drippihippy
Member
- Messages
- 12
I was diagnosed T2 in early January this year, my HbA1c was 8.8
On diagnosis my G.P perscribed 3 x 500ml Metformin daily however, I wanted to try and control my T2 with diet and exercise alone as being in my mid 40's I realised I have still got a reasonably long time to live with the condition and was concerned about the long term use of Metformin, it's possible effects on greater dependancy and ultimately Insulin dependance.
To this end I reduced the dosage to 1 x 500ml daily. My last HbA1c result in April was 5.6 achieved with a lo carb diet, no sugar or junk food, daily exercise and testing 2/3 times a day. Since being diagnosed I have tested daily in order to monitor my blood sugar levels, to find out what does and doesn't spike me and record my general progress, over the last 6 months my test results have come down from 8-10 to typically, mid 5's/low 6's [and 4's after an hour on the bike]
As the test strip figures came down I assumed that this may have a bearing on my forthcoming 3 month HbA1c result, by the end of February my daily readings were in the 6,s and by March/April in the 5's/low 6's where they have remained since.
A recent visit to my G.P however, has confused me somewhat, I told her I had stopped taking 1 x 500ml Metformin since April and that my daily test results were 5/6 & 4's after exercise but she did not think that this had any relevance to my next HbA1c test in 2 months time and said that I may still need to take Metformin depending on the results.
My diet and exercise regime are the same now as when I implented the changes after diagnosis and my daily blood test results seem pretty constant, I don't plan on changing my diet or stopping daily exercise and if my daily test results stay in the ranges they are now surely they have some relevance to how well I am managing the condition and ultimately my next HbA1c result?
I tried to explain to my G.P that I felt the test strips and regular testing had allowed me to understand and manage my T2 resulting in the drop from 8.8 at diagnosis to 5.6 3 months later but she did not advocate the use of regular testing and only advised once a week at most, she did not seem to think it had any bearing to the HbA1c either and whether I would be able to continue to manage it with diet and exercise alone.
After this recent consultation with the G.P I am a little confused, I thought the changes I had made to my diet and lifestyle had been effective in controlling my T2 and reducing my HbA1c. I had a Shortcrust pastry Fruit Tart from M&S a few days ago as the first pastry/sugary type treat since diagnosis and after 2 hours I was only 6.6!
Are test strip results relevant in trying to control Diabetes and do they have any bearing on your HbA1c?
On diagnosis my G.P perscribed 3 x 500ml Metformin daily however, I wanted to try and control my T2 with diet and exercise alone as being in my mid 40's I realised I have still got a reasonably long time to live with the condition and was concerned about the long term use of Metformin, it's possible effects on greater dependancy and ultimately Insulin dependance.
To this end I reduced the dosage to 1 x 500ml daily. My last HbA1c result in April was 5.6 achieved with a lo carb diet, no sugar or junk food, daily exercise and testing 2/3 times a day. Since being diagnosed I have tested daily in order to monitor my blood sugar levels, to find out what does and doesn't spike me and record my general progress, over the last 6 months my test results have come down from 8-10 to typically, mid 5's/low 6's [and 4's after an hour on the bike]
As the test strip figures came down I assumed that this may have a bearing on my forthcoming 3 month HbA1c result, by the end of February my daily readings were in the 6,s and by March/April in the 5's/low 6's where they have remained since.
A recent visit to my G.P however, has confused me somewhat, I told her I had stopped taking 1 x 500ml Metformin since April and that my daily test results were 5/6 & 4's after exercise but she did not think that this had any relevance to my next HbA1c test in 2 months time and said that I may still need to take Metformin depending on the results.
My diet and exercise regime are the same now as when I implented the changes after diagnosis and my daily blood test results seem pretty constant, I don't plan on changing my diet or stopping daily exercise and if my daily test results stay in the ranges they are now surely they have some relevance to how well I am managing the condition and ultimately my next HbA1c result?
I tried to explain to my G.P that I felt the test strips and regular testing had allowed me to understand and manage my T2 resulting in the drop from 8.8 at diagnosis to 5.6 3 months later but she did not advocate the use of regular testing and only advised once a week at most, she did not seem to think it had any bearing to the HbA1c either and whether I would be able to continue to manage it with diet and exercise alone.
After this recent consultation with the G.P I am a little confused, I thought the changes I had made to my diet and lifestyle had been effective in controlling my T2 and reducing my HbA1c. I had a Shortcrust pastry Fruit Tart from M&S a few days ago as the first pastry/sugary type treat since diagnosis and after 2 hours I was only 6.6!
Are test strip results relevant in trying to control Diabetes and do they have any bearing on your HbA1c?
