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Pleasantly surprised at GP review

RFSMarch

RFSMarch

Well-Known Member
Messages
693
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
So I went to review my results (see sig for potted history).
Postives from today
1) GP is happy that in three months I almost halved my A1C - says he rarely sees that much of a change for a first review in patients
2) No increase to metformin, but we need to review in six months before he would be happy reducing/removing metformin completely. Better still no statins for cholesterol.
3) I must suffer from White Coat syndrome - I took my BP at home this morning and I was pre-high. Got to the surgery (it is a 10 min route march from the house!) and it was high but to my immense surprise he looked at the graphs and readings I brought and was happy to take the highest of the pre-highs for this month as his baseline. So add no BP meds to the equation as well.
4) A moment of hilarity when he said that the hospital had suggested based on previous numbers I attend their DSN clinic and course to learn about diabetes... then he laughed and reckoned I probably knew everything I needed to know so said he would write to them and say he would defer any decision to refer me until we re-assessed in six months.
5) Checked my feet - no nerve issues he could detect at this time.

Cons
1) He is still not a fan of the libre - he thinks if it convinces me I am doing well, then keep using it, but beware the expense and that he firmly believes it is purely the change in diet, exercise and meds that have made the difference. He is not averse to its use, but he still sees it as largely unnecessary to test at all, at any time.
2) He decided to also stick me with my flu jab (as I was gonna get it done at the pharmacy when I picked up my metformin!)

Think it might be prudent to schedule my next bloods BEFORE I go to the US in March. That tournament is the absolute worst for what they give the media. Bring on the cuppa-soups with the low carb counts!
 
Good news. :) Especially statins not being forced down your throat.

Did your doctor not realise the Libre/self testing has helped you change your diet, and without it you would be guessing and working blind? Or that Metformin helps reduce BS by only a tiny amount?
 
He must be a bit ............ He believes that the improvement is due to your change of diet and exercise and meds But doesn't see that you testing to see what difference to your bg the diet and exercise makes. Now that is stupid. It helps to keep you informed as to what is working and what doesn't.

However that aside I'm glad that it well for you and that he is positive and encouraging about your lifestyle change. (As he should be of course).
 
I went to pick up the meds as I fly to Singapore next week and the pharmacist was saying a lot of people in my area do just take the tabs and keep doing what they always did. In fact the nosy old moo that lives in the street was bemoaning how she can't control her diabetes before telling me (and indeed the entire waiting room) that I looked great now I had lost a lot of weight, so when I gently pointed out it was all pre-diagnosis she was all "I wish I could drop a stone and a half like that" - oi vey!

But @woodywhippet61 - I honestly can't say I am surprised. A friend the other side of town believes she has been told to look at SUGAR content and cut that out and not CARB content. Despite stomach issues with Metformin immediate release, she won't ask to be switched maybe to slow release... she won't test because her DSN told her she doesn't need it... so with that much misinformation swilling about, is it any wonder he is all "yes well it is all down to me and my magic beans"...

@Bluetit1802 quite the opposite - he actually told me that the meds of course have made all the difference... before saying he hopes that in changing my diet I haven't done anything crazy. At the end of the day... I tweaked a few things while I was at home, it worked.... so will keep on doing it. And just smile sweetly.
 
Well done that's great news. Hopefully if you keep going your next one will be even better as HbA1c is an average of the past few months. Mine wasn't quite as high as yours to start with 95 then to 50 in 3 months and then another 3 months and 33. Alright it's now gone up to 35 but I'm very happy with that. It was the testing that really helped show me what foods my body could manage and what I needed to avoid, I haven't used a libre but would like to, So well done and keep doing what is working for you.
 
Let rememer that there are lots of people who half their carb intake just by advoiding any food/drink with sugar in it! It's only after suger has been removed that therer is a benfit moving on to other carbs.

That way I love the charts that shows how much suger differnet foods (like a slice of bread) convert to, as they allow a GP to only talk about suger, while providing the information to let people get better result if they are commited.
 
RFSMarch said:
So I went to review my results (see sig for potted history).
Postives from today
1) GP is happy that in three months I almost halved my A1C - says he rarely sees that much of a change for a first review in patients
2) No increase to metformin, but we need to review in six months before he would be happy reducing/removing metformin completely. Better still no statins for cholesterol.
3) I must suffer from White Coat syndrome - I took my BP at home this morning and I was pre-high. Got to the surgery (it is a 10 min route march from the house!) and it was high but to my immense surprise he looked at the graphs and readings I brought and was happy to take the highest of the pre-highs for this month as his baseline. So add no BP meds to the equation as well.
4) A moment of hilarity when he said that the hospital had suggested based on previous numbers I attend their DSN clinic and course to learn about diabetes... then he laughed and reckoned I probably knew everything I needed to know so said he would write to them and say he would defer any decision to refer me until we re-assessed in six months.
5) Checked my feet - no nerve issues he could detect at this time.

Cons
1) He is still not a fan of the libre - he thinks if it convinces me I am doing well, then keep using it, but beware the expense and that he firmly believes it is purely the change in diet, exercise and meds that have made the difference. He is not averse to its use, but he still sees it as largely unnecessary to test at all, at any time.
2) He decided to also stick me with my flu jab (as I was gonna get it done at the pharmacy when I picked up my metformin!)

Think it might be prudent to schedule my next bloods BEFORE I go to the US in March. That tournament is the absolute worst for what they give the media. Bring on the cuppa-soups with the low carb counts!
Click to expand...

Wow, fabulous job @RFSMarch , especially given your hectic work schedule which adds an added layer of complexity to your management!! Your numbers speak for themselves - that's an incredible improvement!:)
 
RFSMarch said:
1) GP is happy that in three months I almost halved my A1C - says he rarely sees that much of a change for a first review in patients
Click to expand...

It never fails to amaze me why they are not keen to understand how this was achieved and maybe consider that some others patients may benefit from the experience...
 
Fantastic news. Given your hectic schedule I think you've done an amazing job so well done you!
 
RFSMarch said:
So I went to review my results (see sig for potted history).
Postives from today
1) GP is happy that in three months I almost halved my A1C - says he rarely sees that much of a change for a first review in patients
2) No increase to metformin, but we need to review in six months before he would be happy reducing/removing metformin completely. Better still no statins for cholesterol.
3) I must suffer from White Coat syndrome - I took my BP at home this morning and I was pre-high. Got to the surgery (it is a 10 min route march from the house!) and it was high but to my immense surprise he looked at the graphs and readings I brought and was happy to take the highest of the pre-highs for this month as his baseline. So add no BP meds to the equation as well.
4) A moment of hilarity when he said that the hospital had suggested based on previous numbers I attend their DSN clinic and course to learn about diabetes... then he laughed and reckoned I probably knew everything I needed to know so said he would write to them and say he would defer any decision to refer me until we re-assessed in six months.
5) Checked my feet - no nerve issues he could detect at this time.

Cons
1) He is still not a fan of the libre - he thinks if it convinces me I am doing well, then keep using it, but beware the expense and that he firmly believes it is purely the change in diet, exercise and meds that have made the difference. He is not averse to its use, but he still sees it as largely unnecessary to test at all, at any time.
2) He decided to also stick me with my flu jab (as I was gonna get it done at the pharmacy when I picked up my metformin!)

Think it might be prudent to schedule my next bloods BEFORE I go to the US in March. That tournament is the absolute worst for what they give the media. Bring on the cuppa-soups with the low carb counts!
Click to expand...

Congratulations, sounds like you're getting things under control. I'll be getting a flu shot soon.
 
Congratulations, you are a star!!! But how lucky for you that you didnt need to work at it and all you had to do was take some pills the clever gp gave you.
 
Kentoldlady1 said:
Congratulations, you are a star!!! But how lucky for you that you didnt need to work at it and all you had to do was take some pills the clever gp gave you.
Click to expand...

I know... and for my next trick... lottery numbers!!!!
 
One problem is that most people tell the GP they are eating a good diet, then goes home and haves a can of full sugger soft drink, hence most GPs don't belive what people say.
 
My GP said that it was not the diet that improved my bgs but the pills he gave me !!I asked if it would. be ok to eat deep fried mars bars and scotch pies ? " I know you wouldn't do that my dear" ARRGH!! I didn't get any test strips either
. CAROL
 
carty said:
My GP said that it was not the diet that improved my bgs but the pills he gave me !!I asked if it would. be ok to eat deep fried mars bars and scotch pies ? " I know you wouldn't do that my dear" ARRGH!! I didn't get any test strips either
. CAROL
Click to expand...
And he said MY DEAR!!!

He wanted to know if I had tried something wild and whacky (like he told me NOT to) - I told him I just went from high GI to med/low GI and stopped being such a complete namby-pamby when it comes to brown bread, seeded breads, brown rice etc. The Hi-Lo bread (high protein, lo carb) has more seeds than Homebase Garden Centre, I swear but it means I can have a couple of teeny tiny slices with whole earth peanut bread and can still have a passable weekend Full English with that and smashed avo ...

I told him I was going to *try* and have a lo-carb meal in the evenings, especially if I am working at home with time to prepare them. Breakfast is fine, and it's just lunch and with the exception of potato & leek soup the other day in the canteen, I can usually have a small one at work, or homemade at... well... home!

For potato & leek days... there is always emergency individually wrapped Sushi at Wasabi!
 
ringi said:
Let rememer that there are lots of people who half their carb intake just by advoiding any food/drink with sugar in it! It's only after suger has been removed that therer is a benfit moving on to other carbs.

That way I love the charts that shows how much suger differnet foods (like a slice of bread) convert to, as they allow a GP to only talk about suger, while providing the information to let people get better result if they are commited.
Click to expand...

A little presumptive, don't you think. I don't drink fizzy drinks. And for what it's worth I still think that being aware of the carb intake is key. Pure sugar is a part of that, sure... but some common sense has to come into play as well. And I am not in the habit of lying to my GP - but from what I gather from the pharmacist, there are pleny in the estate who obviously do so you have a point where they might be concerned. But your broadbrush statement does not apply to me.
 
Everyone who takes part in this forum has proved they are engaged and are willing to learn, hence we are not representative of most of the people GPs have to deal with. This is one of the reasons I am so impressed by the results Dr. David Unwin gets as he is not dealing with "self-selected" people.
 
ringi said:
Everyone who takes part in this forum has proved they are engaged and are willing to learn, hence we are not representative of most of the people GPs have to deal with. This is one of the reasons I am so impressed by the results Dr. David Unwin gets as he is not dealing with "self-selected" people.
Click to expand...

I obviously can't speak for you or anyone else on this forum, but I hate to break it to you... I don't live my life feeling I need to prove to a bunch of strangers on a forum that I am committed to being engaged in this journey. I have benefited from interactions of many people and have chosen to participate. But I might have been just as happy lurking and just reading and absorbing information...

I have no clue who Dr David Unwin is, and shock horror... I have no intention of finding out. I have no idea what "self-selected" means either but by the sounds of it, I guess I must be headed that way!!! Oh woe is me!
 
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