without drugs.

I have never taken diabetes drugs myself. But the good news is that plenty of people on this forum have managed to do what I described above. There is no guarantee that it will work -- especially if you are taking some of the stronger drugs. Worth aiming for if at all possible though.
 

I know what you mean. The information is really helpful inasmuch it confirms my ideas too. What I should have added is that I am also working on my diet and will have a review with doctors once I managed to lower my hba1c
I am at the moment on slow release metformin (Glucophage).
Thanks for the reply,it really makes sense
 
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