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Joined the 5% club at last

Dougie22

Dougie22

Well-Known Member
Messages
319
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hello again,

Just been to the doc and found out that I've reached the 5% club with an HbA1c of 5.7 (39)!

I'm delighted and very thankful for all the advice and help received on this forum.

Once again, though, totally disappointed in my doctor's reaction, a mumbled good followed by a long diatribe on why I should be on statins (lets not repeat all the arguements here) and a statement that "they" now think blood pressure is more important than BG levels and that, at a consistent 140-145/80-85, I should move onto long term blood pressure medication. I refused but will do a bit more research.

Left the surgery vowing to get round to changing doctor sooner rather than later. Will look into it after holiday.
 
Great result Dougie! Well done. If as I imagine you're on reduced carbs and losing weight, you'll probably find like me that the BP comes down as well eventually. I went from 155/85 to 118/69? last check with no meds.
Well done again. :clap:
 
Dougie22 said:
Just been to the doc and found out that I've reached the 5% club with an HbA1c of 5.7 (39)!

I'm delighted and very thankful for all the advice and help received on this forum.

Once again, though, totally disappointed in my doctor's reaction, a mumbled good followed by a long diatribe on why I should be on statins (lets not repeat all the arguements here) and a statement that "they" now think blood pressure is more important than BG levels and that, at a consistent 140-145/80-85, I should move onto long term blood pressure medication. I refused but will do a bit more research.

Left the surgery vowing to get round to changing doctor sooner rather than later. Will look into it after holiday.
Click to expand...

You haven't joined the 5% club, you've smashed it! Well done!

BP is more important than BG? That's probably true now that you're in the 5% club (and hence under control), but it makes it sound like there has been some sudden change in NHS policy. Sounds like he was trying to find a way of knocking you, however well you did.

140 over 80 is at worst "pre-hypertension", I'd be surprised if he stuck you onto BP meds without giving you the chance to improve it by yourself.
 
Borofergie you are probably right in that her thinking was sorted BG, now lets tackle BP, etc.

Her point was that it hadn't changed in about a year and a half (maybe 10 readings).
I was thinking:
- Well that's good....it hasn't gone up
- If it was high then, why not mention it till now?
- It's not that high anyway...it'll come down when I lose weight

I am trying to lose weight but I have been a bit patchy in my self control and been viewing BG as the main target (so more fats and protien, less carbs....therefore limited weight loss. Will renew efforts after holidays.

Thanks for the encouraging comments.
 
Well done Dougie on the 5% :clap:

With regards to bp meds I would certainly consider it as they like people with diabetes to be below 130/80 (my own gp prefers it to be 130/70).......however have you thought about buying your own bp monitor and recording your readings at home? They are really cheap now but make sure you purchase one with the upper-arm cuff as they are believed to be more accurate, people can suffer from 'White Coat Syndrome' when visiting gp surgeries and clinics which pushes up their blood pressure.

I take my home readings along to my diabetes appointments and they are quite happy to accept them as I can suffer from White Coat :)
 
Fantastic news!

Makes you feel all smug, doesn't it. :D

I'll get the others to budge up on the sofa in preparation for you.

wiflib
 
Well done Dougie a great result! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Wouldn't personally rule out BP meds such as Ramipril as they have Kidney protective properties which might be handy as given your great hBA1c it probably means you're eating a bit more protein than you were. I don't think Ramipril is in the same league of controversy as statins and quite happily take it myself.
 
Thanks for comments.

Looking forward to a seat on that sofa Wiflib!

Noblehead, I already use my own BG meter but the results are very simialr so I think I've gotten over my white coat.

Xyzzy, I agree that BP medication is far less controversial and I will be more easily convinced to start taking them if I can't get it down with weight loss. Want to give it a try first though as I'm far from happy about going onto any medication for potentially 30 years if I can avoid it through lifestyle change.
 
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, well done :clap: :clap: :clap:

Really makes you feel proud doesn't it? You have done so well, you can sit beside Libby and I on the sofa and share the low carb cookies with us. :lol:
 
Great work. It's always good to see things go to plan!
 
Well done you :thumbup: Doctors hate to be bested,they think they have all the answers. Lots of proof on this web site that they haven't :thumbdown:
 
Well done Dougie!
 
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