Hi,
Recently I had some bloods done for an annual review with my practice and a few days later I was asked to cancel my appointment and come in and see a practice nurse. She informed me that I was all of a sudden a type 2 diabetic with a Hba1c of 12.3
I was given a booklet to read from the NHS and put on Metformin 500mg to be started straight away.
My wife is a clinical nurse specialist in Cancer at the Royal Derby hospital and when she got home she was shocked that I hadn't been offered lifestyle changes and self monitoring before leaping in with the medication route.
I have read the booklet she gave me from cover to cover about the symptoms as well as the page on symptoms on this page and I can honestly say that I do not exhibit a single one. I feel great, in fact probably the best I've felt in a few years since I stopped smoking and cut down my alcohol intake. I've steadily lost some weight over the last couple of years.
Now I could probably cut down my alcohol further as I have a couple of glasses on an empty stomach after work most evenings whilst I wait for my wife to get home. I could probably cut down on the amount of carbs I have, we eat a lot of rice, bread, pasta and potatoes.....
So basically I called the PN the next day and said I am not convinced that I am type 2 based on the Hba1C and that I was not going to take the Metformin and want to repeat the test.
My first question is, what about everyone else ? When you were diagnosed were you having fits of fatigue ? peeing too much, have raging thirsts ? I get absolutely none of these so I am very confused.
My dad who is in his seventies was diagnosed Type 2 a while back and he was put on Metformin and he just told me it made him very very ill , so I am a bit apprehensive of taking it myself if my repeat test shows a similar value of 12.3
Now I did used to be classed as pre-diabetes with my old surgery where I had to do the fasting blood test then drink a certain amount of lucosade and then get another blood sample. We had to change surgeries when we moved house about 2and a half years ago.
This new PN at this new surgery says oh well we don't do that anymore, the new guidance is it can be diagnosed on the result of the Hba1c.
So this week I have more bloods taken and next week I am back in for discussions. Having read all that I have, I plan to refuse to take the metformin and ask instead for blood glucose monitoring equipment to see if I can manage my levels by adjusting my diet and alcohol consumption. If she refuses to prescribe a monitor and strips for free I think I will buy my own , see what I can do without drugs, and then they can review me again next year.
Does that sound feasible or should I just try the drugs ? I'm not sure I want metformin as if it made my Dad ill then the chances are it'll make me ill too ?
Thanks
Recently I had some bloods done for an annual review with my practice and a few days later I was asked to cancel my appointment and come in and see a practice nurse. She informed me that I was all of a sudden a type 2 diabetic with a Hba1c of 12.3
I was given a booklet to read from the NHS and put on Metformin 500mg to be started straight away.
My wife is a clinical nurse specialist in Cancer at the Royal Derby hospital and when she got home she was shocked that I hadn't been offered lifestyle changes and self monitoring before leaping in with the medication route.
I have read the booklet she gave me from cover to cover about the symptoms as well as the page on symptoms on this page and I can honestly say that I do not exhibit a single one. I feel great, in fact probably the best I've felt in a few years since I stopped smoking and cut down my alcohol intake. I've steadily lost some weight over the last couple of years.
Now I could probably cut down my alcohol further as I have a couple of glasses on an empty stomach after work most evenings whilst I wait for my wife to get home. I could probably cut down on the amount of carbs I have, we eat a lot of rice, bread, pasta and potatoes.....
So basically I called the PN the next day and said I am not convinced that I am type 2 based on the Hba1C and that I was not going to take the Metformin and want to repeat the test.
My first question is, what about everyone else ? When you were diagnosed were you having fits of fatigue ? peeing too much, have raging thirsts ? I get absolutely none of these so I am very confused.
My dad who is in his seventies was diagnosed Type 2 a while back and he was put on Metformin and he just told me it made him very very ill , so I am a bit apprehensive of taking it myself if my repeat test shows a similar value of 12.3
Now I did used to be classed as pre-diabetes with my old surgery where I had to do the fasting blood test then drink a certain amount of lucosade and then get another blood sample. We had to change surgeries when we moved house about 2and a half years ago.
This new PN at this new surgery says oh well we don't do that anymore, the new guidance is it can be diagnosed on the result of the Hba1c.
So this week I have more bloods taken and next week I am back in for discussions. Having read all that I have, I plan to refuse to take the metformin and ask instead for blood glucose monitoring equipment to see if I can manage my levels by adjusting my diet and alcohol consumption. If she refuses to prescribe a monitor and strips for free I think I will buy my own , see what I can do without drugs, and then they can review me again next year.
Does that sound feasible or should I just try the drugs ? I'm not sure I want metformin as if it made my Dad ill then the chances are it'll make me ill too ?
Thanks