have been a diabetic for the last 15 years

I have been a diabetic for the last 15 years. I am currently taking Avandia 4mg and Glyburide 2mg in the am and Glyburide 2mg. and Nexium 20mg. in the pm. My hemoglobin A1c has been around 6.5. Have recently started having problems with abdomnal distension/discomfort, diabetic neuropathy in both legs, discomfort in the vicinity of my liver (?hepatic congestion), and shortness of breath with exertion. I am 5 foot 8inches tall and weigh 184 pounds. I am sensitive to many medications including aspirin, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and all of the current drugs which are used to lower cholesterol. I have been in the field of Cardiology for the past 39 years and know full well the complications related to diabetes. However I am more than dismayed with the recent negative reports on two of my medications. It seems that there are many negatives to Avandia and these seem to be even more so with continued long term use. A class action suit is now in the makings for this drug. Just heard that New England Journal of Medicine has reported that Nexium which is supposted to be such a God send when it comes to GERDS and is also supposed to aid in healing in the cells in the area of the esophageal reflux (actually heard the add on TV while typing this) is now being reported as a related cause in esophageal cancer and pancreatic cancer. This reported increase is related to the patients on this drug long term. Recommended use of Nexium is currently 6-12 months and no longer do to the new information. So now what do you do in my situation. Why is it that patients are spending over 100 billion dollars a year for chemical answers to their diseases. In the history of man, there have been more natural alternatives. Why are we not persuing these avenues and doing away with the toxic effects of chemicals and also the related serious complications and even deaths?
Anyone want to take a stab at an answer for my situation. Fasting blood sugars about 140-160, two hours post prandial about 200-280. Can't use Glucaphage even though Id like to because of intense diareha even on low dose. The glyburide I take has caused numerous low blood glucose numbers (50-60) which are life threatening. If I stop taking Avandia or can't due to toxicity, then what for the cellular resistence issue. Recent cardiac catheterization discloses minimal coronary artery disease in the mid right coronary artery. All lab data as of 4 months ago was within normal limits with exception of blood sugars, and albumen. Activity level is moderate. Cholesterol level is 167, and Triglycerides are 201. Current prophylaxis regemins for patients of my type are to treat aggresively with betablocker, calcium channel blockers, cholesterol lowering drugs, sulfonimides, etc. to limit damage to the microvasculature. Most of the drugs needed to do this can not be tollerated by my system. History of allergic reactions with hives etc. I am what is considered a doctors nightmare. Anyone out there want to give this a shot.

Post Edited By Moderator (Admin) : 4/6/2005 9:37:56 AM (GMT-6)

You may want to look into the cinnamon post on this site. There has been some help there. For your blood sugar regulation, I was part of a study at MichiganState University for Kelloggs and we used psyllium fiber to level out blood glucose after a meal. It helps slow down and even out carb absorption in the small intestine. The amount used that was beneficial was one tablespoon of psyllium fiber (sugar free) in a glass of warm water after each meal.

I have to admit I take exception to your description of medications as toxic chemicals... The world is made up of elements. Elements are bonded together to form molecules and some of these molecules make up chemicals. Organic compounds are made of the same basic elements and molecules as everything else so they are neither better nor worse than man-made compounds. I can't really fault your doctor for prescribing medications for you instead of 'natural or herbal' remedies. There is no governing agency that regulates the production or dosage level of alternative compounds. He/she has to stay within the area's of their expertise, which includes traditional medications. And I can't believe that the medicine companies set out with the plan to kill their patients. I think that may be a little counterproductive.

You wrote "In the history of man, there have been more natural alternatives..." . In the EARLY history of man the average lifespan was 35 years. In more recent history with the assistance of modern medicine that has been raised to almost 80. Personally, I'll take my chances with modern medicines.

I don't see anything in your post about exercise.(I just re-read your post and saw that your exercise level is moderate...) That has been shown to be the most helpful way to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, increase circulation and raise your mood. It's also very 'natural'. Have you been walking, working out or swimming on a regular basis for the last 15 years? Also, you may have a better blood sugar regulation with insulin. Has your doctor offered this choice? The object of diabetes management is blood sugar regulation to sustain circulatory and organ health. Perhaps insulin would be the way to go for you to achieve this goal. Good luck with your diabetes plan.

Oh, btw, the intense D caused by metformin comes from eating too many carbs. I would strongly suggest a food diary for anyone having this side effect. Lowering your overal carb intake will curtail the diarrhea problem. One of the ways that metformin works is to prevent the absorbtion of all of the carbs we eat so the sugars remain in the GI tract. The presence of the sacharrides in the gut along with the normal flora present leads to gas production, discomfort and diarrhea. My doctor told me that 'If you over do, you go pooh!' and that was what I should remember with this med. So far she has been dead right. When I cheat I get D! Nothin like a few sessions with the porcelain throne to remind me to get back on track with my food plan!

(Jeannie takes a deep breath so she can be patient... then bursts into giggles!) I just learned this as my last diabetes class so I can’t act smart, and I've been diabetic for 10 yrs. Fasting blood glucose over a certain number (in the U.S. it's 110, I think) means you aren't getting the glucose into your cells so it’s in your blood stream clogging up the works. In a person without diabetes two hours after a meal their fasting BG will be about 110.

Your sugar will fluctuate all day and night but the Ac1 is an average and shows only the overall average, not the highs and lows. When your sugar is high your blood is thicker, like expensive pancake syrup (vs. the cheap watery stuff). This makes it more difficult for the blood to circulate to the smallest places it should go in your body. Over the years this can lead to hemorrhage of the blood vessels in the eye, kidney disease, poor peripheral circulation and neuropathy in your hands and feet. Neuropathy in the genitalia can also be a problem. (And for me, that’s the last place I want to lose feeling!)

Your aim should be to regulate your blood sugar so that it’s not real high and stays rather average… (80-120 or so before a meal is what my doc wants for me. ) Good control means no big highs and no bad lows. This is what the medication is for, to try to keep things on an even keel. Also, this is why you test, so you can see which foods make your BG go too high. Then you make choices to have less of that food or choose another food to substitute. It’s a bit of a balancing act but the rewards are if you are good… you get to be good longer. If you are bad, your health deteriorates and you may lose the ability to live on your own. Hope this helps.