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No help from doctor

nannoo_bird

nannoo_bird

Well-Known Member
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215
I posted this at the end of an existing thread, but I thought I might get more responses if I posted it as a new thread. I started the Blood Sugar Diet at the beginning of the week, having realised over the weekend that it was now or never. I wanted to see if I could stick to it before speaking to my doctor to discuss lowering drug dosages. I have monitored myself carefully this week, and been delighted with the results. I made notes before my phone appointment with the doctor today so that I was prepared. Before I had finished my first sentence, she spoke over me, saying that she did not have enough knowledge to discuss my diabetes medications, and that I had to speak to the diabetes nurse (there is only one to cover half of the county), and that I should never embark on a diet before speaking to the nurse. When I told her my BS numbers had halved, she said nothing, no encouragement, no interest. When I asked about my other medications - I am on three medications for high blood pressure, and drops for glaucoma - she said that diet does not affect anything other than the diabetes meds, despite medical evidence to the contrary. I am so discouraged, and scared now as I am confused as to what to do.
 
Agreed. Either that or make an appointment to see a different doctor.
One that does know something about diabetes medications!
What diabetes meds are you on?

And well done on lowering your BS by half. Brilliant.
 
NoCrbs4Me said:
Sounds like you should talk to the diabetes nurse.
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Well, yes of course that would be the best idea, but as I said, she has to cover half the county on her own, and the surgery will not give me her number, they say they will ask her to call me. Meantime, not sure what to do about my medications both for diabetes and hypertension.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Agreed. Either that or make an appointment to see a different doctor.
One that does know something about diabetes medications!
What diabetes meds are you on?

And well done on lowering your BS by half. Brilliant.
Click to expand...

Bluetit, thank you for being lovely, I really need nice words today! I'm on 20 mcg Lyxumia, 90 units of Levemir, 2000 mg Metformin.
 
Oh OK. I'm afraid I can't help with the medications. I know very little about insulin or Lyxumia, but you do need to speak to a medic before reducing these. Bite the bullet and go see another GP, and insist on an answer.

Be happy, your new regime is working brilliantly. :) Meanwhile I would keep testing frequently because if you have lowered your carbs your meds may be too much for you and you don't want to hypo. Watch out for hypo symptoms. Test, test, test, until you get some answers.

Hopefully someone on insulin will come along with some better advice.
 
Keep testing! and if you start to get to low figures go careful. Levemir is a slow acting insulin - it's working time is dependant on dose and body weight so the more weight you loose the harder and longer it's affect will be. I'm sure you're well aware of what the 'normal' blood glucose range is, once you're starting to hit the lower end of that I'd be inclined to reduce your insulin by a unit or 2 for 2-3 days before making any other change - metformin isn't going to give you a hypo but the insulin could. But in all honesty you NEED to speak to your DSN, doesn't matter if she even has to look after half the country, when you speak to her you are her highest priority at that point, and you are yours all the time.

very honest of your GP owing up to the fact she doesn't know enough about diabetic medication to advise you...........!

Edit: what sort of numbers are we talking about at the mo?
 
Yes, well done!

I shouldn't worry about your medication levels unless you find you are verging on hypos. Do you feel that you are at risk of any?

If so, until you get confirmation from your D nurse that you can reduce your medication, I would keep checking your blood glucose, and have a small amount of carbs (jelly babies, or glucose tabs, that kind of thing) with you in case you start dipping too low.

Hypos don't start until we dip well below 4 mmol/l, so unless you hit those levels, I would just be very happy with your impressive achievement!

Hope that helps. :)
 
Thanks all. Just checking my meter for the exact numbers. My fasting BS was 15.2 the day before starting the diet, and went right down to 7.6 24 hours later. This morning, four days after starting the diet, 6.4. So I am worried that at this rate, on the same meds, I could go too low.
 
nannoo_bird said:
Thanks all. Just checking my meter for the exact numbers. My fasting BS was 15.2 the day before starting the diet, and went right down to 7.6 24 hours later. This morning, four days after starting the diet, 6.4. So I am worried that at this rate, on the same meds, I could go too low.
Click to expand...

I can understand your worries, but don't just limit your testing to mornings. Make sure you test throughout the day, before meals, and at bedtime. Why not try what @slip suggested as regards your insulin. You have no need to worry until you get to under 4.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I can understand your worries, but don't just limit your testing to mornings. Make sure you test throughout the day, before meals, and at bedtime. Why not try what @slip suggested as regards your insulin. You have no need to worry until you get to under 4.
Click to expand...

I will do that, reduce the insulin slowly. I do check my BS during the day (when I remember!), and it has been pretty steady. I checked it after the call with the doctor though, and it was 15 !!!! Stress!
 
fasting bs of 6 or 7 is great, if you have problems remembering to tests, pick a typical day and make it your 'test' day one full day of testing will give you so much info, then have a few days off., try to test first thing in the morning, before a meal, and two hours later. it will give you an idea of which foods really spike you, you can then decide to either reduce the quantity or avoid in future, also do a test before bed. Keeping a record of these days will help.

I'm assuming you take your levemir in the evening before bed? And I bet if you have a full days test results they'll show on average a steady rise through the day (especially pre-diet!) if that's the case starting the day at 6-7 you shouldn't need to worry about hypos really.
 
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