Diabetes pharmacist and feeling frustrated

[ChelseaEllie]

I recently saw a diabetic pharmacist (that’s what my surgery called him) and don’t know what to make of the whole situation
My hbA1c is 41, (tested in May) down from 98 in Jan. I was told to take metformin building up to 2000 a day
The nurse told me that I could drop down if it caused me side effects
I got a bg reader and tracked first thing in the morning before and after evening meals and before bed and when I forgot a dose it made no difference at all so having dropped from 2000 to 1000 just because it gave me nightmares (was only on 2000 for a week)
I then kept forgetting my evening dose so had been on 500 for most of the time (if I had seen a spike in my levels I would have taken it)
Then as an experiment decided to drop my dose fully so for a month have been no metformin. My blood sugar remains as it was.

So as the doctor told me back in Feb/March that if I got my levels below 57 we could reconsider things, so I went to get an appointment. Because I’m in normal range without any support I wanted the conversation.
My doctor has left since so I was sent to see the diabetes pharmacist
He kept telling me to take metformin
I kept saying I’m off it and have only had 1 blood test in the high range so maybe we can look into other elements as I haven’t changed my diet much, he just kept saying I should take the metformin, and I kept saying why as my levels are fine without it, I don’t want to be on drugs that I may need later on, so want to save them.
He said I need 2 more tests 3 months apart without drugs, then in the next breath I should take metformin. It’s confusing.
Also kept telling me to take stains (I have them but decided I should stop as I was given them 8 years ago and had no tests to check on if they are working)
It’s just annoying being told to take pills and told that I need to be pill free

 

[Antje77]

My hbA1c is 41, (tested in May) down from 98 in Jan.

He said I need 2 more tests 3 months apart without drugs, then in the next breath I should take metformin. It’s confusing.

This sounds like a very confusing (confused?) pharmacist.

Also kept telling me to take stains (I have them but decided I should stop as I was given them 8 years ago and had no tests to check on if they are working)

I think any medication advice by HCP's should be based on lab tests or symptoms.

A drop from 98 in jan to 41 in may, without significant changes in diet and only on a very low to no dose of metformin is remarkable, and quite unusual.
Remarkable enough to wonder if something may have been wrong with the test.
A hba1c of 98 would mean an average blood glucose of around 15. Do you remember how long after the initial high hba1c test you started to use a home glucose meter?

 

[ChelseaEllie]

This sounds like a very confusing (confused?) pharmacist.

I think any medication advice by HCP's should be based on lab tests or symptoms.

A drop from 98 in jan to 41 in may, without significant changes in diet and only on a very low to no dose of metformin is remarkable, and quite unusual.
Remarkable enough to wonder if something may have been wrong with the test.
A hba1c of 98 would mean an average blood glucose of around 15. Do you remember how long after the initial high hba1c test you started to use a home glucose meter?

It was feb so about a month

I was also very stressed and upset and not sleeping
I improved my lifestyle but not really my diet

 

[IncogKeto]

He sounds like a typical drug-pushing pharmacist.
Don't forget that medical professionals are there to provide you with guidance and support. You don't have to take ANY of their 'advice', pills or whatever.