Different treatments for type 2

Hi Nikki

Diagnosed with 2 fasting blood tests Dec 11
Saw doc who agreed to diet only for 3 months and gave me meter and strips

End of dec 11 was called in to see another GP who said I shouldn't be testing, thanks to this site I had evidence of the benefits of testing and he agreed to keep strips on prescription. Had HBA1c done for comparrison, referred for retinopothy test. Had 1 repeat strips then refused again saying t2's shouldnt test. I didnt argue again just buy my own.

Apr had retinopothy screening at local optician.

Apr and July had 2 more HBA's done on my own request and rang surgery for results, receptionist was very pleased with my progress lol

Aug - Saw doc over dizzyness/BP tablets, received praise over low numbers and reduced then stopped bp tablets.

Oct - flu jab after receiving letter I'm now entitled.

Due another round of blood and annual review, expecting to be the one to instigate it

Summary of my care - generally driven by me and I'm happy to keep it that way, as Its my body and my condition.

Mary x

Well done Mary, I agree wholeheartedly that its our condition and we should be able to treat as we see fit.

I refused medication when first diagnosed with diabetes and so far so good. My first check up showed that my levels had reduced. I too refused statins and am so pleased that I did with the recent news.

Suex

I had a bit of a nightmare intro to diabetes ... Didn't know I had it but had classic symptoms... Rapid weight loss (2 st in 2 months pre-diagnosis). Extreme thirst - drinking fizzy drinks and flavoured milk like nobody's business in lead up to diagnosis (not understanding impact of that, of course). Went to doctor end of April 2012 about symptoms... Initial FBT after first visit was 16 mmol/L. Took another 2 weeks (25th May 2012) to get to see diabetic nurse by which time it was 27 mmol/L as no advice from doc initially and continued fizzy drinks, etc. DSN put me straight. Stopped drinking everything except water and coffee immediately (and have stuck to that pretty much ever since, with odd fruit smoothie in summer months).

I was going on holiday 2 days after diagnosis - sailing of all things! DSN put me on insulin 2 x day plus Metformin. I was given a BG meter and test strips and shown how to use insulin pen. It was a nightmare for a few weeks and the experience made me turn to strict diet - healthy food, reduced calorie 1200 a day - I made myself do this, not the DSN. The best thing about the insulin was that it forced me into regular eating habits and BG testing. I didn't need to take insulin any more after about 6 weeks and that's what helped bring my levels down drastically initially. I've managed to keep them down since by eating to the following pattern:

Breakfast 6-8 a.m. (Depends if I'm working or not)
Snack 10-11 a.m.
Lunch 12 - 2 pm
Snack 3 - 4 pm
Dinner 5 - 8 pm
Snack 8 - 9 pm

I used my meter to work out best foods for me. I need to eat less carbs in morning and try not to eat after 9 pm.

For snacks I mainly eat fruit, nuts and low carb biscuits. I can eat sweets and chocolate as a treat but only very small amounts (15-20g).

I also exercise and try to do 10,000 steps a day walking (about 5 miles). I park my car a mile and a half from work and walk twice a day for 3 miles - adds about 20 mins each way to my day. Some days I walk at lunchtime too.

Sounds a lot I know but I found its all about routines with me - and sticking to them as much as I can. I like walking any way, so it wasn't too much of a hardship for me to adjust my daily routine to add this in. Sticking to food changes was harder but I'm used to that too now... Mainly eat fish, lots of vegetables, turkey, chicken, low fat sausage and bacon or gammon - much smaller portions. Use an app to track calories and carbs. Also use an app on my phone to track BG levels, exercise and medication and weight loss.

On new diet and exercise, have lost total of 50 lbs since diagnosis. Now weigh 11st 3lbs. Target is 10st 3lbs. Currently on 2 x 500mg of Metformin a day, BG levels generally within normal range of 4-7 mmol/L. Was asked to take statins for high cholesterol initially (cholesterol at diagnosis was 7.0) but was able to stop taking these after 2 months (at my request) when cholesterol went down.

Also:

May - diagnosed (3 visits with DSN in a week)

Jun - follow up visit with DSN

Jul - retinopathy test

Aug - first HbA1c, phone talk with DSN, insulin taken off prescription, statins stopped (but still on prescription), allowed to keep BG meter and test strip prescription (even though insulin stopped and encouraged - but not forced - to reduce/stop testing - decided to keep testing, just not as much - had been doing 5 x a day initially on DSN instructions when on insulin - before/after breakfast, before/after evening meal, before bed), general eye test (arranged by self)

Sep - podiatrist (at own request), dental check-up (arranged by self)

Dec - next scheduled HbA1c