Newly Diagnosed - kind of!

[Hazehkm]

So a few weeks ago I had blood tests done after my blood glucose levels being elevated when I was recently in hospital (unrelated - coincidence). I knew they suspected diabetes and to be fair, I had been experiencing extreme thirst, going to the loo etc... Right after I had my blood test - before even getting the results - I decided to take action. I immediately went on a low carb diet, cut out all processed stuff, sugar etc... only eating fresh fruit and veg, lean chicken, fish, eggs etc... only drinking water, and I feel FANTASTIC! I've lost nearly a stone and a half already, I'm not hungry, the previous symptoms have gone, I crave fresh produce - am really into making everything myself, and after the initial crash, I now have loads of energy and am exercising daily - with my fitness improving.

So the other day I get the letter telling me to make an appointment at the doctor to discuss the results of my blood test - so I've made the appointment and it's the week after next. Today I got home and there is a letter from the hospital with an appointment for diabetic eye screening - so I guess that confirms it!

Anyway - I have my appointment at the doctor coming up. Given how I'm feeling on this diet and the results so far, I would really rather they let me continue WITHOUT any medication at this time to see if I can bring it all under control in a natural way first before filling my body full of drugs which may or may not be necessary. Does anyone think it's reasonable for me to insist on this approach - has anyone else insisted on no medication for the first few weeks? I just want to be prepared for my first appointment; I don't like being railroaded into taking things I don't need if I can do this via a more healthy approach. If I ultimately need some meds then fine, but I'd like to push to do this first. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Andy12345]

hi. I think you should find out your results first before you refuse meds hehe, but on saying that you should do what you feel is best for you, because you care about you more than they can, and you can sit and research yourself good luck

and well done for what you have already done

 

[Daibell]

Hi. It's well worth trying without meds. When I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago my GP made me just diet for 3 months before doing an Hba1C test. Meanwhile I was way over the top with blood sugar and should have been on meds, but hopefully your results won't be too bad and the GP will agree to trying diet first but ignore any silly NHS advice to have starchy carbs with every meal.

 

[autumn6464]

I think you would be OK to tell the doctor you want to try to lose weight and eat the right things rather than go on meds. I went for months to the diabetic nurse before they put me on metformin, which was fine for a while and then I got 'the runs' a lot. I then went on the newcastle diet and lost 4 stone (since put two stone back on) and firstly felt tired and then felt fantastic. There is a slow release metformin which I was going to go on but I went onto the newcastle diet instead. Don't forget, it's your body, eating lots of carbohydrates and taking metformin didnt work for me, I put on a lot of weight and felt sluggish all the time. We (me and my husband - which helps) are now doing the two day "starvation diet" (not really starvation, just cutting down - a lot - 2 days per week. It's more do-able if you know it's only for 2 days. Keep the doctor 'on-side' if you can but in the end, it's your body. Good luck.

 

[Hazehkm]

Thanks for all the replies and advice! Very helpful!

Yeah, I think my main thing is that I want to be in control of the management of it; I know that I feel great as I am eating now and I would rather the doctor and nurse worked WITH me rather than just dictated to me and wrote a bunch of prescriptions because it's "the thing to do". I strongly feel that if I can bring this under control and maintain it through a low carb diet and healthier lifestyle then surely that HAS to be preferable to popping pills for the sake of it. Of course, if it transpires that I do need some assistance from medication then so be it but I'd rather that be the last resort rather than the default position from the outset.

I'm hopeful that my doctor and the nurse will be supportive; my medical practice are generally pretty good and my doctor particularly is good at making suggestions/giving options and letting the patient have some say in dictating their own path to some degree (obviously within safety boundaries)... I've only encountered one nurse at my practice who frankly should re-think her career choice, but thankfully, I work for one of the major medical indemnifiers and am therefore quite confident in asserting myself when necessary as I'm extremely clued up on patient rights and what is and isn't appropriate conduct by medical professionals.

Anyway - I'll see how things go - I'm doing my research in advance so I go to my appointment knowledgable (knowledge is power and all that!)... but thanks again everyone for your advice. Fingers crossed I can do this my way and that it has the results I hope for. On a good note I've lost another 2 lbs so I reckon by my appointment I'll have lost nearly 2 stone since my blood tests were done - surely that has to count for something! :thumbup:

 

[Allic1971]

Well done on the weight loss, :clap: and good luck at your appointment :thumbup:

 

[EllisB]

Hi,

it is a sad fact that your taking control and losing the weight puts you in the minority. Based on the changes you have already made, assuming your HbA1c at diagnosis was not high enough to warrant a hypoglycaemic drug, I'm sure any decent GP would want to wait and see the effects of your lifestyle changes. After all, Metformin alone does not have a substantial effect on BG.

I have gone from the GP suggesting Metformin and simvastatin, but giving me 3 months to let the lifestyle changes work, to her saying that she now would not consider either unless the HbA1c and/or LDL cholesterol go back up.

 

[Hazehkm]

Thanks for the posts everyone.

So today I had my appointment and was confirmed T2. However, I'm feeling really good because the person I saw was really impressed with what I've done so far - ie. just under 2 stone weight loss, healthy fresh diet, exercise etc... and she really listened when I said I'd done research and was keen to continue with the low carb diet as I knew lots of people were having success with it. Fair play to her, she seemed to understand it and was happy for me to get my nutrients etc from veggies, protein etc... and certainly didn't push me to eat starchy carbs etc. She was delighted with the changes I'd made so far and my attitude towards it all. I found her supportive and encouraging rather than someone just sitting there dictating to me what I've to eat from some NHS diet sheet. In fact she went out of her way to tell me I shouldn't beat myself up over it, that genetics play a huge part, and that she has patients who are personal trainers and haven't had an overweight day in their lives... she really did go out of her way to make me feel okay about the whole thing.

Anyway - she agreed with my course of action ie. to continue with my diet and exercise for the time being, and she's going to check my bloods in about 3 months time to see if it's helped. She went so far as to say that if it brings it under control then she sees no reason why I can't continue with that lifestyle and enjoy the occasional treat in moderation, and she wouldn't look to put me on meds unless my bloods indicate that they are necessary.

So really, I'm thrilled, and I'm SO motivated to do everything I can to bring this under control myself. If I still need meds despite my best efforts, then that's a different story and I accept that, but I'm delighted that I've got the chance to see if my lifestyle changes make the difference first before I start popping pills.

 

[EllisB]

Well done, you may well be their star pupil!

As I said, most DM specialist GPs and nurses see a great many type 2's who make lots of excuses and little or no effort.

Many of us can make a huge difference to our BG control without taking a single pill.