My story

kesun said:

I don't know how it works in Denmark. It used to be in England that you needed the doctor's consent to see your own results (not sure whether this was law or individual GP decision), but now they have to give them to you if you ask. I don't bother to ask my GP, I just tell the receptionist that I need them. Might that work for you?

Can you easily go to another GP? It doesn't sound to me as if your current one is meeting your needs. If you happen to have the same condition as I do, metformin is (a) no use, as mine involves insulin insufficiency not insulin resistance, and (b) contra-indicated because of the risk of lacto-acidosis. It's not worth taking risks with your health just because your GP doesn't keep up with new medical information.

Kate

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It's not quite as easy in Denmark. I do have the right to see the papers, but I have to apply for it each time. The first time is free. After that I have to pay about £1 a page. But if that nice new nurse keep giving me the numbers, it is not a problem.
Getting another GP is not an option. It's a small town and there is a shortage of doctors in my part of the country. They prefer big cities.

Ann

Totto said:

I live on Gotland so not much choice as to GPs here either.

I do however think you should ask if you have had antibodies tested. GAD and islet ABs are the most common. Do you have any autoimmune conditions?

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You're right. There is no harm in asking.

Today I have been off Metformin for a week.
Problems have piled up, none to do with illness, but I'm pretty sure they affected my BS. Trouble comes in threes, and so far I have only been able to solve one of my problems. I feel stressed.
Anyway, here are my levels for the past week. (I haven't changed anything in my diet.)

Fasting. 5.8 - 6.6
After breakfast: 6.4 - 7.0
Before lunch: 5.4 - 5.5
After lunch: 5.5 - 6.2
Before dinner: 5.3 - 6.1
After dinner: 6.4 - 7.5

What do you think?

Ann

mine said:

you used to achieve 38!!. which is 2.1. thats sound horrifying.

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I have used UK standard here.
HbA1c = IFCC
BS = mmol/l

In continental Europe the standard is
HbA1c = IFCC
BS = DCCT

My hbA1c of 38 is
UK standard = 6.4mmol/l
European standard = 5.6

You seem to use US standard
38mmol/mol = 115mg/dl

I may have confused myself with this. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Ann

I have now been almost 2 months off Metformin.
The readings haven't changed, so no need to list them.

I have managed to put on some weight, and am now at the low end of normal BMI. Very happy with that.

A strange thing happened one day.
I didn't have any food left in the house, and went to buy some. I hadn't eaten anything in 8 hours since breakfast, but wasn't hungry, just felt a bit tired.
In the very slow line at the supermarket, I suddenly felt dizzy. Legs were shaking and I had to sit down on the floor. A concerned elderly lady behind me said that I was so pale that even my lips were white.
At home the meter showed a bs of 8.6. I was too exhausted to stand up and prepare a meal, so I grabbed what I could reach, some 70% chocolate I just bought. I had 40g of it, and soon felt better. After half an hour the dizziness was gone, bs now 5.6.

I have been reading about liver dump, but don't remember ever seeing a description of how it feels.
Is that what happened?

Finally!
Today I got my hbA1c after the first three months off Metformin.

All numbers are exactly the same as last time.

Neither the nurse nor the GP expected that, and I believe my doctor only let me try it out to prove me wrong.
But the nurse was genuinely happy for me.
She hasn't worked at the clinic for long, and is very different from the rest of them. She is no specialist on diabetes, but is obviously using the internet a lot, reading everything that has any relation to her work. She even knows about the different opinions on cholesterol. None of the doctors, I've spoken to, did.

zand said:

Well done, I am really pleased for you.

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Thank you so much, zand. I hope you are feeling better today.