Thinking of stopping meds

[meg]

Why take medication if I can get the same results with diet and exercise? My FBG is stubborn 6.3 - 7.5 and no medication has ever improved those numbers. I'm not overweight, if I eat the wrong thing I pay with high PP readings. I don't tolerate meds well and feel it's not worth extra strain on my kidneys, liver and stomach to perservere with diamicron MR, I've already halved the tablet and numbers are the same.I expect my next A1c to be around 6.
My Dr. has halved my BP medication, it was quite often 80/50 or less and I felt so bad for so long, now it's still low, around 100/70 but I feel better.
Thanks for any feed back I might get, Meg

[wiseguy]

Why take medication if I can get the same results with diet and exercise?
It is a fact that many type 2 diabetics can control their BG levels with diet and exercise alone. There are also supplements that can help that have no side effects for most people. I have been controlling mine for the past two months without meds and I know of others who have been doing it for years. But don't get me wrong. If the time comes that meds are absolutely necessary, I will not hesitate to take them. I believe that natural is better IF natural is effective.

[Harold]

Are you getting the same results with diet and exercise?

[meg]

I was diet and exercise controlled for 2 years after diagnosis until a bad flu and infections 9 months ago sent my A1c up from 6.2 to 8.2. I feel my health and BGs are much improved and I'm confident of a good A1c later this month.
Thanks, Meg

[sweetcheeks]

i would probably wait til the a1c then decide... if it were me... but if you feel your better now and no longer have infections/sickness that is going to cause it to go up, then why not go back to diet and excercise

[princesslinda]

I agree with Stacey, you should wait until you get your A1c results and talk with your doc and see what he suggests. Some of the meds for T2 help with insulin resistence as well (like metformin) and I wouldn't stop anything until I knew the A1c was still good. Also, if you go off the meds, I'd advise you to check more often until you're sure you're results are going to be the same for you.

[orpy]

I can totally relate to not wanting to take meds...I've been on different meds for two years now and my A1C has never been as low as it was when I basically starved myself and walked my butt off. I'm very discouraged about taking meds; I, too, feel that the meds aren't working.

[Larry H.]

I am certain these things vary person to person so it is so hard to suggest much.. I was diagnosed around Oct. last year. My doctor wanted me on meds right away. I refused and read up as you say. I read where diet and exercise reduced the levels and complications better than drugs by two times.. so that was my choice. However I may not be typical in my condition. I think I caught it fairly early. The doctor said type II thus that what I called it here, but of late I am not clear on what I have..
After four months of diet, lost 30 pounds and walking over a half an hour a day now I just had a blood work done for fasting and it came in at 98. The one last fall that got this started was at 128 and one a month later with some diet was 124. My Trg. and Cholesterol are the lowest ever recorded for me in the past 10 or more years. A few things are off because I may have lost too much for my size. Down to 160 and 6'. But the morning and most after meal readings are trending down for the most part. I see fasting levels now around 95 to 105.
I am taking some non medical herb type things which I believe have helped to a degree, but may be early to tell. I think the exercise and diet are doing the most. I am able to eat a medium amount of carbs an have shown a fairly overall drop in after meals readings. Now and then I get an unexpected one.

[meg]

Hello Larry, sounds like you are doing well managing with diet and exercise. I have tried cinnamon and various herbs and teas but have found balsamic vinegar to actually help my numbers. I really need to stay away from bread, regardless of whether it is multi-grain, rye, low GI, it doesn't matter, it is like poison to me. I think we all need to find our own way and what helps each individual is important as it might also hold a key for someone else. Meg

[princesslinda]

Hi Meg:
I've found that, for me, bread is the absolute worst thing I can have, so I have it very seldom. Even the ones like sourdough that are supposed to digest more slowly, thus causing fewer spikes manage to spike me. The same with pretzels and regular saltine crackers. I can manage a few of the whole wheat crackers on occasion. I have found that the lower carb small tortilla wraps are a good "occasional" alternative.

You're right, we do have to sort of make our own way with this, what affects one doesn't necessarily affect another the same way. I always like to read about what everyone can and can't have...makes me feel i'm not alone. Sure do miss the bread, though.

You hang in there...better days are coming!

Linda

[jvetter18]

Hey Meg,
i agree w/ Larry, diet and excercise might be all you need. if you can manage your #'s w/out the drugs, i can't see why you wouldnt' do it. Considering you're not overweight though, might point to an insuln resistence problem - so the drugs might be helping you afterall. Point is, you won't know unless you try. The excercise can be used as a drug. I excercise almost daily anyway, but if i have an unexpected spike (only happened once in the last month) i go outside and run/walk/whatever for 10 minutes. Brings it right down.

Things that have spiked me:
Pizza - i can only have 2 slices max, if that:banghead:
Pretzels - this kills me for some reason:eek:
Popcorn - supposed to be a good snack, only thing that its good for is killing me softly:confused:

Luckily No Spikes yet on:
chinese food, (don't eat rice or fried/battered)
Thai - seems to be ok, limit the noodles, but curries and brown rice seem to work for me, knock on wood.
Couscous - love it, will only have up to 1 cup prepared
Anything brown/whole grain, w/in proper servings
I try not to go over 50g carb @ anytime, mostly its less.

[shamsul]

Here is an article that might be of interest to us. 3-week Diet/exercise Study Shows 50 Percent Reversal In Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=35973)

[meg]

Interesting article, thanks.
My FBGs were up again for the last few days when I had allergy and sinus problems. Felt a bit better yesterday and this a.m FBG was 111, for me, wonderful. Last night my snack was a few dried apricots and 1/2 cup plain organic popcorn. Don't know if that snack helped or maybe the chicken and salad with balsamic vinegar for evening meal helped or was it everything?
I love control so this really frustrates me!
Meg

[confuzed]

Hi Larry,

What does your diet entail? Sometimes, though certain foods are generally good for you, it may not be good for diabetics.

[confuzed]

Hi Meg,

I feel the same way you do. I am not overweight and eat right, and am not on any medication yet and I think I am fine without it. But if I happen to binge on something I crave that I haven't had in a long time, or there's a birthday occasion or anniversary where I have to go off my diet, and have, RICE or bbq ribs or korean style short ribs, or a peach smoothie which are high in sugar, it would be nice to have them in case my glucose does shoot up. I'm pretty good when I'm on my diet, but it's when I have to go to a function where we eat out is what kills me. Even if I stick to protein for dinner, they still slab on the butter and salt and some sugar on the protein or in their marinates and my sugar just takes off. That's what I have to worry about.

[etm1109]

Every medication, except Byetta has made me feel almost worse than the disease. Furthermore, exercise for me is very difficult. Two knee surgeries has left me without the ability to do traditional exercise. Even walking bothers me.

[ladytaz]

Hi Meg,

I feel the same way you do. I am not overweight and eat right, and am not on any medication yet and I think I am fine without it. But if I happen to binge on something I crave that I haven't had in a long time, or there's a birthday occasion or anniversary where I have to go off my diet, and have, RICE or bbq ribs or korean style short ribs, or a peach smoothie which are high in sugar, it would be nice to have them in case my glucose does shoot up. I'm pretty good when I'm on my diet, but it's when I have to go to a function where we eat out is what kills me. Even if I stick to protein for dinner, they still slab on the butter and salt and some sugar on the protein or in their marinates and my sugar just takes off. That's what I have to worry about.

confuzed, it just doesn't work like that hun! Taking the meds is not a 'one time thing'. They need to be taken consistently, EVERY day. Most of them take at least a few weeks (some even up to 6 weeks) to really 'get going' in your system.

Just so ya know ;)

[slipperyelm]

Well, there are some meds that work upon each dose-- sulfonylureas, acarbose, Symlin, Byetta, and I think Januvia all act right away.

I think around December we discussed one of these. Maybe Januvia.

I wonder if you could get a doctor to even prescribe one of these for occasional use like that, though. I doubt if doctors are accustomed to thinking of them that way. Can you imagine the office visit? "Hey doc, I'd like to pig out a couple times a month. Can you write me a prescription to cover that?" Oh, well, I guess we could make our case a little better than that. ;)

[gelchick]

You can exercise even if you have limited mobility. If you go to chairdancing.com you will find a number of audio tapes, VHS tapes and CD-ROMs that have routines (aerobics, toning and building, and yoga) that can be performed while seated in a chair. I bought one of each for those days when I am feeling unmotivated to walk the treadmill or ride the exercise bike. I thought they'd be a way to have an easy day- boy was I wrong- they provide a great workout- all from the comfort of a chair! sandy