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Newly diagnosed and still confused

D

Deediabetic

Active Member
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42
Hello all

I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic 6 weeks ago after a visit to a hospital emergency department. I went in with what I now know as typical gallstone pains and was diagnosed with them as well as getting my diabetes diagnosis. I have since had my gallbladder removed and started on a healthier low calorie (1200cal x day), low carb (between 70g and 100g a day) eating plan along with exercise. My liver test results were about 10 times more than what is considered in normal range prior to my gallbladder removal.

It has been 4.5 weeks since my gallbladder surgery and I've just got back from my GP who did a full lot of blood tests including a new HbA1c. My liver results are back in normal range and my most recent HbA1c is 7.2. The HbA1c I had done in hospital 6 weeks ago was 13.8. My GP is absolutely thrilled with my results. He was literally beaming and told me he'd never seen a patient of his do this in such a short period. He said that in 12 weeks he'd order another HbA1c test for me and talked about taking me off my 2x day 500mg dose of metformin in 12 weeks because he thinks my results will be in the normal non diabetic range judging by my huge drop in these last six weeks. He also said he'll be able to give me the go ahead to start TTC in 12 weeks.

It may sound like a silly question but I'm still trying to get my head around all of this, would it be a normal move to take me off my meds in 12 weeks if my HbA1c are in normal range? Hasn't the metformin attributed significantly to me achieving my current results? Wouldn't taking me off my meds cause my HbA1c to swing back up even if my diet and exercise stays exactly as it is now?
 
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Well Done a fantastic result. In my experience it is the low carbing that has impacted your levels. Personally I took myself off Metformin when my sugar levels returned to normal with no negative effect. Of course I was self testing daily so could watch out for any changes. Best of luck keep up the great work
 


Wow you’re awesome! Well done you!
 
Wow! Well done you! It's all happened for you so quickly, which is why your head is in a whirl. I truly believe it's the restriction on carbs that have helped you the most. It's just amazing what a difference a lower carb diet makes to we diabetics.
 

Thanks for that info. I haven't been testing my blood glucose levels. I have my first appointment this week with a specialist diabetic consultant so I assume I'll be covering all that with them. My GP told me to exercise and lose weight but didn't go into any real specifics because he said I'd be best to discuss my particulars with a diabetic consultant because they'd be able to guide me as to which avenues would be best to explore by way of diet. I've just been trying to eat low carb and eat low GI carbs when I do eat them. I've also upped my fat intake and try to eat something acidic with meals which is supposedly good at helping slow down the effects of carbs on the blood glucose levels but I dont know if thatis scientifically true or just internet hogwash! Was tossing up doing keto or low low carb after reading on here but was waiting for this upcoming appointment and the results of my Hba1c test as to see where I go with my diet. It seems by my results that it is going ok so far but I am looking forward to testing with a glucose monitor to see what spikes me and what doesn't by way of foods.
 
coby said:
Wow! Well done you! It's all happened for you so quickly, which is why your head is in a whirl. I truly believe it's the restriction on carbs that have helped you the most. It's just amazing what a difference a lower carb diet makes to we diabetics.
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Thank you. I feel so much more energetic and I didn't really realise how poisonous carbs could be for so many people these days. For the majority of my lifetime I've been fed the lines that fat was a bad source of energy but it turns out carbs are the ones I should have avoided and minimized. Carbs just increased my appetite and cravings for them to the point I was out of control with them.
 
Congratulations of that huge drop. Your new way of eating is what has helped you. Metformin is a very mild drug and helps to a limited extent only, mainly helping to reduce the amount of glucose the liver dumps and to a small extent it helps reduce insulin resistance. It has very little effect on the HbA1c. If your GP takes you off it, don't panic, it will make very little difference.
 
You hit the nail on the head there!
 
Hi @Deediabetic and welcome to the forums.

Like the others, I suspect that the reduced carbs are what have done the trick but can I ask two questions
1) Where are you located, Though diabetes is the same everywhere, the treatment supplied and recommended by doctors varies by location.
2) What's TTC

And congrats on the blood sugar reduction.
 
Fantastic result well done!
 

Hello and thank you for the welcome.

I'm located in Australia and I'm fairly certain that the info on diabetes given out here is fairly similar or if not the same as what is being pushed by the NHS in the UK. The wellness plate, whole grains, low GI, low fat etc seems to be the general recommendation from all the nationally recognized diabetes websites and groups. I started doing what was recommended but realised that cutting my carbs and eating within my calorie amount for weight loss and getting most of my calories from fat was probably better. At the moment my macros are 25%-30% carbs, 25% protein and 45%-50% fat. I have an appointment with a diabetic consultant on Friday so well see what they say and recommend.

TTC means trying to conceive.
 
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