its hard work sorting out BGs at first, but you are doing very well ,I have been led to believe that metformin is lowering BGS by about 1mmol per meal ,??is it worth taking. I am not taking any now myself but they are asking you to take a lot.,ps glad you are recovering from your op.
Hi Christine,
I've been following the diet & exercise approach since diagnosis. With hindsight, I might have made it easier on myself to take the Metformin when it was offered to me. It could have given me a more gentle introduction to control, than I gave myself! But, I like to do things the hard way!!
I was so determined for my D&E approach to work that I worked really hard to get my BG's down in short order (within a week or two). For those whose diabetes was more advanced than mine at diagnosis, I appreciate that this might not be possible or even desirable, so I definitely wouldn't advocate this approach for all. I was lucky that it worked for me. If it hadn't, I would have had no issue with taking Metformin - statins is a whole other matter!
The only problem with Metformin that I can see is - from what I've read about it is - yes, it appears to be a relatively safe drug, and yes, it can lower blood glucose (a little), but D&E is generally accepted as being MORE effective for lowering blood glucose, and therefore, in my eyes at least, safer too! IMO, drugs are essentially poisons with some desirable side effects. So I intend to do without it, for as long as I can - and still stay safe, and I know enough now to know what safe levels are. My HBA1c, and daily levels are in the non-diabetic range, and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way. But if my BG's start to creep up, I'll be talking to my GP about Metformin, or whatever other options there are.
There seems to be a myriad of different approaches taken by HCP's in the NHS about what's best for the patient. Some will "allow" patients to try D&E first, but some are vehemently against it under any circumstances, and want to dispense the drugs right from the start. Obviously how advanced the patient's diabetes is a diagnosis will be a factor in influencing this decision, and rightly so. But ultimately, it should be the patient's decision. But any decisions should only be taken from a standpoint of knowing more about the options, and the upsides AND downsides of the available drugs. There's insufficient education for the patient at diagnosis, and later, for them to make informed decisions on the best approach for them - "Doctor knows best" prevails, because of various things - amongst them - time, resources and no doubt, money. The internet and forums such as this one are changing all that, and empowering patients to take a more active role in their future health - if they want to, that is!! More power to us, I say.
The OP and other newly diagnosed Type 2, may be glad of the extra help afforded by the Metformin in the weeks & months ahead to get control, but may also be glad to know that it may be only one of many options available to him. He's taking the right approach by finding out more about his condition to be better informed about managing it - something which the NHS don't really have the resources to help patients with effectively. And we're incredibly lucky that we've got this forum to help ourselves to better health through exchange of information. That's got to be a good thing.
I digressed a bit there.... sorry... but if I was the OP, recovering from surgery, I would be glad of the extra help the Metformin would give me,
but I would be looking to reduce that when I was back on my feet and had D&E under control .... only my opinion of course.
