• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

To increase or not to increase...

dazzeur

dazzeur

Well-Known Member
Messages
59
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I got diagnosed Type 2 about 6 weeks ago. My hb1ac was 10.2. Got put on Metoformin 1 a day at breakfast for 2 weeks and to increase every two weeks until 4 a day. I'm currently on 2 with breakfast and 1 with dinner. I have totally changed my diet to low carb high fat and increased my exercise, running about 5km two to three times a week, plus small weight lighting at home when I can. Through testing myself, I am averaging about 6mmol/l.

So the question is, should I stay at the 3 a day for now?

I have a fasting blood test coming up in 2 weeks and get results a week and a half after.

Sidenote - I really dont want to take more pills if I dont have to, am sure most would agree.
 
The only way to reduce your meds is to get your blood glucose levels under control, so that at your next hba1c test shows how well you are doing.
That way you can discuss reduction of meds with your GP or dsn.

There has been many who have had trouble with metformin.
But it is a good safe drug and it is used for long term health benefits rather than the quick fix.
It's good you are doing the low carb, as it really does work.
 
Well done on your pro-active approach to controlling this condition.

We can't tell you whether to take or reduce or stop your Metformin. This is between you and your doctor, with the decision being yours and yours alone. Many people on here have been able to come of them completely, but only when their blood sugars have been controlled and stable for a period of time. You don't yet know how stable and controlled yours are yet. Your meter averages are not reliable to judge this without further HbA1c tests (unless you test every half an hour 24/7 which of course you won't be doing)
 
@dazzeur
My journey is not dis similar to yours. I was diagnosed with hba1c at 11, and thankfully meds weren't mentioned at that time, although I did make it clear I desperately wanted to avoid it.
Fast forward 2 and half months, I've changed my diet completely, and would say I'm not low carbing per se, but have cut down significantly and VERY carb wary. Like you I've hit the 'Phys' and now doing similar distances to you along with cycling, Gym etc. I have shed just short of 4 stone in that time.
I had a revised hba1c done last week and got a score of 7.3 - the Dr and PN are both amazed how quickly I've 'turned everything around, BP and Cholestetol readings also now normal. The PN has said no meds required!!! :)
Fully appreciating we are all different in how we respond - it is I would have thought within the art of the possible!

Keep going. Oh by the way I dont monitor!
 
dazzeur said:
I got diagnosed Type 2 about 6 weeks ago. My hb1ac was 10.2. Got put on Metoformin 1 a day at breakfast for 2 weeks and to increase every two weeks until 4 a day. I'm currently on 2 with breakfast and 1 with dinner. I have totally changed my diet to low carb high fat and increased my exercise, running about 5km two to three times a week, plus small weight lighting at home when I can. Through testing myself, I am averaging about 6mmol/l.

So the question is, should I stay at the 3 a day for now?

I have a fasting blood test coming up in 2 weeks and get results a week and a half after.

Sidenote - I really dont want to take more pills if I dont have to, am sure most would agree.
Click to expand...

Metformin seems to advantages, so I tend to look at the circumstances, rather than being simply anti meds.
After reviewing with my HCP, we decided, even though my bloods come back as normal, I'm still on metformin.
It's all personal choice in how you manage though.
 
Hi.
I was diagnosed as prediabetic but was on and off the low carb wagon until i bit the bullet and went for an hba1c test to confirm my deviation. It came back at 6.8 which was my highest ever and I was offered metformin which I politely refused.

I was also offered the met at the onset of my journey two years ago when I hit the top of the acceptable level of the glucose intolerance test at 16. Again, I refused and told the docs I wanted to treat the cause (diet) and not the symptom (bg).

I have lost faith in the NHS after discovering how outdated their advice is and how it's actually contributing to a slow, painful death by convincing us we are victims of a progressive disease....

If you haven't read or seen anything from Jason Fung, please do so now. He is spot on with everything and I whole heartedly trust and believe in him!! I posted an article he wrote a while ago - I'll dig it out and post it on here for you. It's very interesting about metformin.

So in response to the original post, I say reduce and then stop. But that's just me

Deb x

Medical advice removed by Moderator.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top