• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Medication v's Weightloss

J

Joeblunt

Newbie
Messages
4
Hi folks,

I'm new to this forum, diagnosed as Type 2 in May 2005 and in general I've always been told (after blood tests) that I have good diabetes control. :D
Like a lot of people these days I'm overweight, now I know some will say "ask your doctor" but I'm not due to see him for at least a month so I thought I'd get others opinions. :wink:

Question: I intend to lose a lot of weight (Target date 01/04/2010) and since I've started (25/04/2009) I've done well (losing 20lbs) now I'm beginning to wonder - If I lose a lot of weight should I reduce my medication? (I'm currently on 3 x 850mg Metformin + 1 x 150mg Irbesartan + 1 x 40mg Simvastatin).
I would have thought as my body gets smaller perhaps I could reduce the dosage as my blood pressure may reduce naturally and perhaps what insulin my body is producing that may be able to carry on using say 3 x 500mg of Metformin? :?

Today I got up around 7.30am, 3 slices of Brown toast (with butter) tested before I ate / drank anything reading was 5.3 :wink: and 12.04pm tested again (nothing further to eat or drink in between, carrying out light DIY job) 4.8 :shock: over the past 10 times I've tested (maybe last 7 days) my average is showing as 5.8 :wink:

Any views, comments, advice welcome................................ :wink:
 
Hi Joe.

You may well be able to reduce your meds with weight loss. I did, quite drastically. The only proviso is always discuss this with your GP etc.first. Don't just do it because you think you should. There are other benefits from some meds which you would be well to consider.

Ken.
 
As Ken said, discuss with your doctor before changing anything, but a full record of all your blood tests/symptoms will help your doctor decide. Be sure to test if you feel you may be hypo. Some after-meal readings would be useful too. As you say, your BP may come down by itself - episodes of dizziness/lightheadedness may be a clue that your BP is dropping too low, so if this happens, mention it to your doctor. Your statin is unlikely to be reduced as it doesn't just relate to your cholesterol level, it has other benefits like reducing inflammation in the arteries, hence often prescribed to diabetics with normal cholesterol levels.
 
As I said in my initial post I know people will say "see your Doctor" but I was wondering if anyone else has lost a lot of weight and how did it affect their medication etc......
What are the 'hypo' symptoms?
 
Hypoglycaemia.

Here is a link to all the info you should need:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/fac ... garlow.htm

As I said in my previous response I reduced meds dramatically.

I lost 3 stone in as many months and went from 4 Gliclazide a day to 1 which is going very soon. I also reduced from 6 Metformin (3000mg) daily to 2 (1000mg) daily. They will probably stop then. All this after discussion with my Endo and DSN. There have been no problems with the reduction and Bg is still well controlled.

Ken.
 
I've lost 2 stone since 25th April 2009 and I'm aiming at losing another4 stone on / by 01st April 2010, its quite a target I know. 8)
 
Back
Top