Can't stay on the meds....

[lewsterr]

My recent visit to the endo revealed the best results I’ve ever had. My A1C was 5.8 and cholesterol was 115. I’m down to my target weight, feeling quite good thanks to the Metformin and Byetta, and keep my numbers well within normal range.

My problem is: whenever I do well for a while, I begin to cut back or stop the meds, thinking I can get along without them. After a couple of days, my readings are back over 200, and I’m feeling awful once again. Then it's back on the meds. I go through this routine about every 2-3 months.

A year and a half has passed since being diagnosed, and I’m still finding it difficult to convince myself that I’ll probably be taking this stuff indefinitely. Is this behavior common for newbies and not so newbies? Has anyone else gone through this?

[barko]

Yeh...I used to think that one day I would "whip this disease", like it was the flu or something. -LOL

It whips me if I ignore it - bummer, but it is what is.

[pdxdennisj]

After I was Dx'ed with the big D I lost weight and hit a honeymoon for a couple of years where I didn't need meds to control my BG. I convinced myself I did't have Diabetes any longer, gained weight, had to go back on meds and have been on them since...15 years now.

[KickStart101]

Wow, A Big Congrats on your Great results Lou.
You've impressed us. :D

And NO you can't get rid of Diabetes but you
can stay in control by staying on your meds. ;)
Which is Very important so you don't get
complications. Or at least you will stay away
from complications longer.

I knew I couldn't get rid of Diabetes when I was
a Kid/Teenager, I just didn't want nothing to do
with it, once in a while. Not a Good plan! :D

[moorejames]

I'd be surprised if most diabetics (type 2s anyway) don't have a niggling thought in the back of their mind that if they lose weight and exercise regularly they will be suddenly cured.

I think part of it is that the "press" version of type 2 is that it's something people bring on themselves by being fat.

That naturally leads to: "if I lose the weight, maybe it will go away".

While I'm willing to concede that carrying excess weight may very well trigger type 2, I'm also inclined to think that in many cases the weight is there *because* of the type 2.

Regardless of how you got it, it's a lifelong thing. Best you can do is manage it, take as good of care of yourself as you can and reduce your need for medications and keep complications at bay.

It's not a death sentence, but it is a life sentence... and I haven't seen any documented cases of a successful long-term parole. :)


Nice job on the numbers, by the way. Keep it up.

[xMenace]

A year and a half has passed since being diagnosed, and I’m still finding it difficult to convince myself that I’ll probably be taking this stuff indefinitely.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is wrong on a couple of counts. The first is you'll probably die someday. The odds are definately against you on that one. The second is this is a progressive disease. You are only experiencing the early stages of it. How long you have is not clear, but you can look forward to increased dosages, changes in meds, and eventually insulin. This is why it's important to stay on track and test regularly. Too many type 2's end up in serious trouble for failure to realize and manage this.

[lewsterr]

Thanks guys. Sometimes what I need is a swift kick in the butt to make me realize the reality of all this. :)

[princesslinda]

Lew, sounds like you're doing VERY WELL. Congrats on the great #s! When I saw my doc last, I asked about going off the metformin and he told me sure, you can go off it, but long-term studies have shown that metformin slows the progression of T2 in those with insulin resistance. I asked if I went off it and #'s went up, would I have to take even more to achieve the same results I am seeing now and he said he sees this happen often.

I think many of us T2s feel that if we are off medicines, we are "better" diabetics. In actuality, we are better diabetics when we are able to achieve the best results, REGARDLESS of what treatment we use for it. Sure I would like to diet control it and have an A1C in the 5's...but i'm not sure i'm willing to go off meds, have a rise in blood sugar and then have to take double meds to compensate.

Hang in there...sounds like you're doing fine. Not sure any of us can truly beat this disease, but we can fight off the complications as long as possible with good control...whatever it takes to achieve this.

[lewsterr]

Lew, sounds like you're doing VERY WELL. Congrats on the great #s! When I saw my doc last, I asked about going off the metformin and he told me sure, you can go off it, but long-term studies have shown that metformin slows the progression of T2 in those with insulin resistance. I asked if I went off it and #'s went up, would I have to take even more to achieve the same results I am seeing now and he said he sees this happen often.

I think many of us T2s feel that if we are off medicines, we are "better" diabetics. In actuality, we are better diabetics when we are able to achieve the best results, REGARDLESS of what treatment we use for it. Sure I would like to diet control it and have an A1C in the 5's...but i'm not sure i'm willing to go off meds, have a rise in blood sugar and then have to take double meds to compensate.

Hang in there...sounds like you're doing fine. Not sure any of us can truly beat this disease, but we can fight off the complications as long as possible with good control...whatever it takes to achieve this.
Thanks, Linda. I have never heard of the need, in some cases, for meds to be increased after you stop taking them. If that's the case, I may be doing more harm than good by periodically stopping the Byetta. I'll come to my senses one of these days and learn to stop tampering with success.

[princesslinda]

[QUOTE=lewsterr;240963]Thanks, Linda. I have never heard of the need, in some cases, for meds to be increased after you stop taking them. QUOTE]


I had never heard of this either, and it's probably not true in each instance. However, with my strong family history and all the complications I saw in my mother, it's not a chance I want to take.

[ladytaz]

Lou .... If it ain't broke, don't fix it! :wink: What you are currently doing with meds, diet an exercise is clearly working [CONGRATULATIONS], so continue to do it!!! You have Diabetes. You will ALWAYS have Diabetes. Whether or not you take the meds! :wink:

[lewsterr]

Lou .... If it ain't broke, don't fix it! :wink: What you are currently doing with meds, diet an exercise is clearly working [CONGRATULATIONS], so continue to do it!!! You have Diabetes. You will ALWAYS have Diabetes. Whether or not you take the meds! :wink:

I feel like I'm being reprimanded here, but that's okay. I can take it and very much deserve it. Thanks, Melissa!

[volleyball]

My recent visit to the endo revealed the best results I’ve ever had. My A1C was 5.8 and cholesterol was 115. I’m down to my target weight, feeling quite good thanks to the Metformin and Byetta, and keep my numbers well within normal range.

My problem is: whenever I do well for a while, I begin to cut back or stop the meds, thinking I can get along without them. After a couple of days, my readings are back over 200, and I’m feeling awful once again. Then it's back on the meds. I go through this routine about every 2-3 months.

A year and a half has passed since being diagnosed, and I’m still finding it difficult to convince myself that I’ll probably be taking this stuff indefinitely. Is this behavior common for newbies and not so newbies? Has anyone else gone through this?

You maybe able to parallel yourself to a yo-yo dieter. You are very diligent, then when you reach your goal, you forget about it and move onto the next thing, suddenly you are back where you started from.
whether you can go off meds completely depends on two things. First you have to still be diligent about your food intake, there are lots of us doing this day in and out, you have to accept an occasional high reading as you don't have the pill do any of the work. And keep up the exercise.
Second, your body still has to be able to do it's job, how far the progression has been, is not up to you. If you found out too late, you may still need help. Maybe taking half or less maybe enough for you now that you are in better shape.

Diabetes never goes away, its just not as fast moving if you take care of yourself. Sometimes it seems to be standing still. You'll never be cured but you may not ever have any complications. It's just the way your body is. A very pale skinned person may get a great tan, a very thin person may build a ton of muscle, a heavy set person may get rail thin but this is going against nature and it will take very little time for them to revert back once they forget diligence. Same with your diabetes.
Being a type 2, you may very well be off the med for the rest of your long life, we are not type 1's. I have not had a pill in many years so I know it's working for me. For now.

[shockme]

congrats on the great a1c lou!!!!back in june,cuz i was doing so well,i asked my dr. if i could cut down my actoplus met from 3/day to 2/day.so i did.i ended up going back to 3/day.for some reason,taking one less pill was so important to me...oh,well trish

[ladytaz]

I feel like I'm being reprimanded here, but that's okay. I can take it and very much deserve it. Thanks, Melissa!

LOL No, not reprimanding you at all! Just reaffirming what you know to be true, but, trying to convince yourself otherwise (even if only temporarily). :)

[mg_2204]

I know someone who took meds for at least 1 year and then was taken off the meds by their doctor. The person managed 2 years off the meds. Then numbers crept up even if the person was training extensively and on a very strict diet. He is back on meds now, has been for 3 years. There is no way he can go off meds ever again. He's doing well I hear. Diabetes is a very strange disease and it seems to affect people in so many diff ways that it's hard to keep up.

[amyjo29]

Don't worry...your not alone. I still morn for my "former life". To be able to go to a restaurant and order anything from the menu, not have to count carbs, not have to prick my finger, not have to live in fear. Boy, that would be something.