Firstly, sorry for the long post!
So a bit of background first. I was diagnosed T2 diabetic in 2020/2021 with a hba1c of 54. I was diet controlled for a few years, keeping my Hba1c between 48- 54. I lost 2 stone and was working hard on my weight and diet but after having a not so positive encounter with a diabetic nurses, I skipped some reviews/blood tests and ended up coming off the wagon as it were.
Moved house and so changed surgeries and so went for a diabetic review. Was shocked that my hba1c had come back as 80. That was in May. New diabetic nurse wanted to put me on meds and it was agreed I'd go on a 'flozin. They put me on Jardiance and wanted to put me on the higher dose straight away, but having read the patient info leaflet and NICE guidance I pointed out the staring dose was the lower dose, which could be increased to the higher dose if tolerated well. They agreed the lower dose to start would be more suitable but if OK after a month, to increase.
I started to self fund a dexcom, which has really helped me understand what I can eat and I started to get my BG down from an average of about 13 to around 7-8 mmol/l. I also started to lose weight and had lost about 4kg before starting the Jardiance.
Started the Jardiance 2 months ago. Spoke to the nurse after a month and explained my weight loss, diet change and results from my dexcom and we agreed to keep me on the lower dose until my next Hba1c, then review.
My goal is to come off the meds - I can't take metformin due to other medical issues, which is why I went on the 'flozin, but the rare possible side effects do worry me ' particularly the possibility of DKA - I've seen from the dexcom that the best way to keep my BG under control is to eat a lot less carbs - this is also how I'm losing weight, which is much needed, but because of the risk of DKA on these meds, I can't cut out too much carbs, which seems totally counterintuitive, that to lose weight and keep my BG in range I need to eat less carbs, but because of the meds I'm on that are supposed to help with my BG , I need to eat more of the things that's rising my BG!
Anyway, I have now lost 10kg and my dexcom has my average BG at around 7.4. I have been on the lower dose of Jardiance for two months. I've got a diabetic review next week and I was really hoping my Hba1c had come down enough to agree with the nurse I could come back off the meds and go back to diet controlled, as I dont believe its just the meds reducing my BG, but my diet change and weight loss playing a huge part. This will also allow me to reduce carbs more. I will still self fund the cgm if off the meds as this has been a game changer.
However, I had my hba1c last week and its come back at 52 - I know I should be really pleased with this drop from 80 to 52 in just over 3 months, but cant help feel disappointed that its not lower as I dont think this is low enough to get the nurse to agree to stop my meds. It's left me feeling a bit deflated.
Edited for spelling and to add a bit more info.
So a bit of background first. I was diagnosed T2 diabetic in 2020/2021 with a hba1c of 54. I was diet controlled for a few years, keeping my Hba1c between 48- 54. I lost 2 stone and was working hard on my weight and diet but after having a not so positive encounter with a diabetic nurses, I skipped some reviews/blood tests and ended up coming off the wagon as it were.
Moved house and so changed surgeries and so went for a diabetic review. Was shocked that my hba1c had come back as 80. That was in May. New diabetic nurse wanted to put me on meds and it was agreed I'd go on a 'flozin. They put me on Jardiance and wanted to put me on the higher dose straight away, but having read the patient info leaflet and NICE guidance I pointed out the staring dose was the lower dose, which could be increased to the higher dose if tolerated well. They agreed the lower dose to start would be more suitable but if OK after a month, to increase.
I started to self fund a dexcom, which has really helped me understand what I can eat and I started to get my BG down from an average of about 13 to around 7-8 mmol/l. I also started to lose weight and had lost about 4kg before starting the Jardiance.
Started the Jardiance 2 months ago. Spoke to the nurse after a month and explained my weight loss, diet change and results from my dexcom and we agreed to keep me on the lower dose until my next Hba1c, then review.
My goal is to come off the meds - I can't take metformin due to other medical issues, which is why I went on the 'flozin, but the rare possible side effects do worry me ' particularly the possibility of DKA - I've seen from the dexcom that the best way to keep my BG under control is to eat a lot less carbs - this is also how I'm losing weight, which is much needed, but because of the risk of DKA on these meds, I can't cut out too much carbs, which seems totally counterintuitive, that to lose weight and keep my BG in range I need to eat less carbs, but because of the meds I'm on that are supposed to help with my BG , I need to eat more of the things that's rising my BG!
Anyway, I have now lost 10kg and my dexcom has my average BG at around 7.4. I have been on the lower dose of Jardiance for two months. I've got a diabetic review next week and I was really hoping my Hba1c had come down enough to agree with the nurse I could come back off the meds and go back to diet controlled, as I dont believe its just the meds reducing my BG, but my diet change and weight loss playing a huge part. This will also allow me to reduce carbs more. I will still self fund the cgm if off the meds as this has been a game changer.
However, I had my hba1c last week and its come back at 52 - I know I should be really pleased with this drop from 80 to 52 in just over 3 months, but cant help feel disappointed that its not lower as I dont think this is low enough to get the nurse to agree to stop my meds. It's left me feeling a bit deflated.
Edited for spelling and to add a bit more info.
Last edited:
