Quit!!

[Charlotte73]

3 weeks ago I was started on metformin, 1 tab nightly for 10 days then 2 nightly, when I got to 13 days I started noticing my levels going up every time I did them. 24.1 was the highest, spoke to GP as I was worried, got told off for buying a blood monitor as I shouldn’t be testing because there’s no point!! Diabetic nurse appt is meant to be 14th Aug via a telephone call? My surgery really don’t want to know… so I’ve QUIT the whole process and all my tablets for other stuff as I can’t stand the way I’m treated by people. Now I’ve been reported to mental health team because I’m not taking my meds…. They aren’t bothered helping me so why should I be bothered. Rant over!!

 

[Lainie71]

3 weeks ago I was started on metformin, 1 tab nightly for 10 days then 2 nightly, when I got to 13 days I started noticing my levels going up every time I did them. 24.1 was the highest, spoke to GP as I was worried, got told off for buying a blood monitor as I shouldn’t be testing because there’s no point!! Diabetic nurse appt is meant to be 14th Aug via a telephone call? My surgery really don’t want to know… so I’ve QUIT the whole process and all my tablets for other stuff as I can’t stand the way I’m treated by people. Now I’ve been reported to mental health team because I’m not taking my meds…. They aren’t bothered helping me so why should I be bothered. Rant over!!

Surely the gp etc are there to advise! Can you not ask them to give you some time to look into diet and exercise with the input from the surgery regarding meds? I went low carb and my levels were a lot higher at the time. The surgery leave me alone now but I did fall out with them for a while until I proved them wrong. Perhaps its worth speaking to them again but on your terms. Its also your own choice to check your bg and I would continue to do so. My surgery are happy for me to do this. Well done for buying a blood glucose monitor.

 

[Charlotte73]

My surgery aren’t forthcoming with any help at all, apart from report me to mental health team. My surgery has just been voted the worst one in the whole of Devon!! I’m in agony with all my other issues because I’ve stopped them all in protest. What doesn’t kill you…and all that.

 

[Charlotte73]

I have tested daily and still getting results of between 18-20 but there’s no point anymore when even the professionals don’t care. Why should I!!

 

[Pipp]

I have tested daily and still getting results of between 18-20 but there’s no point anymore when even the professionals don’t care. Why should I!!

I am sorry you are having such a troubled time.
With such high blood glucose levels you do need more immediate health advice and monitoring. As this doesn’t seem to be forthcoming from your GP, it would be best to phone NHS 111, for assessment. Please don’t neglect to do this, and report back here to let us know how you are. You should care about yourself, and find the support and advice you need.

 

[Charlotte73]

Thank you for the advice but I do believe that I am done with this now and will take whatever comes in the future. If I have asked for help and they don’t want to know what more can I do. Many thanks

 

[EllieM]

I have tested daily and still getting results of between 18-20 but there’s no point anymore when even the professionals don’t care. Why should I!!

You should care because it's your body and you want to keep it in as good condition as you can. I very much doubt that your medical team will care about your body as much as you do. They are dealing with a very large number of patients and only have limited time.

While I sympathise with you dropping meds if you think they don't help, if you are on meds for other conditions I would think again before dropping them
Running blood sugars of 18-20 is likely to make you feel very ill and I'm not sure what effect it will have on your cognitive abilities.

My advice is to get some medical help. If your relationship with your GP has broken down then I'd suggest registering with another surgery or as suggested by @Pipp phoning 111..

 

[HSSS]

I have tested daily and still getting results of between 18-20 but there’s no point anymore when even the professionals don’t care. Why should I!!

Because they don’t live with the consequences of not taking care of yourself. You will have to - and it won’t be any skin off their noses.

If there is already a mental health issue then I understand their concerns but if only they’d realise their approach is what is causing your reactions. Please reconsider dropping all other medications unrelated to the blood glucose, for now at least, if any of them are seriously needed for good health. Dropping them could make you suffer not them.

If you are sure you’re testing correctly, that the strips are in date and your hands are clean then those readings are too high. Point out to them however the readings are obtained they are too high. Ask for them to confirm them but to act now. Suggest you are concerned you might in fact be type 1 not 2 if it’s a new diagnosis. Can you see a different dr or practice?

If your surgery won’t help speak to 111.

In the meantime have you tried anything to reduce the numbers other than Metformin? Have you changed your diet at all to help? How much of the bread, rice, pasta, cereal, oats, grains, flour, pastry, potatoes type food do you eat? If you’ve not tested previously it might just be that you are seeing why you’ve been diagnosed rather than them rising more. Metformin is a mild drug that deals with background levels of glucose rather than dealing with the glucose you eat b

 

[IanBish]

I have tested daily and still getting results of between 18-20 but there’s no point anymore when even the professionals don’t care. Why should I!!

To quote a phrase, "because you're worth it!"

But I echo others who have said to phone 111, and to drastically reduce carbohydrates (bread, rice, potatoes, but especially sugars).

I took metformin for a couple of weeks, but I didn't like it, and went down the dietary route instead.

I'm not suggesting you should too, but please speak to a medical professional, even it's only to NHS Direct.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

3 weeks ago I was started on metformin, 1 tab nightly for 10 days then 2 nightly, when I got to 13 days I started noticing my levels going up every time I did them. 24.1 was the highest, spoke to GP as I was worried, got told off for buying a blood monitor as I shouldn’t be testing because there’s no point!! Diabetic nurse appt is meant to be 14th Aug via a telephone call? My surgery really don’t want to know… so I’ve QUIT the whole process and all my tablets for other stuff as I can’t stand the way I’m treated by people. Now I’ve been reported to mental health team because I’m not taking my meds…. They aren’t bothered helping me so why should I be bothered. Rant over!!

Call 111. One dead or amputee patient isn't going to break the stride of a practice that really doesn't care. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

Anyway.... Get help from people who WILL help you, and get 111 involved. In the meantime, for your health's sake, cut carbs. If you're this high with medication, you're going to be really, seriously ill without them, so cut carbs from your diet so you don't end up with tubes running out of your arm. Heck.... If you change your diet around you might not even need any medication and end up in the normal range, without ANY help from them... Sounds like better revenge to me, really.

https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html might help some.

But do call in the cavalry. Please.
Hugs,
Jo

 

[Charlotte73]

Well I’m still struggling and not getting any help from DR… I have not taken any medication in nearly 2 weeks, my sugars are between 16 and 25…. Feels like utter ****,have had headache for 3 days. Hope everyone is having great Saturday? X

 

[EllieM]

Well I’m still struggling and not getting any help from DR… I have not taken any medication in nearly 2 weeks, my sugars are between 16 and 25…. Feels like utter ****,have had headache for 3 days. Hope everyone is having great Saturday? X

Hopefully you are still making plenty of your own insulin and this is not a possibility

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Find out about diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), including what the symptoms are, when to get medical help and how to prevent it.

www.nhs.uk

DKA is an unpleasant way to die and it does kill without treatment (insulin). If you think you may have this you need to ring 111

As a T1 I make no insulin and I would die within a few days if I didn't inject, so I could never go the abandon all meds route.

I urge you to seek help. Consider the fact that your high blood sugars may be affecting your decision making ability.

 

[HSSS]

Well I’m still struggling and not getting any help from DR… I have not taken any medication in nearly 2 weeks, my sugars are between 16 and 25…. Feels like utter ****,have had headache for 3 days. Hope everyone is having great Saturday? X

If the drs aren’t helping (did you try again or 111?) what have you done to help yourself instead? There were lots of suggestions previously. Did you manage to do any of them? What are you eating generally? I’m not sure how we can help without more information

 

[VashtiB]

Well I’m still struggling and not getting any help from DR… I have not taken any medication in nearly 2 weeks, my sugars are between 16 and 25…. Feels like utter ****,have had headache for 3 days. Hope everyone is having great Saturday? X

Hello @Charlotte73

It really does sound like you're having a really tough time and have been for a while. That alone can be exhausting. It sounds like you are feeling overwhelmed and totally fed up.

BUT you're posting here which to me means that you are still looking for help and answers. So that's a great start particularly when things have been as tough as they sound.

Okay- this is justly take on it- you've got a blood glucose monitor- that's a great step- it certainly suggests that you are open to the possibility of making changes that will help.

Metformin- that alone won't be enough to reduce your levels into the normal range. It does help but not on that level. It does apparently have some other benefits such as reducing the possibility of heart attacks and strokes and also reducing the possibility of dementia- I say apparently as that's what I've been told by my doctor- I am no expert.

I agree with @EllieM that you should consider carefully and seek advice before dropping any medication.

I also urge you to consider changing your diet to reduce your carb intake. I found it mentally challenging at first and threw myself a huge pity party. I am now in a much better place and my levels are normal too.

I suggest start by focusing on foods that are naturally low carb- meat, fish, eggs, cheese and the like.


Please let us know how you are going.

And yes- you do this because you are worth it and you deserve to have the best possible health.

 

[AutisticMum]

I am sorry you are having such a troubled time.
With such high blood glucose levels you do need more immediate health advice and monitoring. As this doesn’t seem to be forthcoming from your GP, it would be best to phone NHS 111, for assessment. Please don’t neglect to do this, and report back here to let us know how you are. You should care about yourself, and find the support and advice you need.

You at least used to be able to write to someone to request being transferred to another GP if you are having problems with your GP. I forget now who as I last used it in 1999. Not sure if that option is still available with the changes made to the NHS since then and the current GP shortage