Hi, sorry, the thread is 'Neuropathic Pain'....Been there and had similar problems. One thing you must watch is that you are not over prescribed on any of these drugs. I've just seen a specialist from the hospital for my type 2 which I've had for over 7 years. I have been suffering all this time from many side effects of Metformen and the specialist has taken me off it for a month as she believes that I have been prescribed 4 times the quantity that I need. Make sure that you get some monitoring on your actual requirements. I also take statins but only need half the dose that the GP wanted me to take. I know some people have horrendous joint pain with statins. 12 days after being taken off Metformen I can taste my food again I've lost a kilo in weight my skin problems are improving and the stomach cramp has gone completely. The only thing that hasn't come back to normal is the pain in my legs which I feel is neuropathy but the GP won't own up on that one as having overdosed me for 7 years I think they feel a bit guilty. Good luck and keep your wits about you always.
I am sorry you went through such hell.... I wonder at the 'research' which said that statins can save thousands of lives a year... were the 'scientists' involved being employed by big Pharmaceuticals - those companies which dictate the NHS Diabetes diet; the one that tells us to eat loads of carbs (which are ultimately sugar and harm us)? What about loads of new research which says cholesterol doesn't cause heart attacks? And the research that says that people get D2 then put weight on, not the other way round? Do our doctors do any reading for research once they graduate? I am convinced, after a year, and watching threads on this forum, that low-carbing is the only way for anyone with Diabetes... I have always been pretty slender, so they tell me my D2 must be 'genetic', as they obviously blame people for 'bad diet and over-eating'.... what a load of old tripe - we are all the same - victims of our genetics and the system...Satanic statins just about did me in on Monday 28th of September 2015, and - hardly able to get out of bed - rang NHS24 for advice. Told to go in to usual surgery as an emergency, which I did that same day. Told that it was one of these things, having back pains shooting down one's leg, and told to take paracetemols: that worked a bit.
Stopped coffees (being a self-confessed addict of da beans!), thinking that it was caffeine overload.
That failed to alleviate pains, which prevented me going out and doing my regular walks and twice-weekly 2-hour badminton sessions. Started losing loads of weight (great!). Saw another GP in my surgery: same diagnosis, but co-codamol recommended... and that worked better. TENS belt that my wife bought also helped with overnight sleeps and pain relief, but only a little.
Then penny dropped... those darn statins... could it be...? Visited third doctor in same surgery (29th October) and she suggested stopping statins for three months and then test my cholesterol, which would also coincide with next blood-sugar test. Stopped taking statins on same day.
Three days later: miracle result... NO PAIN!
Soon afterwards, read this in the Daily Mail, a copy of which I took to my GPs' surgery for their digestion:-
dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3300937/Crippled-statins-Cholesterol-busting-drugs-left-David-wheelchair-doctors-insisted-taking-them.html
This left me in no doubt that the medical profession is behaving irresponsibly (if not naively) on the dispensing of statins in the UK: it needs to be looked in.
How many other folks are going through such pains without need?
Sure, statins are saving many lives by reducing fats in the bloodstream, but there's no excuses for being ignorant of their side-effects.
They bloody-well frightened me, let me tell you.
Sounds to me as though the exercise is doing it for you, not the Metfomin..So sorry to hear about the "jobsworth" doctor. Could I just say that I have been on Metformin and then the SR for many years, and have had all sorts of IBS problems with it. Finally talked the doc (decent chap who really encourages testing), to drop my dosage. Things are so much better! At first I was very wary, and having been checking at one point my blood glucose level went to 20! Yikes!
Jumped on the exercise bike for 20 minutes and (not going at a terrific rate) it was then down to 11.6!!! (An hour and a half after a meal)
My blood sugar levels have actually dropped by halfing the Metformin, and one morning the reading was 4.1. What a shame - had to have a big breakfast.
So, I don't know what that tells you. Or maybe I'm just weird!
This document is fantastic! We should all have it bookmarked!You might also want to quote this at her: 'No decision about me without me' from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...n-about-me-without-me-Government-response.pdf
I have been a member of a patients' panel and this has been,allegedly, a lynch-pin of GP prctice philosophies in my area. For those who pay any attention to it, that is.
I
I will ensure my next appointment is with the Doctor in the practice that specialises in Diabetes Care. On the advice of someone on this thread, I have now found out who that is. She it seems is also one of the most senor of the Doctors. I will make my points to her....provided of course that she isn't even worse than my previous Doctor
Sounds to me as though the exercise is doing it for you, not the Metfomin..
Well done you!! Statins aren't for everybody, they affect people in different ways so it's pretty obvious this doctor is in cahoots with the drug companies or at best she hasn't done sufficient research. Change your doctor if you can I know it's hassle but your wellbeing is paramount. xx
.............whereas on the low carb high fat diet it is a lifestyle diet and I feel fantastic on it!Haven't been back yet but will report what she says when i do go back and show her my improvements.
I feel for youGosh .. my diabetic nurse is far more patronising and hostile than the Dr !
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.
Hello Klangley
I have just seen your post. Over a week has passed since you wrote, how do you feel now?
I am sorry that it sounded like your GP didn't listen to you, nor ask you your opinion considering you are the only one who knows how you feel about taking any medicines she suggests. The GP seems to forget that it is in their best interest to work with a person instead of dictate.
I am pleasantly amazed at how well you have done not only with your weight and also your HbA1c - just half of one of them would be a fabulous result in such short time, but to have done all that is truly admirable. It is all a lot to take on in the beginning and pretty overwhelming too, so you have coped incredibly well even though I imagine it must have been really hard.
How do you feel about your diabetes more recently?
Hope to hear more about how you are feeling.
Very Best Wishes
P.
I have become an "Ex-Pat" and now reside in Spain..As a "Pensionista" (Aged 77) I qualify for
the same benefits health-wise as the Spanish OAPs.....The letter from Klangley regarding the
spat with the "Doctor·reminded me of what my UK Doctor told me when I informed him I was
off to live abroad in Spain.
He said Spain had one of the best Health services in Europe ..especially for Diabetics...he
was right.....Out here you are assigned your own Doctor (I have a Lady) and your own Diabetic
nurse (Also a Lady).....and the point I would like to make is "They Listen"....and dont dictate
or chastise......they want to help......If only all Doctors in all Countries would treat Diabetics
with a touch more sympathy...after all.....we didn't become Diabetic deliberately.
The 10€ "Praxisgebühr" isn't any more in Germany. JFTR.
And yes, our system is quite good, but as a diabetic you have similar problems with getting enough test stripes as well.
Firstly congratulations on your results. Keep it up. If I had my time again, I would not go on Metformin. Even the slow release ones have caused me irreversible bowel problems.
I'm now almost back on the straight and narrow after ditching the drugs, I was virtually house bound.
I'm down from 71 to 50 mmol with just diet and exercise. Still not perfect, but heading in the right direction. I had been on an increasing amount of meds over the past 8 years.
I too was offered statins which I refused. I got that "look" and I was going to die of a heart attack really soon. My heart has been given an all clear.
Keep up the good work
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