I had uncontrolled diabetes for many years, but for the past 8 months, I have been on a low carb diet and reduced my HbA1c significantly from a high of 88mmol/mol. Unfortunately, I also have peripheral nephropathy, which the nurse never recognised or referred me about, only looking for total lack of sensation, huge uric acid kidney stones (being dealt with, with several surgeries), painful burning urine, severe albumin in my urine (so far undiagnosed) and recently worsening diabetic maculopathy, which I'm told could be a result of rapid improvement.
Otherwise, I am on the mend
I am on Metformin, Dapagflozin, Atorvastatin, Ramipril and Bisoprolol. I have asked my GP practice several times to be taken off the Dapagflozin and to have the Atorvastatin reduced from 40mg to 20mg. They talk to me like "Do you want to kill yourself?" Of course I don't, but nor do I understand why I am on medication which was prescribed for uncontrolled diabetes, and that has questionable side-effects. The dapa gives me constipation, so I go off it intermittently anyway, to relieve it. I am also wondering if it is responsible for the horrible burning sensation of my urine. Statins are now controversial, with uncertainty whether the relationship between LDL cholesterol and heart disease is causal or not, and they may be responsible for rise in glucose, amongst other things, including weakened muscles, which I have.
I did have a heart attack some time ago, but that was shortly after my husband died in unbearable circumstances and my stress and grief were over the roof. Only recently am I beginning to come to terms with it. I want to pull myself together, but face so many obstacles. One is the unwillingness of the GP practice and the NHS in general to consider that they need to re-think their approach to diabetes. If they were wrong about margarine, skimmed milk and recommending 6 slices of bread per day, then maybe they are wrong about diabetes treatment. I would change practice, but it could well be "out of the frying pan into the fire". I'm even afraid to criticise them, lest they remove me as a patient. Any thoughts? Shared experience? TIA
Otherwise, I am on the mend
I am on Metformin, Dapagflozin, Atorvastatin, Ramipril and Bisoprolol. I have asked my GP practice several times to be taken off the Dapagflozin and to have the Atorvastatin reduced from 40mg to 20mg. They talk to me like "Do you want to kill yourself?" Of course I don't, but nor do I understand why I am on medication which was prescribed for uncontrolled diabetes, and that has questionable side-effects. The dapa gives me constipation, so I go off it intermittently anyway, to relieve it. I am also wondering if it is responsible for the horrible burning sensation of my urine. Statins are now controversial, with uncertainty whether the relationship between LDL cholesterol and heart disease is causal or not, and they may be responsible for rise in glucose, amongst other things, including weakened muscles, which I have.
I did have a heart attack some time ago, but that was shortly after my husband died in unbearable circumstances and my stress and grief were over the roof. Only recently am I beginning to come to terms with it. I want to pull myself together, but face so many obstacles. One is the unwillingness of the GP practice and the NHS in general to consider that they need to re-think their approach to diabetes. If they were wrong about margarine, skimmed milk and recommending 6 slices of bread per day, then maybe they are wrong about diabetes treatment. I would change practice, but it could well be "out of the frying pan into the fire". I'm even afraid to criticise them, lest they remove me as a patient. Any thoughts? Shared experience? TIA