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Diabetic Review - statins, testing, and and strips

Bluetit1802

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,215
Location
Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
HbA1c 46 (6.4%) down from 50 two months ago
BP 110/80
Urine clear of any nasties
Weight loss 2st. 8lbs since February
Full blood count all normal
Liver and kidneys all normal
eGFR 79 up from 68 two months ago so going in the right direction
Total cholesterol 5.2
Triglycerides 0.7
HDL 1.55
LDL 3.3
total/HDL ratio 3.4


I told her my concerns about consuming insufficient calcium. She took a blood test to check the levels in my bones. (which was normal on my last test in January but that was before my low carb diet). Results tomorrow.

Discussed low carb. She agreed about real butter, real mayo and real yogurts etc being better for you than artificial stuff and to forget low fat products. No objections to my 70g carb target but did say to eat some bread every day, which I do anyway.

Discussion about statins. I confessed I had stopped taking them 4 weeks earlier. She laughed and said she gathered that from my increased total cholesterol and LDL scores! She suggested I think about having the 20mg simvastatin rather than the 40mg prescribed for me on the grounds that the pill itself actually has beneficial effects on the arteries as it makes them more flexible (in addition to lowering cholesterol). I will have to look this up before I decide what to do.

Discussion about testing. She was impressed how I am using testing to sort out meals suitable for me. She then said "This is not coming from me .... but .....the NHS has clamped down on the provision of testing strips for non medicated diabetics due to cost ..." She said as I am self funding to carry on as I am being sensible and what I am doing is clearly working for me, but I am not to get obsessed as this will lead to anxiety etc. I can't have a prescription for more strips.

I have now been put on 6 monthly tests and reviews. :( Does this mean I can eat chips for the next 3 months then stop again? ;)
 
Great news and hopefully your readings will continue to get better. You seem to have lucked out with your choice of doctor compared to some of the stories we get on here.
 
Don't you just wish!!! Seriously well done on your results. Eating proper food works really. Don't believe a word of the statin thing - a new one on me. Anyhow your cholesterol levels are absolutely fine. Well done you. Go strut your stuff.
 
Excellent, well done Bluetit! :)

Cholesterol looks in just the right place to me, don't fall for the statin ploy.

What's eGFR?
 
Well done on your latest results :)

I don't know if your aware but Artovastatin is said to work just as well at 20mg dose than Simvastatin does at 40mg, it might be worth considering and by all accounts Artovastatin has less side-effects than Simvastatin.
 
Indy51 said:
Great news and hopefully your readings will continue to get better. You seem to have lucked out with your choice of doctor compared to some of the stories we get on here.
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Thank you, but this wasn't a doctor. This was my nurse. My GP is brilliant in most areas but hasn't a clue about diabetes.
 
sanguine said:
Excellent, well done Bluetit! :)

Cholesterol looks in just the right place to me, don't fall for the statin ploy.

What's eGFR?
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Thanks Rod. The eGFR is an estimated reading of how well your kidneys filter out the bad stuff for disposal. It should be over 90 to be normal. It is only an estimation, taking your age and gender into account along with blood thingies. It only comes into play if you have other kidney malfunctions somewhere. Others will no doubt explain better.
 
noblehead said:
Well done on your latest results :)

I don't know if your aware but Artovastatin is said to work just as well at 20mg dose than Simvastatin does at 40mg, it might be worth considering and by all accounts Artovastatin has less side-effects than Simvastatin.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I did ask about 10mg doses of simvastatin. The nurse said the 10mg does of Artovastatin seems to work better than the 10mg dose of Simvastatin. I wasn't having any side effects from Simvastatin but was only taking them 2 or 3 months before I stopped.
 
That all sounds like a nice adult dialogue between advisor and patient.

Enjoy your chips!!

Did I really just say that? ;)
 
That is wonderful - so pleased for you.

Your total cholesterol is now the same as mine was, last time they tested. No idea about the HDL, tri or LDL levels, because I didn't ask (not really interested).

But the consultant looked at the 5.2 and said 'nothing wrong there', and dropped the subject.

So it really does depend on the person, not the reading.

Again, so pleased for you. Wonderful news.
 
sounds like a great set of numbers - all very similar to mine at last review (except you beat me by 8lbs). Glad you have a good nurse, mine is just miserable and was obviously disappointed that I wouldn't let her prescribe anything for me.

I also debated going wild for few months until 3 months before my next HbA1c, I won't tell if you don't!

Sue
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Thanks. I did ask about 10mg doses of simvastatin. The nurse said the 10mg does of Artovastatin seems to work better than the 10mg dose of Simvastatin. I wasn't having any side effects from Simvastatin but was only taking them 2 or 3 months before I stopped.
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Yeah, not sure why but it does seem to work much better at a lower dose than Sim does at a higher dose, but that said if your OK on Sim why change, I think the side-effects are noticeable in the first few months if your going to get any.
 
Great progress so far which will hopefully continue. Sounds to me like your nurse at least listens, rather than dictates :-)
 
all sounds very positive and as others have said, the nurse has treat you like an equal partner in your healthcare. Keep up the good work, though maybe have a sneaky portion of chips this week ;-)
 
You need to be lathering on our M&F Anti-Mozzie Potion - Patent Pending, Trade Mark etc., etc.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
?????
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Ah. My OH and I have a home made anti mozzie (citronella, tea tree, tiny bit of Dettol, an emulsifying liquid and some water) lotion that works extremely well here. I am anti DEET, and using other toxic chemicals for long periods. Our friends always make jokes about patents, trade marks and the like, and our nicknames for each other begin with the initials M & F.

All very yawn inducing I know.

Don't worry. You'll have forgotten all about it by the time you get back from Scotland. :)
 
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