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Type 2 No Medication

G

gazebo

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes 3 years ago but elected to try and control my blood sugar by diet and excercise as I do not like taking any drugs I do not need. My fasting blood sugar is now 5.5 and my HbA1c is 49, I weigh 60Kgs and am 5ft 6ins and go to the gym 4 times a week. Despite getting all my levels down to a prediabetic level my GP still keeps trying to get me onto Metformin. I realise that there are heart benefits but as there is no history of heart problems or diabetes in my family I do not want to take anything until I am no longer able to control the blood sugar with lifestyle changes. Incidently I lost 11Kgs in 6 months by cutting out "Low Fat" food, specifically so called Healthy Yogurts.
Why is my GP so intent on getting me onto drugs????
 
Maybe he's paid to.
Anyway, I would resist, seeing that your bs is looking good. Well done.
Welcome to the forum, by the way. Check it out for diet advice & see if it tallies with your own ideas.
 
gazebo said:
Hi

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes 3 years ago but elected to try and control my blood sugar by diet and excercise as I do not like taking any drugs I do not need. My fasting blood sugar is now 5.5 and my HbA1c is 49, I weigh 60Kgs and am 5ft 6ins and go to the gym 4 times a week. Despite getting all my levels down to a prediabetic level my GP still keeps trying to get me onto Metformin. I realise that there are heart benefits but as there is no history of heart problems or diabetes in my family I do not want to take anything until I am no longer able to control the blood sugar with lifestyle changes. Incidently I lost 11Kgs in 6 months by cutting out "Low Fat" food, specifically so called Healthy Yogurts.
Why is my GP so intent on getting me onto drugs????
Click to expand...

Well done on those numbers!

And welcome. :happy:

Is you doc just handing out generic 'take drugs!' advice, or is he/she actually coming up with any explanations/arguments?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome, keep doing what you're doing IMO.
 
Hi. An Hba1c of 49 is not pre-diabetic and should be reduced a bit. The HBa1C is far more important than your fasting level. Your weight is very good and the Metformin won't help much apart from it's protective properties. It's you choice to have. My nice DN 'insisted' on me staying on Metformin due to it's protective properties. HCPs often assume Metformin controls blood sugar beyond what it actually does. It's of most use when you are overweight and insulin resistant. If your HBa1c remains at 49 or above you may need to consider something like a small dose of Gliclazide to stimulate the pancreas or stay at 49 with it's small increased risk of long-term diabetic problems
 
Thanks everyone for your comments. I did wonder if GP's are paid to prescribe Metformin as they are for Statins and did query it with the nurse who explained that GP's are paid their wages on the assumption that they will follow the NICE guidelines but are then deducted if patients are not persuaded to conform.
My reason for resisting the GP's advice is as far as I am concerned the side effects outway the advantages at least at the moment. My HbA1c has gone down again in the last six months since giving up potatoes, easy to do in the summer but maybe more difficult when it gets really cold outside.
I do read the newsletters and comments from other people as I find it contains very useful information. Unfortunately since moving house my new surgery does not offer any advice unlike the previous one so I have to look elsewhere for answers.
 
gazebo said:
GP's are paid their wages on the assumption that they will follow the NICE guidelines but are then deducted if patients are not persuaded to conform.
Click to expand...
Wow I never thought I'd see that in black and white :wideyed:
 
Hello to all, all your posts have made valuable points,
So nomisttheman the eduction programmes do not seem to offered, they have never been offered to me, even after 7 years, could it be these programmes would make us more knowledgeable than the doctors and some nurses?. Also the doctors will not really want to spend money on education courses if there is nothing to benefit them, the comment about being deducted for none compliant uptake of medications, this is new to me, but could this be behind the reason why doctors are pushing more drugs onto patients?
As for the meters and testing stuff that is an on going forum question, some people get these things, and so don't and get told not to test.
I always ask questions and don't always get answers, but I push the box.

The protective aspects of metformin are they really long lasting, and how well does this carry on when metformin is combined with other diabetes drugs and these new injectable's? ttfn
 
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