Klangley
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 153
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Just finished my GP appointment today to follow up on the results of my HbA1c test and Liver Function Test. As discussed on a separate thread, my intention was also to ask to try Metformin.
This wasn’t my normal GP, in our local surgery you wait a week for an appointment and 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. The meeting started off pleasantly enough. She reviewed and then read out my results. My HbA1c has fallen from 79 mmol/mol to 56 mmol/mol. My LFT (Serum ALT) level had also fallen from 95 u/L to 66 u/L. There wasn’t any acknowledgement of the improvement, just a statement that they are below target levels. But actually as wasn’t there for a pat on the back, I knew the results already and was pleased with them.
Then the conversation went something like this:
Me, ‘so I wanted to discuss Metformin’
Doctor, ‘yes I am putting you on Metformin and a statin’….started typing on the computer
Me (after a pause), ‘yes I will try Metformin but, no I am not taking a statin’
Doctor (quite stroppy), ‘You do realise you are a diabetic don’t you. I mean, that was made clear to you. We recommend all diabetics over 40 to take a Statin’
Me, ‘Yes and you also recommend the healthy eating plate and good carbs like wholemeal bread and pasta and you should see what they do to my blood sugar levels.’
OK in retrospect probably not the best response, but I was a bit taken aback by her attitude. It was clear she didn’t expect a debate. And it all got even more frosty when I also politely declined the ‘Spotlight Course’…..I think that was what she called it. I presume it is some sort of Diabetes awareness course although I don’t think I have seen it mentioned on the forum.
We continued the discussions on statins and she asked why I was against them. I said I thought I had read they can increase Type 2 diabetes and cause liver damage. I wanted to know more about them before I committed to taking them for the rest of my life. She said there were known to be moderate side effects but returned to the party line of recommending them for all Type 2 diabetes. She them measured my blood pressure and stated it was ‘high-side of normal’ (I can’t remember the exact figure). The truth is there was a bloody good reason why my blood pressure was high….it was her attitude! Anyway I agreed to do one of the 24hr monitoring exercises over the next few months.
I have rattled on long enough, but a lot of other ground was covered. The ‘highlights’ were….I would be a diabetic for life, reversal just doesn’t happen in practice, complications are inevitable and eventually I would probably be on insulin. The general vibe was also you only have yourself to blame.
Sorry for off-loading guys. But I left feeling probably the worst I have felt since my diagnosis. I have worked very hard in the last 2 months. I am a pretty resilient person (I like to think) but I walked out thinking what’s the point.
This wasn’t my normal GP, in our local surgery you wait a week for an appointment and 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. The meeting started off pleasantly enough. She reviewed and then read out my results. My HbA1c has fallen from 79 mmol/mol to 56 mmol/mol. My LFT (Serum ALT) level had also fallen from 95 u/L to 66 u/L. There wasn’t any acknowledgement of the improvement, just a statement that they are below target levels. But actually as wasn’t there for a pat on the back, I knew the results already and was pleased with them.
Then the conversation went something like this:
Me, ‘so I wanted to discuss Metformin’
Doctor, ‘yes I am putting you on Metformin and a statin’….started typing on the computer
Me (after a pause), ‘yes I will try Metformin but, no I am not taking a statin’
Doctor (quite stroppy), ‘You do realise you are a diabetic don’t you. I mean, that was made clear to you. We recommend all diabetics over 40 to take a Statin’
Me, ‘Yes and you also recommend the healthy eating plate and good carbs like wholemeal bread and pasta and you should see what they do to my blood sugar levels.’
OK in retrospect probably not the best response, but I was a bit taken aback by her attitude. It was clear she didn’t expect a debate. And it all got even more frosty when I also politely declined the ‘Spotlight Course’…..I think that was what she called it. I presume it is some sort of Diabetes awareness course although I don’t think I have seen it mentioned on the forum.
We continued the discussions on statins and she asked why I was against them. I said I thought I had read they can increase Type 2 diabetes and cause liver damage. I wanted to know more about them before I committed to taking them for the rest of my life. She said there were known to be moderate side effects but returned to the party line of recommending them for all Type 2 diabetes. She them measured my blood pressure and stated it was ‘high-side of normal’ (I can’t remember the exact figure). The truth is there was a bloody good reason why my blood pressure was high….it was her attitude! Anyway I agreed to do one of the 24hr monitoring exercises over the next few months.
I have rattled on long enough, but a lot of other ground was covered. The ‘highlights’ were….I would be a diabetic for life, reversal just doesn’t happen in practice, complications are inevitable and eventually I would probably be on insulin. The general vibe was also you only have yourself to blame.
Sorry for off-loading guys. But I left feeling probably the worst I have felt since my diagnosis. I have worked very hard in the last 2 months. I am a pretty resilient person (I like to think) but I walked out thinking what’s the point.