One piece of advice

[ladyfingers]

Hello to you all,

I'm Jen (47), I was diagnosed with Type 2 last summer and was put straight onto Metformin (no diet or exercise recommended by my GP). At the same time I was also diagnosed with high cholesterol, high BP and an under active thyriod. I must admit I knew it was on the cards as I wasn't looking after my health and there is plenty of family history, so I just started taking the tablets and carried on as normal making no changes to my life.

Well now I'm fed up of taking 17 tablets a day (I have other chronic health issues that add to the tablet total) but I'm especially fed up of taking Metformin because they are big beggers that stick in my throat. So I'm on a quest to rid myself of diabetes and hope that when I do this the cholesterol and BP will pack their bags too ( nothing like a challenge eh!).

I realise this is not going to be a quick job but in the back of my mind I want to be well on track by the time I hit 50. I've had a quick read through some of the others first time questions and already there are two things that stand out as top tips:

Start self monitoring
Steer clear of the carbs

What one piece of advice would you give to me to help me achieve my goal?

Regards
Jen

 

[louiseb]

if you are overweight try to loose some as this will reduce your insulin resistance and might reduce your need for metformin, but as you say your going to reduce your carb intake then weightloss will usually follow anyway.

 

[hallii]

My advice is don't be to hard on yourself, go at it slowly and methodically, weight is best lost slowly.

Keep taking the pills until your Doctor says you can stop.

Cut Metformin pills in half (or even quarters) with a sharp knife, make a "package" with some food of some sort in your mouth and swallow alltogether.

H

 

[kateincornwall]

Hello Jen , it can be done I was diagnosed about 15 months ago and also had high BP and high cholesterol but my Doc allowed me to try diet and exercise for a 3 month trial period . I was already on Beta Blockers for the BP and statins for the cholesterol so I didnt want to add to these with Metformin . I went the route of lowering carbs, I was 62 at the time but was determined to change my lifestyle . As well as lowering my blood sugar , the new regime also saw me losing a steady ammount of weight and now, 15 months later, my BP is normal , cholesterol is fine and blood sugar is at non diabetic figures, plus I have lost 5 stones and have never felt better in my life ! But , I am minded that diabetes does not become cured, it is there, lurking in the wings so this regime is for life if I want to avoid meds , its a small price to pay . OK so it might not work for some, but its worth having a try, good luck

 

[ladyfingers]

Thanks for all the replies and advice chaps.

Kate, your story is inspirational and just what I needed to read this morning after my trip to the GP last night.

I went to see him to get my test strips on prescription and to run my plan by him. As he was writing out the prescription he told me there was no need to test my BG as I was on Metformin and I shouldn't get hypos. I said that I wasn't particularly concerned about hypos but wanted to see what each food I ate did to my BG. He then said 'you're 47, the cells in your pancreas are dying off'. He went on to describe in great detail how my diabetes was going to progress in the future and what drugs I would have to move on to. It didn't paint a pretty picture.

I responded by saying I didn't want my diabetes to progress and in fact I want to regress it by exercising more and losing weight. He said very dismissively that I would have to lose a lot of weight and handed me my prescription.

I asked him what support he could offer me and he went of surfing on the NHS website but found nothing, he said someone would call me with the information. When I mentioned that I heard about the DESMOND course he said that it would be very good for me to attend but another search on the NHS website proved useless and another follow up phone call was promised.

I walked out of there feeling pretty frustrated, clearly my GP was more interested in diabetes than me! As far as my diabetes management is concerned I am on my own.

It's really sharpened my resolve however, I really want to teach him a lesson by walking in there one day with normal BG levels. It's a bit like when the school careers advice tells you to go for a job in the corner shop and you end up an astronaut!

Sorry, rant over

Regards
Jen

 

[viviennem]

Hi Jen

I think my one piece of advice would be learn as much as you can about diabetes - and this forum is one of the best places to do it! So much info, and so much support - it's really helped me (Type 2, registered last December).

As far as your GP goes - you could find out if there is a specialist diabetic nurse in the practice, or if one visits. Out here in the sticks our DBN visits - I haven't seen him yet - but our practice nurse is also very knowledgeable and extremely approachable, so it might be worth trying yours. You could also ask (practice or library) if there is a diabetic support group in your area - they will have all the local info about courses, clinics etc, and there's nothing like experience for helping out.

It really does seem to be hit and miss as to how much your local GP knows. We are all individuals, and in some cases the 'accepted' treatment - eg the NHS recommended diet - doesn't work. I'm really low carb, for instance, but other people eat low GI. Most of the info is on here somewhere. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

As far as I can tell there's no reason why things should deteriorate, if you take control. I have one friend (Type 1) who is nearly 90, has had diabetes for over 50 years, has both her feet and very good eyesight. She has lived a good and very full life, and still has a better social life than I do. She lives alone, and copes remarkably well.

You will come out of this slim, active, healthy, low BP and low BGs, and knowing more about your diabetes than you GP ever could - 'cos it's yours

Viv

 

[ladyfingers]

Thanks Viv, that's great advice and very inspirational!

 

[noblehead]

What one piece of advice would you give to me to help me achieve my goal?

Just stay focused Jen and read up all you can about diabetes, you will not rid yourself of the condition but with patients and determination you can gain the upper-hand and control it.

Good luck!

Nigel

 

[ClaireG 06]

Knowledge is power as they say. Find out as much as you can about diabetes. I have learnt far more from this forum than from my HCPs. After all everyone here lives with the condition.

 

[Patch]

If you "fall off the wagon", don't let it ruin the whole day. It's easier to get back on track after eating 1 biscuit, than it is to recover from a whole day's worth of poor food choices.

 

[ladyfingers]

Thanks for all the replies and advice good people.

My GP has redeemed himself somewhat by leaving me the number for Lighten Up https://www.sbpct.nhs.uk/your-services/lighten-up.aspx . I can choose between Weight Watchers, Rosemary Conley and Slimming World. Just checking out their websites now.

Regards
Jen

 

[viviennem]

Please do read Atkins too! There is a book called 'Atkins Diabetes Revolution' by Dr Mary Vernon and Jacqueline Eberstein (a nurse), written after he died. It's worth a read, even if you don't try it - which many don't. It doesn't suit everybody.

There's also Richard Bernstein 'Diabetes Solution'. He's been Type 1 for many years, so he has experience. His diet is too extreme even for me, but he does explain things very well.

Both American, I'm afraid, but don't let that put you off. You could probably get them through your library - if you still have a library, of course!

Viv

 

[ladyfingers]

Please do read Atkins too! There is a book called 'Atkins Diabetes Revolution' by Dr Mary Vernon and Jacqueline Eberstein (a nurse), written after he died. It's worth a read, even if you don't try it - which many don't. It doesn't suit everybody.

There's also Richard Bernstein 'Diabetes Solution'. He's been Type 1 for many years, so he has experience. His diet is too extreme even for me, but he does explain things very well.

Both American, I'm afraid, but don't let that put you off. You could probably get them through your library - if you still have a library, of course!

Viv

Thanks Viv, the Atkins Diabetes Revolution book arrived this morning and I've already learnt what lipids are

P.S. I've been low carbing for about 5 days now and had my lowest BG reading to date of 5.6 yesterday, after a very long walk mind but still, I'm delighted!

 

[viviennem]

Good for you, Jen - well done!

Mind you, I have to say that I fell off the wagon today - found a ready meal lurking in the bottom of the freezer that needed eating. Sadly it had a few potatoes in, so I'm using it as an experiment to see how they affect my readings.

I have to confess they were very nice too! The first since Christmas Day, and the last for a long, long time! never mind - onwards and downwards (weight and bg, that is) :lol:

Viv