Excellent control, good health = scolded by the doctor

[liz386]

I really, really need to vent about my doctor.

First, here's some back-story: I went to the doctor yesterday, and my latest A1c is 5.2. I found out last week and was OVER THE MOON with happiness about it. I have no lows, no highs.

My BG is stable in the high 70's-high 90's. My highest "spike" is around 100. As of right now, for lunch I had a lot of protein and a tiny piece of white bread as an experiment, and my "spike" was 96.

I have been feeling a little woozy lately. Every time I feel this way, I test my bg and it is around 80s-90s, not low by any means. However, I am on 50 mg Atenolol for genetic HBP. I tested my bp at CVS yesterday and it was 115/71 (normal). It used to be much higher on a constant basis.

Also, I've lost 105 lbs in a year. I was 281, now weigh 174. My goal weight is below 150 as I am under 5 feet tall. I want to have a little bit of healthy weight excess, but not be obese. I tend to lose around 10 lbs a month. I exercise every day, and eat around 50 carbs, sometimes a bit less, sometimes a bit more.

So, those are positive statistics, right? I feel great, I sleep through the night, I am very energetic. The only big strain on my health is that I'm very stressed and sad due to family issues and school lately.

I went into the doctor's office feeling a little worked up over my family problems and the severe thunderstorms we were having here yesterday. The environment at the dr's also stresses me out. The nurse took my BP with my arm in the air (not resting on a table or anything) right in the beginning of the appointment and it was 138/82. Not great.

The rest of the appointment was awful. The doctor told me that my A1C was "too low" and that "the ADA recommends it be around 7". I was happy with my progress. I'm a type II, not on insulin or other low-inducing drugs, and I don't have lows. My body is by all accounts happy where it is.

He told me he's reducing my Metformin to one Met ER 500 mg, from 1000 regular Met daily. I'm really, really uncomfortable reducing the med due to fear of going high again and I told him so, but he shrugged it off. I have no problems tolerating Met. I received no praise and no positive remarks for doing everything for my health lately, and that doesn't really matter, but his attitude was insulting. He also chose this visit to do the neuropathy screening that he neglected to do when my a1c was 11.8, 6 months ago. He's also refusing to take me off bp meds and has instead moved me to Lisinopril. I don't have a problem with being on a common, kidney-protecting drug, but I do not want a cough, dizziness, or any inhibition of my ability to exercise. Can those of you who are on this affirm that it's not that irritating?

Thanks for listening to my venting. I always appreciate the supportive members here.

[jbmacomber]

I'd be finding a new dr. It's your choice to take prescribed drugs or not, but I would definitely throw this one(the dr.) out the window. And, Congratulations on all your hard work and success!!!!!

[Moonpie]

ditto to the above poster, I'd be out looking too. It is your Drs job to work WITH you, not against you. You have achieved amazing results & fantastic progress, well done. Re teh lisonopril, I took it for about a month, but came off it due to coughing, but not everyone gets this side effect, the Dr replaced it with losartan. I think you will be fine on just the one Met, when I came off the Met, my Dr told me that when you are getting A1Cs like I was getting at the time, it was mostly due to my low carb efforts not the Met.
Keep up the good work

[Chanson13]

Kudos to you for losing all that weight - that's a major accomplishment. And your A1c numbers look great. I'm a Type 1, so I really have no comment on the metformin issue.

I can say that I have been on lisinopril for more than 20 years, and have never had any side effects. I know some people get a "dry cough" but that hasn't happened to me. I'm afraid the only way to know if its right for you is to give it a try and see if you have the side effects.

You deserve a great big pat on the back, and I'm sorry your doc didn't see that.

[raffi]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things and you should be proud of yourself. Seems like it is time to find a doctor that sees things the same as you do so that you have a resource to help keep it up and not someone dragging you down with bad advice (A1C of 7!, why not find a quicker way to kill you off...). I have taught my doctor quite a bit about this disease, but the fact that he says so and is learning makes him a keeper. The fact that he does not want to mess with success is also a good thing.

So keep up the good work.

[briargate]

Great Job Liz. Give yourself a big pat on the back and the Doc a big kick in the "Arse" If you are not comfortable with the negative strokes you are getting at your doc's office, you may want to go elsewhere. My Doc ana all nurses have nothing but positive things to say, It really helps me stay on track.

[Joisey]

I also get nervous at the doctors office and my BP tests high. My local pharmacy has a BP machine and when I test there it's usually 110 / 70. Fortunately my Dr. is understanding and has allowed me to stay off the BP meds. You should test it yourself when you're not stressed and see what it really is.

[davepc]

I'd find a doctor that has a better grasp of the medical issues his patients are dealing with. Diabetes is not some obscure disease only seen in small segments of the population.

Congrats on your great control and amazing weight loss!

[patricia52]

Congratulations on the great numbers. Keep up the good work. I agree with the others, you need to find a new doctor that will work with you or you need to educate this doctor.

[Lloyd]

Well done! Find a new doctor.

Yours seems to be confusing the goals of a Type 2 with the goals of a Type 1.

-Lloyd

[Hooterville]

I would like to get my BP checked again before changing meds and I'd be looking for a new doctor.

Congratulations on all the success that you have had managing your disease and your life.

[apollo322]

Wow what a feat losing 100 lbs and getting your aid that low! Congrats, you deserve a huge pat on the back. Your doctor has GOT to go, telling you you should be at 7?! What's he going to do, prescribe pasta and hand you a box of donuts to improve where you are now? I wouldn't let a doc like that diagnose a nosebleed

[Wwroam]

your doctor is a ratbag. Dump him.
it is unnecessary to seek approval from anybody, be true to yourself. you've done very well.
I think you are fortunate that he's shown his true colors and provided you with the validation to move on. He can't read beyond the script.

[sweetstar]

I would also seek out a new doctor. An a1c of 5.2 is fantastic.
I would not be afraid to reduce your metformin dosage. If you find your BG's
rising, you can always increase it.
The low carb diet and the weight loss are really an accomplishment. Keep up
the good work.

[mom24grlz]

Wow! great job on the weight loss. 100 lbs that is amazing! And an A1C of 5.2%, you should be so proud of yourself . I agree with the other posters, find a new doctor. He obviously does not know what he's talking about when he tells you your A1c should be 7%. I can see him being concerned if you achieved that number do to a significant number of lows, but you didn't.