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Hello

MoorT2

Well-Known Member
Messages
104
4 months ago I got a call from the doctor to inform me I had type 2 diabetes.

My Hb1ac level was 51
Although cholesterol was fine my triglyceride levels were up at 8.4

I was prescribed 500mg of Metformin and 20mg Atorvastatin to be taken daily.

Emotionally I'm not in a good place; I think a large part of me is in denial but realisation is slowly seeping in (evidenced by me signing up and posting on this forum) and I have this overwhelming sense of sadness (and probably some level of depression) - I really don't know what the future will hold for me or how to cope with this condition long term.

I feel ashamed and embarrassed; other than my partner I've not told anyone about my diagnosis. I don't even know how to approach that conversation.

I had my 3 months blood taken last week. I can see the results coming in on the NHS App.

My Hb1ac level is down to 41 and the triglycerides to 0.94.

I need to try and speak to a doctor tomorrow and discuss these results; I don't know how much of it is because of the medication and how much of it is because of the life style changes I've made, reducing carb intake, eliminating sugars and exercising 3-4 times a week etc.

I've lost 30 kg in these 4 months but am still 10 or so over where I need to be so a way to go yet and then I've got to keep it off.

As much as I want the doctor to tell me I'm heading into remission and can come off the medication, probably to confirm my lack of acceptance of the diagnosis, l have no idea if that is realistic expectation or if it's even a sensible approach at this stage.

I just feel like life has fallen away from me.
 
You have done amazingly well. You should be proud. None of us wanted to have diabetes but we ended up here. Instead of wallowing in it you have taken action and taken control. What you have achieved is significant and shows commitment and willpower. You've turned your A1c around. You've got your trigs into normal range. You've lost an amazing amount of weight. Really well done.
 
@MoorT2
Great work on the A1c, that is some turnaround in 4 months.
The good news for you is you were caught on the bottom rung of the diagnostic ladder.
Indeed I've read posters on here who had A1cs in the mid 50s & their doctors gave them 3 months to turn it around before a formal diagnosis.

In your case moderate changes with low carb, weight loss & exercise will be enough to turn things around.
Big congrats on losing 30kg, I know from experience that's not easy but that hard work may have secured your future with this disease.
So you should feel elated, you should be high fiving the moon . . . but it doesn't work like that, does it ?
Wouldn't it have been better if you'd swerved the diagnosis, still eating like the old days, it's natural to lament for these times.
All I can tell you is it will take time to accept the new you, you are not damaged goods, you've taken a huge step in improving your longevity, all your health markers will be going in the right direction.
When you learn to accept the new you you'll be so proud, it just takes time.
 
Welcome to the forum.

Wow! You have done brilliantly! Well done

I would say it's the lifestyle changes you have made that have made the difference.

In addition to what you are doing already, I would suggest one more thing. Throw off the guilt and shame. That's been put on you by the media and maybe health care professionals too. You don't need it. Instead be proud of what you have achieved.

It's good that you have been diagnosed and didn't turn things around before your doctor declared you T2. This means that you will get annual eye checks etc

Oh and keep posting, your story will be an inspiration to others in the same boat as you.
 
MoorT2 said:
I feel ashamed and embarrassed
Click to expand...

If you had developed an intolerance to gluten, lactose or nuts would you blame yourself ?
Your body has lost its ability to efficiently process carbs so a high percentage of those carbs get stored as fat instead of being used for fuel. You have gained weight because you can't use the carbs in your diet not because you have been overeating. If that were the case then all overweight people would be T2.

"I've not told anyone about my diagnosis. I don't even know how to approach that conversation"

Why do you feel the need to tell anyone ? Your medical details/history are private, nothing to do with anyone else.

"I don't know how much of it is because of the medication and how much of it is because of the life style changes I've made"

Metformin is a useful drug, it helps a little with insulin resistance and works on the liver to prevent it from releasing too much stored glucose into your blood. It has no effect on the carbs in your meals, so the wonderful progress you have made with weight loss and your HbA1c is mainly your doing, not the dr's or the drugs, you!
Well done and welcome to the forum
 
Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond to my initial post and for the encouraging words.

I just got off the call with the Doctor - we've agreed that I can come off the medication for now and retest in February to see how things are going.

She didn't raise concerns / objections to do this (although she initially wanted to keep me on them) and we talked through the changes I've made and what I've been doing and she seemed to think it was a safe plan.
 
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