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Steady progress?

M

Malc.

Well-Known Member
Messages
114
Location
Pembrokeshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,
I tested my Bg last night at around 8.30pm, (over 2 hours after my 'low-carb' meal) and I was really pleased that my reading was 5.3 :)
I'm still not taking the Metformin (yet) that I was issued with at diagnosis,(January)...Being a stubborn type of person, I wanted to try controlling by 'diet' only...

I must confess that some of our main meals have not been totally 'low-carb', mainly due to lack of knowledge,(mistakes have been made), but I'm gradually adjusting my food intake to achieve my goal...

As a matter of interest, my reading before my meal tonight was 5.2

Malc.
 
Well done Malc you're doing great. Keep doing what you're doing :D
 
Hi Malc, your latest result is very good but why are you so anti medication? I would advise you to take the metformin that has been prescribed at least until your numbers are in the 5's all the time, that is if you are able to tollerate it.

As well as helping to lower blood glucose metformin helps to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) as well as helping to raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) it is also claimed to help protect against certain cancer's.

If you are able to tolerate it, it really is a win win medication.
 
There was an article in New Scientist recently about research claiming metformin makes you like longer, too.
It went something like: when you put rats on a very restricted diet (almost starve them) levels of some chemical/enzyme/something increase (or decrease, I really can't remember) and they live longer. Metformin also has the same effect on the chemical/etc., so might make rats live longer, so might make people live longer.
The research was in quite early stages iirc.
 
Sid Bonkers said:
Hi Malc, your latest result is very good but why are you so anti medication? I would advise you to take the metformin that has been prescribed at least until your numbers are in the 5's all the time, that is if you are able to tollerate it.

As well as helping to lower blood glucose metformin helps to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) as well as helping to raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) it is also claimed to help protect against certain cancer's.

If you are able to tolerate it, it really is a win win medication.
Click to expand...

Hi Sid, I suppose that I do come across as 'anti-medication' and I can only say, in my defence, that I've possibly inherited the trait from my parents... My Dad died 11 years ago at 83 and I can't recall many occasions when he needed medication...My mum is almost 93 and the only tablet she takes, currently, is a multi-vitamin suppliment,(one per day)...
All our Family (including myself) have been fortunate in our lives to mostly avoid illnesses/ailments that would have required the need to take regular medication and we're thankful for that...
When my Mum at 83 years old, needed to go into hospital due to a severe fall in town, (that wasn't her fault) she was asked whether she was allergic to Penicillin...It was only THEN that we realised, she had NEVER had a course of antibiotics in her life... :shock:

Going back to myself, I at almost 67, have, until recently taken no more than the occasional paracetamol. (+ antibiotics in the past for a throat infection)...

I do take ONE Ramipril tablet most days (when I remember to) for my blood-pressure, (That reminds me, I haven't had one today!)...

So, IF I can control my Type 2 without medication, then I'll be pleased...
Only time will tell... :wink:

Regards, Malc.
 
An Update...

I tested my Bg late this afternoon (pre evening meal) and the reading was 5.5
I was pleased with that reading, especially as I had had some chips at dinner time, :roll: (blame my wife!)... :)

I tested again 2+ hours after my evening meal and my Bg was 7.1

So, I'm still hoping to continue with my 'diet only' regime for the time being...My next appointment with the DN is on 28th March...I'm hoping that my figures will be at an acceptable level...
I wasn't told about 'carbs' at diagnosis, or given a meter, so it will be an 'interesting' meeting...

Regards, Malc.
 
I think you're doing really well, Malc. As you say, it should be an interesting meeting! Stick to your guns :wink: .

Did you tell us what your HbA1c was at diagnosis? I can't remember. Do let us know how you get on, and what your next HbA1c is. I'll bet it's gone down.

Viv :)
 
Hi Viv, many thanks for your support...
I'm afraid that I don't know what my HbA1c was at diagnosis...I may have been told and I've forgotten, or perhaps I didn't get told, as it obviously wouldn't have meant anything to me at the time... :? It's something that I can ask her at the meeting.

As a matter of interest, I was reading the leaflet (again) that came with the Metformin SR medication and under the Heading, 'WHAT GLUCOPHAGE SR IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR'....
The second paragraph states,
"Glucophage SR is used for the treatment of Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes melltus when diet and exercise changes alone have not been enough to control blood glucose (sugar).

I'll be interested to hear what she has to say about that! :)

Regards, Malc.
 
Hi again. Earlier in this thread I stated that my next meeting with the Dn was on the 28th March, (yesterday), well I was mistaken. That was just an appointment with the nurse to 'remove more blood from my arm'.
My appt with the Dn is on friday (afternoon) 1st April... Whilst I was there,yesterday, I asked her what my HbA1c was at diagnosis. She replied, 7.8
I'm hoping that the results, on Friday will be favourable.
Malc.
 
They should be doing another HbA1c then - mine are presently at 3-monthly intervals. Make sure you let us know what the result is - I think you're doing really well.

Viv :)
 
viviennem said:
They should be doing another HbA1c then - mine are presently at 3-monthly intervals. Make sure you let us know what the result is - I think you're doing really well.

Viv :)
Click to expand...

Hi Viv, thanks for your reply.
I'm not sure, but I think the blood sample(s) taken yesterday were my latest HbA1c and I'm expecting to get these results on Friday, at my 'review'.

Regards, Malc. :D
 
Doesn't metformin work by stimulating the pancreas, sort of like flogging a dying horse? Surely it's better to take the strain off your faulty pancreas by lowering the carbs?
 
No, metformin is the one (?one of the ones?) that helps reduce insulin resistance in the cells, rather than stimulate the pancreas into producing more insulin. So in fact it gives the poor old over-worked pancreas a bit of a rest. If you add low(er) carbs to that, so you don't need as much insulin to cope with your food, you're giving the pancreas a double-dose of rest.

As far as I know, anyway!

Viv 8)
 
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