Hello. Just to introduce myself to the Forum. My Diabetes 2 is usually diet controlled. I was advised this morning to take Metorforim

[HSSS]

HbA1c value? that is the only true indicator of your carb intolerance.

They measure different things and mean different things.

everyone is so keen to suggest that not eating and no carbs is better than Metformin but it is not true.

This is odd to say considering you go on to talk about the side effects you suffered with Metformin to the extent you had to cease it. We also see in here time after time people having far greater control and a bigger improvement in figures with low carb than with Metformin. It certainly can be a useful additional tool if it suits someone but it’s a mild effect. We also see great result with intermittent fasting which you actually go on to recommend.

my cholesterol levels improved as soon as my BG numbers came under control

A common experience with those eating low carb.

The points you make about statins are often discussed, in agreement with you a lot of the time.

this diabetes forum has turned into a cookery program with no mention of the benefit certain meds especially in older T2DM patients, or the need to get a move on and activate your muscles

Not sure what parts of forum you are reading. Yes recipes are discussed but so too are medications and the effects of exercise as well as many other related topics.

 

[KennyA]

Thanks for your reply and advice. I wondered if some meds affect blood sugar. Would there be another alternative ie. Statins and should I speak to GP about this? I have 1 x weetabix and blueberries, Ian mentioned then can raise blood sugar. I could try an egg breakfast, which will take some getting used I must admit and if I could change this sometimes to plain porridge? As for main meals, Monday I would have mackeral (tomatoe sauce) and a fish finger, 2 x crochects, cooked toms and vegetables. Tues@ 1/4 cheese/onion quiche cooked toms, new pots or have had a few chips before and green beans. Wednesday (low sugar) baked beans on toasted brown bread, perhaps I could try another (almond?) bread? thursday 1 x sausage and or bacon, egg, tinned toms, wedges and toast. Friday Shepherds Pie, little mash, carrots and peas. Saturday, Chicken (breast) curry and small veg rice (I know rice is not good), low brand garlic bread. Sunday: baked pot, beef madelion and/pork loin chopx, brussels, carrot and low brand 1 x yorkshire pud. After small Apple pie, (sometimes with apple and blackberries) and chock ice or custard, perhaps not every week? Otherwise, I try not to eat cakes after meals in the week.

Hi and welcome.

This is quite carb-heavy. You will find out whether you can tolerate any of these carbs by testing your BG before you eat them, and then again two hours later. Carb eaten is converted to glucose. A rise of more than 2mmol/l or a rise above 7.8mmol/l shows that your system does not tolerate that level of carb.

I would be looking to test:

*the weetabix and blueberries, which is carb-heavy. Porridge likewise.

*Potatoes/chips/croquettes feature a lot in this list and they too are carb-heavy.

*Quiches usually have a pastry base, pies have substantial amounts of pastry, again high carb.

*Bread likewise - anything made with flour basically, including yorkshire puddings.

*Ice cream and custard, almost certainly a lot of sugar.

The good news is that given this level of carb in your diet you have a lot of scope to make what may be relatively minor changes in what you eat that could have a huge impact, probably much more than taking metformin would.

 

[Deleted member 475901]

Counting carbs rather than sugars or fats goes against the information we were given some years ago.
I am older than you, diagnosed in my mid 60s. I started on low carb straight away having seen what eating as she wanted and upping the dose of metformin did to my mother.
The benefits are that I can have good quality fats - olive oil, sugar free mayonnaise, cheese, double cream, full fat milk (in small amounts).

I don't like eggs first thing so developed a lower-carb porridge of mostly milled flaxseed with chia seeds, at first I added a spoon of oats while I got used to the taste. I add other seeds and some chopped nuts plus cinnamon and a little salt. Cooked with water then I stir in a large spoon of coconut milk then add double cream on top.

If I have lunch it might be a green salad with ham/eggs/tuna/cheese or a slice of very low carb cake (lots of recipes online, I go for one that are less than 6g carbs per portion).
Dinner is usually chicken or fish with plenty of green veg and some cauliflower rice. Followed by full-fat Greek yogurt with a few raspberries, or a rhubarb 'crumble' made with ground almonds instead of flour and using xylitol or a stevia sweetener, served with double cream.

 

[Deleted member 475901]

IMHO 7.0 morning BG indicates absolutely nothing. do you have your HbA1c value? that is the only true indicator of your carb intolerance. everyone is so keen to suggest that not eating and no carbs is better than Metformin but it is not true. Metformin is your safety net. If you can regulate your BG with an evening 500mg XR you are in luck. side effects usually start with higher doses. I used to be on 2x 1000mg of Metformin and it was just horrible. Although they say that a single dose of 1000mg XR is the same as 2x 500mg XR it isn’t for me. that 1000mg XR pill runs havoc in my stomach (although from the same manufacturer as the 500) I get instant constipation and nothing comes out for days. I was also on statins and those worked quite well. reduced total cholesterol from 7.3!!! to 3.0 in two months but also reduced my HDL from 1.2 to 0.9 so I stopped those. Now at 4.8 total and HDL 1.2 my cholesterol levels improved as soon as my BG numbers came under control (A1c 5.6)
Cholesterol is closely linked with T2DM as your liver converts more and more sugar into fat. Also get educated on the side effects of messing with your cholesterol production by taking statins and the links to dementia.
I don’t know your stats (age, weight, activity levels and A1c) but you need to stop your snacking (unless it is 0 carbs as in nuts and vegetables) stop eating after 8pm and befoee 10am and then eat controlled bits of fruit with nuts and coffee to delay your next meal until 2/3 pm. that way you limit your food intake and teach your body to be more effective with the food consumed and also burn into your fat storage a bit more.
in closing : this diabetes forum has turned into a cookery program with no mention of the benefit certain meds especially in older T2DM patients, or the need to get a move on and activate your muscles as those wonderful things in our body take BG from the blood without the need for insulins (or very little of it) and in turn make the liver break-up more fat for energy. that’s what we want in the end - less fat in the body and less glucose (sugar!) in our blood.
Keep fighting as DM on its own always gets worse and never better on its own

A few points to note,
I am sure you want to be helpful but you can sound very directive, although that might be because English is not your first language?
some T2s do very well without metformin by cutting carbs
both nuts and veg contain carbs, some more than others
the forum has many specialised areas that include discussions on meds, etc so not just recipes - maybe look around a little more?

Also
I no longer do intermittent fasting, ie eating within certain hours as some of my non-diabetic meds have to be taken with food, 4 times a day
I still snack - it has always been my preferred way of eating and I don't eat large meals but I either snack on carb free snacks such as eggs or meat or tuna, or I include the carbs in my total carb target
the only fruits I usually eat are rhubarb and some berries.
In spite of all this I have been in remission for over 5 years now.