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Medication or Lifestyle changes first

Swan13

Swan13

Active Member
Messages
25
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Hi All
Having now allowed all the initial info to sink in having just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes I wondered what people's views were on whether to start taking the medication prescribed straight away or too wait a short period making life style changes first to see what happens. I've been put on medication after just one Fasting test - thoughts?
 
I'm resisting meds and going for low-carb diet.
I can't see any need for you to take statins with such a good cholesterol level.
You have asked this question in your other posting and I think MikeD had already given you a good answer there.
 
Hi from reading your other post your initial test results arnt too high, I think it is just a standard thing from Drs to put you on Metformin and statins on diagnosis. It is a really a personal decision that only you can make and it might be worth discussing it with your diabetes nurse (hopefully a good one) or if you decide you would rather try to control it with lifestyle changes it is achievable. Please keep us informed.
 
Swan13 said:
Hi All
Having now allowed all the initial info to sink in having just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes I wondered what people's views were on whether to start taking the medication prescribed straight away or too wait a short period making life style changes first to see what happens. I've been put on medication after just one Fasting test - thoughts?
Click to expand...


With HbA1c of 8.3 you are not TOO high
With a BMI of 30 lifestyle changes should work, although metfomin SR shouldnt be TOO bad (and keeps prescriptions free!). I would try to cut back on carbs and try to note what spikes your BG and cut back on that!
The "I want to test to find how various foods affect my BG" tack should cut SOME mustard with the GP , if not, "Codefree" meters & strips are cheaper than most.

Your cholersterol is 4.4, do you have a breakdowwn of that (HDL, Trigs, LDL)? Again I wouldn't be rushing to statins with that!
 
Personally when I was diagnosed type 2, my doctor wanted to put me straight on to medication, but the diabetic nurse said to leave it to see if I could do something about it with lifestyle changes. The doctor relented but instead put me forward for an exercise class run at the local leisure centre once a week. This started me off on diet and an exercise regime and I have not looked back since. I joined the type 2 testing program to get a meter, test strips etc so that I could adjust my diet according to the meter. Now I have lost 59 lbs in weight, BMI down from 33 to 25.3, average meter reading of 5.3. No medication required and technical classed as no longer diabetic (diabetes in remission) as long as I stick to the diet and exercise regime.
So it worked for me.
 
Its standard practice for GPs to hand out metformin and statins on diagnosis. As the other posters have said your levels aren't too high.

I fought mine and insisted that I be given a chance to make dietary changes first, I lowered my carb intake massively. As a vegetarian I was eating a lot of carbs, all high-fibre/wholemeal/seeeded etc so by NHS standards considered healthy.

As my GP considered me non-compliant I was refused a meter, bought my own SD code free (cheapest for the test strips) and I tested a LOT and wrote everything down.

I was shocked at the raise in BG from porridge, pasta etc so these were stopped. It took a little while but my HbA1C levels reduced markedly within first 3 months so I was allowed to continue with no medication.
Five years later I still test regularly and I am still medication free.
 
Steam Engineer said:
Personally when I was diagnosed type 2, my doctor wanted to put me straight on to medication, but the diabetic nurse said to leave it to see if I could do something about it with lifestyle changes. The doctor relented but instead put me forward for an exercise class run at the local leisure centre once a week. This started me off on diet and an exercise regime and I have not looked back since. I joined the type 2 testing program to get a meter, test strips etc so that I could adjust my diet according to the meter. Now I have lost 59 lbs in weight, BMI down from 33 to 25.3, average meter reading of 5.3. No medication required and technical classed as no longer diabetic (diabetes in remission) as long as I stick to the diet and exercise regime.
So it worked for me.
Click to expand...

Now THAT is a good effort. Well done. Shows you what discipline can do :)
 
Thanks guys - really helpful. Is all quite confusing at the moment but lots to think about before next GP visit
 
Hi all - one more question if I can please. When choosing what food to eat what is the key measure I need to focus on when it says on the label "carbohydrates xxg per 100grams of which sugar is xxg" - the guideline in the forums given of 5.5 per 100grams is that the "of sugar part" or the carb part. If the sugar part what is the level for the carbs per 100grams I should be looking for
 
On the label, just look at the carbohydrates total and ignore the 'of which sugar' total.
 
Thanks - so what is a good level of carbs per 100grams
 
If you're following LCHF, then the lower the level the better. Can't give you an actual figure as I don't know how many carbs per day you're aiming for.
 
Hi. Statins have nothing to do with diabetes so it's your choice whether to take them for high cholesterol or not. There are many conflicting views on the web. Metformin is a good, safe drug and helps if you are overweight. It's effect on blood sugar is fairly minimal with a low-carb diet being the priority
 
I was prescribed Metformin and have stayed at a lower dose than prescribed due to diet working wonders.

Metformin is reputed to have heart-protecting properties and is meant to prevent hypos too.

Therefore I have stayed on it and am cutting back to 1 per day (instead of 2) and measuring the effect now that I have shed loads of weight.
 
GPs according to NICE guidelines should be talking to people at risk of CVD and obesity on lifestyle and exercise..

If they don't you are entitled to ask why not as the NICE guidelines stipulate it as a must...
 
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