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Negativity :(

PurpleArmadillo

Well-Known Member
Messages
55
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Feeling pretty down and annoyed this morning.

Since the appointment when I got the diagnosis with hba1c 96 (which was pretty much just the nurse taking bloods and handing me lots of leaflets about T2) I've had two further appointments.

In the meantime I immediately went very low carb, cut out alcohol completely and got myself a meter. Despite problematic morning levels I'm seeing significant improvements in my readings already.

Last Thursday - meeting with GP. Completely pointless. Although he was happy to see what effect lifestyle change has for the first 3-6 months he basically said I'll not be able to get down into the 50s without medication, and metformin is inevitable. He then proceeded to really push statins, and didn't seem at all happy with my refusal, saying something about people believing scare stories in the Daily Mail!

Today - lengthy appointment with the diabetes nurse. Very disapproving of my decision to decline medication. Comments like, you might be causing yourself harm in the three months you try this. Extremely dismissive of the use of a meter! Again, of the opinion that I'm just prolonging the inevitable and will never be able to get to acceptable levels (which to her is 48) without meds.

I have been feeling so pro-active and positive about getting this under control. I honestly feel like I've had the stuffing knocked out of me. I walked out of the surgery and almost burst into tears. Why the need for such negativity? If it were 3 months down the line and my efforts hadn't had any effect then yes. But before I've even had chance to try? Both GP and Nurse were perfectly 'nice', but this has really got me down.

I guess I just need to turn the upset into a determination to prove them wrong!

On the plus side, my liver function is now normal. And my blood pressure is down a little
 
Think we have all been there. Thank god for this forum, because as you are thinking you are doing the wrong thing, up pops peeps on here to offer you support. If anyone uses scare tactics its your GP and nurse. I really think they are so downtrodden they want everyone else there with them.
Anyhow well done for taking control.
 
Keep working at it as you'll need to but love the determination. More ignorance from a woefully under educated community that should know better. No self testing? Dumb.

Like to know those current levels and where they stand at the moment, but insofar as your attitude? Brilliant.

Just go get 'em.
 
Hi @PurpleArmadillo
Your story is so similar to my experience. Can I encourage you to prove them wrong. You have a meter and can see your improved results already so keep going. This forum will encourage you as that is what you need. What sort of results are you getting now? Often the fasting readings are the last to come down so don't worry too much about them for now. It took me several months to get the fasting readings right down and even now sometimes they go higher than I would like.
I got my HbA1c down from 95 to 50 in the first 3 months and then in the next 3 months to 33 on diet, weight loss and exercise. Some on this forum have had even better results than this. It is hard work but I feel it is worth it. I also don't won't to be on medication so continue to work with diet and exercise.
 
They (your medics) are just people that don't understand .. The thing I have found out in my diabetic journey, is that its one you must sometimes take alone.. My DBN also strongly disapproves of my way of eating .. but she also strongly disapproves of me being a vegetarian!
 
I had the same attitude from my Nurse. She really annoyed me and then proceeded to take my blood pressure, of course, it was through the roof and she wanted to increase my BP meds. She got an abrupt answer. She said about my cholesterol going up from 4.0 to 4.7 and when I explained that my trigs had come down and my LDL had.......she interrupted me and said you obviously know more about it than I do, wrong answer in my opinion. Just take no notice of the wrong information given to you. Can't wait for August when I get my hbaic tested again as I have lost nearly 3 stone and my figures are in the 5s. If I get the same attitude again I will tell her that I have cream in my coffee and double cream on my blueberries, fry in butter and see her head explode.
,
 
@PurpleArmadillo Chin up m'dear. You are doing great will show them how it's done.

Some folk can be negative, but we have to rise above it. At my last check up in January my nurse said she would not increase my metformin yet (I am on 2 a day) as it would give me some leeway when my condition starts to deteriorate. Cheers, nursie! This was on the second anniversary of me having non-diabetic levels Water off a duck's back.
 
Sorry to hear about the negativity you have faced, until they have walked in your shoes they will never know what you are going through. Please don't get down about this, yes it's definately a case of proving them wrong and continuing your progress, we all appreciate what you are doing so chin up and feel positive about what you have already achieved, many would bury their head in the sand so you deserve huge praise
 
@PurpleArmadillo PS - to be fair though, when I was first diagnosed and saw the dietician, I did come out of the surgery in a daze. I thought, "Why don't they just shoot me in the car park and be done with it?" But that was because I was vulnerable. You will grow a thick skin (like an Armadillo) as time goes on and cope better with the negativity x
 
Thank you so much all of you. This forum is so fantastic for support and inspiration.

For those asking about my readings, this is only the 12th day I've had the meter but so far -

I haven't had a day yet when my pre-breakfast reading hasn't been the highest of the day, but that's coming down from an average of first 5 days 11.7 mmol/L, to an average of last 5 days 9.7.
Average of first 5 days daytime readings 10.6, average of last 5 days 8.3
Pre-lunch reading I've just taken was 8.9

I know they're not really comparable, but considering my Hba1c was 96 a month ago, which equates to 14.8, I am really delighted with my progress so far. A long way to go I know, but I'm absolutely convinced I can do this my way!
 

That is progress. I found it took time but keep working on it as you are doing.
 
Hi and welcome. As others have said the attitude of many surgeries with regard to diabetes is awful. Statins are pushed mindlessly. Metformin is however a good start for most of us. It's a good safe drug which helps a bit but if the right diet does the job you may not need it. To help with the statins decision you need to know the LDL, HDL and Trigs numbers from a fasting test to really know where you are. The cholesterol Total from a non-fasting test is pretty useless. If you Google the web on statins you will find an ongoing discussion and you need to form your own opinion.
 
Exactly the same happened to me today and I'm really upset. My bloods are 45, which I thought was fine but the new nurse told me I need Metformin. I refused and it was obvious she wasn't happy and then proceeded to lecture me on the damage diabetes can do. I just feel like giving up right now, I know it won't last but I think for diet controlled I'm not doing badly. I also got a lecture as I won't take statins as they make me feel ill. Right now I feel like a total failure
 
Hi there PurpleArmadillo! Sorry you had such a poor reception from those who are supposed to be helping you. I was diagnosed T2 in November last year but it was January before I got to see the DBN. I don't know if this is general practice but at my surgery you see one nurse who weighs you and takes your blood pressure then you see another nurse to discuss diet, meds, etc. So far Nobody has mentioned any meds for me but like you I want to give the low carb diet a good go. So far I've lost 21lbs in weight and although I only test my blood now and then the highest reading I've had was 7.2. My initial hba1c was 58. The nurse said I could choose when to have my next blood test so as you can imagine I'm leaving that until much nearer my next DBN appt which should be some time in September! You're doing all the right things and you know it's working for you. As others have said, ignore the "professionals" as we all know more about T2 and we also know our own bodies! Live, love and laugh!

P..s. I'm not normally awake at this time but having a bad night with fibromyalgia! Hey ho!!
 
@PurpleArmadillo yes. That is a common experience for many of us.

Instead of offering "T2d may be able to normalize glucose and insulin levels by reducing carbs and intermittent fasting, would you consider it?".

It has become "You need a lifetime of medication, please get use to it now!"
 
You're doing really well. It is definitely possible to get your levels down below 48 without meds, purely with low carb eating and a good fluid intake. Some people disagree - as is always the case with anything, and to be fair different things often work better for different people. Don't be too worried about going on meds initially..it's not like you have to keep taking them if you don't want to, but maybe they can help kickstart things, and metformin is, by all accounts a "good" drug. Statins on the other hand - very little evidence they are worth taking at all! I am fortunate in that my doctors are pretty up to speed on advances and on approaches, and my specialist tells me low carb eating is the way forward and too may doctors lag behind in their awareness, wanting to promote what they see as healthy eating generally. frankly, I don't even think the general notion of healthy eating is correct for non-diabetics! Im not saying ignore medical advice! BUT...well... you get good plumbers and you get bad plumbers, eh? At least...I think there are good plumbers...somewhere. Good luck.
 
As my gp and Specialist till me they can only advise. No one can force you to do anything.
Its your decision whether you choose to take advice or not. We the you take the medication or not.
You do your own research and make up your own mind
 
I was diagnosed, I took the meds to bring my BG down, to prevent further complications.
I was prescribed a meter, and strips though, and we discussed reviewing everything I ate to reduce my BG as much as I could through my diet.
I then lost weight, and put my diabetes into remission, but we decided to keep on a minimal dose of metformin, which I'm happy with.
I didn't want to keep my BG high for any longer than it had to be, so for me, meds was the right choice.
 
If it helps @PurpleArmadillo I too was diagnosed with a score of 96. I got the "You will lose your marbles, sight legs etc" speech (So motivational!) I took the Metformin, just to keep the peace, and I still take them. I was then referred to a Nurse Practicioner, and I have to say I have no reason to complain. Yes she reads from the NHS script, but is aware that I have gone Low Carb. While she didnt wholeheartedly endorse that, she didnt condemn either. But she did offer some help in that, she knew what outcome I was after, and said " Don't be disappointed if it doesnt work, and just make sure you dont replace one problem with another" She has mentioned Statins, but I informed her that she had a better chance of convincing the Pope there is no God.
My last HbA1c was 63 just 10 weeks later. My NP now understands that I am serious about looking after myself, and is quite happy to let me plough my own furrow (for now) Best of all she wants to see me every 3 months until either my HbA1c stalls or dips below 40
 
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