Diagnosed as type 2 in 2011 and put on Metformin, now told by new GP I'm not diabetic

Souds great but not sure that would do your heart any good!

Depends whether you believe the 'all fat is bad for you' hypothesis. I frankly don't. I was a weight watcher for years and years until at my last return there, almost 2 yrs ago, the scales were finally lifted from my eyes. [As long as the snacks you ate were weight watchers snacks then that was OK].It was just a huge con.

That set me off reading all sorts on the net including Michael Mosely's Fast Diet which has some really interesting science. I realised that the sugar in all the low fat gunk that weight watchers and the NHS food plate promote was causing more inflammation than any fat could, so I  gave up eating cereal at breakfast instead having toast and an egg with butter and also all those low fat, high sugar yogurts too. I no longer eat or crave cakes and biscuits, I just eat 3 sensible meals a day and take a brisk walk every day. I can tell you I've never felt fitter or better or weighed what I weigh now since I was about 16.

For most people without cardiovascular problems I feel the cholesterol/statin thing is really just a load of c**p.

Nothing would persuade me to go back to a high carb way of life.

Go to the diabetes website I mentioned as alot of helpful stuff there and can sign up for newsletter from them as well, would advise do

Thanks Tazchurch.

I used the Diabetes UK website quite a lot when I was first diagnosed and found it very useful.

I do also got their app for the iPhone and is available for android too. Is DCUK on iTunes. Means forum always to hand

 

forgot to mention free app so just data charges when use it

Are now also suggesting that borderline newly diagnosed Type 2's are prescribed a course of exercise before medication, and are setting up a partnership between the NHS and private gyms to facilitate this

 

The GP that gave the diagnosis offered me a free blood sugar meter, but would not give me any refill test strips saying that they only gave them to type 1's on prescription. By then I'd already purchased a meter and additional strips. During my first year of living with type 2 I monitored my blood levels very closely. I experimented with my favourite foods to see how they impacted my sugar level. I concluded that I could still eat most of the things I had always enjoyed before. Then as the results stayed fairly flat I stopped taking readings reserving it for when I didn't feel well. I wanted to rule out sugar when I felt unwell and the meter allowed me to do that.

I too had read the studies that showed how a radical change in diet coupled with weight loss could reverse type 2 and that was what I was looking for. I discussed these studies with my GP who said the sample size was far too small and I should not put any hopes on this method being a long term solution.

I was told after my first retinal screening that I had suffered a small retinal aneurism probably due to high blood sugar levels. The last 3 screenings however have been normal and I was told I have nothing to worry about regarding my eyes.

That is why the studies are ongoing and this time involving a larger group. Initial results are encouraging.

Hi Jane,

You seem very concerned that doctors are making money from you.Try living in a country with no NHS and then see how you get on.

If my GP and optometrist had not acted as swiftly as they did I would probably be permanently blind now or even dead as happened to my younger sister 3 years ago.Doctors don't deliberately get it wrong,they do their best with the information they're given and I thank God for them. 

The idea hat T2 cannot be reversed has been the percieved wisdom for years but the newest, and still ongoing research, is proving this is  not always be the case

My diagnosis came about after I was having tests for repeated urinary tract infections. Blood test results indicated high sugar levels. This was followed up with 2 separate fasting blood tests then I was given the diagnosis.  The GP said government guidelines say all he needs is 2 consecutive high blood tests for a diagnosis. I have to say that at the time I did not ask what the numbers were so I cannot relate them here.

My reason for posting on this forum was that I no longer trust what I have been told by my GP’s. I don’t feel cured of type 2 and I’m concerned that testing me every 6 months going forward is not totally putting my mind at rest.

What I intend to do is begin again checking my blood daily with my meter to see if not using Metformin anymore is working.

Hi Lone Wolf,

If you are able to test yourself both after fasting and 2 hours after eating and keep a record of these readings. I think that would be a good idea if only to put your mind at rest and take control of the situation.There's nothing worse than the feeling that you're not being listened to  

It's true I did feel very cross that I was a cash cow effectively. But you are right about living in a country without the NHS. My elder daughter lives in France and even there it's no way as good as it is here. We do lov e to critiscise the NHS but actually we are incredibly lucky to have it, how long for is another matter.

I do hope you got the UTI sorted out satisfactorily. Almost 2 years ago my husband was rushed into hospital where he spent 4 days in IC with sepsis. All as a result of having a UTI which he had put down to prostate problems. It recurred twice more too but luckily we were wise to it by then.Sorry that your UTI resulted in a diagnosis you could have done without - still it's perhaps better to be in the know about these things, I presume you didn't have any diabetic symptoms hence the 2 separate blood tests. For fear of being censored again [!!] have you taken a look at the diabetes uk website? Lots of useful info there.

Are you referring to the Newcastle diet? I've heard of that but it sounded rather dire. Still, if it works ....

 

Research includes that but also general everyday small changes. Th trial ongoing at present will compare the effectiveness of several diets and dietary changes to see which seems to work best.

But isn't that still just CONTROL, albeit good control? Of course I don't know exactly to what you are referring  but dietary changes of any sort are not going to be a cure - are they?

From the mid 90’s until probably 2011 I was getting one or two UTIs a year. Because of the frequency of these infections my GP wanted to find the root cause so sent me off to a consultant. Long story short I had lots of tests on my bladder, kidneys, testes the lot. They could not find any underlying cause of the infections. They did find that I have hypertension and towards the end type 2 diabetes. 

To this day I have no idea why I suffered with so many UTIs and for that matter why I don’t get them any longer. My GP explained them away as a symptom of the type 2. He has also explain other problems I’ve had as being caused by diabetes. It all made sense at the time. The other nagging question I have is if I’m technically not diabetic now why do I still have issues that were explained as being caused by diabetes?

I have looked at the diabetes UK website in the past and yes lots of excellent info. I must revisit for an update. 

The Newcastle diet mentioed earlier, I personally would not use it unless had too as prefer things less extreme if at all possible

If are borderline would explain why still have symptoms as easy to take onboard food and drink shouldn't have or for a small infection,cold etc to tip the balance in favour of the diabetes. Have your eating and drinking habits become more like those did when had diagnosis?. Also do you exersise alot? Having said all this it could well be pure coincidence.

It rather sounds as though the diabetes diagnosis was a convenient answer for your GP, he didn't need to look any further into your problems.  I believe hypertension and diabetes T2 often do go together though. It seems I am apparently heading towards T2 and I do also have hypertension so I am trying to fight it off; time will tell, Im due another A1c in early Jan. Really it's this register thing on one's medical notes that I don't like. Diabetes, hypertension all would appear to count against you and there's no getting away from them

Can ask for an amendment on them.

My eating and drinking habits are different today than just a few years ago when I was having the infections. No I don’t exercise a lot. My job is sedentary though I’m very active with hobbies etc evenings and weekends. I think when I was having the infections a lot I was not drinking nearly enough water. I’m much more aware of dehydration these days.

Yes,drinking plenty of water is paramount to keeping infections at bay. It also does wonders for headaches too I find  Maybe that's just me!

Dehydration is a relatively common cause of headaches and not just you but me as well

My dr told me that he can delete things but that someone is watching his every stoke of the computer!! He did manage to delete smoking from my notes which had been put there by a nurse when diagnosing asthma. Filling is boxes as they do back in  the 1990's it would have been "Have you ever smoked?" and truthfully I would ha ve told her "Yes as a teenager but gave it up when pregnantg with my first child" At the time the 'child' was fast approaching 50 yrs!! So she entered that I was a smoker and it caused me no end of problems with insurance things until I found out the cause and had it deleted. You have to be so so careful what you admit to I think.

Had a major falling out with a GP who then, out of spite I think and my latest GP felt so too, put something on my notes that was untrue but made her look good. My latest Dr left original note but put that she disagreed with it and about the rift that occured so always worth asking as even if can't delete can amend or notate.

I only found out where my 'smoking' label came from after I asked for my medical notes online. A few years ago I'd had a major fallout with one of the partners, who I'd never met until that point, who had filled in an insurance form saying that I was a smoker. At that point it was a case of 'If it says so in the notes then it must be right'!! The arrogance of some doctors defies belief.