Today my doctor has prescribed me Metformin to address my blood sugar levels.
I have tried (not massively but I have tried) to address my insulin resistant body but to no avail. I am sick and tired of saying to myself, you can't have that, you shouldn't eat that and feeling shame when I do have that. This is not how normal people live their lives. Normal people with normal blood sugar and of a consistently 'normal' weight never have to question what they eat. It is never a thought in their head and I am jealous of that.
Okay, that feels better.
I am looking forward to peeing less, feeling less thirsty and not feeling tired after meals. Just hoping the side effects pass me by
I love this photo of Thea, concentrating as she travels through a tube.
She'll be 2 in just over 2 weeks.
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IdasMum
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Lovely photo! Welcome to the club and hopefully you will start to feel better soon. Some people get tummy issues with Metformin but these diminish if you stick to it. One thing I would advise is you get some glucose tablets in. The official line is no hypos with Metformin but I sailed close to the wind a few times. Peeing less is a joy as is a quenchable thirst. 🌻🤞
Hypo's? I hope not. I used to get those when trying to make lunch before we started the Intermittent Fasting. I no longer have the highs and lows. Will watch out for them.
I'm a bit mad when I do get that way and try and address them healthily with almonds and cheese
He's started me on 500mg in the evening for a week before adding in 500mg in the morning. It will be midday actually, as I won't have had food to help protect my stomach.
If you get down to 4 or less you need glucose. Fructose lactose etc has to be converted so the body can absorb it. You need something quicker than that. Glucose tablets get straight into the system. Then nuts and cheese can stabilise for the next few hours. As I said it's unusual to have them so don't worry too much, emergencies only!!
I know exactly how you feel as I did when first diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes a few years ago now. I am on 850 mg twice per day. I only have to plan meals just for myself so can please myself. I eat plenty of fruit and veg during the week and a proper roast dinner on Sundays when I have the rest of my family join me. I consider that I eat sensibly without restricting myself too much. I don't suggest that you do as I do but I have always worked on the principle that a bit of what you fancy does you good in small doses. I don't drink or smoke but I do like a bit of chicolate now and then especially on a Saturday night but keep the Maltesers away from me or the box full will be gone.
Don't beat yourself up about it and just spoil yourself now and then. I know there will be others who dont agree with me but just be sensible. D
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Let's face it we all need some things we enjoy to keep us ticking over. What's the point in living if it's all misery and beating yourself up.
Please don’t waste your energy being jealous of us Normals, though. I’ve had a lifetime of some friends and work colleagues telling me it’s easy for me because I don’t have a weight problem. However, I’ve done nothing but think about what I eat since I was in my 20’s and watched my husband who is 10 years younger eat whatever he likes. However, now he’s hit 46 he’s suddenly got a bit of a pot and it’s hitting him hard. He tells me it’s ok for me because I’m used to eating carefully 🙄. Being on Pred has added another layer of restriction which at times has driven me nuts.
People in our support group with Type 1 & 2 learned so much from speaker and guess what, those without did as well and followed it as close as possible and lost weight. Some of the Type 2 became Type 2 free.
She is so beautiful. I love her focused expression. Just like granny’s should be when passing a cream bun. Let us know how you are with Metformin. I am sure that I am gliding in this direction. I have the thirst, the burning feet and peeing frequently. Bloods are the high side of sugary. I eat a fraction of what the people I live with eat ( and drink). 🍷🍺
Burning feet? I haven't seen that as a symptom and can tell you I had that loads for a while. I still get it but am far quicker to counter it by taking my socks off (if I am wearing any) and putting my feet on our cold tiles floors. Not so easy at night in bed.
I'm not really a drinker, so maybe a glass of wine per 2 weeks if that.
I read that diabetes was one of the principle causes of burning feet. However, I have Psoriasis on my feet, so it could be that. The soles go very red and it only happens in bed. Isn’t it horrible? Peripheral Neuropathy is also a possible diagnosis. Wine really doesn’t agree with me anymore which is a pity because it helps the aches. It seems to cost me a night’s sleep, even a couple of small glasses.
I'd read about Peripheral Neuropathy when trying to work out the burning feet issue. I decided it was a bit too far down the line from where I was.
I'm off to have another read.
Just for the sake of causing much consternation, I am eating chocolate
I have to be honest, I have gone off chocolate and haven't eaten any or bought any for 6 weeks.....but today I fancied some, so whilst OH was out, I sent him to buy some. Yep, I have still gone off it, so it's off the the fridge with it.
Edited to add.
Have just read and agreed.
I have shooting/burning/stabbing pain in my forefingers. (Have put this down to arthritis as I am swollen below forefinger and middle finger. On my right sometimes it feels like I have a burn at the base, as if I have caught it on the oven.
Muscle weakness, especially in feet! Yes.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy
The main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can include:
numbness and tingling in the feet or hands
burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas
loss of balance and co-ordination
muscle weakness, especially in the feet
These symptoms are usually constant, but may come and go.
I had burning feet prior to diagnosis almost 20yrs ago. So I suspect it can come on quickly too. I used to sit on the bed at night with my feet on the floor. When I could I used to put them under the cold bath tap.
Just have to say - my version of 'heaven' is where all the 'fat' people (including myself) are 'thin' and rather vengefully all the skinny ones experience 'fatness' (ha ha !!) Just joking of course but I grew up as the antithesis of a very lean brother who ate constantly and never had any extra weight - while I ate so much less and was always 'plump' He is STILL like this - and eats what I would consider a very high calorie diet (Including quite a lot of wine and cider). Its NOT FAIR !!! I am saying to myself ... even after a week on next to no carbs (another effort to remove some recent gains) my weight has stayed exactly the same and I can see I need further restrictions. I have lost weight successfully in the past and maintained losses sometimes for years but as soon as I eat what I want regularly it all happens again. No diabetes as yet but I am aware with Pred that could be next ...
I'm with you! I have always had to watch my weight, my whole life! I remember hating my "fat" legs when I was 9 years old. I relapse all the time ( as do nearly all of us who diet) because denying myself takes a lot of effort. A few years ago (on Pred.) I lost nearly 4 stone, doing it very slowly and I thought I had it sorted, but then my resolve disappeared and I have put nearly all of it back on. This has been since becoming much less mobile with OA in hip and both knees. Now I have had hip and one knee replaced, I am hoping I may find my resolve again. Luckily, no sign of diabetes at the moment., but being on Pred. has not made my life battle any easier.
I was put on Metformin just before Xmas. Like you starting at 500mg once a day and progressing to 3 a day. It upset my tummy so GP prescribed Metformin slow release, which is so much better. My hba1c was 72 this week after blood tests it is now 48 so I'm going in right direction. Have altered my diet to very low carbs. I'm really pleased but shall continue with this diet and want to lose more weight and further improve my blood sugar levels. Good luck!
I suggest you read the Diabetes Code by Nephrologist, Diabetes and Obesity specialist. It will open you mind to a drug free existence to reverse the T2 situation you are in. He has written a couple of other books which are alos relevant to your situation, but start with that one. He is very much a presence on youtube, if you want to listen to any of his talks.
What a beautiful photo, she's really intent on getting to her destination....
Expect a funny tummy when starting the Metformin but it does pass - eventually - try to eat healthily as it's first role is to get rid of the nasties - it will then settle and you can introduce little treats without too many problems.
I don't have diabetes, but I do have an excellent cookery book by Robin Ellis, the actor who was in the original Poldark series. It's called 'Mediterranean Cooking for Diabetics' and I'd be happy to live on the recipes in that book for the rest of my life.
Test before meals and the an hour and two hours after a meal and you will learn which foods cause spikes. I have been Type 2 10+ years and have never needed meds, though now after over a year on steroids I fear things might have changed
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