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Seeing my doctor next week

H

Helsin

Well-Known Member
Messages
150
Location
Cirencester
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Nearly at my first diabetes anniversary now. I've had 3 HbA1c tests, going from 48 to 38 to 43, my cholesterol is high, but slowly reducing. I've lost 5 kg. I am seeing my doctor next week for yet another change in blood pressure medication (also too high and not responding to medication), but I expect I will be needing another HbA1c too - and I think she will book me in for my first yearly diabetes review. My question is: I had a sebaceous cyst on my back in November. Very painful and it required antibiotics (from another doctor as I am not currently at home). Should I expect that to have an effect on my HbA1c? My doctor is reasonably happy with my LCHF attempts - IBS prevents me from eating wheat anyway - but the nurse seemed very 'old school' on my initial visit and I would like to be able to counter her arguments if she tries to persuade me on to Metformin.
 
Hi. Any infection will raise blood sugar but if it only lasts for a wek or so your HBa1C would hardly be affected but an ongoing infection would raise it? Metformin is a very safe drug but only really of use for those who are overweight. I've been on it for 10 years but mainly thru habit and can't be bothered to argue with expert medics! I'm not overweight.
 
I am overweight, but don't want to take Metformin as I hear that many people have stomach problems with it. I initially went to my doctor last year with exactly that trouble and investigations eventually came up with IBS - and by the way diabetes. LCHF has largely sorted the digestion and I would hate to revisit that.
 
If you don't want to take it, you don't have to. No-one can force you. If your HbA1c is still in the low range, as all yours have been, I don't imagine you will be prescribed it, especially if you say you wish to continue diet only. My diagnostic HbA1c was 53 and Metformin was never even mentioned, and hasn't been since. I wouldn't worry about it, you are doing well enough without it.

Infections do raise levels, but once the infection has gone the levels go back to normal.
 
Don't want to get graphic, but there is still a little remaining infection, so it has been a number of weeks (7?). To be fair, the doctor has never mentioned Metformin. Actually wants to get me on statins, which I really don't fancy.
 
I think the reason there are so many horror stories about metformin is because that is the experience people are more likely to post about. If I were to post about my own experience, the thread would be titled, "I take metformin and am absolutely fine on it". It would be a pretty boring thread and nobody would read it!

Stick to your guns if you don't want to start statins. I did and they have given up pushing them now :)
 
Unless your HbA1c has drifted well into the diabetes range (48+), I can't see it even being mentioned. I believe Metformin is only allowable under a few circumstances (like PCOS) for pre-diabetiics. Even if you are back at or over the threshold, I would feel confident (if it was me) of being able to negotiate time to try to get my HbA1c down again, given the background, and existing digestion issues.

Do you test on a day-today basis? If so, what have your numbers been doing over these last few weeks in particular?
 
Should you need or choose to have Metformin then do ask for the Slow Release version. Unless you are a lot overweight I would avoid it with IBS. STatins have nothing to do with diabetes but will reduce blood cholesterol with some possible side effects. Reducing blood cholesterol has little to do with reducing plaque lining the arteries so it's up to you and what your figures are.
 
AndBreathe said:
Unless your HbA1c has drifted well into the diabetes range (48+), I can't see it even being mentioned. I believe Metformin is only allowable under a few circumstances (like PCOS) for pre-diabetiics. Even if you are back at or over the threshold, I would feel confident (if it was me) of being able to negotiate time to try to get my HbA1c down again, given the background, and existing digestion issues.

Do you test on a day-today basis? If so, what have your numbers been doing over these last few weeks in particular?
Click to expand...

I don't test every day, but quite regularly and whenever I add anything to my diet. I start the day high 6s/low 7s, but I'm usually low 5s before my main meal and rarely rise more than 1.5. Today, for example, I started at 6.7, didn't test for cooked breakfast, then went through to evening 5.2 pre and 6.1 2 hours post main meal. I'm not against Metformin or similar per se - and would welcome the help it seems to offer some with weight loss (and it can lower cholesterol?), but don't fancy a return to my earlier problem. BTW, my doctor classes me a definitely diabetic rather than pre-diabetic, based on glucose tolerance test.
 
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