Should I tell GP I never took my meds?

[Lovejoy00]

Hi,

My HbA1c shot up to 78 in July as I was basically stupid and ate loads of carbs, bread/pasta etc.

At my annual review my GP put me back on Metformin and Forxiga Dapagliflozin. However I didn't take any of it, yes potentially stupid of me.

My blood test this week came back at an HBAC1 of 48. I have been basically eating low carb with the odd beer as a treat, ive also lost over a stone. There are areas for improvement still, ie less pints and the odd sandwich whilst out.

So should I ask my GP to reduce or stop the dose. I don't think they will be impressed I didn't take any medication but then again I got it down to 48 without it.

Some history - diagnosed 2018 - 65 HbA1c, put on Metformin. down to 38 in 3 months, 39 3 months later - taken off metformin.

Most reviews upto this year were 44 HbA1c without any medicine, and probably cheated a few times.

​

 

[Outlier]

Firstly - well done on what you have achieved.

Nextly - your relationship with your GP is yours alone, and we cannot, should not, advise you what to share and what to keep quiet about.

I always keep the goal in sight, and play the long game. I would ask myself what could be gained and what could be lost by sharing any information that has the potential to create distrust/discord.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi,

My HbA1c shot up to 78 in July as I was basically stupid and ate loads of carbs, bread/pasta etc.

At my annual review my GP put me back on Metformin and Forxiga Dapagliflozin. However I didn't take any of it, yes potentially stupid of me.

My blood test this week came back at an HBAC1 of 48. I have been basically eating low carb with the odd beer as a treat, ive also lost over a stone. There are areas for improvement still, ie less pints and the odd sandwich whilst out.

So should I ask my GP to reduce or stop the dose. I don't think they will be impressed I didn't take any medication but then again I got it down to 48 without it.

Some history - diagnosed 2018 - 65 HbA1c, put on Metformin. down to 38 in 3 months, 39 3 months later - taken off metformin.

Most reviews upto this year were 44 HbA1c without any medicine, and probably cheated a few times.

​

I'm with Outlier here... Use your own discretion. Some don't take kindly to the patient making their own decisions and going against advice, others just go with it and see where it goes. I know what I can do and not do with mine, more often than not, but I never met yours... Maybe keep it up for a while first so they know it's not a fluke/temporary thing, at least?

 

[lovinglife]

Myself personally I would always keep my GP, medical team aware of the meds I was or wasn’t taking. You never know what’s round the corner and if there’s ever an emergency or a situation where you can’t communicate what medication you are taking then they will look to your records and assume you are taking the meds you’re prescribed and it could make a difference to the treatment you recieve

Also just think of the pleasure of letting your GP know you did it without the meds and got a handle on it all by yourself
Well done on the results by the way, amazing!

 

[KennyA]

I don't really know what you should do as it depends a lot on you and your relationship with your GP.

If it was me, in my situation, I would tell my GP/nurse, adult to adult, what I had and hadn't done. I have done this a couple of times in the (now distant) past when prescribed things I didn't want and hadn't asked for. If I hadn't told them, they would have assumed I was taking the medication as directed - and that assumption might possibly affect decisions on other medications/ actions etc.

 

[Rachox]

GPs need to know that an HbA1c can be lowered without drugs, but hey that’s another discussion. Your situation is yours to deal with as you think, however as @lovinglife points out it’s important for Drs to know what you take especially in an emergency situation.

 

[Lupf]

First well done, in getting back control.
Regarding what to say to the GP, It's your decision, but personally I wouldn't withhold the fact that you did not take the medication.
You can point to having sustained a low HbA1c with diet before and that the last HbA1c was enough motivation to go back to low carb. The fact that it worked, should be acknowledged by your GP. Simply state that diet -low carb and weight loss did this, not medicine.
Unless you want to be put back on Metformin, you can say No, even if the GP is advising it.

Five years ago, my GP prescribed Gliclazide, this is when I decided to lose weight, I never took the Gliclazide and did not pick up the prescription When I went back 3 months later with a significantly reduced HbA1c, I readily agreed with the GP to keep doing what I am doing and if it the HbA1c kept reducing, to stop the Metformin as well, which is what happened. I helps that I am a scientist and I know how to argue with the GP if necessary.

 

[Pipp]

I have had conversations where the HCP has tried to convinc3 me that the meds being prescribed for me were beneficial, and I have had adverse reactions, but they want me to conttinue anyway. I tell them I am not taking them, not just for the reason of having accurate record should I need emergency care, but also because if the meds are still being dispensed and I am not using them, it is a waste of money to the already broken NHS.

 

[VashtiB]

Hi @Lovejoy00

I agree with most of the previous posters. I think that it's good for your records to have accurate information. If you can't talk to your doctor honestly maybe you need to consider finding a different doctor. It certainly took me some time to find a doctor that accepted the fact that I did keto.

Congratulations on your results!!!!

 

[Catlady19]

Personally, I would be honest so that my medical records are accurate but your decision obviously.

Very well done on getting back to 48 on your own, fabulous!