meds

[carol1]

Am currently only controlled by diet but have been told I will probably have to go on medication and also possibly medication for blood pressure.

This worries me as I have lost some weight (much needed may I add) and having read some of the topics it appears medication may put weight on. This is the last thing I need as I really need to get more weight off. Do we have any control over what GPs want to give use I feel I need to be the one in control of my health and not happy to blindly follow what the docs say without having my feelings considered.

 

[sugarless sue]

Hi Carol.Welcome to the forum.If you can get the weight down,and I know that's not easy,you may find that not only will your blood sugars go down but also your blood pressure.Are you testing your blood sugars daily?If you can keep them below 7 then hopefully there will be no need to go onto medication yet.Yes you have control over what the doctor can give you...but..and there is always a but,if you cannot successfully keep your blood sugars down by diet alone then you may need the medication to bring down your levels.High ,prolonged sugar levels can cause all sorts of complications as I'm sure you've been told!Also if you really need these medications because of bad control and you refuse then the doctor can refuse to see you again because of non-compliance!I know that all sounds scary but that's life I'm afraid. On a more positive note let's see if this forum can help you keep your blood sugars down and lose weight as well.Have a read of the forum threads and you will pick up plenty of tips on eating,testing and generally how to control your diabetes.Above all ask us questions,there's always some one with an answer.

As a post note I have been controlling mine for a year on diet only,I hate the thought of taking medications but I know that there will come a day when I have to.So far I'm managing, especially with the help and advise on here.

 

[sixfoot]

Carol1 welcome to the site, Sugarless Sue is spot on with her advice and best of all she is practicing what she says.
If you want the best chance look at the "Carbs" thread on here for ways to control BS by Diet.
Most meds carry some side effects, its far better to delay using them until nescessary.
I dont know what your lifestyle is but almost certainly it will mean some changes.
They dont have to be Draconian just more disciplined and measured.

Wish you all the very best
Dave P

 

[carol1]

Re: Diabetes programme

Thanks for your replies regarding going onto medication and apologies for delay in replying having probs with internet connection. I have just attended a Diabetes Programme and to be honest although the information was very good I came away feeling very depressed and still very confused. Its not the diabetes as much as the complications there were no congratulations on getting to grips with the blood glucose control. If anyone gets the chance to attend one of these programmes I hope they make you feel better about yourself than I now do. Feel I have gone back to how I felt when first diagnosed. I think we need someone to tell us well done occasionally on how we are coping with it all

 

[hanadr]

there are several websites which will ell you about the different medications and their side effects.
I have stopped taking Gliclazide, because I was desperate to lose weight. I have succeeded. I take Metformin, which doesn't cause weight gain. I eat low carb, which is good for Blood sugar and weight.
Read Gary Taubes "The Diet Deception"

 

[Jenny]

I take only Metformin which is supposed to have a side effect of assisting weight loss, not that I have noticed.

One thing to keep in mind when looking at those ranting about side-effects of medication on the web. Given that, for example, millions of Brits take Statins on a daily basis, the numbers reporting side effects is miniscule and by all accounts the benefits are substantial.

 

[IanD]

Carol, I am one who has begun to suffer complications - retina damage is just visible (not to me) & muscle pain was serious in April. My cholesterol has been above 5, except for a few months when I was taking simvastatin. Crippling leg muscle pain caused me to abandon statins.

For 7 years I have carefully followed the diet & lifestyle advice given by the diabetes education program. I then referred to this website for further advice.

I reduced my carb consumption to about 1/3 & over 3 months I have lost a stone, reduced my chol from 5.4 to 4.4, & reduced my daily BS readings to an average of 6.3 from 6.8.

I found the Drs info on diagnosis crushing - I went into the surgery when Steve Redgrave was winning gold medals, & came out feeling devastated - I felt I had the illness that would cause my early death.

The education programme was reassuring, though I now realise that the dietary advice was dubious. (Have a diet based on complex carbohydrates.) The dietitian was actually recommending low GI, but did not use the term.