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getting off medication

mackers 2

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,
I have been actively dieting exercising and avoiding sugar for the past three months and have managed to get my blood sugar level down from 59 to 45. Alas this isn't sifficent to ditch metaformin. Can anyone advise (a) at what level you can come off tablets and (b) the best method of reaching that level. all the best
 
Hi Mackers and welcome to the Forum. I’ll just tag in @daisy1 for her useful welcome info post.
We can’t advise you individually on dropping meds that’s something you need to discuss with your dr/nurse. However I take 3 x Metformin 500mg per day and have had a non diabetic HbA1c for the past eight months. My GP and I are looking to reduce my dose at my next review in August. In the long run I’m happy to stay on a small dose as it has other benefits, something you might like to consider too. Here’s an item about them:
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2001/9/report_metformin/Page-01
 
Well done on reducing your HbA1c. That is excellent.

You say you have been avoiding sugar, which is good, but have you also been reducing your carbohydrate intake? As all carbs turn to sugar once eaten (ALL carbs, including the so called healthy ones) it makes sense to consider if your consumption could be reduced. The less carbs we eat, the less sugar will be released from them. If you can do this, you should see your levels drop further.

Do you have your own glucose meter? If not, I suggest you buy one as this will help you in your food choices. Without one you are working blind and just guessing.
 
Hello and welcome. Well done on addressing your condition and lowering your HbA1c.
The best way to lower it further is to carry on with what you are doing because it seems to be working! One point, though, you mention sugar but sugar is a carbohydrate and it is carbohydrates that those of us with Type 2 Diabetes and Pre Diabetes have to be careful with.

Do you have a blood glucose monitor at home? If not, I would strongly advise that you get one and start testing to see exactly which foods raise your glucose levels so that you can adjust portion sizes or cut out a particular food.

As to Metformin, it does little to lower glucose levels but it is good at working in the background. The decision to keep taking or to stop taking any drug is yours but I would advise you read up on the benefits before you decide to quit. Are you having adverse effects with Metformin?

Have a wander around the forum and ask as many quextions as you like.
 

As I’ve said I’m quite happy to continue on Metformin for its other health benefits but also for the background effects, particularly liver dumping which affects me in the mornings particularly if I don’t eat breakfast. I am keen to reduce it a little at my next review to reduce my tablet count (I unfortunately have other conditions that require meds too), but the retired nurse in me is not afraid to take meds if I derive benefit from them and fully understand their actions.
I guess the bottom line is, although my HbA1c is normal, would it stay that low if I stopped Metformin completely? At the level it is it gives me scope for any unexpected increases, due to say illness or stress, but still remain within the normal range.
 
Hello your in this forum
The professors have given you what is useful. I will add a proposal

In fact, I suggest you measure blood sugar five hours after the meal and nine hours after fasting

If there is a big difference between the two measurements, this means that you have a liver discharge so you need metformin
 
@mackers 2

Hello Mackers 2 and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful and interesting. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will try and help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 
Well - Metformin did not help me get down to Hba1c of 47, and then 3 months later I reached 41 - but if your Dr thinks that Metformin is required then it will be prescribed - just what it does I could not say.
I'm with you Resurgam, I have gradually dropped down from 3 x 500 Metformin in September,2017 , to zero as from 9/4/2018 HBA1C down from 66 to 49, as far as I can see low carbs + excercise is controlling my blood sugar levels, and reduction in medication has reduced my trips to the loo, which is a major benefit for me. (I was diagnosed T.2 12 years ago).
 
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