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Lurker with a story and an important question

R

reamer2

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Hello everyone

I have been a lurker since diognosis in May, type 2. I have learned so much about testing, diet etc and am very grateful.

When I was told I was diabetic, I was gobsmacked. I, like many others, thought that excessive thirst and frequent trips to the loo were the symptoms of diabetes. I had neither, I went to the doctor because of extreme tiredness and thought that perhaps I might have an underactive thyroid or something similar. Although I had a Mum and two sisters with diabetes, I didn't for one minute think I had.

Anyway, was told the usual things about a healthy diet, exercise and not to test myself because I would get stressed out with the results. I tried 3 months on diet and exercise alone, but just before the 3 months were up, I had to get in touch again because I could no longer cope with the tiredness.

I was given my first hbac1 test, ( 7.9) and was put on Metformin. 3 weeks later I had to go back for my first review. During this time, I read all I could and thought I had a good arguement for prescribing me test strips. I said that by them only doing a test after 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, if my readings were still high, all they could do is prescribe more medication until eventually I would be put on insulin.

I, on the other hand said that if I were to test myself more often, I could take more control and delay the extra medication, thus saving the NHS.

I needn't have worried so much. The nurse agreed with me and said she would ask the doctor to prescribe strips as well as the extra medication I would need to take.

What she did say though, was that the thinking on diabetic medication was changing and that they were thinking of putting patients on insulin much earlier because they could gain better control of their sugar levels with this.

Has anyone else been told this? I would be most interested to here any comments.
 
Hi Reamer and welcome to the forum.

I have seen this mentioned on the internet a few times lately.

Personally I would prefer to try and control mine by natural means for as long as I can before going down the road of medications.
 
After my run-in with doc today I've been on internet and there are some research papers about talking about early intervention with metformin and earlier prescribing of insulin. Apparently theory is that early aggresive treatment with meds reduces long-term problems. But I agree that I'd rather try to stay off meds as long as possible.

Can't remember the sites I visited, just googled metformin type 2 early treatment, or something like that, in case you're interested.

Lynne
 
Hi Reamer

Welcome to the forum

Apologies that I am a Type 1 answering a Type 2 posted question – is this permitted :?: :!: :lol:

The push to put Type 2 diabetics onto insulin as soon as possible is possibly also linked with government health targets and the QOF (Quality & Outcomes Framework) where GP’s have to achieve targets to receive financial rewards.
HBA1C results are part of this target and thus it is in the NHS’s interest for patients to achieve lower HBA1C’s as quickly as possible.

Whilst no one would dispute that achieving and maintaining good blood glucose levels is vital for overall health & well being, I would like to think that given the option most people would opt for the non insulin approach first. Unfortunately insulin is not a panacea.

There is no financial incentive to support individuals with Type 2 to try for example a reduced carbohydrate intake and exercise as part of a regime to gain good control of blood glucose levels.

At the NHS Alliance Conference in May 2009 Dr David Jenner stated he felt that the new QOF Targets would pose a threat to patients, as aggressive treatment would become the norm.

At a recent focus group I attended a doctor was cheerfully informing us how he had reduced the HBA1C levels in his Type 2 diabetics by putting them all :shock: on the synthetic insulin analogue Lantus – when questioned at length by one of the group he had to admit that this approach could only be sustained for about a year before the individual would then have to start bolus injections as well. :( The overwhelming view of people listening to this was that this was not acting in patients best interests.

The decision to use insulin must be based around individual clinical need rather than an NHS Target.
In addition it is important that anyone using insulin must be given a choice of the insulin's available in the UK be it animal insulin, human synthetic insulin or GM synthetic analogues.

Best wishes

Txx
 
The logic of this escapes me.

If you take more insulin and you are insulin resistant , then surely taking more insulin makes even more fat which , in turn, makes you more insulin resistant.

The only logical way is to rest the Pancreas by reducing carbohydrate intake thus reducing the body's natural insulin output which , in turn, reduces fat and therefore insulin resistance.
 
Hi Sugarless Sue

I totally agree the above approach does seem totally illogical but then nothing in our current world seems logical :? :? .

Txx
 
I think this is because they are avoiding getting patients to take control. Or avoiding LETTING patients take control. I know there's a large cohort of people who don't want to be bothered with responsibility, but many of us are ready and willing to do so.
Back to my quote from JK Rowling
That which is easy is not necessarily right.

There is also a medical input into aggressive treatment. If caught early, aggressive treatment may sometimes put diabetes( T2) into remission.
However, My GP told me that I shall gradually have to increase my medication until I go on to Insulin. It's inevitable in his eyes. However, I have not increased, but decreased my medication in the 6 years since diagnosis. I'm a low carber!
 
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